Turnover Up, Havana Grey Filly Tops Final Day at Goffs

A filly from the third crop of breakthrough first-season sire Havana Grey  topped the market at the final session of the Goffs November Foal Sale Nov. 17 when hammered down at €68,000 (US$70,625).

Offered by Olive O'Connor Bloodstock, the January-born foal (Lot 962) was bought by renowned judge Paul McCartan of Ballyphilip Stud.

The filly was bred by Havana Grey's custodians at Whitsbury Manor Stud and is the first foal out of Colouring, a winning daughter of the operation's leading light Showcasing . Colouring is a half sister to the listed-placed Deia Glory  and a great-granddaughter of champion juvenile Blue Duster, winner of the 1995 running of the Shadwell Stud Cheveley Park Stakes (G1).

"Havana Grey has excelled himself," said McCartan. "I really liked his foals in his first crop, and I've been very impressed by what he's done this year.

"(Lot 962 is) a beautiful filly and I like the fact she has Showcasing as her damsire. There's plenty of 2-year-old winners on the page too going back to the champion Blue Duster."

Havana Grey has posted some impressive statistics with his debut 2-year-olds, with the bunch having produced 40 winners across Europe and 13 black-type horses headed by the group 3 scorers Eddie's Boy , Lady Hollywood , and Rumstar . The son of Havana Gold  has been the subject of a well-deserved fee increase to £18,500 ($21,983) for the 2023 breeding season.

"(Lot 962) was brilliant up here, she had a lovely way about her and a great walk," said O'Connor. "She had a nice page too, so she was a bit of a standout here today. It's been a good, strong sale today."

Ballyphillip Stud signed for six lots across the four-day sale, ranging from a €120,000 ($124,633) Showcasing colt from Harefield Cottage Stud to a €35,000 ($36,351) son of Sergei Prokofiev  offered by Pipe View Stud.

Reflecting on the November Foal Sale, McCartan said: "I thought there were some lovely foals here and they were hard bought. We didn't get everything we wanted, we got some, but we were beaten on others too. There's been great trade here and a good choice of foals. I'm definitely happy with what I got."

Four days of strong trade saw some punchy increases across the spectrum of key market indices, most notably turnover, which rose by 16% to €29,561,000 ($30,702,350). The average price was up by 15% at €40,110 ($41,658), while the median was €24,000 ($24,926), up nine points from €22,000 ($22,849) some 12 months ago.

In his end-of-sale statement, Goffs group chief executive Henry Beeby said: "Sensational. That is the only description of the amazing trade this week headed by an especially vibrant day of sustained demand at the top of the market yesterday.

"As ever we extend our sincere thanks to every vendor as we know we are nothing without their wonderful horses, and we are so grateful for the huge support from so many vendors who choose the Irish National Foal Sale for their best foals. That allows us to credibly promote the sale as featuring the cream of the Irish foal crop, which drives every serious buyer of foals to Kildare Paddocks.

"Indeed, we have welcomed a huge group of purchasers headed, of course, by the mighty Irish pinhookers who have been taken on by bidders from the UK and across Europe. They were joined by several significant end-users, not least from Japan, who bought to race, all of which led to a trade of strength, depth, and vibrancy from start to finish."

Beeby continued: "As was very clear at an excellent renewal of the Orby Sale, quality is what is selling best and that was illustrated by the strongest clearance rate of 85% coming Nov. 16, and we look forward to offering many of those top foals at the Orby next year following so many great pinhooking successes here in September.

"The unique Goffs Customer Loyalty Scheme makes that option especially appealing, as does the depth and diversity of our international buying bench this year. In fact, the only real complaint from several overseas buyers at Orby this year was that we ran out of top-tier yearlings, so that is the target next year.

"We now turn our attention to our two-day Breeding Stock catalog, which continues to be so well supported by leading breeders and enjoys such a superb record with its graduates' progeny at the highest level."