Shamalza Tops Goffs February Finale for €190,000 to Alex Elliott

Shamalza, consigned by the Aga Khan Studs as Lot 364, sold for €190,000 to agent Alex Elliott acting for Anthony Ramsden’s Valmont and will be sent to trainer Ralph Beckett with plans to race on better ground. Elliott said the team adjusted an initial breeding plan after assessing the filly’s potential and believes she could return to the track in early summer: “We realigned the target a bit, and we're going to send her to Ralph Beckett, who's had great success with Lope de Vega fillies, and she's been bought for Anthony Ramsden's Valmont. We'll give her a chance on better ground, so we'll probably see her in early summer.”

The sale-closing figure for Shamalza stood out within a buoyant Goffs February Sale that produced a turnover of €6,301,400, a 63 percent rise on last year, with average up 37 percent and median up 48 percent. Goffs chief executive Henry Beeby captured the mood: “What a start to the new year. Goffs February has always been a first choice for so many at this time of year and, this year’s renewal has recorded its highest turnover since 2007 when the sale was a four-day affair with over double the number of lots catalogued," and added that "we have enjoyed a sale that has exceeded expectations and has returned a turnover that is double last year and significantly ahead of any other sale this month."

Pedigree and performance underpinned Shamalza’s appeal. Sired by Lope de Vega and out of Shamreen (by Dubawi) - a dual Group 2 Blandford Stakes winner - she is a half-sister to 2022 Railway Stakes (G2) winner Shartash. BloodHorse reported Shamalza had made two starts for Dermot Weld and the Aga Khan Studs team, winning a Navan maiden on debut before failing to fire on heavy ground in a subsequent outing. Elliott explained the original plan: “When I came over, I thought she was the best breeding prospect in the sale on page. I was looking to breed her to Kingman... But actually, when I saw her and did a bit of digging, there was potentially some racing upside there as well.” He also cautioned on the ground preference, noting she likely would not relish very soft conditions.

The sale’s broader trade reinforced the narrative of a recovering midwinter market and robust international demand. Goffs highlighted that the catalogue’s top weanlings and mixed offerings attracted buyers from France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Kuwait, Sweden, the UK and Ireland. Day 1 produced its own headline with a Mehmas colt, Lot 126, selling to Tally-Ho Stud for €220,000. Tony O'Callaghan summed up the aggressive buying for standout stock: “The horse is right, the price is wrong. We had to have him. We liked the horse, he's the full shilling. The trade is good for the good ones.” Consignor Clare Manning called that result “unbelievable.”

For bloodstock players, Shamalza’s purchase highlights the tension between immediate commercial breeding value and the potential upside of giving well-bred fillies a chance on the track. For owners and trainers, the transaction underscores faith in tried matings such as Lope de Vega and Dubawi lines and in handlers like Ralph Beckett to extract racetrack value before stud careers. Watch for Shamalza’s summer reappearance and for how Goffs’ strong February figures reverberate through spring yearling and breeze-up markets.