Henry Beeby

If there is one criticism about this bloodstock game of ours, it's the fact that we never seem to need a second invitation for a backslap and oftentimes we can portray things as being rosey in the garden when the opposite may well be true. Not at Goffs on Wednesday where the highest-ever turnover, average and median was achieved at the November Foal Sale.  Even the biggest of hitters in this business, like Coolmore's MV Magnier and Baroda Stud boss David Cox, admitted to being genuinely bowled over not only...

Goffs sparks happy memories for the family-run Ballinacurra Stud, which comprises brothers George and David Mullins along with their cousin Denis McCarthy, who have enjoyed some major results at the foal sales here in recent years.  It was at this sale in 2022 when the boys of Ballinacurra enjoyed a week to remember when selling foals by Blue Point (Ire) and Ghaiyyath (Ire) for €200,000 and €145,000.  The team are quietly hopeful of another profitable week at Kildare Paddocks with a seven-strong draft set to go under the hammer, including...

Goffs chief executive Henry Beeby hailed a "truly international buying bench" at the conclusion of the Autumn Yearling Sale on Thursday. Turnover climbed by 15% to €3,735,200 while average was up by 4% to €8,748. The median matched last year's figure of €5,000 while the clearance rate was up marginally [1%] to 77%.  Beeby commented, "All corners of the globe. 2025 will see Goffs Autumn graduates race all over the world following the last three days. Our job as Ireland's premier auction house since 1866 is to work in the...

The Aga Khan's recent Dundalk winner Ridhaz (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) highlighted what proved to be a strong horses-in-training section of the Autumn Sale at Goffs at €220,000 to BBA Ireland's Michael Donohoe.  Ridhaz has been brought to the boil steadily by Michael Halford and Tracey Collins. The three-year-old gelding was last seen winning an extended 10f handicap at Dundalk by over three lengths and rates a horse with a good future.  A winter campaign in the Middle East beckons for the dual winner, according to Donohoe, who revealed the horse...

The catalogue for the Goffs November Foal Sale, which features 1,021 lots, was released on Wednesday. Set to run from Monday, Nov. 18 through Thursday, Nov. 21, the sale will have lots catalogued alphabetically by dam each day from Monday to Thursday inclusive. Monday and Thursday are billed as equal, Tuesday raising the bar to an extent, and Wednesday traditionally attracting the most black-type pedigrees. Successful alumni include Japanese Group 1 winner Mad Cool (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), and Classic victories in the G2 German 2000 Guineas by Devil's Point...

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...

Book 2 of the Goffs Orby Sale kicked off with joint top lots by Acclamation (GB) and Supremacy (Ire) at €80,000 with the gavel falling to trainer Johnny Murtagh and American buyers Legion Bloodstock respectively.  The Acclamation colt was consigned by Clare Manning of Bohergy Stud while the Supremacy filly was offered by Yeomanstown Stud and completed a strong spend from the overseas buyers throughout Book 1 and 2 at Kildare Paddocks this week.  Lot 611 represented a decent piece of business for Manning's client who sourced the colt out...

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...

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...

The new Goffs Breeze-up Sale will be held on Irish Derby weekend 2025, it was announced on Wednesday. The breeze will take place at Naas Racecourse on Thursday, June 26 ahead of the sale at Goffs before evening racing at the Curragh on Friday, June 27. Previously announced for early-June, the later date for the Irish Derby Breeze-up Sale is intended to accommodate quality two-year-olds who may have missed an earlier sale. The increased likelihood of optimum ground conditions at that point in the summer was identifed by Goffs as...

DONCASTER, England--Clive Cox might not have a degree in mechanical engineering, but it's fair to say that there have been few better trainers than him over the years when it comes to masterminding the career trajectory of a 'Donny Rocket'. Think Harry Angel (Ire), the July Cup and Sprint Cup scorer bought by Cox for just £44,000 at the 2015 edition of the Goffs UK Doncaster Premier Yearling Sale, or the Prix de l'Abbaye heroine Gilt Edge Girl (GB) (Monsieur Bond {Ire}), his very first Group 1 winner who he'd...

Set to go as the opening event of the Irish Champions Festival at Leopardstown on Saturday, Sept. 14, nominations for the Goffs Champions Sale are now open, the auction house announced via presser on Monday. Offering a boutique selection of high-class Flat and NH prospects, the sale will take place in the winners' enclosure before racing is conducted. The Irish Champions Festival features prize money of €4.5-million with a programme headed by six Group 1 races, including the G1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champions Stakes on the Saturday card at Leopardstown,...