Stage is Set for Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale
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Photo: Courtesy of Goffs UK
Last year's Goffs UK Premier Sale topper was a colt by Gleneagles out of Lady Eclair
The yearling auction bandwagon rolls into Doncaster Aug. 27 as Goffs UK hosts its flagship event, the two-day Premier Sale.
One of the calendar's most highly anticipated auctions, the latest Premier Sale catalog contains 469 lots, which drew a sizable crowd to South Yorkshire Monday to begin inspections.
"It's very busy, we've had a big crowd helped by beautiful weather," reported Goffs group chief executive Henry Beeby Monday afternoon. "Having spent yesterday and today looking at the horses, I'm delighted to say our vendors have supported us very well with a good, solid, even bunch."
The Premier Sale has undergone something of an image change in recent years, with six-time group 1 winner Laurens and Commonwealth Cup (G1) and LARC Prix Maurice de Gheest (G1) hero Advertise ushering in an era where classier, later-maturing types are very much in-vogue at Doncaster.
"The sale continues to evolve and there are some very nice later-maturing types in the catalog," Beeby said. "A number of years ago we were all about 2-year-old winners, we're now about quality 2-year-old winners who'll train on. Our cover horse, Advertise, is a very good example of that.
"We've had a lot of interest and would be quietly hopeful and confident of a good trade. We were very encouraged by events in Deauville last week and we hope the momentum rolls on. What we've seen so far suggests it will."
A glance down the sires index confirms the shift, with the likes of Fastnet Rock, Frankel, Kingman, Le Havre, Lope de Vega, and Siyouni all represented.
The Premier Sale hasn't forgotten its roots, however, as this year's Royal Ascot results testify, with last year's graduates A'Ali and Daahyeh striking in the Norfolk Stakes (G2) and Albany Stakes (G3), respectively. The progeny of sires like Acclamation, Dandy Man, Dark Angel, Kodiac, and Showcasing are also present and correct.
Last year's sale was topped by a son of Gleneagles consigned by Newsells Park Stud, who went the way of Sackville Donald for £380,000 (US$489,972), smashing the previous high price by a full £100,000.
Beeby gave a pragmatic response when asked if the fireworks of last year could be repeated, as he said: "What we're looking for is a high clearance rate, consistency, and hopefully we'll see some modest growth."