Goffs Closes With Figures Up

[Wandering Eyes]

The five-day Goffs November Foal and Breeding Stock Sales drew to a close on Friday with an abbreviated Part II of each section. While, as per the norm, clearance rates took a hit as the level of trade dipped, the gains seen in the previous days continued across most sectors.

The day began with Part II of the Breeding Stock Sale, with 79 going through the ring after scratches. Fifty-six were sold for an aggregate of €298,600, an average of €5,332 and a median of €3,750. Cumulatively, 295 fillies and mares were offered across a day and a half of selling for the breeding stock sale, with 82% of those (242) finding new homes-well up on last year’s 64.7% clearance rate. The average and median were similarly up, 24% (€33,152) and 40% (€14,000), respectively. The aggregate was €8,022,900, and the overall topper the €525,000 Snowflakes (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

Leading the way on Friday was Ballylinch Stud’s 16-year-old Lidanski (Ire) (Soviet Star) (lot 1130), in foal to Fascinating Rock (Ire) and bought by Tullogher House Stud for €32,000. The daughter of the dual Group 3 winner Lidanna (GB) (Nicholas) produced stakes winners from her first two foals: the G1 Prix de l’Abbaye victor Wizz Kid (Ire) (Whipper) and the listed-winning Mustaheel (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}).

Wednesday’s session saw a record price for a colt foal at this sale established in the form of Springbank Way Stud’s Dubawi (Ire) colt out of Nightime (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), bought–like his elder full-brother Ghaiyyath (Ire)–by Godolphin for €1.2-million. Friday’s Part II foal session was admittedly more low key but the stats stacked up favourably to 2018. Part II of the foals saw 157 offered and 105 sold for a clearance rate of 66.8%. The average was down 3.5% to €6,481, while the median climbed 12% to €4,200.

A pair of colts by Dandy Man (Ire) fetched the top two prices of Friday’s foal session: first was Ballintry Stud’s son of the winning Shamardal mare Texas Queen (GB) (lot 1183), who was bought by Jamie B. Bloodstock for €35,000. A short time later, Hot Bloodstock went to €24,000 for Piercetown Stud’s Dandy Man (Ire) colt out of the unraced Unusually Hot (Ire) (Unusual Heat) (lot 1195).

“What a week,” said Goffs Group Chief Executive Henry Beeby. “The Goffs November Sale has a rich history and the 2019 renewal is one that only adds to the story in a largely positive way.

“Our Part 1 Foal Sale set records in every area headed by the world’s highest priced foal of the year so far at €1.2 million. He headed a trade of true strength and depth that reflected the quality of the foals entrusted to us by so many leading breeders who continue to send a bigger share of their best to Goffs. Indeed, our Day 3 sale was a superb representation of the cream of the 2019 foal crop with the very best of Irish foals joined by some notable UK bred youngsters leading to an average of just short of €100,000 and a whole sale median of €30,000. The quality of the catalogue allowed us to make significant advances at every level as we welcomed a wide cross section of pinhookers and end users to Kildare Paddocks.

“The Breeding Stock Sale also recorded significant gains as an international audience battled it out for lot after lot on Day 1 and that trend continued through to [Friday] when a 71% clearance rate was returned. This is a sale with a tremendous track record on the racecourse and we have no doubt this year’s graduates will be responsible for their share of top-class performers. Of course we would like more as we had several overseas buyers with unfilled orders so our task next year will be to attract a larger catalogue of quality to meet demand as our feedback is that our international visitors love their trips to Ireland and to Goffs as they see quality and value at every level.

“Whilst the week is a statistical success and the headlines are very positive, it would be naive of us not to recognise the ongoing challenges facing breeders. We have seen a relentless hunger for the best of the best at Goffs which underlines the enduring appeal of the best Irish-bred bloodstock across the globe. However the trends that became clearer at the yearling sales meant that the foal market was increasingly selective for those that the pinhooking fraternity have doubts about for the 2020 sales. The polarisation of the market only appears to be increasing, and the double whammy of Brexit uncertainty and poor UK prize money is making the market tougher for the commercial breeder and trader. As an auction house we will continue to work tirelessly to deliver the most vibrant market place possible at all levels and a look back at our Autumn Yearling Sale was testament to the hard work of our international network of agents and Irish Thoroughbred Marketing, as reliance on the domestic market would have led to a very different result. However, along with a satisfaction of a good week overall, we will reflect on how we can further improve the market at every level in 2020.

“For now we extend our thanks to every vendor, as we really are nothing without their horses, and our appreciation and best wishes to each purchaser as both groups have confirmed the Goffs November Sale’s market leading status once again.”

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