GOFFS this week revealed that its new Goffs Irish Derby Breeze-Up Sale will begin with a breeze at Naas racecourse on Thursday, June 26th, with lots selling at Goffs the following day before evening racing at the Curragh.

The announcement comes following discussions between sales companies and the Breeze-Up Consignors Association (BUCA), after BUCA initially discouraged the addition of any new sales due to a concern that supply would exceed demand.

Subsequent meetings have changed the association’s stance, as Brendan Holland explained: “Whilst we are all keen to control the numbers of horses being sold, we also recognise that there is a demand from the consignors for another sale in Ireland, as opposed to those horses having to go to France to be sold.

“With that in mind, we felt a later June date was preferable and Goffs have announced that date, which appears to tie in well with the Derby Festival.”

BUCA had requested that any new sales not take place during the current sales season, meaning that they should occur after the Tattersalls Ireland Breeze-Up Sale in late May, which would facilitate later-maturing horses and those who missed their initial sales date.

Both Goffs and consignors hope that visitors to the Curragh will boost trade, but an obvious issue is that the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale takes place that same week.

On the matter, Goffs chief executive Henry Beeby said: “It’s our understanding that the Derby Sale is going to be Tuesday and Wednesday, with their new Part II on Thursday, so the sale itself won’t clash with anything that’s happening elsewhere.

“It may present some logistical challenges in that respect, but there is precedent in that the Tattersalls Ireland Breeze-Up is held on the last day of the Doncaster Spring Sale, which is a National Hunt sale.

“There isn’t an ideal answer to everything, and we’ll have to work through logistics and, like any new sale, it will present challenges, but I think they’re workable and that people will embrace them in a positive way.”

Brendan Holland commented: “I also understand that there may be a clash with the Derby Sale, but the final points on the logistics of the sale will be trashed out between now and then, and there will be more discussions.”

Kerins disappointed

CEO of Tattersalls Ireland, Simon Kerins, meanwhile, expressed disappointment over the decision to stage a new sale on the same week of the Derby Sale. “It’s disappointing that there’s a clash because I think it’s avoidable,” he said. “It inconveniences mutual clients, because so many guys now sell at both store sales and at breeze-up sales, and will potentially inconvenience purchasers as well.

“The naming of the sale isn’t ideal either, being called the Irish Derby Breeze-Up Sale. The Derby Sale celebrated 50 years this year, and we’ve a lot of pride in that sale. Then you’ve got Irish Thoroughbred Marketing, who now have to support two sales at the same time, which isn’t ideal either.”

The Derby Sale was a two-day affair this year but last month Tattersalls Ireland announced it was reintroducing a Part II of the Derby Sale in 2025 and adding a two-year-old section to Part I of the sale.

Top consignors at the 2023 Derby Sale included Norman Williamson’s Oak Tree Farm and Johnny Collins’ Brown Island Stables, both of whom also consign at the breeze-up sales, while leading store sale consignor Peter Nolan switches to a buying role at the breeze-up sales. Purchasers active at both sales include Kevin Ross, Highflyer Bloodstock, Peter and Ross Doyle, and Matt Coleman.