Anticipation is building at Ace Stud with the first of Shaquille’s foals set to go under the hammer at Goffs November Foal Sale.
The list of consignors offering the foals echoes the quality and level of support he has received since retiring to stud, with a number of renowned nurseries represented. Amongst the highlights is a filly from Neilstown Stud (Lot 698) out of the Pivotal mare Quixotic, which makes her a half-sister to the Gr.2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte winner and sire Fighting Irish (Camelot), who was also third in the Gr.2 German 2,000 Guineas. Quixotic has produced six winners from seven runners and is a full-sister to the Gr.1 Lockinge Stakes winner Virtual and a half-sister to the Gr.2 Coventry Stakes winner Iceman (Polar Falcon). The filly is bred to get her sire off to a good start and has the added bonus of residual value no matter what she does on the track.
Tinnakill House bring a filly born on March 8th (Lot 722) with black-type filling the page under each of her first three dams. She is out of the Pivotal mare Shepherdia and a half-sister to the Listed winner and multiple Stakes-placed Shepherd Market (Reckless Abandon).
Strong damsires are a prevalent theme amongst this bunch with Baroda Stud offering a filly out of a two-time winning daughter of rapidly improving damsire Sea The Stars (Lot 390). She is a direct descendant of the wonderful producer and Gr.1 Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Arctique Royale (Royal And Regal) and counts the Gr.1 Oaks winner Soul Sister (Frankel) amongst her relatives. Her yearling half-sister by Blue Point was sold for €180,000 at Book 1 of the Orby Sale to Repole Stable.
Of the five colts to sell, Ballylinch Stud offer Lot 503, a colt out of the winning juvenile Tikitiki, herself a half-sister to the Listed winner Lady Galore (Raven’s Pass) and by another excellent damsire in Fastnet Rock. They are out of a Johannesburg daughter of the Gr.1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Spain. An April foal, he is a half-brother to three winners, including the promising juvenile Trinquette (City Light), last seen finishing fourth in the Gr.2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte.
There are three more chances to buy a foal by Shaquille at Goffs, including Lot 43, a colt from AM Thoroughbreds out of the winning juvenile Dragon Beat, a young daughter of Dragon Pulse. Lot 116 hails from Owenstown Stud and is out of a half-sister to the Gr.2 Vintage Stakes winner Chandlery (Choisir). Lot 141 from Ballyogue Stud is out of a winning Holy Roman Emperor granddaughter of the Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine Yesterday (Sadler’s Wells).
