Cape Cross filly top lot at EUR76,000.

Byline: Ryan McElligott

AN Irish National Stud-consigned daughter of Cape Cross, who boasted several notable and recent updates, was the star turn on the penultimate session of the Goffs November Foal Sale when selling to David Redvers for EUR76,000.

The filly's three-year-old half-sister did her bit for the pedigree by reaching the frame in a Listed race at Fontainebleau yesterday while her juvenile half-brother, Lui Seul, was a stylish maiden winner at Deauville recently. They are all out of a Listed-placed daughter of Desert King.

"We were chuffed to bits to get her. She's a really lovely filly and a rare bit of value today," said Redvers.

"Obviously, she had some very good updates in her family and the two-yearold Lui Seul was impressive in winning his maiden and looks a potential Stakes horse.

"The last Cape Cross filly that we bought was Rising Cross who went on to finish second in the Oaks. She could be for resale back here although that has yet to be decided."

It had earlier appeared as though a son of Clodovil would head proceedings after falling to Brendan Holland's bid of EUR74,000.

Consigned by Maurice Burns'' Rathasker Stud, where the French 2,000 Guineas winner stands, the colt provoked plenty of interest with the battle for supremacy eventually coming down to Holland and Paddy Twomey from which the Grove Stud man emerged victorious.

His purchase is a half-brother to Fantastico Roberto, who won twice in Italythis year before going on to reach the frame in the Summer Stakes atWoodbine.

"He was an absolute beauty," said Holland. "I've bought him with Jim McCartan and we remembered his yearling half-sister from Tattersalls Ireland in September. She was a queen and has gone to Kevin Prendergast which is a big help. Also this colt has come from a very good home in Rathasker."

The first Pivotal foal to come under the hammer this week attracted his share of interest before coming the way of Yeomantown Stud at EUR70,000. The colt is out of the American Grade 2 scorer Beyrouth.

Yeomanstown also picked up a EUR52,000 colt hailing from the first crop of the 2007 Champion European Older Horse Manduro. He is related to the smart juveniles Illustrator and Sensory. Both will be for resale.

Earlier, a son of High Chaparral from the immediate family of the Grade 3 winner Mayoumbe and Michael Halford's dual Listed winner Tipperary All Star was snapped up by Ashtown House Stud for EUR60,000.

Strategic Prince was very much to the fore with several of his first crop representatives headed by a colt from J K Thoroughbreds who cost Ciaran Conroy EUR54,000. He is related to the Group 1-placed juvenile New Story and her high class daughter New Girlfriend.

Ger Hourigan had to go to EUR52,000 for a popular colt from Seskin Stud whose sire Oratorio enjoyed notable first crop one-two when his sons Beethoven and Fencing Master fought out the finish of last month's Dewhurst Stakes.

"He's a good colt by a sire who has gotten off to a good start at stud and he's from the immediate family of a classy twoyear-old in Fallow," said Hourigan, whose purchase will be for resale.

Willie Browne also reached the EUR52,000 mark for a son of Marju from Cloneymore Farm. His dam is out of the Stakeswinning La Vita E Bella.

Sales details, page 18