DISCUSSIONS remain ongoing between the Breeze-Up Consignors Association (BUCA) and officials at Goffs and Goresbridge Sales after the body representing consignors shared concerns over plans for two new Irish breeze-up sales next year.

As originally reported by the Thoroughbred Daily News, BUCA wrote to Goresbridge and Goffs and expressed their wishes that the number of horses offered at the main breeze-up sales in Europe would not exceed 1,000, to avoid the market becoming saturated.

Speaking to The Irish Field on Thursday, BUCA Chairman Brendan Holland explained: “A vote was taken at our AGM not to support the two sales, but we aren’t trying to dictate and tell either sale company what to do.”

The discussion has developed in recent days, Holland continued: “There was plenty didn’t attend the AGM and have expressed concern since, which is understandable. It’s ongoing, and we will be having more meetings with the consignors and the sales companies going forward.

“The problem is supply is exceeding demand. The sales companies have a difficult job coping with supply and pleasing everyone, I understand that. In an ideal world, you would have a fixed supply and growth in demand, but because you’re dealing with different sales companies, it’s not as simple as reducing the numbers.”

Holland also revealed two positive initiatives to come out of the AGM, beginning with BUCA’s decision to sponsor the Pat Smullen Race at the Curragh. “As everyone knows, some of the breeze-up community have been dealing with cancer the last couple of years,” he said.

“The opportunity was there and the money was there, so we felt it was an appropriate sponsorship.” BUCA have also decided to set up a benevolent fund in order to support members of the community who suffer bad injuries during the course of their work.

The other side

Goffs chief Henry Beeby confirmed that discussions are ongoing with BUCA, both regarding the new sale and numbers for their existing sale at Doncaster.

“I think it’s really just a concern to ensure that we collaboratively work together to protect what is a vibrant market, and we completely share those concerns,” he said.

“At the moment, our intention is to proceed with the sale, and, we’ll have to promote it as best we can, and convince people that it’s the right thing to do.” Regarding the new sale, Beeby noted: “We’re not looking at big numbers, our initial thoughts were 50 to 75 horses.

“It’s probably a reactive sale to an extent in that it’s in the beginning of June, so if things haven’t gone right for other sales, rather than having to go further afield, there’s a sale on their doorstep in Ireland with very low cost. It’s a sale for slightly later maturing horses as well, because it’s later in the season.”

On the subject of numbers, Goresbridge Sales’ Ed Donohoe said that their new sale will have limited numbers, though the exact figure is yet to be confirmed. On the subject of views shared by BUCA, Donohoe said: “I do believe that there’s going to be another meeting of those people [all consignors].

“The overriding thing I want to get across here is that there is very clearly a want for a sale in Ireland, because vendors can’t get their horses into a sale in Ireland, and they don’t want to have to travel to the UK.

“A lot of those consigners have told me they want to see Goresbridge have a breeze-up sale. They don’t want to have to travel to the UK, where the sales were not a success last year, and that’s largely due to the Brexit situation and to the lack of the European buyers going to the UK.

“A lot of the smaller breeze-up operators cannot get their horses into a sale in Ireland, as Fairyhouse [Tattersalls Ireland] only allow a maximum of 250 horses in their sale. I think the vendors will dictate in mass and I don’t believe we’re not going to be supported if we do have a sale.”