World's Gaze falls on London sales's Frankel Foal
Goffs London Sale in association with QIPCO, held at The Orangery, Kensington Palace, drew an international audience and was later featured on the BBC's flagship 10 o'clock News.
Of the 53 horses who came under the hammer, 41 were sold for a total of £7,915,000 at an average price of £193,048. Sheikh Fahad and his brothers Sheikh Hamad and Sheikh Suhaim were present, and became fully involved in the evening's trade.
Crystal Gaze and her Frankel foal at Kensington Palace (pics: Laurence Squire)
Their Qatar Bloodstock operation sold the highlight of the night, the mare Crystal Gaze, who was carrying to unbeaten Frankel and was joined at the sale by her current Frankel colt foal. Surrounded by the intrigued audience, the mare and foal behaved impeccably while bidding took place, and were eventually bought by M V Magnier of Ireland's Coolmore Stud. His offer of £1,150,000 was too much for underbidder Joe Foley of Ballyhane Stud.
David Redvers, who manages horses under the Qatar Racing and Bloodstock banners, said: ""She's a lovely mare and he's such a smashing foal. I'm sad to see them go, but look what they have done for the industry.
"I hope this sale will go from strength to strength. Sheikh Fahad is thrilled to be a part of it."
Qatar Racing soon added to its Royal Ascot team when buying a strongly-fancied runner in today's Gr.2 Coventry Stakes. Cappella Sansevero came up for auction after an unbeaten sequence of three victories, including a Listed win at the Curragh last month.
A bid of £1,300,000 by Sheikh Fahad secured the two-year-old, who is trained by Ger Lyons and will remain in his care.
Another juvenile, this time an unraced daughter of Distorted Humor offered by Mocklershill, topped a section of breeze-up horses when selling for £600,000 to Stephen Hillen.
After the final lot had been through the ring, Goffs Chief Executive Henry Beeby said: "The sale has gone extremely well and the venue and concept has worked. There has been terrific enthusiasm from vendors, purchasers and our partners - we couldn't have done it without QIPCO. I cannot emphasise enough how important they have been.
"It has been a complicated sale to put on, but we had good people on our side, and the mare Crystal Gaze and her Frankel foals gave us a profile we could only dream about. We have tried to convey the thrill of racing in conjunction with Royal Ascot, and people from all over the world have turned up. It has blown us away."
Hopes of a good week for Qatar Racing interests at Royal Ascot received another boost soon after the sale when last year's Oaks runner-up Secret Gesture, landed Voute Sales Warwickshire Oaks at Nottingham's evening meeting.