Goffs Orby Sale

Galbertstown Stables boss Pa Doyle described trade at Goffs this week as "very strong for the nice horses" after selling a Sioux Nation half-brother to Diego Ventura (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) to Tally-Ho Stud for €135,000.  That was the highest-price paid on Friday as the curtain came down on Book 2 where a 72% clearance rate [down 3% on last year] was posted. The turnover for 322 sold was down 18% to €6,603,800 while the average fell by 8% to €20,509 and the median by 14% to €15,000.  As is clearly...

Croom House Stud boss Denis Brosnan opened up on how a gamble to back Goffs with some of the farm's best yearlings this year paid off when the County Limerick-based operation's Frankel (GB) colt (lot 323) out of Listed winner Loch Lein (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) brought an Orby Sale-topping €2 million to Godolphin on Wednesday.  Godolphin also snapped up a €600,000 Wootton Bassett (GB) colt (lot 415) from Croom House Stud and Brosnan, one of the most successful businessmen in Ireland, said that Goffs chief Henry Beeby lived up...

A Frankel (GB) filly (lot 465) brought €1 million from Anthony Stroud on behalf of Godolphin during the second day of the Goffs Orby Sale Book 1. Consigned by Staffordstown, the bay filly is a half-sister to multiple group winner Sandrine (GB) (Bobby's Kitten), who has been placed in both the G1 Cheveley Park Stakes and G1 Falmouth Stakes for breeder Kirsten Rausing. The dam, four-time winner Seychelloise (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), is a daughter of G3 Prix d'Arenberg heroine Starlit Sands (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). Lot 465 is the second...

Joseph O'Brien was the big winner on day one of the Goffs Orby Sale with the trainer coming away with a number of six-figure yearlings, including the €850,000 Blue Point (Ire) half-sister to Classic contender Bay City Roller (Ire) (New Bay {GB}).  Billed as one of the highlights of the sale, the sister (lot 114) to the unbeaten G2 Champagne Stakes winner was bought by European clients Agrolexica International Trading BV, who confirmed that the filly would be on her way to Owning Hill.  The sale-topping figure almost brought Tom...

A China Horse Club International-bred half-brother to multiple Group 1 winner Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) (lot 219) brought €750,000 from Simon Mockridge on behalf of Juddmonte late in the day at Goffs. Consigned by Ballylinch Stud where his sire stands, the chestnut son of Lope De Vega (Ire) is from the same family as young sire Cotai Glory (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), who won a brace of Group 3s. The colt's sister, Saffron Beach, brought 3.6 million during the Tattersalls December Sale from Najd Stud back in...

A daughter of Blue Point (Ire) (lot 114) took the lead during the first session of Goffs Orby Book 1 when selling for €850,000 to Agrolexica International Trading BV from the consignment of Church View Stables. The filly's dam, the multiple stakes winner Bloomfield (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) who was also second in both the G3 Give Thanks Stakes and the G3 Munster Oaks Stakes, is a half-sister to G3 Athasi Stakes heroine Prima Luce (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). This is the extended family of Cassandra Go (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}).

The hunt for the next Bay City Roller (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) is on at this year's Goffs Orby Sale, with Henry Beeby saying that he is convinced the sales house has never assembled such a strong group of yearlings to be offered at Ireland's premier yearling sale this week.  Trained by George Scott, Bay City Roller stretched his unbeaten record to three in the G2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster, and his connections harbour genuine Classic aspirations heading into the winter.  Stakes winners Beechwood (Ire) (Le Havre {Ire}), She's Quality...

"It feels like a holiday!" joked Ed Player when discussing the task of showing Whatton Manor Stud's three-strong consignment to potential buyers ahead of Book 1 of the Goffs Orby Sale, a historic offering as the first at this particular sale from an operation with over 40 years of experience in the industry. Player has been the one responsible for overseeing this latest chapter in Whatton Manor's history since taking over at the helm from father Peter, but don't mistake him for a man taking his responsibilities lightly because of...

Blood, sweat and tears. That is what it took Michael Halford to turn Copper Beech Stables from a green field site into one of the most renowned racing yards in Ireland. One from which Group 1 and Royal Ascot winners were sent out and where the trainer managed the careers of over 100 steeds in his pomp.  Halford has trained more than 1,000 winners in his 41-year career, almost 500 of which were managed from Copper Beech during 16 full seasons there, but dwindling numbers during Covid and the separation...

A total of 480 yearlings have been catalogued for the Goffs Orby Book 2 Sale which runs from Thursday, Oct. 3 to Friday, Oct. 4. The entire catalogue is eligible for next season's Goffs Two Million Series, which carries a minimum prize fund of €2 million exclusive to Orby Book 1 and Book 2 graduates. Alongside the Goffs Million race of €1 million, as part of the Two Million Series all Orby Book 2 yearlings can also qualify for the Goffs One Million Bonus Race Series which will see €1-million...

Glenn 'Bo' Bromagen has compared Penn Oaks winner and Goffs Orby graduate Poolside With Slim (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) favourably to Concrete Rose (Twirling Candy), the Grade I Belmont Oaks winner and just about the highest-class racehorse that the American-based agent has been associated with. The George 'Rusty' Arnold-trained import Poolside With Slim ran out a gritty winner of the $150,000 contest under Frankie Dettori at Penn National last week leaving Bromagen convinced that there are more fat cheques to be cashed with the progressive three-year-old. "It's exciting-you can't help but...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Wednesday's Observations features a son of Frankel (GB). 16.00 Yarmouth, Nov, £40,000, 2yo, 6f 3yT AGE OF GOLD (IRE) (Frankel {GB}), representing the Godolphin-Appleby-Buick triumvirate, realised the fifth-highest price at last year's Goffs Orby sale when selling for €625,000 and makes the trip up the A11 to debut on...