JUST after 6pm on Wednesday, the final lot walked through the ring at Kildare Paddocks for 2024, signalling the completion of the Irish bloodstock sales season. It also concluded the three-day Goffs December National Hunt Sale which produced a solid set of figures, largely game ball with those of the previous year.

This year’s clearance rate was up on last year, when it was a four-day sale, and demand for the best lots was strong and competitive. The lower reaches of the market show that many breeders are struggling to move stock on, and market polarisation is very evident.

One of the week’s leading buyers, Coolmore’s Gerry Aherne, said that “everyone is playing down the game at the moment, but there are plenty of people out there who love this jumping game. Everything will be okay - it’s not as bad as people are making it out to be.”

A small number of stallions are proving to be most in demand, and two in particular featured most regularly among the top lots over the three days. The French-based No Risk At All had four colts catalogued and all sold, producing an impressive average of €83,500, by some way the best of the week. Walk In The Park had many more representatives, among the them the most expensive National Hunt foal ever sold at Goffs.

Henry Beeby was pleased with the sale this week, and grateful for the support of buyers, vendors and his team. He commented: “The highest-priced National Hunt mare and foal at public auction in Ireland and Britain for the third successive year is a fitting tribute to the progress that this sale has made over the last decade. From small beginnings, our National Hunt team has worked tirelessly with breeders to provide a market that is now the first choice for so many in the category.”

Beeby added: “Despite the week starting with a major storm that caused a huge amount of turmoil and presented major travel issues for horses and people, buyers have flocked to Kildare Paddocks in their droves, with significant numbers from the UK, while the record-making foal is destined for France. All that said, we acknowledge the challenging nature of the National Hunt market away from the headlines.

Commitment

“While our clearance rate has improved, it is not where we would all like to see it, and the sales ring can be a lonely place if you don’t have exactly what the market wants. As ever, our commitment to Irish breeders remains steadfast. We will work for you and do everything in our power to create the most vibrant market for every horse you entrust to us. That is the point of Goffs and why we exist.

“The team at Goffs is passionate about what we do and how we do it. We are here to serve at all levels of the market and will continue to provide a viable, transparent and appropriate sale for every category, deriving pleasure and satisfaction for each and every sale regardless of price or category as long as our clients are happy or, at a minimum, satisfied.”

He concluded: “Nothing is taken for granted and we remain as ambitious as ever for every visitor to our sales. I also want to acknowledge the hard work of all the staff who work literally night and day to show and present the horses at each sale. They are so often the unsung heroes of the act, but their dedication and obvious love for each horse in their care is always a joy to see.”

MULLINGAR, Co Westmeath breeder Louis Vambeck has enjoyed a strong sales season with his foals, returning to the public auction arena for the first time in a number of years. Vambeck possesses an enviable broodmare band, but in recent years has largely traded privately from home.

His decision to try the public sales route has been rewarded, with a number of notable sales, but none to match that of selling a son of Walk In The Park out of the Saint Des Saints mare Holy Virgin for €160,000, a new record for a National Hunt foal at Goffs. Nicolas Bertran de Balanda of NBB Racing secured the colt on behalf of a client in France.

Vambeck utilised the services of John Dwan’s Ballyreddin and Katie Rudd’s Busherstown to consign the colt, a half-brother to two winners in France over jumps. His dam is a winning half-sister to Grade 1 Triumph Hurdle and Fighting Fifth Hurdle runner-up Top Notch, who went on to win nine times over fences, his biggest win gained in the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices Chase. Vambeck was thrilled with the outcome of the sale, but stressed that it was the result of a lot of hard work.

“This is a very special moment for me,” Vambeck said. “When you breed a good foal it’s nice to be rewarded. I seem to be lucky with Walk In The Park. They call me ‘Laidback Lou’, but when it comes to business, it is just that, business. Anyone can breed a foal, but it is attention to detail that’s important. You don’t get lucky at this game; you work hard, and the harder you work the luckier you get. I have to pay tribute to Sorcha Darby who is sadly leaving this week after working for me for two years. She has played a big part.

Private sales

“I have maybe four or five mares due to foal in January, so when everyone is celebrating Christmas and the New Year, I am focused on the work to be done foaling these mares. They have been very good to me here in Goffs, and in Tatts as well. The last time I brought a foal here I topped the sale, and that was a Walk In The Park about five or six years ago. In recent years I wasn’t going to any sales and was selling privately to very nice people in England. Coming to the sales has worked out well.”

John Dwan added: “Smashing foal. He was extremely busy all week. I could not say enough good things about him. He’s a young foal, born at the end of May, but every time you did something with him, he just went on and did it. A pure professional. I knew he would make a nice price, but this was unbelievable.”

Nicolas Bertran de Balanda commented: “He’s very nice, the one I liked most in the sale. He’s a very good individual, really athletic with a lovely walk. I’m not surprised I had to battle against some very good judges to get him. He’s been bought for Sofiane Benaroussi, and will race in France. I bought a very nice Nirvana Du Berlais filly for Sofiane here last year. He is building a great team of young National Hunt horses. I hope it works out well. Trade is realistic, but very strong for the right ones.”

SURREY native Zoe Tolson, now based in Cork, enjoyed a spectacular success with a foal she bred and consigned for the first time in her own name.

From a largely flat family, the son of Walk In The Park is a half-brother to the Nathaniel mare Burning Victory, and she had her greatest racing moment when winning the Grade 1 Triumph Hurdle four years ago, somewhat fortunately following the exit of Goshen.

Gerry Aherne, who was underbidder on the top-priced foal at the sale, won the battle to get this one for €82,000, signing in his own name and that of Charles Shanahan. Aherne is a fan of Walk In The Park, and said: “We are fans because he is the best.

This foal is different as we might reoffer him for sale. We know a lot about the family, he’s a very well-bred horse, a baby, a very young horse [born June 3rd]. We thought he was very nice; we didn’t think that we would have to give as much for him, but there you are - we have him now.”

The stakes-placed M’Oubliez Pas, dam of the colt, was purchased at Arqana four year ago for €28,000. Tolson said: “I’m absolutely overwhelmed, it’s just brilliant. I have a background in horses. I’ve always been into eventing and dressage. I then got into bloodstock and started doing stud work a few years ago, and managed to get into a few mares. I’m hoping to progress that side of things. I’ve been based near Cork with my partner Tim Dineen for a few months.

“I’m used to doing foals, but this is the first ever draft under my name. I prepped them myself, so I’m over the moon to get this result. If you’ve got the quality, the market is very strong. You’ve got to believe in what you’ve got. M’Oubliez Pas in foal to Walk In The Park again.”

Gerry Aherne affirmed his love for Walk In The Park when he gave €68,000 for the Rathmore Stud-consigned first foal of the unraced Kapgarde mare Jalna D’Oudairies. The colt’s dam is a full-sister to Embrun D’Oudairies, runner-up in the Grade 1 Gran Premio Merano Chase, and a half-sister to a French listed chase winner Callia D’Oudairies (Saint Des Saints).

Their dam is a Network listed chase winning own-sister to Rubi Ball. He earned £1.55 million from 16 wins, three at Grade 1 level.

Aherne said: “We tried very hard to buy the top lot, but we are delighted to get this fellow. He was high on our list and is a very, very nice individual. He has been bought to race. He was bred by a new name in the game, Shane Carmody, and Peter Molony has done a great job for him, buying some nice mares.”

THREE of the top five foals during the week, all of whom brought €80,000 or more, were sons of No Risk At All. That sire, who started his career at stud at a fee of €2,500, will cover for the second time at €20,000 in 2025.

Having appeared to be beaten for the best of these foals, it emerged that bloodstock agent Ross Doyle did get the colt he wanted, having used Peter Vaughan as a decoy. Vaughan made one bid from the balcony, enough to thwart the efforts of Kieran Shields who was underbidder. Doyle signed for the colt at €95,000.

The foal was sold from Peter Molony’s Rathmore Stud on behalf of Shane Carmody. Less than 24 hours earlier, the same breeder sold a Walk In The Park colt for €68,000.

The son of leading French sire No Risk At All is the first foal out of Morgan Has who won three times in France, her victory in the Listed Prix Antoine de Palaminy Chase being her best performance. This year she was covered by Walk In The Park. The colt’s first three dams are all listed winners over jumps. The third dam Monika is also responsible for Moises Has, a son of Martaline who won the Grade 1 Prix Renaud du Vivier Hurdle and now stands at Haras du Hoguenet at a fee of €5,000.

A standout

Doyle said: “He was a standout in the catalogue even before we went to see him, and he didn’t disappoint. He is a very good physical by a very good stallion, out of a very good mare, and comes from a good home. I wouldn’t say we got a bargain, but maybe some value. Time will tell, but we are very happy. He’s been bought for someone to resell.”

A day earlier, Tally-Ho Stud paid €92,000 for a No Risk At All out of the French-bred Kapgarde mare Gardiala. Breeder Seamus McKeogh consigned him through Denise O’Brien’s Clonbonny Stud, and he is the living produce of Gardiala who was placed in a Grade 3 chase in France. Gardiala topped Auctav’s online dispersal sale for ML Bloodstock in January 2023 when she was knocked down for €66,000.

McKeogh said: “I’m over the moon. He was always a smasher; I loved him from the moment he hit the ground. Denise prepped him for me, and did a great job. It’s been a good sale for me as I had an Order Of St George colt that I sold for €35,000. He was a cracking foal too. I’ve got five or six mares I keep as a hobby.”

In addition to selling a No Risk At All, Peter Molony also topped the first day’s sale when he bought a son of the stallion, giving €80,000 for the first foal out of an unraced Walk In The Park half-sister to dual Grade 1 winner Joncol.

Molony said: “He is a gorgeous horse with a great pedigree and the sire speaks for himself. I am lucky enough to have a couple of young ones at home by him. It’s lovely to get a nice horse like that. I look forward to looking at him for the next two and a half years before bringing him back here. Joncol was a top-class horse. It is exciting to get him.”

Michael Moore’s Ballincurrig House Stud sold the colt. He commented: “Trade is very good for the good foal, irrespective of what level it is at. Even if your budget is for a €10,000 or €15,000 foal, to go and buy him is still difficult. I wouldn’t be worried about the National Hunt trade at the moment.”

TRADE for broodmares and breeding prospects is very selective, but Goffs has managed for a number of years to attract high-profile lots. While some failed to sell, two blacktype winners about to embark on careers in the breeding shed led the way.

The Mariga Family’s Coolmara Stables is home to an incredible collection of mares, and they added to that number when Ger O’Leary saw of allcomers to secure the Clonbonny Stud-consigned Grade 1 winner Marie’s Rock for €155,000. The daughter of Milan was trained by Nicky Henderson and two years ago at Cheltenham Festival won the Grade 1 Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle before going on to land a quality edition of the Grade 1 Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle at Punchestown. Eight of her nine career wins were over hurdles, and she divided Sire Du Berlais and Flooring Porter in the Grade 1 Liverpool Hurdle.

O’Leary said: “An outstanding racemare and she is the standout mare here. She was the pick of the bunch, she is absolutely gorgeous, a lovely clean-limbed mare, has a great step to her, and sure she was ticking all the boxes. Today was a case of getting her on the books. We will get her home and take it from there.”

Marie’s Rock raced for Middleham Park Racing, and their Tim Palin added: “Obviously it is a very emotional day. I am struggling to remember a time when we didn’t have her, she’s been with us for a good six years now. We are sorry to see her go, but I am delighted that she has gone to such a good home. Mares like her are few and far between, and she has been an absolute pleasure to own. We are very lucky that we were able to secure her in the first place, and then her toughness and her soundness shone through. She has fantastic battling qualities and I am sure she will pass every bit of those on to her foals. We wish her new connections the absolute best.”

Powerstown in the Pink

Another six-figure mare was one of the two entries from Willie Mullins’ Closutton Stables, Pink In The Park. Frank O’Meara did the bidding on behalf of Tom Whitehead’s Powerstown Stud, and the gavel fell in their favour at €120,000. Pink In The Park is a listed bumper and chase winner from an outstanding female line.

Speaking by telephone, Whitehead said: “She is a lovely mare and was a good racemare. That seems to be what everyone is looking for now. We will get her home and, in the spring, will give her a good cover. We will do our best for her. I like the family - it goes back to a great Parkhill female line. It is one of the best in the stud book.”

Pink In The Park’s third dam High Board bred the Deep run full-brothers Morley Street and Granville Again, both of whom won the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham. High Board is grandam of a host of Grade 1 winners, including City Island. He is a half-brother to the dam of Pink In The Park.