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The Amethyst Stakes runner-up Erzindjan took centre stage at Monday's Goffs Autumn Horses In Training Sale when fetching €160,000 to continue his career in Dubai with trainer Ahmed bin Harmash.
After taking place in an online format last year, the one day auction returned to its traditional setting of Kildare Paddocks and it produced a largely improved set of final figures. Of the 122 horses offered, 95 were sold for a turnover of just under €1.3 million which was a 26% improvement on last year.
The average did drop by 18% to €13,525, on account of the larger number of horses sold, while the median improved from €7,000 to €8,000. In addition the clearance rate for the day was a respectable 78%.
The sale-topper, whose other efforts for Dermot Weld this season included a placed effort in the Listed Platinum Stakes, looked one of the standout offerings of the day and it was no surprise to see his price sweep past €100,000 before agent Alessandro Marconi had the final say at €160,000.
“We trust Irish form and for us he was the best horse in the sale so we were delighted to get him. He has shown good form so hopefully he is going to be a nice horse for the carnival in Dubai,” declared Marconi. “Mr bin Harmash will take charge of him now for an existing client who has several horses with him but nothing of this one’s quality.”
BROUDER BUYS
Later in the session there was another six figure transaction which came in the shape of the useful Michael Halford inmate Eagle’s Flight who was snapped up by Gearoid Brouder for €100,000. The half-brother to Dunboyne Express and Sissoko recorded his most recent success at Dundalk last month.
“We had two others on our list today but the lads told me, if I didn’t get them, to go all out for this fellow. I was nervous enough giving that sort of money for him but he’s a nice horse,” stated Brouder who recently registered his first training success at Gowran.
“He’s been bought to go jumping but we might give him a spin at Dundalk first and then give him a little break,” added Brouder.
DOWN ROYAL WINNER
As well as supplying the day’s top lot the Aga Khan draft yielded several other notable transaction which included English agent Billy Jackson-Stops going to €56,000 for the Down Royal maiden winner Silaiyli. This son of Olympic Glory was bought on behalf of Qatar-based Ibrahim Al-Malki.
Meanwhile Gordon Elliott will take charge of the Aga Khan’s Ebasari after the six-race maiden was snapped up by Aidan O’Ryan for €48,000. This son of Lope De Vega, who was placed in a Roscommon handicap last time, hails from a family littered with top class flat performers as well as the former Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner Ebaziyan.
“He’s been bought for Gordon and he’s in the shop window. He’s a lovely horse who has shown ability on the flat and he looks like one that could make up into a nice juvenile hurdler later in the season,” stated O’Ryan who was also acting for the trainer when giving €40,000 for the Eddie and Patrick Harty-trained three-year-old Britzka.
Another Aga Khan-owned three-year-old to take the eye was the recent Dundalk scorer Kalaroun and he cost Brendan Bashford €36,000.
CAPABLE SPRINTER
The €36,000 mark was also reached by Willie McCreery’s capable sprinter Huddle Up whose truncated three-year-old campaign yielded a victory in a Navan handicap less than two weeks ago. He was snapped up by David Barron’s Harrowgate Bloodstock.
The useful maiden Tall Story, who has put together a succession of solid efforts in defeat for Joe Murphy in recent weeks, was another to come in at €40,000 after being knocked down to Ross O’Sullivan.
COMPARATIVE FIGURES
YEAR CAT OFF SOLD AGG AVG MED
2021 183 122 95 €1,284,900 €13,525 €8,000
2020 156 86 62 €1,019,800 €16,448 €7,000
2019 147 104 75 €991,400 €13,219 €9,000
2018 133 93 79 €1,446,100 €18,558 €9,000
2017 161 113 86 €1,442,600 €16,744 €6,000
2016 161 115 103 €1,704,400 €16,548 €6,500
2015 85 65 50 €697,300 €13,949 €9,000
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