The Goffs Million, a €1-million 2-year-old race open exclusively to Goffs Orby yearling graduates, was announced by Goffs on Tuesday.
The seven-furlong contest is the richest 2-year-old race in Europe and will be held at The Curragh on Sept. 24, 2022 in advance of the Goffs Orby Sale. Open to 2-year-old colts and fillies that were catalogued in the 2021 Goffs Orby Sale on Sept. 28-29, it carries a prize fund guaranteed by Goffs and will pay out to 10th place. In addition, if the 2022 Goffs Million winner subsequently wins a Group 1 race at three in Ireland, the UK, France, USA or Australia, the winning owner will receive a €100,000 bonus from Goffs.
Announcing the new initiative, Goffs Group Chief Executive, Henry Beeby said, “Only Goffs Orby Sale gives the opportunity to win Europe's richest 2-year-old race next year and we are excited to be offering this unique chance to buyers. As was shown at the weekend by the likes of Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and Lucky Vega (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) in the English 1000 Guineas and 2000 Guineas, Orby yearlings perform at the highest level on the global stage and this race will act as the perfect stepping stone for the best.
“Similar concepts have proved defining in the past and we are unashamedly reconfiguring the Million initiative for today's marketplace and will offer a select two-day Orby Sale at Kildare Paddocks this autumn. As one noted breeder told me when I discussed the idea with him, this means 'everyone' will come to Goffs to make sure they have a chance of winning such a big prize especially as prize money will extend to 10th place.
“We recognise that the Orby Sale in particular, and Irish sales in general, need a lift after the challenges created by the global pandemic but the end is in sight with the vaccination programme and we look forward to welcoming a global audience back to Kildare Paddocks, and continuing the momentum of the sale that was very evident up to 2019 when Orby was consistently returning six-figure averages and seven- figure top prices year on year.”
“The Curragh is delighted to be a part of this ambitious and innovative initiative by Goffs to stage an exciting new race that will give a major boost to attracting new owners to the sport, together with providing the platform to attract a significant audience to the racecourse and also delivering major global media coverage for what will be a major highlight of our Autumn Festival next year,” added Pat Keogh, Chief Executive at The Curragh. “We appreciate the continued support of The Curragh by Goffs, which also includes their long standing sponsorship of the G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S.”
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