BUCA Calls On Goffs And Goresbridge To Abandon Plans For New Sales 

Uncertainty hangs over the breeze-up sector ahead of the first major yearling sale of the season at Arqana this week after the Breeze-Up Consignors Association [BUCA] instructed Goffs and Goresbridge not to go ahead as previously planned with its respective new sales in 2025.

Goffs chief Henry Beeby and Goresbridge boss Ed Donohoe revealed to TDN Europe back in May that they were planning to hold breeze-up sales in Ireland next year. 

Both men explained that the decision had been taken after a number of consignors expressed views that there was demand for more than just the Tattersalls Ireland Breeze-Up Sale on the domestic circuit.

However, Grove Stud's Brendan Holland, who was voted in as the new chairman at BUCA's AGM a fortnight back, says there is only a finite number of horses that can pass through the breeze-up system every season and the addition of a new sale would be a backwards step for the industry.

He explained, “There were 1,100 places offered to the main breeze-up sales in Europe this season and 960 turned up. Only 768 were sold and that follows on from the 760 that sold in 2023. The numbers that are being sold at the breeze-up sales is constant and the market is stable at that level. We can't see how there is room or demand to sell 100 more horses-or any more horses for that matter-and, until we get to a stage where the market expands, I think it is BUCA's responsibility to protect the marketplace that is already in place. We should not be saturating it.”

Holland added, “We have spent the past 15 years promoting the breeze-ups as a source of quality. It took a long time to change people's perception of what a breeze-up horse is and what can be found at these sales. In that time, we've had champion two-year-olds, three-year-olds and champion stayers, so it is becoming an easier product to promote because of the success we have had on the track. But we need to protect that.”

To that extent, BUCA provided a written mandate to Goresbridge and Goffs and stated “it was unanimously agreed” at the AGM that the number of horses offered at the main breeze-up sales in Europe should not exceed 1,000. 

However, Donohoe has accused the association of misrepresenting some of its members and insists that the mandate could not have been unanimous given he has fielded a number of calls from consignors stating that they would be supporting Goresbridge if the sales company re-enters the breeze-up market after a seven-year hiatus. 

“A number of breeze-up consignors contacted me following that meeting to tell me that they didn't agree with the mandate and that they would be supporting our sale. I am not sure that the letter sent to me is representative of all BUCA members,” Donohoe said.

He added, “I have replied to BUCA where I expressed my disappointment over the fact that no consignor contacted me to discuss the situation. Goresbridge is a family-run business and I don't see why BUCA feel that they can dictate how we run our business. The Tattersalls Ireland Breeze-Up Sale catered for 250 horses this year and-up until now-is the only breeze-up sale in Ireland. 

“A large number of breeze-up consignors, particularly the smaller vendors, were unable to get their horses into this-or indeed any-sale. I intend to cater for this gap in the market and, as I said, I have had written and verbal correspondence from a number of BUCA members explaining that they would be supporting us next year and that they did not agree with the proposals that were raised at the meeting. Having said all of that, I am open to discussion with BUCA and am keen to come to some kind of an agreement as we fully intend on holding a breeze-up sale next year.”

While the TDN understands that Goresbridge had been planning an earlier sale date next year, the idea behind the Goffs Breeze-Up Sale at Naas racecourse was that it would be more reactive, in that it would be a small and select offering of later-maturing juveniles and some who had missed previous targets or failed to sell elsewhere. 

Beeby revealed that, while he still harbours an ambition to stage a breeze-up sale in Ireland that would complement the company's breeze-up sale at Doncaster, the Goffs chief executive said that he would be working closely with Holland and the rest of the BUCA committee members to find a resolution. 

Regardless, no announcement as to whether Goffs would be staging a breeze-up sale in Ireland will be made until the Premier Yearling Sale at Doncaster later this month.

Beeby explained, “Goffs is in dialogue with BUCA and I plan to meet with Brendan over the next couple of weeks to have a chat. We're not going to make any definitive decisions now-I mean, the sale isn't happening until next June. Also, our AGM takes place after our Premier Yearling Sale, so that will be the earliest that Goffs can announce whether the new sale will go ahead or not.

“BUCA has made some relevant points to us about the number of horses being catalogued next year. From a Goffs point of view, we have our established sale at Doncaster and have the opportunity to stage this new sale at Naas but we will obviously listen to our clients and will work collaboratively with BUCA, as we always have done.”

Asked how likely he felt it was for the new breeze-up sale to take place next year, Beeby said, “It will appear on our proposed sales dates for next year but, until it happens, it hasn't happened. The yearling sales will be a good time for us at Goffs to interact with breeze-up vendors. A number of people have called me and various views have been expressed. I'm told there was unanimity at the BUCA AGM but then there were people who didn't attend that meeting who have expressed contradictory views. Whether it was National Hunt stores or breeze-ups, everyone saw a tightening of the market and there is a concern that the appropriate measures are taken so that we minimise the impact of that. It's going to be up to sales companies and consignors-as ever-to work together on this.”

When tasked with answering the same question as Beeby on whether he felt the BUCA mandate has thrown a spanner in the works with regards to plans for a new sale, Donohoe simply said, “I'd be taking short odds on our sale going ahead next year anyway. And that's from the horse's mouth.”