Life Back to Normal at Goffs' First Sale of the Season

The exploits of Gun Runner  , a six-time grade 1 winner and the best first-season stallion in North America last year, have served to highlight the brilliance of the late, great 'Iron Horse' Giant's Causeway as a broodmare sire. 

Baroda Stud consigned an impeccably bred daughter of Coolmore America's former king on the third and final day of the Goffs February Sale, and she had a pedigree that would have graced any catalog. As it was, Recife (Lot 476) shone brightest of all the mares at Kildare Paddocks this week, making €110,000 (US$125,694) to Rathbran House Stud.

Successful on her only start, she is a half sister to Stormy Len , who placed in the Secretariat Stakes (G1T) and Northern Dancer Turf Stakes (G1T). They are out of the Dynaformer mare Rietondale, who has a perfect record with her six foals to race, and is a full sister to the Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes (G1T) and Beverly D. Stakes (G1T) winner Dynaforce , who is the dam of listed winner and DFS Park Hill Stakes (G2) second Aljezeera .

Rietondale is also a half sister to the dual grade 1 winner and sire Cetewayo, grade 2 winner and grade 1-placed Bowman Mill, and to the dam of American Derby (G2T) winner and multiple grade 1-placed Willcox Inn .

John Rowe, who manages Rathbran House Stud, near Slane in County Meath, explained what it was that made the team so determined to add the 7-year-old, who is the dam of two foals, and in foal to Mehmas , to their broodmare band.

He said: "She's a lovely young mare by a super broodmare sire and we're building up the stock on the farm. It's a very attractive covering—Mehmas is a very exciting sire—and there's a lot to like about her. We'll see what the foal is like before making plans."

Godolphin Mares in Demand 

Mares in foal to sons of Acclamation   were all the rage at Goffs on Thursday, with a Raven's Pass  mare from the always sought-after Godolphin draft, in foal to Dark Angel , selling for €90,000 ($102,841) to BBA Ireland.

Belonging  (Lot 565), who was listed-placed in France, can boast the blue hen Fall Aspen as her third dam. Her second dam is Dance of Leaves, Fall Aspen's unraced daughter of Sadler's Wells who is a sister to Grand Prix de Paris (G1) winner Fort Wood. Dance of Leaves is the dam of Racing Post Trophy (G1) winner Medaaly and Charnwood Forest, who won the Queen Anne Stakes (G2).

The O'Callaghans of Tally-Ho pounced for Panegyric  (Lot 580), from the same source as Belonging, going to €85,000 ($97,127) for the Monsun three-parts sister to group 1 winner and young sire Ultra . Panegyric is also a half sister to the dam of last season's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) winner Modern Games .

Panegyric has made a promising start to her own broodmare career; her Shamardal  5-year-old gelding Lackeen  was listed-placed in France and she is the dam of two winners from three runners so far. Sold in foal to Cracksman , she also has a 3-year-old New Approach  colt named True Accolade, a Dubawi  2-year-old colt, and a yearling colt by Iffraaj .

Increases Across the Board 

Goffs were rewarded for their decision to expand the sale to three days with improved figures on the 2020 edition, which was the last time it had taken place in a live, physical format.

The weanling section returned a clearance rate of 74%, compared with 65% in 2020, and turnover jumped by a massive 72% on two years ago, up to €3,413,300 ($3,900,290) from €1,979,900 ($2,262,380). This year's average of €17,152 ($19,599) was an improvement of 33% on 2020, while the median showed growth of 25% to €10,000 ($11,426). 

The overall sale aggregate of €6,020,200 ($6,879,130) compared with €4,077,700 ($4,659,490) in 2020 and from just 60 more horses sold this year. The clearance rate of 72% was up on 2020, while the average climbed 18% to €17,103 ($19,543) and the median of €9,000 (10,284) was up 28%.

Sale Statement 

Goffs group chief executive Henry Beeby said at the conclusion of the sale: "We're pleased to have kicked off 2022 in a positive way and, perhaps more importantly, with a feeling of normality as this is the first sale since February 2020 we have been able to conduct without a raft of restrictions and protocols.

"The result has been a sale of vibrancy that picked up the positivity of the Goffs November Foal and Breeding Stock Sale, with strong competition in each category.

"Of course. comparisons with 12 months ago are largely redundant given the circumstances forced upon us in 2021, but it is heartening to see that the sale has made significant progress when compared to 2020, rising by nigh on 50%."

He continued: "As in November we would like to pay particular tribute to the Shadwell Estates draft from Derrinstown Stud and Baroda Stud as their blue-blooded consignment added additional depth to the catalog, although there were several other drafts of note for which we are also most appreciative, while we are grateful to the entire vendor group for supporting the sale as their first choice in such huge numbers.

"They have been rewarded with a broad and eclectic buying bench from home and abroad, all of which was backed up by a significant online presence.

"So, all in all, it was a very encouraging start to 2022, which allows us to look forward with a degree of hope and confidence."