AFTER a mixed session which featured some fine trade for the breeding stock on offer, the Goffs February Sale came to a close on Wednesday evening with a set of results that couldn’t match those from 12 months ago.
Over the course of the two days, the sale took in just over €4 million and this year’s somewhat larger sale posted a two and a half percent increase in terms of its turnover.
The average of €13,965 represented a drop of 7% while the median fell by 19 points to €6,500. The clearance rate was also down on last year as it came in at 65% as opposed to 68% in 2019.
Interestingly, this sale witnessed some strong demand for the breeding stock section that closed out the two days and it was this sector that produced all four of this week’s six figure transactions.
The strength of this sale rested with the yearling section 12 months ago, which produced a trio of six-figure lots, but nothing could better €82,000 this time around.
On the whole, trade was selective, as it tends to be at sales of this nature, but the demand for breeding stock amongst domestic purchasers was notable.
Top mare
As has been the case at Goffs so many times in the past, a draft of breeding stock from the Aga Khan Studs provided some major highlights, with centre stage this time going to the twice placed four-year-old Sheranda.
The daughter of Siyouni, who is a half-sister to the dual Group 2 winner Shamreen and the Grade 3 scorer Shahroze, was the subject of a lengthy duel between Tally-Ho Stud and Eamonn Reilly from which the latter emerged victorious with a bid of €220,000.
Earlier in the afternoon, Reilly secured another choice offering from the famed owner-breeder when he spent €150,000 on the winning Camelot four-year-old Hazakiyra. She is a half-sister to Hazapour and comes from the immediate family of the dual Derby hero Harzand.
“Both fillies have been bought for the same Irish breeder who has bought them with a view to selling their progeny. They are two very nice, well-related fillies from very deep Aga Khan families and there was a lot to like about them,” stated Reilly.
In between the sale of the Aga Khan-owned fillies, Reilly’s BBA Ireland colleague Michael Donohoe weighed in with the €200,000 purchase of the Motivator mare Hergame whose previous visit to the sales ring saw her realise €110,000 at the 2018 Arqana Breeding Stock Sale.
The listed-placed daughter of Motivator provided further evidence of the Aga Khan’s profound influence as she hailed from one of his pedigrees which includes the top miler Sendawar.
“She’s going to be staying in Ireland and I’ve bought her for an existing client. She’s lovely with a good race record and from a lovely family so she made a lot of appeal,” said Donohoe.
Decent return
There was a fourth six-figure transaction as agent John Walsh gave €130,000 for the well-related Dark Angel four-year-old Vrai.
The half-sister to Lilbourne Lad was offered in foal to Le Havre and she was showing a decent return on the €75,000 that she cost at this sale last year. Walsh reported that he was acting for a new client and that his purchase would be staying in Ireland.
The session also benefitted from a notable contribution by the English-based Blue Diamond Stud whose purchases were headed by the winning Galileo mare Stereo Viewing who cost €80,000.
The five-year-old is closely related to the American Grade 2 scorer Chinese Dragon.
Blue Diamond also spend €55,000 on the useful Motivator five-year-old Maiden Voyage and €30,000 on the Italian stakes scorer Lady Ramon.
Day 2
YEAR CAT OFF SOLD AGG AV Med
2020 272 212 139 2,098,800 15,099 5,000
2019 215 170 127 1,942,200 15,293 9,000
Entire Sale
YEAR CAT OFF SOLD AGG AV Med
2020 549 450 292 4,077,700 13,965 6,500
2019 483 386 264 3,976,150 15,061 8,000
2018 627 508 333 4,800,000 14,414 6,500