Colt passes magic million mark

Ringing cheers returned to the Goffs auditorium after three subdued years when a Woodman colt fetched top price of 1,125,000 Irish guineas on the first day of the Irish National yearling sales.

When the magic million pound barrier was breached there was restrained applause but when the striking colt, out of Group winner Danse Royale, was finally knocked down to a Robert Sangster consortium, the applause was loud and long.

It was the high point of a sale which confirmed recent trends in the European bloodstock world. The price topped the best at the Houghton Sales in Newmarket last week and was the cornerstone of a day where prices were big enough to have pinhookers rubbing their hands.

Trainer Paul Cole is expected to land the top-priced Woodman colt, dropped in America and the first foal of Danse Royale, by Caerleon out of Flame Of Tara, whose racecourse victories included the Group Three Prix de Psyche and the Listed Derrinstown Stud 1,000 Guineas Trial.

The colt had looked one of the bright prospects of the sale and bidding was brisk with French and Arab interests involved. Sheik Hamdan al Maktoum, whose agents were quite busy throughout, dropped out at 950,000 guineas and the French were repulsed after the million guineas had been reached.

The colt was knocked down officially to agent Danny Byrne but is expected to be sent to Cole, according to knowledgeable sources at the ring.