Goffs November Sale Numbers Spike

Boosted by the Wildenstein Stable dispersal and large lots from major Irish breeders, the Goffs November breeding stock sale drew to a close Nov. 19 with double-digit increases in total receipts and average.

Turnover for the two-day sale topped €40 million for only the second time in its history, up 14% on last year, while the overall average rose by 17% to €37,301 (About US$39,647) for the 1,095 horses sold. The median fell 12% to €15,000 ($15,943).

BBA Ireland secured the session-topper, going to for €135,000 ($143,491) for five-time winning Lawman mare Little Sweetheart, a price nearly double the highest price on the same day last year. Produced from the listed winner Lady Gin, the 5-year-old mare in foal to Starspangledbanner hails from the family of Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I) winner Musical Romance.  

Henry Beeby, group chief executive officer for Co Kildare, Ireland-based Goffs, said the sale's success could be attributable to the quality stock on offer not only from the Wildenstein dispersal handled by The Castlebridge Consignment, but also from Godolphin, Kiltinan Castle, Jockey Hall, Moyglare, Ballylinch, Derrinstown, and The Aga Khan Studs, among others. One of the leading buyers was the White Birch Farm of prominent U.S. breeder Peter Brant.

 "Extraordinary," Beeby said. "It is not overstating things to say that this is the best breeding stock catalog we have produced, for many a year at least, and it turned out that the huge international group of buyers that descended upon Goffs agreed, resulting in a truly frenzied session of trading.

"There were significantly more lots realizing over €100,000 and three times the number over the €250,000 mark compared to last year," the executive said, "and all of these figures graphically illustrate our constant cry that we can, and consistently do, return prices as good, if not better than any other auction house anywhere when we are given the opportunity."