By Chris McGrath
In no time at all, the Goffs London Sale has come to seem something of an institution. The auction, staged for only the fifth time on Monday, has quickly found a niche in terms of both business and pleasure. In the former regard, as many as 22 of the 30 lots on offer hold entries at Royal Ascot this week; in social terms, meanwhile, the grounds of Kensington Palace provide an apt milieu for members of the international bloodstock community to convene on the eve of the most cosmopolitan meeting of the British racing calendar.
True, there has been a slight change of scene this year after the closure for renovation of the Orangery; nor is the weather expected to be anything like as unusual as last year, when temperatures soared uncomfortably. This time the sale will be conducted in the adjacent Perks Field, and the forecast is for a more typically pleasant English summer afternoon. Ideal, in other words, for the garden party atmosphere sought by Goffs, who stage the sale in conjunction with QIPCO among various commercial partners.
Among the juveniles likely to attract plenty of interest is lot 10, Vintage Brut (GB) (Dick Turpin {Ire}). Trained by Tim Easterby, he stormed home by seven lengths on his Thirsk debut before winning a listed race at Sandown. He is offered with an entry in the G2 Norfolk S. on Thursday.
Another with stakes form entered both in the Norfolk and in this auction is lot 19, Andre Amar (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}). After beating a subsequent listed winner on his debut for Ger Lyons, he chased home the highly regarded 'TDN Rising Star' Sergei Prokofiev (Scat Daddy) in a listed race at Naas despite running greenly from the gate.
The winner that day is warm favourite for the G2 Coventry S. tomorrow, where his winning rivals will include lot 6, Boa Noa (Ire) (Zebedee {GB}), who scored on debut for Brian Meehan at Bath; lot 21, Ninetythreetwenty (Ire) (Dragon Pulse {Ire}), unbeaten in two starts for Richard Fahey; and lot 30, Shine So Bright (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), introduced by Karl Burke to score in impressive fashion at Nottingham only last week. The grey is out of Group 3 winner Alla Speranza (GB) (Sir Percy {GB}) from the family of Alborada (GB) (Alzao).
Besides several promising juvenile fillies and older horses with Ascot entries, the catalogue has also provided a conduit onto the market for three breeze-up horses and three broodmares. Selling as lot 7, Landikusic (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) is a winning full sister to Zoffany (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), in foal to none other than Frankel (GB) (Galileo {Ire}). Belle Josephine (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) sells as lot 22, her foal Mildenberger (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) having done so well this spring; she is in foal to Siyouni (Fr) and sells with her Pivotal (GB) colt foal at foot. Miss Beatrix (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), winner of the G1 Moyglare S. in 2006, comes under the hammer with a Muhaarar (GB) covering as lot 13.
“We are looking forward to a fantastic afternoon of sales action,” said Group Chief Executive of Goffs, Henry Beeby. “And we believe the quality of the catalogue holds great appeal for both domestic and international buyers. The weather forecast looks sunny all week and we are excited to be raising the curtain on a superb week of racing in some style at our new site.”
As a bonus, Qatar Racing stallion Hot Streak (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) will be paraded before the sale. His first crop are yearlings of 2018. But the icing on the cake is the donation by artist Katie O'Sulivan of a mare-and-foal painting, to be auctioned for World Horse Welfare.
The sale starts at 5 p.m. local time, with the gate open to guests from 3 p.m.
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