Eddie O'Leary

Norman Williamson set a new record for the highest-priced horse sold at the Arqana Breeze-Up Sale when his Justify colt was knocked down to Anthony Stroud on behalf of Godolphin for €2.3 million on what was a banner day for the stallion.  The result came less than an hour after Eddie O'Leary broke his own personal record for the highest priced achieved at a breeze-up sale when his Lynn Lodge Stud-consigned Justify colt went the way of Alex Elliott on behalf of Amo Racing for €1 million before the same...

DEAUVILLE, France--The temperature is rising at Arqana and so, too, are the stakes. Breeze-up consignors young and old have made no secret about the fact that trade this year has been tricky, particularly at the middle to lower tiers.  All duck or no dinner, feast or famine--whatever way you want to describe it, vendors have had to negotiate some choppy waters, meaning a lot is still on the line at Arqana when the sale gets underway at 11am on Saturday. But, weirdly, the optimism is palpable. Maybe it's the baking...

Leading vendor Eddie O'Leary has said that Tuesday's record-breaking trade at Goffs UK would have come as a huge relief to vendors who expressed concern about the bolstered catalogue resulting in a watered down trade. However, the Lynn Lodge Stud boss also suggested that the figures could be even better if the Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale returned to its original slot before the Craven Sale at Tattersalls to maximise a horse's chance of getting to Royal Ascot.  There are eight weeks between the the Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale and Royal...

The demand for American dirt-bred horses for next month's Goffs Dubai Breeze Up Sale has, according to Eddie O'Leary and Con Marnane, two titans of the game, provided consignors with a clear framework about what will and won't ring buyers' bells in the sales ring.  While Tom Taaffe, the client relations agent at Goffs, described last year's inaugural Dubai Breeze Up Sale as "a very good start," there is a growing confidence among consignors that next month can be even better, with Marnane admitting to have 'upped his game big...

By Brian Sheerin and Emma Berry   After a hectic few months perusing this year's foal and yearling crops, we asked the buyers to share their thoughts on the young stallions with first foals and yearlings.  Dermot Farrington, agent: "If you look at the list of people who have bought yearlings and foals by Advertise, it's a long time since a young stallion has attracted the who's who of the bloodstock world, and that's exactly what he has done. Whether it be yearlings to breeze, yearlings to race or foals...

The first major yearling sale of the autumn in Britain or Ireland, the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale provided entertainment from the beginning to the end, but most importantly, boasted impressive figures. Brian Sheerin was in attendance and discusses the major talking points from the sale. Figures on the up The team at Goffs UK could hardly have wished for a better start to the Premier Yearling Sale. The day one figures were off the charts. Of the 218 lots offered on Tuesday, 199 were sold, representing a clearance rate...

Tattersalls Ireland's two-day Derby Sale drew to a close on Thursday with records achieved for the average and median price at the sale. An average of €54,018 and a median of €48,000 were achieved at the sale which returned a clearance rate of 86% for 299 lots sold. Twenty-four lots sold for six figures. Sons of Walk In The Park (Ire) filled the top two spots, with the sale-topping lot 389 picked up by Eddie O'Leary for Bective Stud for €280,000. He is the most expensive National Hunt store horse...

Eleven-time Group 1-winning hurdler Apple's Jade (Saddler Maker) will be among the 522 lots catalogued for the Goffs December National Hunt Sale, which takes place Dec. 9-10 at Kildare Paddocks. Comprised of foals, yearlings and breeding stock, the catalog is now available online. Retired in March of this year, Apple's Jade, who is in foal to Walk In The Park, will be offered by Gigginstown House Stud as Lot 515 Thursday, Dec. 10. The winner of 15 career races, the 8-year-old became the first mare to achieve 11 top level...

You know you've made it when you are widely known simply by your first name. Say the name 'Mags' to most people in the bloodstock industry and they will know exactly to whom you are referring. For Margaret O'Toole, to use her given name, is as widely known as she is admired within that tightknit community, commanding a respect inversely proportionate to the level of publicity she receives. The latter is deliberate. Not for O'Toole are the self-congratulatory social media accounts. If she did choose to publicise her achievements in...