Crystal Ocean’s Stock Sparkles At Goffs

Following a smart season for Crystal Ocean’s first four-year-olds, his progeny were in high demand on the first day of the Goffs Arkle Sale, where they commanded an average price of €63,685.

A Crystal Ocean gelding offered by Ballyreddin and Busherstown was one of the highlights on Tuesday, bringing €165,000 from Ed Bailey and Harry Derham. After outbidding Ger Morrin, Bailey commented: “He is a lovely horse, a standout for us in the sale, a lovely walker and well balanced. We saw him about six times and every single time he showed immaculately.

“He comes from a great vendor and is by a sire who looks at the minute that he could be really, really promising. It’s a deep family of top-level horses.”

Bailey and Derham are clearly fans of the young sire, having gone to £400,000 for Colin Bowe’s Cristal d’Estruval at the Tattersalls Cheltenham Festival Sale earlier in the year.

Tuesday marked a successful result for Joey Logan, who had given €72,000 for the son of Crystal Ocean as a foal. He is the second foal out of a Yeats half-sister to Grade 2 runner-up Crystal Glory (Fame And Glory).

Later that afternoon, Tom Lacey gave €90,000 for a Crystal Ocean gelding offered by Peter Nolan Bloodstock on behalf of Kevin Doyle. The bay is the first foal out of dual Grade 1 winner La Bague Au Roi.

Crystal Ocean was also responsible for one of the highest-priced fillies of the day, bought by Aubrey McMahon and Carsena Bloodstock for €82,000. Mount Eaton Stud consigned the half-sister to Graded hurdler Ballygunner Castle (Soldier Of Fortune).

She was one of five Crystal Ocean fillies to sell for €65,000 and upwards on the day.