A diversified, international buying bench ensured for a second night of strong trade at the August Yearling Sale and brought results for the two-day Part I very close to matching last year’s figures. With the average showing a 10% jump on day 2, the cumulated figure for Part I settled at €234,635, just 1.6% down from 2017, while turnover for the weekend reached €28,074,000. The clearance rate for the first two days of selling was 74%

Dubawi colt from Just The Judge commands €1.4 million from Ballylinch John O’Connor showed some stamina to have the f inal say on the only Dubawi colt in the catalogue (lot 137), who was brought to the ring by La Motteraye Consignment. Bids were fired from all around the ring and David Redvers proved the toughest opponent, only admitting defeat when the Ballylinch principal offered €1,400,000. The imposing dark bay is the first foal out of the Irish 1,000 Guineas and EP Taylor Stakes winner JUST THE JUDGE, for whom Qatar Racing and China Horse Club paid 4.5 million guineas three years ago.

"We were very keen to have him", a relieved O’Connor commented. He is a beautiful individual by an exceptional stallion and from a family we know extremely well. We actually bred and sold the dam of Just The Judge, Faraday Light, and the family goes back to the days of the McCalmonts. The colt will go into training for Ballylinch Stud and obviously we are hoping to make a stallion.

Coolmore snaps up €900,000 Lope de Vega sibling to Dark Vision Ecurie des Monceaux’s Lope de Vega colt (lot 94) benefitted from a major update after his twoyear-old half-brother DARK VISION, still unraced when the catalogue went to press, bolted up on his first three starts for Mark Johnston culminating with a dominating display in the Gr.2 Vintage Stakes at Goodwood which prompted his purchase by Godolphin. While Dark Vision had only achieved 15,000gns as a yearling, it took a bid of €900,000 from M.V. Magnier to secure his year younger sibling. " He is a lovely, good moving horse and his brother looked very talented at Goodwood" , said the winning bidder. Invincible Spirit daughter of Gr.3 winner Mayhem secured by Godolphin for €900,000 Another first foal, this time out of the Gr.3 Prix Allez France scorer MAYHEM (lot 161), commanded the same price and went the way of Anthony Stroud acting on behalf of Godolphin. Bred by Brendan Hayes, the relative to CERULEAN SKY, MOONSTONE, US ARMY RANGER et al. was consigned by Ballylinch Stud, who had a busy night both as a vendor and buyer. "She is an extremely nice filly, said Stroud, bred by Brendan Hayes who does a sterling job. I don’t know who will train her yet but she will eventually join our broodmare band."