Goffs

You don't spend 26 years working as travelling head lad for Aidan O'Brien without becoming one of the most recognisable faces on the racing circuit but, after closing the chapter on his career at Ballydoyle last Christmas, TJ Comerford shot to prominence in his own right by consigning two of the most expensive lots at the Goffs Arkle Sale.  That debut consignment from Ballintogher Stud, the Monasterevin base that Comerford now operates from alongside his partner Stephanie Ocsko-Moore, featured only two horses - both of which were foal pinhooks belonging...

High-class performer Ghostwriter (Invincible Spirit), who holds obvious claims in the G2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, led the way at the Goffs London Sale on Monday when selling to Kia Joorabchian's Amo Racing for £2 million.  A three-time winner - including at Group 2 level - for trainer Clive Cox and owner Jeff Smith, Ghostwriter twice hit the frame behind City Of Troy last year in the Coral-Eclipse and Juddmonte International.  Joorabchian held off the attention of American owner John Stewart as underbidder. And, while he was standing beside...

Group winner Path Of Soldier (lot 30) is one of a trio of late additions for the Goffs London Sale, held on Monday, June 16. Successful in the G3 Bavarian Classic in May, the son of Soldier Hollow was runner-up in the G3 Derby Trial at Baden-Baden for trainer Peter Schiergen. The G1 Deutsches Derby hopeful holds a German rating of 94.5 (approx. 109). Gavin Cromwell has entered the winners Bonus Time (Too Darn Hot) (lot 28) and Mo Chroi (Galiway) (lot 29). Nineteen lots will be offered with Royal...

A son of Crystal Ocean (lot 703) took pride of place during Part 2 of the Goffs Arkle Sale on Thursday. The gelding, from the Woodhouse Stud draft, caught the eye of Gerry Hogan Bloodstock and Paul Nolan Racing and was secured for €70,000. Out of a full-sister to Grade 3 hurdle winner Cup Final (Presenting), the 3-year-old store is a grandson of multiple Grade 1-winning hurdler Asian Maz (Anshan). Of the 229 horses offered, 176 (77%) sold for an aggregate of €3,192,500 (+42%). The average rose 20% to €18,140...

A 2-year-old store by Walk In The Park made €230,000 on the bid of Gerry Aherne to top the Goffs Arkle Sale on Wednesday. Sold as lot 457 from the Glenwood Stud draft, the colt is out of G2 Warfield Mares Hurdle heroine Sparky May (Midnight Legend), who ran third in the G1 Sefton Novices' Hurdle. Her best produce is Grade 1-winning hurdler and chaser Stage Star (Fame And Glory). He sold for €110,000 to Richard Frisby during the 2023 Goffs December National Hunt Sale. Leading the 3-year-old stores was...

The catalogue for the Goffs London Sale, held in association with Fitzwilliam Sports and Privat 3 Money on June 16, has grown to 27 lots after late additions, which include Ali Shuffle, Bone Marra and Green Storm. Lily Agnes Stakes winner Ali Shuffle is one of 18 lots set to be sold with engagements at Royal Ascot which begins the day after the sale on Tuesday, June 17. Trained by Karl Burke and unbeaten in three starts, the daughter of A'Ali is set for the G2 Queen Mary Stakes. Joining...

Coolmeen Farms shelled out €190,000 for lot 133, a son of No Risk At All, who topped the first day of the Goffs Arkle Sale on Tuesday. Consigned by Sluggara Farms, the 3-year-old gelding is out of a full-sister to stakes winner Bonne Gargotte (Poliglote) and a half-sister to Trait De Genie (Diamond Prospect). Trainer Ellmarie Holden bought the half-brother to Flat listed winner Syrita (Siyouni) with her father Paul under the Coolmeen banner. They previously pinhooked two-mile chaser Jonbon and sold him to JP McManus for £570,000 at the...

Godolphin's£720,000 Goffs UK Breeze-Up graduate Maximized (Mehmas) delivered a TDN Rising Star display in his debut over six furlongs at Haydock last month and, burdened with a five-pound penalty for that initial victory, doubled his tally with a dominant performance in Friday's former stakes-level Betfred British EBF Woodcote Stakes at Epsom. The Cheveley Park Stud-bred lined up as the 6-5 favourite and was swiftly into stride to track the leaders in a share of third through the early fractions. Rowed along to gain an edge passing the quarter-mile marker, he...

The initial entries for the June 16 Goffs London Sale, held in association with Fitzwilliam Sports and Privat 3 Money, include G2 Royal Lodge Stakes hero Ghostwriter. A son of Invincible Spirit from the yard of Clive Cox, the 4-year-old was third in the 2024 G1 International Stakes and holds a Timeform rating of 120. Timeform describes him as a "big, good-topped colt: very smart performer." He carries an entry for the G2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, as well as an entry in the G1 King George VI and...

   Kingston Pride (Kingston Hill) (lot 673) topped the final day of the Goffs Spring HIT/PTP Sale at Doncaster, when selling to Olly Murphy for £285,000. The 6-year-old gelding was one of four lots to make six figures on the day. Offered by Nicky Henderson, Kingston Pride won a Kempton novice hurdle by five lengths in March. Henderson acted as underbidder on Thursday, having paid €200,000 two years ago at the Goffs Punchestown Sale for Kingston Pride. "He's a lovely individual, all quality," reported Murphy. "Fingers crossed he'll have a...

Godolphin's recent £720,000 Goffs UK Breeze-Up acquisition Maximized (Mehmas) yielded a swift return on investment with a performance worthy of TDN Rising Stardom in Thursday's Betfred "Follow Us On X" EBF Novice Stakes over six furlongs at Haydock. The Cheveley Park Stud-bred went postward as an 11-2 chance and broke well to stalk the pace in second from the outset of this debut. Looming large before inching ahead passing the quarter-mile marker, he quickened impressively to settle the contest in a matter of strides approaching the final furlong and kept...

The 4-year-old filly Poetisa topped the first day of the Goffs Spring HIT/PTP Sale at Doncaster when selling to Harold Kirk and Willie Mullins for £300,000. She was one of seven lots to break the six-figure mark. Sold as lot 308, the daughter of Poet's Word and the Old Vic mare Chars was consigned by Toby Bulgin. She is a half-sister to Flemensfirth's G2 Abram Mares' Novices' Hurdle heroine Queenofhearts. Under the second dam is Grade 1-winning hurdler Macs Joy (Religiously). Purchased for £42,000 by Bulgin out of the Goffs...