Extraordinary trade topped by €2,850,000 at Goffs Orby

A truly spectacular day of trade at Goffs Orby Sale is best summed up by Chief Executive Henry Beeby who said:

Extraordinary. That is the only way to describe the scenes at Goffs today when we sold Al-Eile Stud’s beautiful colt by Montjeu out of Finsceal Beo for a staggering €2,850,000.

The price not only represents the highest for a yearling in the Northern Hemisphere this year and the second highest price ever in Ireland but, far more than that it proves, yet again, that Goffs will achieve world class prices when we are given the opportunity. We are so grateful to the vendors for putting their faith in us and to the winning bidder MV Magnier as well as the underbidders, Peter and Ross Doyle Bloodstock for making the sale. He really is a star in the making and we look forward to following his career which is sure to be at the highest level.

The top price was obviously a highlight but the Orby Sale has again proved itself as a major sale of the best with sustained demand for the wonderful selection of some of the best of the 2012 crop as illustrated by the improved clearance rate of 87% from a larger catalogue. It is always a challenge to better a really good sale and it should be remembered that Orby’12 was a spectacular success with a 47% leap in average that allowed it to return the most impressive statistics of any sale last year. So to build on that with an average that has advanced by another 28% is especially pleasing and we would thank our vendors most sincerely for trusting us with their superb yearlings.

So the two days have once again made our same, simple and consistent point in some style. Send us the horses and Goffs will do as well, if not better, than any Auction House. We have ensured a truly international buying bench from all over the globe following targeted marketing trips alongside our friends at Irish Thoroughbred Marketing and have welcomed buyers from 25 countries including increased numbers from Japan, USA, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa etc. “Goffs is the gateway to the world for Irish Breeders” is our cry and the point has been underlined in some fashion.

One final but very important point: I am very lucky to be in the limelight when I take the rostrum for some of the really big moments such as today’s top lot but any company is only as good as the entire team and we have a simply wonderful group at the moment from the ground staff to the ladies and gentlemen in the background to our agents many of whom are so often unseen. I have been blown away by the amount of positive feedback from our international buyers about the way they have been looked after and I want to use this opportunity to thank every member of the Goffs Team for their contribution to the success we are enjoying. It is truly appreciated and I am lucky to lead such a dedicated bunch.

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