GOFFS UK managing director Tim Kent issued a call to vendors following the completion of his company’s one-day sale of horses in training and yearlings on Tuesday, saying “we are here, we are ready, but we need the horses.”

He added: “Today’s sale acted as an outlet for trainers and yearling vendors to trade stock at all levels of the market, and whilst we are satisfied with the level of trade, we are aware that we need to do something to encourage vendors to sell a greater number of horses at this sale.

“The October Sale provides a convenient and timely option for those looking to disperse stock, and Doncaster never fails to deliver a diverse and busy buying bench, especially when we are given the horses. That said, we would like to thank those that supported today’s sale.”

He went on to point to the fact that in July the company set a new world record price for a National Hunt horse-in-training when Regent’s Stroll sold for £660,000.

While Tuesday’s trade was relatively low-key, the day’s turnover was up 23% on a year ago, the average was also better, though the median fell 20%. The clearance rate at such sales is a struggle at present, with one in three of the 135 lots offered failing to change hands.

A wildcard entry, the Olly Murphy-trained Bowling Buddy, came to the sale with three consecutive wins over hurdles from his last four starts, his latest success coming at Wetherby. He sold to fledgling trainer Adam Nicol for £58,000. The gelding joined Murphy after winning a Bartlemy point-to-point on his second start, after which he sold for £20,000 at Doncaster in May. Bowling Buddy will carry the colours of the Up4b syndicate which has already enjoyed success.

Another to make an impression from Olly Murphy’s draft was Mickley Stud’s Peace Motivator. The four-year-old son of Massaat won on his debut in a Worcester bumper in September, but was beaten later in the month. He cost Aled Evans £25,000.

Highly Recommended

Very quickly after the sale of Bowling Buddy, Mel Rowley’s five-year-old Highland Reel gelding Highly Recommended, offered following his maiden win over hurdles on his most recent start, sold to Mary Lewis for £38,000. Dianne Sayer signed the docket for the gelding whose victory was highly impressive, as he won by 17 lengths. Sayer revealed that the horse’s new owner is 90.

Jamie Railton Sales Agency sold two of the sale’s best lots. The Churchill four-year-old gelding Cossack Chach was trained by Joseph O’Brien and won a three-year-old maiden hurdle in July 2023. On his most recent start he won over fences at Sligo, having dropped down in trip from his previous two outings over the larger obstacles. He cost Jerry McGrath Bloodstock and Gold Star Promotions £36,000. The gelding will join trainer James Moffatt in Cumbria.

McGrath was underbidder on an earlier lot from the Jamie Railton consignment, How About No. Another four-year-old, this son of Galiway was also trained by Joseph O’Brien, and won a maiden over a mile and a half at Dundalk in February, while also being placed a few times over hurdles.

How About No cost Lizzie Quinlan £32,000. Future plans for the gelding include trying to win a maiden hurdle, though Quinlan believes his future could be over fences.

JD Moore

Bloodstock agent JD Moore spent £31,000 for Siegen, a two-year-old winning son of Blue Point from Richard Hannon’s East Everleigh Stables. His sole win was over the minimum trip at Sandown in June, and the colt will now head to Qatar and join the stables of their champion trainer, Hamad Al Jehani. Siegen cost 250,000gns as a yearling.

The five-year-old gelding Bosh has gained two of his four career wins in 2024, and now joins Michael Dods after his sale for £26,000. The son of Profitable has been trained to date by Richard Hannon.

Simon Munir and Isaac Souede parted with the Stuart Crawford-trained eight-year-old mare Condesa for £30,000. Out of an unraced full-sister to First Lieutenant, Condesa won over hurdles and was third to Party Central in a listed mares’ bumper. Martin Wanless was her purchaser.

Another eight-year-old to sell for £30,000 was Go On Chez, a successful point-to-pointer who has won eight times over fences. He was sold by trainers Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero to Christine Osborne.

Trade for yearlings was difficult, with the standout being Yapham Manor Stud’s Zoustar filly, the first produce of a placed No Nay Never half-sister to Group 1 Pris de l’Abbaye de Longchamp winner Gilt Edge Girl, and Group 2 Flying Childers Stakes winner Godfrey Street. Jason Kelly Bloodstock paid £22,000 for her.