Quality Shines At Goffs Orby

Four years ago, Goffs Chief Executive Henry Beeby made a resolution for the company's flagship Orby sale: to focus on quality. The new strategy was put into play the following year, and since 2012 the Goffs Orby yearling sale has gone from strength-to-strength, with improvements in gross and average year-on-year. In 2012, despite 32 fewer horses being sold, the gross jumped almost €7 million and the average and median were up by a whopping 46.8% and 38.1%, respectively. Things were again rosy in 2013, when a modern-day record of €2.85 million was set for the sale-topper and the average climbed 11.8% with 344 sold, 43 more than the previous year. Such a breakout horse was always going to make it a challenge for last year's renewal to continue to build on those highs, but it too delivered, with the average up a solid 8% and the median up 23%.

“The last few years we've built on every success year-after-year, and the fact that we improved last year's sale without the benefit of a modern-day record like the year before, the fact that we built on the average, median and turnover without that spectacular high spoke volumes,” said Beeby. “It meant the sale was a more solid, steady sale than the year before.”

The Orby catalogue in 2012 was trimmed down to 400 yearlings when the sale was cut to two days from three, and the numbers have gradually climbed again to 487 for this year's Orby sale, set for Sept. 29 and 30 in Co. Kildare. Beeby was adamant that the same standard of quality has been applied, and therefore expressed confidence of another strong sale.

“The reason we've gone from 450 to 487 is purely down to the quality,” said Beeby, noting that the Irish breeders have been entrusting Goffs with more of their best yearlings. “We looked at just shy of 500 more yearlings this year, and as has been the case the last few years I just said to all the inspectors, 'forget about the numbers, go and find the horses and make sure they're of a certain quality.' Whether that was slightly more or slightly less, I didn't care. So we've ended up with 37 more horses than last year.”

“I'm very lucky because I get to go to some of the best farms in the country, so I can say I know the horses I've seen are certainly as good, if not better, than previous years, and a higher concentration,” Beeby added. “We've been greatly supported, and the physicals match the paper.”

Just a few of the standout lots on paper in this year's Orby catalogue are a Teofilo (Ire) filly out of a full-sister to Grade I winner and champion sire Tapit (Pulpit) (lot 80); a full-brother to G1 Irish 1000 Guineas winner Nightime (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (lot 84); a Galileo half-sister to G1 Dewhurst S. winner Intense Focus (Giant's Causeway) (lot 112); a half-sister to Group 1 winner Toormore (Ire) (Arakan) and dual Group 2 winner Estidhkaar (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) by Sir Prancealot (Ire) (lot 113); a half-brother by Galileo to GI E.P. Taylor S. winner Lahaleeb (Ire) (Redback {GB}) (lot 161); a full-sister to multiple Group 1 and Classic winner Dawn Approach (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) (lot 201); a Galileo filly out of a Group 3-winning full-sister to Holy Roman Emperor (Ire) (lot 285); a Dubawi (Ire) half-sister to dual Grade II winner Grandeur (Ire) (Verglas {Ire}) (lot 294); and a Galileo half-brother to G2 Ribblesdale S. winner Banimpire (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) (lot 307).

The Orby catalogue also features six yearlings from the first crop of Frankel (GB) (Galileo {Ire}). Those offerings will certainly be keenly anticipated after the unbeaten champion had six youngsters sell for an average of €566,666 at Arqana August, and two of four through the ring sold at Keeneland September for $800,000 and $500,000.

The Frankel offerings are a filly out of five-time Group 1 winner Alexander Goldrun (Ire) (Gold Away) (lot 23); a half-brother to French Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed US Law (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) (lot 133); a colt from the family of champion New Approach (Ire) (lot 138); a granddaughter of champion and dual Classic winner Imagine (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) (lot 186); a half-brother to champion and dual Classic winner Finsceal Beo (Ire) (Mr. Greeley) (lot 303); and a filly out of dual stakes winner Rose Bonheur (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) (lot 381).

While Beeby said his team targeted Frankels for the catalogue, he noted they went after the progeny of Europe's leading sires just as aggressively. The catalogue boasts strong representation by such leading sires as Galileo (14, one more than last year); Invincible Spirit (Ire) (14, four more than last year); Sea The Stars (Ire) (six); Shamardal (four, three more than last year); and Teofilo (Ire) (Ire) (12, double last year's number).

“Our focus was to get the best catalogue we could, and we were conscious of Frankel's first crop,” Beeby explained. “We ended up with six, which we're very pleased with, but we also have 14 Galileos, so we shouldn't underestimate them. We have Redoute's Choice, Teofilo, Nathaniel, Invincible Spirit, Dubawi–we have a very, very good spread of horses. Of course we targeted Frankels, but no more than we targeted the others.”

Orby Keeping Them Home…

While the primary focus of Goffs for the Orby sale has been quality over quantity, another major goal for the company has been to deliver results that will encourage Irish breeders to keep more of their best yearlings in Ireland to sell at Orby. Beeby said that strategy is working.

“Our key focus in terms of horse recruitment is to get the Irish breeders to sell a bigger share of their best horses in Goffs in Ireland,” he said. “That's proving to be successful, and that's where our main focus remains, because happily for us Irish and European horses are doing exceptionally well on the world stage. They're as, or more, desirable than any other horses, so that's where our focus is.”

It can't hurt that, as well-documented in its recent ad campaign, Goffs has produced at least one European Classic winner in all but one of the last 12 racing seasons. This year Covert Love (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}), a €26,000 Orby graduate, flew the flag when winning the G1 Irish Oaks. Simple Verse (Ire) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}) held Classic glory for 15 minutes before being controversially disqualified from the G1 St Leger, a decision that is being appealed this week. She was a €240,000 Orby graduate in 2013, and if the appeal is won would be the second Classic winner for Qatar Racing purchased from Goffs, following Just The Judge (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) in 2011.

“Every year bar one of the last 12 there's been a European Classic winner,” Beeby said. “And that is just the headline of what Goffs offers. The Orby sale is offering quality winners season after season around the globe.”

This year's catalogue also contains a smattering of U.S.-bred or sired youngsters by the likes of Bullet Train (GB), Dunkirk, Elusive Quality, Exchange Rate, First Samurai, Kitten's Joy, Lonhro (Aus), Mizzen Mast, Munnings, Pure Prize, Street Boss and The Factor. There are also a handful of British-bred yearlings shipping across the Irish Sea.

“That's reversing the trend of horses going from Ireland to England,” Beeby noted. “It's not a flood, but it's a trickle, and trickles can lead to floods. It's something we're conscious of, trying to get people to come and take advantage of the Goffs experience.”

That is a concept that applies to both sellers and buyers.

“No disrespect to any of our competitors, they're all very good, but we believe that we will go that extra mile, work that little bit harder, and we'll certainly go out of our way to make the Goffs experience as good as any, if not better,” Beeby said. “The customer care is unrivaled, the welcome is as warm as anywhere, and without being corny about it we just make sure people enjoy themselves.”

“If anybody is considering buying in Europe, they have to go to a small number of sales, but the Orby has to be one of them,” he added.

Goffs will roll out a new concept for this year's Orby sale that will likely be a welcome addition to American visitors. For the first time ever, Goffs will have an x-ray repository.

“A couple of American buyers the last few years told us they thought it was a negative we didn't have a repository,” Beeby explained. “It's something that hasn't been evident in Goffs over the years; it wasn't considered necessary or desirable. We changed our view on that, so we have a new repository where x-rays can be lodged by the vendors in a very accessible place right next to the parade ring. It's just another element to increase transparency and increase the customer care we're offering. We've spoken to a lot of the leading vendors and also a good selection of the sales veterinarians to make sure they've told us what they want and how it works best for them.”

Another attraction for international buyers at Orby could be currency trends.

“I don't know whether people think currency is relevant or a red herring; it could be a red herring, but the fact that the Euro is where it is against the dollar and the pound at the moment means that buying in the Euro currency is highly attractive to any international buyer,” Beeby said. “If you mix that together with the quality of horses, I'd say the sale is unmissable.”

The Goffs Orby sale kicks off at 10 a.m. Sept. 29 and 30, and will be followed by the Goffs Sportsman yearling sale in a separate catalogue Oct. 1. Visit www.goffs.com for catalogues.