TRADE at this week’s Craven Breeze-Up Sale augurs well for the remainder of the European breeze-up season though several vendors told The Irish Field this week the Newmarket sale was tougher than the results imply.

Increases of 32% and 35% respectively in the median and average prices indicated a booming bloodstock industry and there was plenty of optimism from buyers and vendors contacted this week by The Irish Field.

However, reliable industry sources say that the quality and cost of horses being offered at the Craven Sale has jumped too, and it has been estimated that around 55% of the lots previously sold at auction who were offered for sale this week returned a profit for their vendors. Close to 20% showed a loss and the remainder were unsold.

Ted Durcan, who bought two horses for over half a million this week, said: “I wasn’t surprised trade was so strong – it has basically rolled on from last year’s yearling sales which, in themselves, were amazing after Covid.

“There is a huge appetite worldwide for horses ready to run. The Craven Sale had a lot of very fast ready-made horses who can run in the very near future.

“There were some lovely physicals to match the times on the clock and you have to pay a premium for those horses. I would expect the momentum to roll on to the other breeze-up sales this spring.”

Healthy market

Mark McStay, whose Avenue Bloodstock signed for two horses at a cost of 345,000gns this week, said: “It was a good sale. Those that breezed well, some in windy conditions, made their money. It’s a healthy market, not over-dependent on one buyer. My client had never bought at this sale before.

“There’s a solidity to the market, perhaps with a bit of softness at the very top. It’s very strong in the 350,000-500,000 bracket but you don’t see a million being paid these days.”

Mick Murphy and Sarah O’Connell’s Longways Stables sold five horses for over 700,000gns. Murphy said: “There was very good trade on the back of what breeze-up horses have been doing on the track in the past year.” Last year’s Craven Sale produced champion Native Trail.

Murphy and vendor Katie McGivern of Derryconnor Stud believe the £15,000 Craven Breeze-Up Sale Bonus (payable to connections of all two-year-old winners) is another factor in the success of the sale. “It’s a big incentive – I wouldn’t look any further if I was trying to buy a breezer,” said McGivern. “There was good footfall at the sales this week – especially owners. They like these sales because they are buying sound horses who are ready to race, and they are saving on training fees.”

“All or nothing”

Three vendors who asked not to be identified took a different view.

“It’s a tricky sale – all or nothing,” said one. “Some vendors hit the jackpot but it was tougher than the results might indicate. Doncaster next week will give a clearer picture of whether commercial trainers are buying this year.”

Another vendor said: “I made more money than in previous years but I had to work very hard at it. You won’t see that in the results.”

Godolphin famously bought champion Native Trail at this sale a year ago - their only purchase - and it was a little surprising they again only bought one horse this week, a Kingman colt for 360,000gns from Johnny Collins’ Brown Island Stables.

The big talking point was the increased activity from Kim Joorabchian’s Amo Racing and associates. Football agent Joorabchian is understood to be behind Omni Horse, a new venture which spent 1.5 million guineas on five horses this week.