Major increases across the board at the Goffs Sportsman’s Sale today was a fitting conclusion to a record breaking week of yearling sales at Goffs.
Average price at the Sportsman’s grew by 25% and together with a clearance rate of 90% clearly illustrated the strong level of demand seen throughout today’s sale from a broad buyer base of domestic, UK and international purchasers.
John Ferguson secured the top two lots at the Sportsman’s Sale, going to €110,000 for Yeomanstown Stud’s filly by resident sire Dark Angel out of Rumline (). The dam is a sister to Group 2 Prix Robert Papin winner Never A Doubt and all three of her previous offspring are now winners. Second highest price of the day went for Tinnakill House’s son of Cape Cross () who Ferguson secured for €90,000.
Purchasers of the outstanding €1.7 million Frankel filly out of Alexander Goldrun at the Orby Sale, the China Horse Club were in action again at the Sportsman’s Sale and acquired a son of Canford Cliffs from the family of Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Solemia () from Castletown Stud for €87,000.
Commenting at the conclusion of the Sportsman’s Sale, Goffs Chief Executive Henry Beeby said:
“Following our historic day yesterday we have kicked on with another strong day of trading with a remarkable 90% clearance rate, up 7 points over last year, that has seen the average grow by 25% to €24,102, so clearly cementing the Sportsman’s position as second only to Orby and providing a truly viable marketplace for commercial yearlings.
As in recent years many have stayed on from Orby whilst we have welcomed a number of new UK and overseas buyers who have travelled specifically for today following a targeted campaign from the Goffs team, backed up as ever by another proactive drive from Irish Thoroughbred Marketing. After last year’s sale we took the decision to tighten our selection policy and that has clearly paid dividends as we work with Irish breeders to provide a catalogue that is truly appealing to a whole range of buyers.
As yesterday I want to repeat our thanks to every client for their support and reiterate to Irish breeders that we will continue to innovate and work to make Goffs the obvious first choice for the best Irish horses at all levels of the market. The last three days have once again clearly demonstrated that we can and will deliver”.