Goffs Day 2 Numbers Decline but Sale Positive Overall

Courtesy of Racing Post

Two well-related mares lit up the bid board at Goffs in the last of two sessions of the November breeding stock sale Nov. 24, with both breaking through the six-figure ceiling.

However, despite posting twice the number of six-figure sales than on this day last year, as well as a higher price for the top lot, the figures for the second day declined. Total sales of €1,635,200 (US$1,951,284.16) were down by around €500,000 ($596,650) compared with this day last year, with the clearance rate dropping from 82% in 2016 to 69% 12 months on.

Still, both those figures may have been boosted in 2016 by the activity of Luke Comer, who purchased 74 fillies and mares on the equivalent day last year.

The average of €11,124 ($13,274.27) dropped by 6% from last year's figure, while the median saw the steepest decline, down 27% to €5,500 ($6,563.15).

"Today's sale may not have hit the heights of the first session, but there remained a strong trade from an international group of buyers," said Goffs CEO Henry Beeby.

Taken as a whole, the two days recorded a decline from last year's overall trading figures despite a number of high-profile sales Nov. 23 including that of Inca Princess, dam of group 1 winner and Melbourne Cup runner-up Johannes Vermeer, for €1.9 million ($2,267,270).

However, the 2016 foal and breeding stock sales both featured the Wildenstein Dispersal, which distorted the returns for both sales.

"While the bare statistics show a sale that is down, we are quite content," Beeby said. "Of course, last year included the once-in-a-generation Wildenstein Stables dispersal, which saw 28 beautifully bred fillies and mares adding more than €7.8 million ($9,307,740) to the totals.

"Take those away from last year and the statistics make for very happy reading with turnover average and median all advancing while we have made significant gains versus the dispersal free 2015 sale."

In comparison with 2015, turnover increased significantly to €14,924,450 ($17,809,346.18)—an enormous leap from the €9,826,400 ($11,725,843.12) recorded two years ago. The average also gained by a large percentage, up from €31,294 ($37,343.13) in 2015 to €43,259 ($51,620.96).

The most expensive mare Friday was Beyond Intensity, an Intense Focus half-sister to group winners Beyond Thankful and Turret Rocks, who has also finished placed in the Prix Marcel Boussac and Pretty Polly Stakes for Jim Bolger.

Offered by Jim Bolger's Redmondstown Stud in foal to Dawn Approach, the 6-year-old boasts some very famous relations. Her second dam, the Nashwan mare Gold Bust, is a half sister to Coronation Stakes and Prix Marcel Boussac winner Gold Splash and to Born Gold, the dam of outstanding champion Goldikova and Prix Vermeille winner Galikova.

The chestnut Beyond Intensity has two foals on the ground, a yearling colt by Vocalised and a Fastnet Rock filly foal, and was purchased by Eamon Reilly of BBA Ireland for €150,000 ($178,995).

"She's for an existing client who has a stud farm in County Meath and has a nice pedigree," said the agent. "Turret Rocks is to stay in training next year and the dam has a Fastnet Rock colt foal and is back in foal to him, so there is plenty happening in the family."