Apple’s Jade Becomes Highest Priced NH Mare Ever At €530,000

Apple’s Jade lived up to her superstar billing at Goffs December National Hunt Sale this evening as Gigginstown House Stud’s legendary 11 time Grade 1 winner (Lot 515) became the most expensive National Hunt in history when she was knocked down for €530,000 to Noel and Valerie Moran’s Bective Stud.  


 
Apple’s Jade was sold in foal to Walk In The Park, the sire of the sale's top priced foal in yesterday's €82,000 colt from Yellowford Farm (Lot 70).  The strong foal trade continued throughout today’s final session which was headed by a beautifully bred daughter of Flemensfirth from Ballyreddin Stud (Lot 288).  A sister to the Grade 2 hurdle and chase winner Irish Saint, she sold to Rathmore Stud for €80,000.
 
Full results are available by clicking here.

Reflecting on a vibrant two days at the December NH Sale, Goffs Group Chief Executive Henry Beeby said:
 
“To hold the first thoroughbred sale in Ireland on its scheduled date since the outbreak of Covid-19 is noteworthy in itself. Like everyone in the country we have endured a truly torrid time and approached the sale with a degree of trepidation. Could we even conduct the sale and, if so, how would it measure up?
 
On behalf of all the team at Goffs I want to thank everyone – vendors, purchasers, sales staff, vets, caterers, Covid stewards - for their support, forbearance, help and understanding over the last few days. We have managed to conduct a sale in as near to traditional format as possible whilst respecting and implementing a whole range of protocols to ensure Kildare Paddocks was safe and compliant at all times. We salute the patience of all attendees and their acceptance of one-way systems, number restrictions, social distancing, compulsory facemasks and the rest. This is not the way we like to “welcome” visitors to our sales but this is truly a time of “needs must”.
 
So to the business. We have been both relieved and delighted with the strength and depth of the two days which was good enough to feel “normal”. Indeed, there has been fierce competition for the superb bunch of foals with which we were entrusted by our vendors and to end up with a set of figures that were anywhere near last year’s excellent results, never mind ahead, is such a relief. Again we are so grateful to our vendors who are supporting us with increasing numbers of their best bred NH youngsters as we are nothing without them and their support has allowed us to grow this sale into a catalogue of market leading potential.
 
And then there’s Apple’s Jade. We were truly honoured to be entrusted with her by Michael and Eddie O’Leary, and simply overjoyed that she lived up to her star billing. Her price of €530,000 obliterates the record for a NH mare to ensure her appearance in the sales ring absolutely matched up to her racecourse reputation and we look forward to seeing her progeny carry on her mighty legacy, perhaps even in the Goffs sales ring en route to big race success”.
 
 
Comparative Figures – FOALS ONLY

 
Comparative Figures – WHOLE SALE