Premier Sale To Build On Successful Season

After five years of sustained growth that saw turnover grow by 70% between 2011 and 2015, last year was the first year since 2010 that the aggregate at the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale failed to match the previous year. While the difference was a negligible 2%, it still upset the trajectory of the graph and Goffs UK Managing Director Tony 'Tubba' Williams will be keen to reverse the trend again as he oversees his first Premier Yearling Sale in his role when trade kicks off in Doncaster on Aug 29.

The two-day sale has 470 lots catalogued, and Williams faced a tricky decision about which horse would adorn the front cover of the catalogue, given the respective exploits of the two star graduates from 2015. In the end he plumped for G1 St James's Palace S. winner Barney Roy (GB) (Excelebration {Ire}), and he need not have worried about offending the owners of the back cover star, G1 Darley July Cup hero Harry Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), as they are both owned by Godolphin.

“We've had another great year on the track with our graduates,” Williams said. “To have sold a horse like Barney Roy, who is one of the best 10 furlong horses in the country, is amazing. Add in the last two July Cup winners in Harry Angel and Limato and you would have to be very proud.”

Williams and his team are optimistic as they approach the company's highest-grossing sale and one at which the average peaked last year at £44,078. “The inspections team believe it's the best lot of horses we have assembled for the sale and they have been doing this job for a long time now,” said Williams. “It's a sale that has continued to evolve. There have always been good horses to come out of the sale but in the last few years it has gone to another level. There is no doubt the sale has been, and will continue to be, a sale for sharp 2-year-olds; [G2 Coventry S. winner] Rajasinghe is prime example, but in recent years it has evolved to include Classic-type horses and future Group 1 winners.”

A native of Australia, Williams has only been in his role at Goffs UK since last October, but he is aware that it is all very well assembling a quality catalogue, but it is also vital to have the depth of people on the ground competing for each lot. There continues to be a growing crop of foals produced each year in Ireland and England and increasing the number of end-users willing to buy and race these yearlings is an ongoing challenge, admittedly not just for Williams, but also for trainers and racing's 'marketeers.'

“Canvassing for buyers is something we always work hard on,” Williams said. “The domestic market is very important to us and I'm confident we can count on continued support from British and indeed Irish trainers and owners. However, our international base is also spreading, which is encouraging. This year the Hong Kong Jockey Club will return for the third year in succession along with possibly three other purchasing groups from Hong Kong.”

As usual all lots sold are eligible for the £300,000 Goffs UK Premier Yearling S. run at York, a race won in 2015 by subsequent Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed Tasleet (GB) (Showcasing {GB}). While the race is an attractive carrot for buyers, Williams said he believes the quality of animal on offer is the main attraction for would-be investors.

“The sales race is a really nice addition but I think the level of stock on offer would draw the right buyers regardless, as I feel the sale has developed its own intensity at this stage.”

The Premier Yearling Sale has established a reputation as a source of Group 1 horses at affordable prices. Think of the likes of Canford Cliffs (Ire) (Tagula {Ire}), Limato (Ire) (Tagula {Ire} and Dark Angel (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}): each one went on to win many multiples of their sale price in prize-money, not to mention stallion proceeds as in the case of Canford Cliffs and Dark Angel. This momentum has continued in recent years with the pair who grace this year's catalogue cover costing £70,000 and £44,000.

As always the biggest challenge facing buyers is unearthing these rare Group 1 horses from a large sample, and as is quite often the case at Goffs UK the elite racehorses aren't always the obvious ones on paper. 'It's all about the individual' is the company's mantra and for many of the top judges–for example, Peter and Ross Doyle, who bought Canford Cliffs, Limato and Barney Roy–when at Doncaster they tend to select the horse first and consult the manual afterwards. However, for the purpose of this preview and without the benefit of being able to assess the lots physically, there is no doubt some pedigrees are more likely to command a premium. Where better to start than a son of former graduate Dark Angel, who has 30 yearlings in the catalogue, more than any other stallion. One of his sons who looks fast on paper is lot 142 from Noel O'Callaghan's Mountarmstrong Stud. The February-born colt is out of the stakes-placed Majestic Alexander (Ire) (Bushranger {Ire}), who is a half-sister to a pair of stakes-winning sprinters in Majestic Missile (Ire) (Royal Applause {GB}) and Santo Padre (Ire) (Elnadim).

Frankel (GB)'s progeny continue to perform on the track and his sole representative is lot 120. The chestnut filly is the first foal out of the prolific racemare Ladies Are Forever (GB) (Monsieur Bond {GB}), who won the G3 Summer S. on three occasions. The dam is also a full-sister to Hoof It (GB), trained in Yorkshire by Mick Easterby to win 11 races and place twice in the G1 Sprint Cup at Haydock.

Irish National Stud stallion Invincible Spirit (Ire) also has just the one yearling catalogued and lot 250 is from a family that has a strong history with the sale. The grey filly, offered by Paul & Sara Thorman's Trickledown Stud, is out of the stakes winner Ronaldsay (GB) (Kirkwall {GB}), whose son Gale Force Ten (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) topped the Premier Sale when selling for £280,000 to Eddie Fitzpatrick in 2011 before going on to win the G3 Jersey S. for Aidan O'Brien in 2013. John Tuthill also topped this sale four years ago when selling the subsequently stakes- placed Marshall Jennings (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) for £215,000, and his Owenstown Stud offers an attractively bred filly by Iffraaj (GB). Lot 152 is a half-sister to Chandlery (Ire) (Choisir {Aus}), who won the G2 Vintage S. at Goodwood in 2011 for Richard Hannon Snr.

Lot 355, a filly by Mukhadram (GB) from Baroda & Colbinstown Studs, received a valuable update recently when her half-brother Beckford (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) was narrowly beaten in the G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. at The Curragh.

Lot 452 from Highclere Stud certainly represents speed on speed as a daughter of Exceed And Excel (Aus) out of the G3 Firth Of Clyde S. winner Coral Mist (GB) (Bahamian Bounty {GB}). The dam is also a half-sister to G1 Prix de la Foret winner Toylsome (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}).

Another two that catch the eye on pedigree are offered by Salcey Forest Stud. Lot 406, a filly by first-crop sire Charm Spirit (Ire), already has residual value being a half-sister to Group 3 winner Robin Hoods Bay (GB) (Motivator {GB}) and added value must come from her hailing from the family of Postponed (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and his progressive half-sister God Given (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}). Charm Spirit enjoyed a productive first yearling sale at Arqana on the weekend, his five sold averaging €192,000. Lot 450 is a son of Showcasing (GB), whose dam Copy-Cat (GB) has already produced eight winners including the high-class stakes winners Pastoral Player (GB) Pastoral Pursuits {GB}) and Chill The Kite (GB) (Notnowcato {GB}).

British and Irish bloodstock breeders and pinhookers will be hoping business is brisk this week as the sale tends to be an accurate barometer as to gauging the health of the industry in general. Williams said he is confident they will not be disappointed. “There are some seriously good quality horses by fashionable, commercial stallions,” he said. “We've been supported really well by our vendors, we have the right physicals, the right pedigrees and we will have the right buyers there. The way the sale has progressed the last few years means the bigger trainers and the bigger owners can't afford to miss it. The combination of all these factors leaves me confident of a successful few days of trade.”