Goffs

Imad Alsagar's Baroud (Frankel), last seen finishing second in June's G2 Prix Eugene Adam, was the fourth choice of five for Saturday's G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano and defied his double-digit odds to upset TDN Rising Star Daryzan (Zarak) in the 10-furlong feature. "He's been a slow-maturing horse, but he's run better and better and improved again when he ran at Saint-Cloud," said racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe. "He went well in his last piece of work on Tuesday, which was really encouraging, and, as a Group 2 winner by Frankel, he...

Sarah Fanning has spent more than 25 years viewing the bloodstock business from almost every angle but doubtless there will be a better vista on the yearling sale beat than the well-respected consignor working alongside her recently retired husband Joe, who partnered almost 3,000 winners throughout his career in the saddle. Unlike Joe, whose 36-year career was defined by big numbers and mind-boggling tallies through his long and fruitful relationship with trainer Mark Johnston, Sarah has never chased throngs of horses in order to get her consignment off the ground....

The Chicquita Session, a new select section within the Goffs November Breeding Stock Sale that will offer a curated selection of Europe's most desirable fillies and broodmares, was launched by Goffs on Friday. Named after the Classic-winning filly Chicquita, whose €6 million sale at Goffs in 2013 was a defining moment in the company's history, the session will be limited to a maximum of 25 lots to be offered on the Friday evening at the Goffs November Breeding Stock Sale. The idea of a standalone section of elite bloodstock being...

The lure of the Orby bonuses along with the prospects of unearthing a horse like Ballinea Star are just a couple of reasons, according to Goffs chief Henry Beeby, why buyers ought to be flocking to Book 2 of the company's flagship yearling sale.  Robson Aguiar's Group 3-winning daughter of Space Blues was sourced for just €26,000 at Book 2 of the Orby Sale last year. For good measure, she scooped a €50,000 bonus for her connections when landing her maiden at Cork back in June.  She is rightly deemed...

Wathnan Racing's multiple Group 1-placed Flora Of Bermuda (Dark Angel) registered a second Group 3 success of the month when outbattling Sayidah Dariyan (Dariyan) in Wednesday's G3 Rolls-Royce Oak Tree Stakes at Goodwood. "We have been thinking about seven furlongs for a bit and it just seemed an obvious race to try it in," explained Andrew Balding. "She has been very consistent at a high level throughout her career and she is a fantastic filly. She has done very well physically this year and is happier now she is going...

The catalogue for the Goffs Orby Sale, which was once again put in lights recently with the Irish Oaks success of star graduate Johanna Walsh (Sea The Stars), has been released.  The catalogue features siblings to 22 Group 1 winners, headed by a Justify half-sister to four-time Oaks heroine and Orby sales-topper Minnie Hauk. Also on offer are siblings to Saffron Beach, Goliath, Emily Upjohn, Ethical Diamond, Khaadem, Anthony Van Dyck, Skitter Scatter and Jan Brueghel, alongside brothers and sisters to a further 46 Group 2 and Group 3 winners...

Amy Murphy trainee Tokaido (Ubettabelieveit) faced two rivals from the Joseph O'Brien stable in Sunday's G2 Goffs Prix Robert Papin and the G3 Prix du Bois winner confirmed his status as France's leading juvenile with a smooth success in the six-furlong feature. "We are very lucky to have found him and thankful to the guys for sending him to me," said Murphy. "It's amazing, it was more like a racecourse gallop today and he's done it well, so we are very happy. Sadly, he's a gelding and he can't run...

Carole Dods and Doug Graham's Arapaho Gold (Bayside Boy) was unbeaten after two wins at Thirsk and found plenty under a late drive to become the first black-type winner for his freshman sire (by New Bay) in Friday's Listed Apple Print & Creative Rose Bowl Stakes at Newbury. "He's done it well today to be honest as he got knocked sideways early on and, thankfully, Connor [Beasley] got him relaxed a bit, but he's done it the hard way," said trainer Michael Dods. "He's always looked a nice horse and...

The second running of the Goffs Classic Breeze-Up Sale provided a heavy dollop of déjà vu with Mark McStay, who bought the best horse out of the inaugural running of the sale, matching last year's top-lot figure of €330,000 on a Lope De Vega colt consigned by Norman Williamson.  Top-notch prospect Extremely Zain (Hello Youmzain) was sourced by McStay for €185,000 at this sale 12 months ago from Katie Walsh, who has sold a handful of classy runners to the leading bloodstock agent down through the years.  While Walsh did...

Katie Walsh, consignor of Extremely Zain, the poster boy for the Classic Breeze-Up Sale, explains why she has the confidence to send more quality juveniles to Goffs The hunt is on at Goffs for the next Extremely Zain (Hello Youmzain), unbeaten in three starts and bound for Group 1 races after being sourced at the inaugural Classic Breeze-Up Sale. It was Katie Walsh who sold Extremely Zain at the sale 12 months ago to bloodstock agent Mark McStay on behalf of owner Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum for €185,000.  Trained...

Henry Beeby has said he is optimistic that the second running of the Goffs Classic Sale will provide the breeze-up fraternity with a positive end to what proved to be a difficult season for so many.  The Goffs chief was speaking after Monday's breeze at Naas racecourse which attracted a good number of bloodstock agents and domestic handlers, something which Beeby said provided him with encouragement ahead of Saturday's sale.  The unbeaten Extremely Zain (Hello Youmzain), who was purchased by Mark McStay from Katie Walsh's Greenhills Farm for €185,000 here...

The Stateside raiders put it up to their European counterparts in Royal Ascot's G2 Norfolk Stakes, a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series "Win And You're In" qualifier for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, but had to give best in the closing stages as Clive Cox trainee Orthodox (Havana Grey) surged on by inside the final furlong to lead home an exacta for his Whitsbury Manor Stud-based sire. "Orthodox won at Salisbury and that was exciting, but we were only scratching the surface," said trainer Clive Cox, who won...