Orby Goes Into Orbit
ORBY GOES INTO ORBIT
By Kelsey Riley
A modern day record-priced yearling; the most lucrative dispersal in European history; the highest-priced horse ever sold at an Irish auction; a Frankel foal parading at Kensington Palace in London. These are just a few of the reasons Goffs has been in the headlines over the last 12 months, and Ireland’s premier sale company looks to continue its dream run with its flagship Orby Sale at the Kill Paddocks in County Kildare Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.
Ireland’s premier yearling sale has posted stellar results the last two seasons after revamping its format– with a focus on quality over quantity–in 2012. That year’s edition saw a 33% increase in gross (€27,189,500) despite having 59 fewer horses through the ring; a 47% rise in average (€90,331) and a 33% increase in median (€58,000), with just 15% of horses failing to find new homes and five realizing more than €500,000, including an €800,000 top-priced lot. While the median dipped marginally (1.7% to €57,000) last year, all other indicators outperformed the previous year. The average breached the €100,000 barrier despite 40 more horses going through the ring, rounding at out €101,004 (up 12%), and the gross was up to €34,745,500. The two-day stand was brought to a dramatic close when a regally bred colt by Montjeu (Ire) out of the dual Guineas winner Finsceal Beo (Ire) (Mr. Greeley) was knocked down to M V Magnier for €2.85 million–a modern-day record for a yearling in Ireland and the second-highest price ever paid for a yearling in that country. Later named Ol’ Man River and put into training with Aidan O’Brien for the Coolmore partners, Ol’ Man River earned J“TDN Rising Star” J status with a flashy debut win at The Curragh Aug. 31, and is currently amongst the favorites for next year’s G1 Investec Derby.
“The Orby is all about the best Irish horses,” said Goffs Chief Executive Henry Beeby. “Our top price last year is really what we’re all about. If we had to encapsulate what we’re about in one horse–he’s a beautifully bred Irish horse, a Montjeu out of Finsceal Beo. He was an absolutely to-die-for physical. Then, absolutely crucially, he’s living up to the reputation.” If Goffs’ fortunes continue in the same direction, they could find a Derby winner on their honor roll next year. “They’re very patient with [Ol’ Man River] because he’s very special,” Beeby added. “I asked Aidan O’Brien a few times how he was doing, and he said, ‘we’re minding him, because he’s a proper horse.’ He comes out and wins his debut, beating a pretty good field in very impressive style. He’s already 20-1 for the Derby next year. They’re talking about one more race in Group 1 or 2 company this season, putting him away and aiming towards the Derby.”
Beeby also paid tribute to Chicquita (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), who set a €6 million European record for a filly in training at Goffs November last year; Cappella Sansevero (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), the £1.3 million topper of the inaugural Goffs London Sale in June and Europe’s latest sire sensation, Sea the Stars, whose foals have made numerous headlines at Goffs in recent seasons.
“That is what the sale is all about,” he said. “[Ol’ Man River], Chicquita, Cappella Sansevero, Sea the Stars foals–all those sorts of thing over the last couple years have demonstrated that Goffs is there to serve the Irish breeders; to be there to sell the best horses. Give us the opportunity, and we will match any sale company in the world.”
Goffs Goldmine…
Four hundred and fifty of the best Irish yearlings. That is the tagline adopted by Goffs for this year’s Orby sale, and flipping through the catalogue it is not difficult to imagine its inhabitants gracing the winner’s enclosures of Classic and Group 1 races. Amongst the standout pedigrees are lot 5, a filly from the first crop of standout miler Canford Cliffs (Ire) who is a half-sister to champion European mare Alexander Goldrun (Ire) and Group 3 winner Medecis; lot 19, one of 14 in the catalogue by Galileo (Ire), and a full-brother to three Group 1 performers; lot 24, another Galileo, this time a filly who is the first foal out of Group 3 winner and Classic-placed Sent From Heaven (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}); lot 41, a filly by the red-hot Invincible Spirit (Ire) out of Grade I winner Folk Opera (Ire) (Singspiel {Ire}); lot 49, an Exceed and Excel (Aus) full-brother to Group 1 winner Margot Did (Ire); lot 72, a Dutch Art (GB) half-sister to G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches winner Tie Black (Ire) (Machiavellian); lot 104, a Teofilo (Ire) half-sister to Group 1 winner Casamento (Ire) (Shamardal {Ire}), as well as the dam of champion and dual Group 1-winning miler Toronado (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}); lot 250, a colt by sophomore sire sensation Sea the Star out of Group 2 winner Four Sins (Ger) (Sinndar {Ire}); lot 268, a full-sister to last weekend’s G2 Blandford S. winner and G1 Investec Oaks runner-up Tarfasha (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), a three-quarter to multiple Group 1-placed Galileo Rock (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and a half to Group 2 winner Saddler’s Rock (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells); lot 270, a Sea the Stars half-sister to Group 1 winner and sire Lord Shanakill (Speightstown); lot 283, a Galileo half-sister to multiple Group 1-winning sprinter Society Rock (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}); lot 344, a first-crop son of Derby winner Pour Moi (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) who is a three-quarter to three-time GI Canadian International hero Joshua Tree (Ire); , a Fastnet Rock (Aus) half-brother to European and U.S. champion 2-year-old Johannesburg (Hennessy) and lot 403, a full-sister to 2012 G1 Irish Derby hero and consistent Group 1 performer Trading Leather (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}). In addition, two yearlings from the last crop of Ol’ Man River’s sire, Montjeu, will be on offer.
“That Goffs’ Orby Sale features some of the best yearlings in Ireland is beyond argument, as the support of the country’s leading breeders has been humbling,” said Beeby. “The result is a catalogue that is certainly the measure of any and offers huge appeal to all levels of the market, as well as unbeatable value. Irish horses consistently win around the globe at the highest level. The Orby is Ireland’s best yearling sale so it does not take a huge leap of faith to conclude that the Orby catalogue features some of the best yearlings available in 2014.”
Goffs broke from the traditional three-day format of its Orby Sale in 2012, shrinking the catalogue to two days.
“I think every sale worldwide is seeing a focus on quality, at whatever level of the market they’re at,” Beeby said. “My concern was people turning up at Goffs and not finding a consistent standard. Two years ago, we said, ‘the focus is the horse–just pick the horses.’ So we ended up with less horses, but that was definitely the right thing to do.”
The statistics of the past two Orby Sales speak for the success of the new format, and Beeby expressed confidence that this year’s catalogue is up to the same standard.
“The Orby Sale should be a catalogue of the best Irish horses available to us, and that’s what it is,” he said. “Two years ago it went very well, and last year it built on that. This year’s catalogue is another step forward.”
The upward curve of the sale over the last two years has seemingly injected the Irish breeders with confidence.
“A few years ago when we went to the leading Irish studs, it was a polite, ‘we’ll see what we can find,’” Beeby said. “Now, they’re saying, ‘you will get a significant share of our best horses.’ I’m not asking anyone to send us all their best horses, because there are plenty of other options, but the Orby Sale is very much a selection of the best horses in Ireland, and that’s been reflected the last couple years in the standard of the horses and the feedback buyers have given us.”
Orby By The Numbers…
There are 30 more horses catalogued to the Orby Sale than 12 months ago, which raises the question of whether the €100,000+ average can be sustained. Beeby insisted, however, that the because the same quality focused standards were applied in building this year’s catalogue, it is not out of the realm of possibility for the sale to maintain or continue its upward trajectory.
“There are 30 more horses than last year, and if we’ve applied the same standards, which I think we have, that means we have a better catalogue, because we have 30 more horses,” he noted. “There are more horses there that we believe are of the same standard, and we looked at significantly more horses this year on the back of the last two years. The foal crop isn’t that much bigger, so that means we’re making serious progress. Being the best in Ireland is the first goal, but to have the best in Ireland is the next thing. We believe our catalogue is the measure of any these days.”
Beeby acknowledged, however, that some serious horsepower will be required to replace Ol’ Man River.
“This time last year, did I think we had a yearling to make €2,850,000? No I didn’t,” he said. “I thought we had a yearling to make a million, but I didn’t know what he’d make–I hadn’t seen him for a while, and he goes and makes that. So if the average is €100,000, we have to have 28 horses of that average price to replace him if he isn’t there. That was the second-highest price in Ireland ever, and the highest in 30 years, so that will be very hard to replace. I think what we’re looking for this year is a consolidation of last year’s figures. If there is growth we’ll be delighted. We had a very strong clearance rate last year, so it’s important to maintain that because ultimately we’re there to sell horses.”
International Appeal…
This year’s Orby catalogue boasts a diverse offering of American-based sires. In addition to stallions like Speightstown, Distorted Humor and Elusive Quality (one each catalogued) that have become household names in Europe thanks to the exploits of their progeny, a few new shooters can be found amongst the pages. Coolmore’s Cape Blanco (Ire), who was himself an Orby graduate before going on to Grade and Group 1 success on the track, is represented by four first crop yearlings; his Ashford barnmate Scat Daddy has three catalogued and Haynesfield, Kitten’s Joy, Lonhro (Aus), Paddy O’Prado, Quality Road (sire of this year’s Listed Windsor Castle S. winner and G1 Prix Morny second Hootenanny), Street Boss, Summer Bird and Tiznow all have one each catalogued.
While some of these are pinhook prospects purchased in America, others were recruited by Beeby and Goffs’ American representative Joe Hopkins in the spring.
“It’s all about making the sale one of international appeal,” said Beeby. “It’s focusing on Ireland, but it also has international appeal. Joe and I came across and went to several farms in April to recruit a few. Not big numbers, but it’s just to add a bit more diversity to the catalogue.”
Asked how some of the younger U.S.-based sires would be received, Beeby noted, “I think they’ll be received well, because they’re good looking horses. We focused on the horse first. We’re not looking for well-bred horses with slight issues. We’re looking for the horse first and foremost, with hopefully the pedigree to back it up.”
Tinnakill House will consign the Tiznow colt (lot 387)–who they purchased for $325,000 in utero at Keeneland January last year–and Tinnakill’s Dermot Cantillon said Tiznow’s success with limited opportunity in Europe encouraged them to take the plunge and ship their colt to Ireland to sell.
“It was a difficult decision for us whether to leave him in America or bring him home, and we were influenced because there was a [Tiznow] horse in France that looked like he might make it into a Classic horse,” Cantillon explained. “From very few runners in Europe, Tiznow has done well, so we decided to take him back to Europe.”
The colt’s dam, Mousse Au Chocolat (Hennessy), was herself a stakes winner and twice group placed in France. Cantillon noted that she was sent to Ireland last year in foal to Distorted Humor, who last weekend sired his third European Group 1 winner in G1 Moyglare Stud. S. winner Cursory Glance.
“He was out of a mare who did very well in France and was rated 107,” Cantillon added. “He’s a big, strapping colt and a good walker. I think he’ll get on very well at the sales.”
While the Irish-based Tinnakill has long been a supporter of Goffs, Cantillon noted that the recent changes in format of the sale have elevated it to a new level.
“I think the key has been cutting back in numbers,” he said. “It’s part of the quality. The team at Goffs and Irish Thoroughbred Marketing have done a great job attracting people from all over the world into the sale. I think if you look at the spread of buyers last year, that’s a great reflection on their work.”
In addition to hosting the progeny of international sires, Orby graduates have excelled across the globe. In addition to this year’s G1 Phoenix S. winner Dick Whittington (Ire) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}), the Orby sale has produced Hong Kong standouts Designs On Rome (Ire) (Roman Emperor {Ire}) and Military Attack (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}); last year’s G1 1000 Guineas heroine and four-time Group 1 winner Sky Lantern (Ire) (Red Clubs {Ire}); G1 Irish 1000 Guineas winner Just the Judge (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}); 2012 and 2013 G1 Irish St Leger winners Royal Diamond (Ire) (King’s Best) and Voleuse de Coeurs (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}); GII Hollywood Cup and GII Twilight Derby winner Grandeur (Ire) (Verglas {Ire}); G1 Cheveley Park S. winner Lightening Pearl (Ire) (Marju {Ire}); G1 Investec Oaks and G1 German Oaks winner Dancing Rain (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), a €200,000 purchase in 2009 who sold to John Ferguson for 4 million guineas at Tattersalls December last year, and multiple group winner Banimpire (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), who was bought by Jim Bolger for €52,000 in 2009 and resold for €2.3 million at the 2011 Goffs November sale before realizing 1.5 million guineas at Tattersalls December the following year. In addition to those two home run mares, the value to be found at Orby is accentuated by the fact that just two of those listed above were purchased for more than €100,000.
Beeby noted that a very important aspect of the Goffs philosophy is ensuring that overseas visitors not only enjoy the sale, but their visit to Ireland as well. He stressed that the team at Goffs work tirelessly to ensure they make a good impression.
“It’s a focus on quality,” he said. “They will get a service like no other. It’s a bit like the Avis advert in the 1960s–when you’re number two, you try harder. I would say, no disrespect to anyone else, that Goffs offers something with a little quirk to it. We offer proactivity that is unmatched. We offer a diversity of team, and we offer a sale that mixes in a unique hospitality that is genuinely Irish.” This approach has apparently gone over well with overseas visitors. “An American buyer came to us for the first time last year, and I met him at another sale later on, and he said to me, ‘Henry, let me just tell you, if I had to choose just one sale outside America, it would be you because you do it better.’ By that he wasn’t criticizing the other teams, he just felt there was something a bit different at Goffs. That was very gratifying to hear, but it meant we’re getting that part of it right. Of course, essentially, the most important thing is the horse. If we haven’t got the horse we haven’t got anything, but what we try to do is get the horses together, then build [the hospitality].”
He added, “It’s very important to us to make sure people enjoy their visit. They hopefully go away with a champion–or at least a good horse and a winner–but they also go away with a good feeling. Goffs is indelibly linked to Ireland. We’ve been there since 1866, and I think Goffs is the seventh oldest registered company in Ireland. It’s a huge heritage–it’s very Irish. It’s important to us that people enjoy not just their trip to Goffs, but their trip to Ireland. What’s good for Goffs is good for Ireland, and what’s good for Ireland is good for Goffs.”
The Goffs Orby Sale begins at 10 a.m. local time Sept. 30 and Oct. 1. For the full catalogue, visit www.goffs.com.