Goffs’ seven-day November Foal and Breeding
Stock Sale gets underway at the company’s Kill complex in Ireland Monday, with 1,137
cataloged foals taking center stage during the first five sessions as pinhookers look for next
term’s source of
potential profit. Last season’s topper was a Montjeu (Ire) colt that reached
300,000, but the
star buy proved to be Airlie Stud’s Danetime colt, which sold for 66,000
and
subsequently realized 525,000 at the Million Sale, a near 700-percent profit on
Meadowlands Stud’s initial outlay.
“I would say the Goffs Foal Sale is primarily
a pinhooker’s
sale, and there have been some amazing returns for those who have bought foals,” Goffs’
Nick Nugent told Racing Post. “The vast majority will sell for less than
100,000, and we
don’t expect to have lots of very expensive foals, but we do expect lots of
competition for
those worthy of it.”
Quality increases as the week progresses and likely stars
will be to the
fore Thursday and Friday. Goffs November graduates that have made an impact this
term
include Alexander Goldrun (Gold Away [Ire]) and Red Evie (Intikhab).
Following on from SGA’s more
subdued
November Mixed sale, the sale represents the first significant opportunity to
purchase progeny of first-crop sires. Those with representatives include Elusive
City, Exceed and Excel,
Falbrav (Ire), Haafhd, Indian Haven, One Cool Cat, Refuse To Bend
(Ire) and
Sulamani (Ire).
The broodmares and fillies sale takes over Saturday, featuring
the usual drafts
consigned by His Highness The Aga Khan’s Studs, Moyglare Stud, Darley, Juddmonte
and
Derrinstown Stud. Indeed, it was the former that secured the highest overall
price at last
year’s sale when Darshaan’s half-sister Dalara was sold to Barronstown Stud for
1,000,000.
The Aga Khan’s 31-strong draft this year includes 1997 Prix de
Diane
Hermes (Fr-G1) victress Vereva (Kahyasi), offered as Hip No. 1283 and believed
in foal to
Linamix, as well as broodmare prospects Veyana (Kahyasi), Hip 1563, and Carakiysa (Docksider). The
latter, offered as Hip 1287, is a half to Godolphin’s recent Prix de la Foret
(Fr-G1)
winner Caradak
(Desert Style).
Full catalog,
withdrawals and updates can be viewed at www.goffs.com.
Also on Monday, Arqana’s Goffs France November Sale begins. The auction
comprises a catalog of 156 horses in training, followed by
a 147-lot
National Hunt Breeding Stock section on Tuesday.
The
first session
includes a 15-strong draft from the late Bob Lalemant’s Oostvlaamse Investering,
as well as listed Grand Prix de la Riviera Cote d’Azur winner Howard Le Canard (Hamas
[Ire]) and a
selection owned by His Highness The Aga Khan headed by Saturday’s comfortable
Toulouse
winner Khazar (Anabaa).
Other notable consignors include George
Strawbridge, the
Wertheimer brothers and the Head family, and there are selections from the
leading barns of
Pascal Bary, Nicolas Clement, Robert Collet, Andre Fabre, Richard Gibson, Carlos
Laffon-Parias, Henri-Alex Pantall, Jonathan Pease, Jean-Claude Rouget, Alain de
Royer Dupre
and David Smaga on offer.
The complete catalog, withdrawals and updates can be
viewed
at www.goffs.fr.