Folland-Bowen Bloodstock makes a first appearance at the Goffs Orby Sale this year, which begins Sept. 29 with a two-day Book 1, with the event cherry-picked in order for a well-bred colt to make the right impression.
Natalie Folland and Matt Bowen's operation, which has been in existence on the Fonthill Estate in Wiltshire for just under four years, is offering a Pinatubo half brother to classic-placed sire Isaac Shelby as lot 200 of Monday's opening session.
He will join a cast of bluebloods during this showpiece event, which include siblings to group 1 and classic winners such as 2022 Epsom Derby (G1) hero Desert Crown, Jan Brueghel and Saffron Beach, perused by buyers from every corner of the globe.
The Orby can lay claim to have been an early chapter in the life of one of the season's brightest stars in Minnie Hauk, who has already landed four variations of an Oaks and is set to be a leading contender in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1). The Frankel filly, bred by Ben Sangster, was the 2023 top lot when knocked down to MV Magnier for US$1,955,860.
Folland-Bowen's March-born individual is well-known to the team as he was born at Fonthill, where breeder Elaine Chivers boards his dam.
Folland admits to "the same pre-sale nerves as usual", but the visit to Kildare Paddocks is nothing out of the ordinary.
"We do a lot of walk-ins to Ireland in the foaling season, so Matt is a pro at the lorry journey over," she says. "We're hoping this colt is well-received.
"His owner made the decision to come here. He had a couple of options but we all agreed there may be fewer Pinatubo yearlings heading to Ireland, and he's one of just four colts by him in the sale. Celine Orton (Goffs head of bloodstock) loved the colt too and was keen to get him for the Orby."
Isaac Shelby was the first son of Night Of Thunder to retire to stud when joining the Newsells Park Stud roster for 2025. The Superlative and Greenham Stakes winner was an early success story for Chivers, an IT professional who has been expanding her Thoroughbred interests over the last few years.
The colt's dam, the unraced Heliostatic mare Kentucky Belle, was sourced with Richard Knight for just 4,500gns at Tattersalls in 2019. Isaac Shelby was bought by Sam Sangster at the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale for £92,000, representing a reasonable return as Night Of Thunder was standing for only £15,000 before his stratospheric ascent. His 2-year-old half sister by Sergei Prokofiev, Eleanor Shelby, has gone close to winning for Brian Meehan, who trained both of them.
"This colt is very straightforward, gets on with his work and loves his food," Folland said. "He's classy. They're by very different stallions, but we can see him following in his brother's footsteps and being a black-type performer."
Folland-Bowen's biggest breakthrough as a brand came at last year's Tattersalls Book 2, with several major results. A Sea The Stars colt from the immediate family of the reliable Al Aasy was bought by Godolphin for 550,000gns, before a Too Darn Hot half sister to the useful Mishal Star made 460,000gns. Also registered for Godolphin with John and Thady Gosden, she has been named Rosanella.
"So far we've found the market to be more polarized than we normally do," says Folland.
"There was a good buzz at the Goffs UK Premier Sale and Tattersalls Somerville Sale. We haven't many more to sell this season, but we have another lovely homebred for Elaine in Book 2.
"She's a Havana Grey filly out of Mishal Star, who was rated 92 and is also one of Elaine's homebreds, so that makes this sale even more special."
