Goffs

Anticlimactic goes by the household name of disappointing and there was no disguising the glum faces at Goffs on Friday when Gouache (Ger) (Shamardal), the dam of live Japan Cup hope Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), failed to sell at €5 million. A collective groan was heard in the jam-packed auditorium when Henry Beeby uttered the words, "I'm afraid that's not enough," at €5 million. One pressroom colleague suggested that he wouldn't be rushing into a game of poker with the Goffs chief executive any time soon as things seemed to...

Oaks heroine Qualify (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) was the first mare to breach the €500,000 mark on Friday, when selling for €650,000 to Ballylinch Stud during the first day of the Goffs November Breeding Stock Sale. Consigned by Godolphin, lot 1158 is the dam of two winners, including G3 Jebel Ali Mile scorer Swing Vote (GB) (Shamardal). The extended family features G1 St Leger hero and sire Brian Boru (GB). The Whisperview Trading-bred mare is in foal to champion sire elect Dark Angel (Ire).   2015 Oaks winner Qualify is...

Sheer unbridled enthusiasm. That's exactly what was on show at the November Foal Sale at Goffs this week where, on top of a millionaire lot, turnover climbed by 26% to €32,640,000, the average by 34% to €48,717 and the median by 21% to €29,000. Those are the types of figures that compare favourably to even Book 1 of the Orby and they left Goffs chief Henry Beeby understandably delighted at close of play on Thursday. He commented, "The cream of the Irish foal crop is our proud boast and I...

If there is one criticism about this bloodstock game of ours, it's the fact that we never seem to need a second invitation for a backslap and oftentimes we can portray things as being rosey in the garden when the opposite may well be true. Not at Goffs on Wednesday where the highest-ever turnover, average and median was achieved at the November Foal Sale.  Even the biggest of hitters in this business, like Coolmore's MV Magnier and Baroda Stud boss David Cox, admitted to being genuinely bowled over not only...

Pa Doyle could not have said it any better than he did. It was at this sale 12 months ago that, when asked to sum up trade, the Galbertstown boss coined the phrase, "those pinhookers are as brave as lions." That sentence had as much relevance a year ago as it did on Tuesday when Paul McCartan, Michael Fitzpartick, Barry Mahon and Philip Stauffenberg--absolute titans of their profession--fought it out for some of the best foals on offer at Goffs.  It was McCartan, the master breeder and pinhooker who has...

Well, that was good. The jam-packed car parks at Kildare Paddocks translated into rip-roaring trade on the opening day of the November Foal Sale as the momentum gathered up towards the end of the yearling season carried over into what proved a memorable Monday for vendors at Goffs.  And the €90,000 top lot by Blue Point (Ire)? It came at a time where the vendor needed it most. Rob Tierney might be best known as the face of Noel O'Callaghan's Mountarmstrong Stud. Together, the pair have enjoyed many good days....

Goffs sparks happy memories for the family-run Ballinacurra Stud, which comprises brothers George and David Mullins along with their cousin Denis McCarthy, who have enjoyed some major results at the foal sales here in recent years.  It was at this sale in 2022 when the boys of Ballinacurra enjoyed a week to remember when selling foals by Blue Point (Ire) and Ghaiyyath (Ire) for €200,000 and €145,000.  The team are quietly hopeful of another profitable week at Kildare Paddocks with a seven-strong draft set to go under the hammer, including...

Another manic sale season is upon us. Goffs kick-starts what promises to be an exciting few weeks with the November Foal Sale getting underway on Monday followed by the mares sessions on Friday and Saturday before the action rolls on to Tattersalls at Newmarket before concluding at Arqana next month.  So where does the value lie over what is usually a helter-skelter few weeks of trade? Gwen Monneraye of the La Motteraye Consignment, Mimi Wadham of WH Bloodstock and Tally-Ho Stud's Roger O'Callaghan weigh in on the big topics ahead...

One of the youngest consignors in the business, Fearghal Hogan has enjoyed some brilliant pinhooking results under his own Churchland Stud banner and at just 33 years of age, he can boast something that the majority in this business can only ever aspire to achieve, through his joint-ownership of Group 1 winner Laws Of Indices.  The County Carlow native is refreshingly honest about the fact he found the going tough at the yearling sales in 2024, opens up about some of his biggest touches in the game and shares plans...

Grade 1-winning mares Marie's Rock (Ire) (Milan {GB}) and Brandy Love (Ire) (Jet Away {GB}) will be offered under the hammer at the Goffs December National Hunt Sale. Goffs will publish the December National Hunt catalogue next Wednesday, featuring a stellar collection of foals and breeding stock.  The sale will take place from Monday 9 December to Wednesday 11 December. The breeding stock, which will be offered at the conclusion of the sale, has over 60 catalogued, 20 of which are black type performers themselves. Goffs boss Henry Beeby commented,...

Goffs chief executive Henry Beeby hailed a "truly international buying bench" at the conclusion of the Autumn Yearling Sale on Thursday. Turnover climbed by 15% to €3,735,200 while average was up by 4% to €8,748. The median matched last year's figure of €5,000 while the clearance rate was up marginally [1%] to 77%.  Beeby commented, "All corners of the globe. 2025 will see Goffs Autumn graduates race all over the world following the last three days. Our job as Ireland's premier auction house since 1866 is to work in the...

A filly by young sire Starman (GB) (lot 325) topped the second session of the Goffs Autumn Yearling Sale at €50,000 on Wednesday. Secured by Peter and Ross Doyle Bloodstock from The Castlebridge Consignment, the chestnut is out of the placed Frankel (GB) mare Beloved (Ire), who is a half-sister to G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) winner and sire Deep Brillante (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). Ross Doyle said of his purchase, "She's a very nice racy filly--we've bought three or four Starmans already and we like what we see physically....