More than just a horse – The mare described as a ‘living treasure’ – a descendant of Blackbeard and Darwin – took the top spot at the Orby Sale for €1,900,000

In the electrified atmosphere of Fairyhouse Racecourse, where the air hummed with anticipation and the scent of polished stables mingled with the murmur of international buyers, a single filly stepped into the spotlight and redefined the boundaries of equine value. On the second day of the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale, this March-born daughter of No Nay Never out of the mare Muirin fetched an astonishing €1,900,000, eclipsing all other lots and etching her name into the annals of bloodstock history. Consigned by the esteemed Glenvale Stud as Lot 280, she was snapped up by MV Magnier on behalf of Coolmore Stud, a purchase that not only crowned the sale’s top price but also underscored the unyielding allure of a family steeped in speed, stamina, and storied legacy.

What elevates this filly beyond mere statistics is her impeccable pedigree, a tapestry woven from threads of proven brilliance. She is a full sister to Blackbeard, the electrifying bay colt who stormed to victory in six of his eight starts as a juvenile, including top-level triumphs in the Prix Morny at Deauville and the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket. Blackbeard, retired to Coolmore’s Ashford Stud at just three years old, now commands a stud fee of €25,000 and covered 194 mares in his debut season. His first crop of yearlings has already turned heads, with a colt realizing €165,000 at Tattersalls Ireland’s September Sale earlier this month—a testament to the sire’s burgeoning influence just as his siblings command seven-figure sums.

Equally compelling is her relation to Charles Darwin, another full brother who burst onto the scene with a commanding win in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot. Trained by Aidan O’Brien, the chestnut colt showed such promise that whispers of a Breeders’ Cup appearance linger, despite a season-ending injury. O’Brien’s high regard for Charles Darwin—”he thinks he’s a very good horse,” as Magnier put it—adds layers of intrigue to this filly’s profile. Yet, it is the dam, Muirin, who truly embodies the “living treasure” moniker bestowed upon her lineage. A daughter of the late Born To Sea, Muirin herself was no slouch on the track, securing a maiden victory at the Curragh under Eddie Lynam before finishing a creditable fourth in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes behind the illustrious Happily. Her broodmare career has been nothing short of prolific: four foals to race, four winners, including the Listed-placed Run Away, who herself topped the Orby Sale in 2022 at €2.6 million before a private resale. Currently in foal to Wootton Bassett, Muirin continues to propagate a family line that traces back to luminaries like Girouette, Max Vega, and Night Tornado—names synonymous with black-type success across Europe.

Ciaran “Flash” Conroy of Glenvale Stud, who presented the filly with characteristic flair, could scarcely contain his pride as the hammer fell. “We all know the family well, and it’s a great family,” he told reporters ringside. “She’s an amazing mare—she gets lovely-looking stock, so they suit the sales ring. She’s bred some great two-year-olds; she’s produced Blackbeard, she’s produced Charles Darwin. She’s a rare mare to have, and any time you get that kind of money is great.” Conroy’s words captured the essence of Muirin’s magic: not just the raw athleticism she imparts, but the aesthetic appeal that turns heads in the sales pavilion. Acquired by Broadhurst Agency for a modest €210,000 as a yearling at Goffs in November 2018, Muirin has since blossomed into a cornerstone of Newstead Breeding’s operation, her offspring blending the explosive turn of foot from No Nay Never with the dam’s gritty resilience.

For MV Magnier, the decision to stretch to €1.9 million was less a gamble than an investment in inevitability. “She’s a lovely filly,” he enthused post-sale. “Blackbeard was a very good racehorse and his yearlings are selling very well—they look very promising. He’s having a really good sale this week, and apparently he has a few good ones coming up in the next couple of weeks. And of course, Aidan thinks a lot of Charles Darwin; he thinks he’s a very good horse. To be fair to the mare, she always has a good-looker. Blackbeard is a very nice, correct horse who was very fast. Charles looks like he could be the proper job, so let’s hope this filly can do something similar. She’s a very valuable filly. There’s a lot going on on the page too; the mare is in foal to Wootton Bassett. This is great for Goffs and everyone involved. They’ve done a great job all week getting the people and the horses here, and every year something good comes out of this sale.”

Magnier’s enthusiasm resonated throughout the pavilion, where the filly’s sale capped a robust second session that saw three lots breach the €1 million mark. Amo Racing, for instance, shelled out €1 million on a Night of Thunder filly earlier in the day, contributing to their €2.66 million spree. Overall, the Orby Book 1 delivered a vintage performance: 383 of 435 yearlings changed hands for €52,225,500—a 2% uptick in turnover—with the average climbing 5% to €134,255 and the median shattering records at €98,000, up 23%. Six-figure sales numbered 194, a 22% increase from 2024, reflecting a market undeterred by global headwinds and buoyed by the depth of Irish-bred talent.

This filly’s triumph is more than a transaction; it is a narrative of continuity in the thoroughbred world, where bloodlines whisper promises of glory yet to come. In an industry where fortunes rise and fall with the flick of a tail, Muirin and her progeny stand as beacons of enduring value—a living treasure not just for Coolmore’s vast empire, but for the sport itself. As she embarks on her journey from Fairyhouse’s ring to perhaps the sands of Deauville or the turf of Newmarket, one thing is certain: her story has only just begun, carrying the echoes of Blackbeard’s sprint and Darwin’s dash into an eager future.