Red Armada Tops Goodwood Sale

The second edition of the boutique Goffs UK Goodwood Sale, held immediately after racing in the Goodwood parade ring, was topped by dual winner Red Armada (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) (lot 1), the first horse offered. Overall, trade was very selective, with only two of the seven horses offered finding new homes for a gross of £475,000.

Consigned by Clive Cox Racing, the son of listed winner Alumni (GB) (Selkirk) brought a bid of £275,000 from Charlie Dee of Lillingston Bloodstock. One of six winners of six runners from him dam, who has also foaled listed victor and MGSP Dux Scholar (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), the Castle Paddock Bloodstock-bred was sold as the property of China Horse Club, who acquired the April foal for €120,000 from the Goffs September Sale in 2017. Red Armada is from the same extended family as G1 QIPCO Queen Elizabeth II S. winner Persuasive (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}).

GSW Little Kim (GB) (Garswood {GB}), in foal to Showcasing (GB), was knocked down for £200,000 to Matt Houldsworth of Howson & Houldsworth Bloodstock. Consigned by Karl Burke's Spigot Lodge Stables, lot 4 scored her biggest win in the G3 Prix du Bois as a juvenile. A half to SW and G2 Queen Mary S. third Out of the Flames (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), the bay is one of a trio of winners from as many runners of her dam, SW Primo Lady (GB) (Lucky Story). Little Kim originally brought 45,000gns from Burke as a Tattersalls October yearling, and, after her Group 3 win in 2018, was a 155,000gns RNA during the Tattersalls December Breeding Stock Sale.

The trio of Show Me Show Me (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) (lot 7), Fan Club Rules (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}) (lot 6), and lot 3, Wheels On Fire (Fr) (Sidestep {Aus}), who ran third through fifth in the G3 Molecomb S., respectively, did not meet their reserves and were passed in.

“There is no doubt this sale is at the right time and the right place, and we are confident it has a bright future as Red Armada's excellent price clearly demonstrated.,” said Goffs UK Managing Director Tony Williams. “That said, we would obviously liked to have sold more of the horses offered but, as with the Goffs London Sale, these flat boutique sales are judged by entirely different standards as owners are perfectly content to keep their horses in training for the rest of the season if they don't achieve a premium in the ring.
“We would like to thank the Goodwood Executive for their ongoing, enthusiastic partnership and for now we move our focus to the strong offering at next week's Doncaster August Sale which will feature part two of the Grech & Parkin Dispersal.”