A gelded son of Way To Paris led the way during Part 2 of the Goffs Arkle Sale on Thursday.
County Galway point-to-point trainer John Staunton struck the winning bid of €65,000 for the top lot, Ballymarkham Stud's Way To Paris three-parts brother to high-class handicap chaser Downmexicoway (Champs Elysees) out of a half-sister to top hurdler Get Me Out Of Here (Accordion) (lot 573).
“I've bought him for Basil Holian, who owns Downmexicoway,” reported Staunton. “I trained him and he bought him off me. Basil saw this gelding was in the sale and he was anxious to have him. I've got him a beautiful horse with a lovely step and a lovely attitude.
“We don't know much about Way To Paris yet but he was a good, honest racehorse himself and this individual by him looked like a nice, honest sort, with a good way of going.”
A total of 205 sold from 246 offered (83%), up 6% from last term. The sold lots grossed €4,279,500, an increase of 34% on 2025's aggregate. The average increased 15% to €20,876 and the median rose 13% to €18,000. Six lots in Arkle Part 2 made €50,000 or more this year, compared with two in 2025.
Goffs Group chief executive Henry Beeby said, “How do you follow what we saw over the last two days? For Goffs Arkle Part 2 the answer is a session of strength and depth with the top of today seeing three times the number hit the half-century mark whilst double digit rises in the average and median together with an improved clearance rate allowed us to build again on recent years successes in this section of the sale. We are delighted to have finished an amazing week with another day of proper growth.
“We said yesterday that Arkle '26 was the highest grossing NH Store sale in history but, incredibly, that was an understatement as it actually proved to be the highest grossing NH catalogue ever. That's some achievement for a sale that until relatively recently was viewed as a second choice for the majority and vindicates the investment, both in terms of time and money, we have made in the sector over several years.
“The last three days have only served to underline the progress that Goffs has made in the NH market in recent years, and I repeat our thanks and appreciation for the trust and confidence so many people place in us these days. The positivity around Kildare Paddocks and the multitude of kind comments about the service we provide are truly humbling as we know nothing is possible without the backing and support of every client whether they are involved in one lot or a multitude and regardless of their role.
“This week we have welcomed a veritable Who's Who of the NH world and it has been very heartening to see the strength and competitiveness of UK buyers who came to the most successful NH sale on the racecourse this year following sterling work by Irish Thoroughbred Marketing who, as ever, worked tirelessly alongside the Goffs Purchaser Attraction Team.
“April, May and June have proved to be very fertile months for Goffs National Hunt with superb renewals of our Aintree, Punchestown, Spring and Arkle sales following a storming season on the track for our sale graduates.
“Thank you to everyone who has contributed; we've loved every bit of it and look forward to the next time.”
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