Goffs

Henry Beeby has opened the door to Goffs embracing the publication of official times and other data at its newly slated breeze-up sale at Naas racecourse next year but admitted that such a move was unlikely to be met with universal approval from the breeze-up fraternity.  No consignor would be more staunchly against the re-introduction of official times at the breeze-up sales in Europe than Brendan Holland. The Grove Stud operator says official times would create an increased reliance on the clock and would ultimately drive down clearance rates at...

Kenny Alexander, the owner of Honeysuckle (GB) (Sulamani {Ire}), has donated a specific set of racing colours which will be offered as part of the Goffs Punchestown Sale next week, the sales company announced on Friday. Signed by Rachael Blackmore, Henry De Bromhead and Alexander, the silks were worn by Blackmore in all of Honeysuckle's major races, including her four Cheltenham Festival victories. The silks are offered to support the ChildVision indoor equine therapeutic centre named in memory of Jack De Bromhead, which will be built this year. The catalogue...

DONCASTER, UK--Royal Ascot dreams abound for the connections of Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), who not only have that unbeaten star to look forward to, but a host of high-class two-year-old prospects as well after Anthony Stroud snapped up speedy fillies by Havana Grey (GB) and Sioux Nation (lot 119) to the tune of £720,000 on behalf of the ownership group at the Goffs Breeze-Up Sale. But Doncaster was dominated by the Derryconnor Stud-drafted diamond by Havana Grey, who led the way at £420,000 to provide top consignor Katie McGivern...

DONCASTER, UK--What a difference a year can make. It was at this sale 12 months ago when Gary de Souza left us poor scribes befuddled. Consigning under the imaginatively-named Gary Bloodstock [!], his Sioux Nation filly, who would later go on to be the Group-placed Gunzburg (Ire), rocked the clock before being knocked down to trainer Paddy Twomey and bloodstock agent Mark McStay for £160,000.  But where was de Souza when it came to getting a quote on Gunzburg, who could conceivably be described as a life-changing filly in the...

Keeneland has become a sponsor of the International Thoroughbred Breeders' Federation, an organization which serves the members of Thoroughbred breeding associations in 26 countries that produce some 80,000 foals annually. "We are enormously grateful to Keeneland for their support and welcome them as an ITBF sponsor," said Sarah Carmichael,  CEO of ITBF. "As a not-for-profit organization, ITBF has to look to the industry for ongoing financial assistance to facilitate the essential service that we provide to the international breeding industry. Our role is a continually expanding one, and without our...

Whether it was Roderic Kavanagh working his magic once again, Katie Walsh clearing seven figures on the only two horses she brought to Park Paddocks or Charlie Poste enjoying a dream debut at the first major breeze-up sale of the year, there were no shortage of feel-good stories to emerge from the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale.  However, agent Richard Brown, consignor Mark Grant and trainer Jamie Osborne agreed that, while the top end of the market was arguably stronger than ever, the middle market remained tricky at Tattersalls this week. ...

Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah's battle-hardened Haatem (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}--Hard Walnut {Ire}, by Cape Cross {Ire}) had twice chased home City Of Troy (Justify) in juvenile pattern races last term and, while tipping his hat to that old foe, threw down a Classic marker of his own with a hugely impressive 3 1/2-length triumph in Thursday's one-mile G3 bet365 Craven S. at Newmarket. The Richard Hannon trainee broke on the front end and was restrained to accept a tow in an overall third before inching into second passing halfway....

The seventh edition of the Goffs Aintree Sale was topped by Monksgrange debut point-to-point winner He Can't Dance (Ire) (Jukebox Jury {Ire}) (lot 17) who caught the eye of Gordon Elliott for £300,000 on Thursday. Consigned by Rob James Racing, the striking grey counts Fairy Tale (Fr) (Spanish Moon) as his dam, herself a half-sister to three black-type winners over jumps including the eight-time Grade 1 winner Master Minded (Fr) (Nikos {GB}). JP McGrath Bloodstock signed for lot 23, Holloway Queen (Ire), also by Jukebox Jury (Ire). The £180,000 4-year-old...

Goffs have teamed up with Naas Racecourse and Irish Thoroughbred Marketing (ITM) to introduce a new two-year-old breeze-up sale in Ireland for 2025. The breeze will take place at Naas on Tuesday, June 3, with the sale being staged at Goffs on Wednesday, June 4. A practice breeze will also be held on the Bank Holiday Monday, June 2. Announcing the new breeze-up sale, Goffs chief executive Henry Beeby, said, "We are thrilled that Naas Racecourse has agreed to host the trackwork to enable this exciting new breeze-up sale in...

Godolphin's Romantic Style (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) made her seasonal return a successful one and downed 'TDN Rising Star' Ramatuelle (Justify) to become her connections' first winner, in a thrilling renewal, of Deauville's G3 Prix Imprudence. The 37-10 third favourite, who shed maiden status at Great Yarmouth in September before winning the Listed Bosra Sham S., was positioned second in the far-side group and raced in an overall fifth through halfway in this seven-furlong distaffers' Guineas trial. Looming large out wide with 300 metres remaining, she quickened to the...

Humility goes by the household name of humble and you will be hard pressed to find a more humble couple than Donna Cowens and Nicky Souza de Oliveira of DNA Equine. The pair burst onto the scene at the Goffs Breeze-Up Sale at Doncaster last year when selling Mantra (Ire) to Jake Warren on behalf of Highclere for a life-changing £160,000. The Tamayuz (Ire) filly had been bought for a song the previous winter. Identified by Cowens as a potentially nice type to go breezing and get the DNA consignment...

Racing Together, the industry's community engagement partnership, will host the 2024 community day on Wednesday, May 8 to coincide with the Boodles May Festival at Chester Racecourse, the organisation announced on Monday via press release. British horseracing's national day of employee volunteering, the effort is supported by various charity and commercial partners with a focus on horseracing and bloodstock groups to give back as a team to their communities. Activities range from staff volunteering at local care homes to renovating stables, and picking up litter or collecting for local food...