The yearling sales season will get off to its traditional start in Britain with the Goffs UK Premier Sale which commences on Tuesday, Aug. 24. Taking place over two days, the 400-lot sale is immediately followed on Wednesday afternoon by the Silver Sale, which comprises another 90 horses. Catalogues for both are now online.
The line-up for this year's Premier Sale, which is down in numbers from 469 yearlings catalogued in 2019, includes a Dark Angel (Ire) half-brother to G2 Coventry S. winner Rajasinghe (Ire), offered in the Yeomanstown Stud draft as lot 40. Also catalogued is a Croom House Stud-consigned full-brother to the G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. winner Illuminate (Ire), by the late Zoffany (Ire), who is lot 291.
The sales also includes four yearlings from the sole crop of the late Roaring Lion–three colts and a filly, including lot 303, a son of the G2 May Hill S winner Rich Legacy (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), offered by Hillwood Stud.
The most recent group-winning graduate of the last year's sale came on Saturday with the victory of Zain Claudette (Ire) (No Nay Never) in the G3 Princess Margaret Keeneland S. at Ascot. The Ismail Mohammed-owned filly was bought by Saeed Al Tayer for just £20,000 at Doncaster in August and is now the winner of two of her three starts. Other graduates include the Royal Ascot-winning sprinters Dream Of Dreams (Ire) (Dream Ahead) and Rohaan (Ire) (Mayson {GB}).
“From the coveted European 2-year-old races to Royal Ascot's most famed contests, international Group 1 sprints to the Classics, this sale has celebrated recent winners in them all, a clear demonstration as to the ever-increasing class of horse this sale is producing. And that class is expanding from the track to the covering sheds and breeding paddocks,” said Goffs UK managing director Tim Kent.
“The sale is also making its mark with its fillies. Multiple Group 1 victrix and Classic winner Laurens (Fr), who celebrated her first foal this year, is the sale's obvious star and this season has seen more fillies prove their worth with the Group 2 winner Fev Rover (Ire) and stakes winner Mystery Angel (Ire) both achieving Classic placings in the 1000 Guineas and Oaks respectively, highlighting their class and the sale's ongoing ability to produce.”
Further incentive for buyers to head to Doncaster in August is provided by the launch of the Goffs UK Premier Prizes. The winning owners of York's Premier Yearling Stakes, which is open to graduates of last year's sale, will win a free horse from Goffs UK as well as a hospitality package from York Racecourse. The winning trainer is given a free six-month lease of a two-stall Theault horsebox.
Kent added, “The first Premier Prizes will be awarded at this year's race on 19 August so the winning owners will be able to bid on their free horse at this year's sale.
“The launch of the Premier and Silver Sale catalogues is always something we look forward to and especially this year as we take a positive step after a difficult 2020. We will be marketing these sales worldwide via our vast international network of Goffs agents and are very much looking forward to welcoming everyone to Doncaster on 24 and 25 August.”
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