Goffs Open Yearling Sale Ends

The Goffs Open Yearling Sale came to a close on Thursday. Figures are difficult to compare, as the sale was two sessions this year compared to one last year, but they nonetheless remained steady. A total of 313 yearlings were sold this year for €2,184,800, compared to 148 sold for €1,057,100 last year. The buyback rate was 27.7% this year, up slightly on 22.5% last year. The average was down marginally (2.3%) at €6,980, while the median was up a tick (4.4%) at €4,700.

Topping trade on Thursday was an Elzaam (Aus) colt bought by BBA Ireland for €52,000 (lot 493) on behalf of Yulong Investments, which bought 39 yearlings over the two-day sale. Consigned by Peter Nolan Bloodstock, the colt is the third foal out of Bloomsday Babe (Cherokee Run), a half-sister to stakes winner and producer Steaming Home (Salt Lake) and from the further family of GI Travers S. and GI Haskell Invitational winner Corporate Report.

The top-priced filly of the day was a €35,000 daughter of Tagula (Ire) (lot 474) picked up by trainer Ger Lyons from Baroda & Colbinstown Studs. The chestnut is a half-sister to this year's G2 Norfolk S. second Santry (Ire) (Harbour Watch {Ire}).

Goffs Group Chief Executive Henry Beeby said, “A truly international group of buyers have descended on Kildare Paddocks over the last three days with visitors from China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Poland, Scandinavia, Switzerland and USA competing with buyers from the UK and Ireland for both our form horses and the yearlings following concerted and targeted marketing by both Goffs and Irish Thoroughbred Marketing. I confess that we have been stung by the suggestion that we, both Goffs and ITM, did not do enough to attract buyers as reported anonymously in the Racing Post today. We would refute such suggestions albeit against a background of always wanting more. The fact is the market is an unforgiving one and never more so than this year where we saw frenzied bidding at the top of the market at Goffs Orby Sale as a huge group of international buyers fought for the blue bloods. However, lower down the scale, at every sales venue this year, it has been harder work but that should do not detract from the huge time and investment we have made on a global basis to market every entry over the last three days. That has included trips to racing stables and race meetings in every target country as well as endless emails and telephone calls leading to hotel bookings, cars heading for the airport and liaison with agents and intermediaries of buyers at all levels.”

“Last year we were recording our thanks to Mr Zhang of Yulong Investments, who was introduced to Goffs by Michael Donohoe of BBA Ireland, and we have ensured his ongoing support of our Orby, Sportsman's and the last three days' Open/HIT Sales by working with BBA Ireland, ITM and other Irish businesses to secure his patronage. That has taken time and money, and we would suggest that his leading buyer status demonstrates that the investment was well worth it; this is just one example of the proactivity of the Goffs and ITM teams as we work with companies like BBA Ireland to promote Irish sales and Irish horses at home, in the UK and around the world.”