Henry Beeby

Goffs is set to offer something different to the National Hunt sphere by adding two-year-old store horses to the historic Arkle Sale in 2025.  Traditionally, the sale has been dominated by three-year-old unbroken stores-including the odd smattering of four-year-olds-but Goffs chief executive Henry Beeby says that the addition of two-year-olds is a reaction to market demands. Beeby said, "We pride ourselves on being flexible and progressive in meeting market demands whilst taking a measured approach and the introduction of two-year-old stores to the Arkle Sale comes in response to long...

Goffs chief Henry Beeby has lauded a memorable November Breeding Stock Sale that saw Godolphin pay €1 million for a Sea The Stars (Ire) colt in the foal session and Alex Elliott go to €725,000 for Shamardal mare Her Honour (Ire) in what proved to be an eventful Friday at Kildare Paddocks. The curtain came down on the Breeding Stock Sale on Saturday, where the Kevin Prendergast-trained Profit Refused (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}) led the way at €45,000 to Rochestown Lodge Stud.  Gouache (Ger), the dam of Goliath (Ger), who was...

Anticlimactic goes by the household name of disappointing and there was no disguising the glum faces at Goffs on Friday when Gouache (Ger) (Shamardal), the dam of live Japan Cup hope Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), failed to sell at €5 million. A collective groan was heard in the jam-packed auditorium when Henry Beeby uttered the words, "I'm afraid that's not enough," at €5 million. One pressroom colleague suggested that he wouldn't be rushing into a game of poker with the Goffs chief executive any time soon as things seemed to...

Sheer unbridled enthusiasm. That's exactly what was on show at the November Foal Sale at Goffs this week where, on top of a millionaire lot, turnover climbed by 26% to €32,640,000, the average by 34% to €48,717 and the median by 21% to €29,000. Those are the types of figures that compare favourably to even Book 1 of the Orby and they left Goffs chief Henry Beeby understandably delighted at close of play on Thursday. He commented, "The cream of the Irish foal crop is our proud boast and I...

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...