Having dispensed with the Millions Sale concept last year, Goffs continues
its “focus on the horse” strategy with a strong catalog for this year’s renewal
of the Orby Yearling Sale, which starts at the sales company’s Kill complex
Tuesday. With the same number of yearlings on offer as last year, subject to
withdrawals, part one of the sale is set to take place Tuesday and Wednesday,
with 430 yearlings cataloged. A further 236 are scheduled to go under the hammer
Thursday. Among those on offer are 118 siblings to black-type winners, 60 of
those at pattern-race level.
The sale, or its previous incarnations, has enjoyed a banner year on the
track, with 2008 graduate Cape Blanco (Galileo [Ire]), a
€330,000 purchase, garnering this season’s
Irish Derby (Ire-G1) and Irish Champion S. (Ire-G1); and Irish One Thousand
Guineas (Ire-G1) victress Bethrah (Marju), a €160,000
buy in 2008, leading the way.
“We are thrilled with the excellent support from Irish breeders for this
year’s Orby Sale, including several new and returning vendors, which has
resulted in such a strong catalog of really good-looking athletic types,” Goffs’
Chief Executive Henry Beeby commented. “The overwhelming feedback from buyers
last year was the high standard of individuals on offer. Goffs yearlings have
demonstrated the success of our ‘focus on the horse’ policy throughout the
season, led by two classic winners in Cape Blanco and Bethrah, backed up by some
exciting two-year-olds. We believe buyers will find even more of the same
quality at Goffs this September, as our vendors have worked with us to produce a
catalogue of real strength, depth, quality and diversity that will appeal to a
wide range of buyers.”
Last year’s €475,000 sale topper, a
chestnut daughter of Giant’s Causeway and the 2005 Irish One Thousand Guineas
victress Saoire (GB), Pink Diva, broke through in a maiden at Pontefract last
week. Her half-brother by Invincible Spirit, offered by Cahermorris Stables, is
set to sell Wednesday as Hip No. 354.
Nine lots will represent Denis and Joan Brosnan’s Croom House Stud, and the
pick of the Co. Limerick nursery’s team is Hip 426, an April-foaled Dr Fong
half-brother to the recent Phoenix S. (Ire-G1) hero Zoffany (Dansili [GB]).
Kilcarn Stud is a regular near the top of results sheets and offers eight
yearlings this year. They include Hip 386, a daughter of hot sire Dubawi and
Spirit of Tara (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells), who is a full sister to the multiple
classic winner Salsabil.
Technology available includes Sirecam’s videos of lots on offer and Goffs’
recently launched iPhone application. The full catalog and updates can be viewed
at goffs.com.