MAGNIER LANDS DANZIG COLT The fireworks started early at Goffs Orby Sale in Kildare this afternoon as Coolmore boss John Magnier splashed out #2 million on a colt by Danzig. The bay colt, foaled on February 17th, 1999, was sent up from Kilcarn Stud and produced a spirited duel between Magnier and Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum before the Magnier prevailed. The bay by Danzig is out of the Alysheba mare Alywow, champion three year-old-filly and turf horse in Canada in 1994. A year ago in the same ring the Danzig colt`s older half sister by Mr Prospector fetched #1.2m and their vendor Miss Pat O`Kelly was obviously delighted to comfortably top that figure today. The bidding was conducted for a large and increasingly silent attendance with Sheikh Hamdan going to #1.8m before Magnier had the final say. Magnier`s latest purchase will be trained at Ballydoyle by champion Irish trainer Aidan O`Brien, for whom he won five Group One races this season with Giant`s Causeway. Magnier however was under-bidder earlier for a Darshaan filly at #300,000. She was knocked down to Anthony Stroud Bloodstock on behalf of a client of Newmarket trainer Michael Jarvis.Sheikh Hamdan was not to be denied later in the day when another superbly bred colt from Kilcarn Stud came into the ring. Closely related to his brilliant runners Salsabil and Marju, the son of Spectrum out of Danse Royale looked the part. And the Sheikh, bidding himself, outlasted Irish agent Dermot Forde to secure the April foaled colt for #900,000 at the first day of a sale that has lived up to the expectations of the promoters.
