Decorated Knight proves popular at Goffs
18 November 2019
Decorated Knight enjoyed a strong showing at the Goffs November Sale on Monday as sire of several of the day’s highlights.
Thanks primarily to the support of Imad Al Sagar of Blue Diamond Stud, Decorated Knight ended the day with an average of €33,000, making him the second most successful first-crop sire of the opening session (with more than one sold).
First up was a filly out of Aniarnota, a Dalakhani half-sister to Classic hero Desert King who made €50,000.
Blue Diamond also went to €30,000 for Limekiln Stud’s strong colt out of Belova and €24,000 for a colt related to the brilliant sprinter Habibti from Olive O’Connor.
Hugo Merry, meanwhile, signed at €28,000 for a filly out of Fol O’Yasmine.
“I think as an owner there is an obligation to support the breeders who have used the horse,” Imad Al Sagar told the Racing Post. “It’s very important.
“I have complete belief in Decorated Knight. He’s a very special horse with a very special pedigree – his close relation Gleneagles is one of the most successful progeny of Galileo so it’s a stallion’s family.
“I myself have sent him 28 mares and we have some very nice foals. You can see his stamp on them – they’re similar to what he was like as a foal.
“If I don’t believe in him, why should others? Now I have to choose the trainers carefully to give him the maximum possibility of success.”
Decorated Knight won eight races including the Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes, Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup and Group 1 Jebel Hatta. By Galileo, he is out of a Pearling, a sister to Giant’s Causeway.
Decorated Knight stands at the Irish National Stud for €9,000.
