“What A Week” – Beeby Lauds Memorable Goffs November Breeding Stock Sale

[Wandering Eyes]

Goffs chief Henry Beeby has lauded a memorable November Breeding Stock Sale that saw Godolphin pay €1 million for a Sea The Stars (Ire) colt in the foal session and Alex Elliott go to €725,000 for Shamardal mare Her Honour (Ire) in what proved to be an eventful Saturday at Kildare Paddocks.

The curtain came down on the Breeding Stock Sale on Sunday, where the Kevin Prednergast-trained Profit Refused (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}) led the way at €45,000 to Rochestown Lodge Stud. 

Gouache (Ger), the dam of Goliath (Ger), who was a €5 million buyback on Saturday, remains unsold but that high-profile disappointment couldn't detract from what was overall strong trade at Goffs, especially in the foal department. 

Beeby commented, “What a week. Goffs November 24 will be remembered in many ways but mostly for the frenetic, electric and superb trade for the cream of the Irish foal crop we presented in our Foal Sale. 

“As ever we are supremely grateful to every vendor for the ongoing trust that is placed in us with each entry. It gives us enormous pleasure to see so many being well rewarded, and we are excited to learn that several of the best foals are already pencilled in for the Orby Sale next year. That is a key point for us as we strive to provide a top of the market option for Irish breeders and vendors of yearlings. We have demonstrated time and again, and in so many different categories, that Goffs is the measure of any entity when we have the horses but, as we say so often, we're nothing without the horses. So, the commitment of several big pinhookers to return to Orby is significant and we are pleased that our long-standing Customer Loyalty Scheme is helpful in this respect.”

He added, “Our Breeding Stock Sale was never going to come anywhere near last year's truly historic sale which, of course, was headlined by the once in a generation Niarchos Draft. However, leaving that aside we are perfectly content with trade for the better mares we offered and enjoyed a vibrant trade fuelled by a truly international buying bench. 

“Naturally we were disappointed not to secure a sale for Gouache, the dam of Goliath, but I repeat that we have total respect for the right of any vendor to value their stock as they see fit, and it is absolutely their prerogative to place whatever reserve they want and then let the market decide. On this occasion a sale was not possible although we will continue to work for the vendor, and it may be that a private sale is agreed in the coming days. Indeed, our work does not stop when the gavel falls as was clearly shown with yesterday's top lot, Her Honour as we quickly brokered a deal between vendor and the ultimate buyer at a price that suited both parties despite her not selling in the ring.”

Concentrating solely on Sunday, Beeby acknowledged that a 79% clearance rate, €445,500 turnover, €7,816 average and €5,000 median was a “sobering” experience. 

He concluded, “Today was obviously a rather sobering end to a big week but, as throughout the sale, those that appealed were hard enough to buy and we will only redouble our efforts to persuade more to support the sale. This business can be brutal on occasions, but Irish breeders may rest assured that Goffs will not rest in our efforts to provide a vibrant global marketplace for them. That is what we live to do and what we love to do.”

Given last year's sale featured the anomaly of the Niarchos dispersal, which saw Alpha Centauri and Alpine Star make €6 million apiece, Goffs released comparative figures omitting the Niarchos horses for the November Sale. 

The breeding stock section of the November Sale featured 126 more horses in 2023. And that's not including the Niarchos horses. On that metric, the turnover was down by 19% to €11,295,000, the average climbed 6% to €51,341 while the median rested at €725,000. 

Meanwhile, taking the entire November Sale as a whole and excluding the Niarchos draft again, the clearance rate was up by just 1% to 77%. Meanwhile, the turnover climbed 10% to €43,935,000, the average by 24% to €43,365 and the median by 23% to €27,000. 

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