A NEW look to the Goffs November Foal Sale ensured that the week at Kildare Paddocks got off a bright start today as the opening session comfortably outperformed the corresponding day from last year.
This year Goffs have made major changes to the sale’s format by beginning the auction with what would have been the third day of foals in previous years. This means that the foal sale will reach its climax on Wednesday with what would previously have been the first two days of the sale taking place over Saturday and Sunday.
Buyers were quick to embrace the new look by ensuring that the session was a vastly better one than day three in 2016. The number of lots to make at least €40,000 improved from 15 to 26 while the aggregate of over €4 million was a 38% progression on last year. Furthermore, the average of €21,334 was up by 15%, the median improved by 13 points to €17,000 and the clearance rate went from 68 to 78%.
TOP LOT
An €85,000 colt from the second crop of No Nay Never – one of Scat Daddy’s forerunners in Europe - emerged as the top lot when selling to Powerstown Stud’s Tom Whitehead. The Highpark offering is out of a Harlan’s Holiday half-sister to the dual Group 3-placed two-year-old Absolute Music.
“Scat Daddy has worked very well in Europe and No Nay Never was an excellent two-year-old so hopefully he can follow suit. This is a very nice colt and we’ll look forward to bringing him back next year,” declared Whitehead.
Much earlier in the day, Paul and Marie McCartan of Ballyphilip Stud went to €80,000 for a son of Tamayuz who has enjoyed a memorable 2017 on the track. This relation to Luas Line was consigned by Ringfort Stud and he is out of a Galileo mare who was picked up for 13,000gns at the 2015 Tattersalls December Mares Sale.
“He was actually the first foal I saw when I got here on Saturday morning and he did nothing but improve with showing. He’s by a well established Group 1 sire,” declared Paul McCartan, whose purchase will be offered for resale next year.
The Tally-Ho Stud team had to settle for runner-up position on the Tamayuz but they did make several notable purchases and these featured a €75,000 colt from the first crop of the Group 2 winner and Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes second Cable Bay. This colt is a grandson of a Group 2 scorer in Australia. Another notable Tally-Ho purchase came when the noted nursery signed for a €68,000 son of Camelot.
NOTABLE FILLY
A host of other first crop sires featured prominently over the course of the day and these included the 2000 Guineas hero Night Of Thunder who supplied a €65,000 filly. The first foal on offer this week by the Dubawi horse is a half-sister to this year’s Group 3-placed two-year-old All Out and she was bought by Jamie Railton who pinhooked Ribchester out of this sale several years ago.
“I sell everything out of this family so I know it very well. It’s family that is very popular when it comes to the market and I like the idea of the sire,” declared Railton.
The most interesting name to appear on the buyer’s sheet was Darley Japan who spent €66,000 and €34,000 on sons of Raven’s Pass. The €66,000 colt is out of a half-sister to a pair of Group 1 performers: Olden Times and Festoso.
The French-based sire Dabirsim, who sired this year’s Royal Ascot winner Different League from his first crop of runners, was represented by a €58,000 colt from Confey Stud who was knocked down to Brendan Holland. This colt’s dam was picked up for just €3,000 last year.
Meanwhile, Gutaifan’s first crop of foals continue to impress as evidenced by prices of €48,000 and €46,000 while a colt from the first crop of the high-class sprinter Hot Streak cost Eddie O’Leary €56,000.
Day 1 (as against Day 3 last year)
YEAR CAT OFF SOLD AGG AV Med
2017 279 245 190 4,051,550 21,334 17,000
2016 279 233 158 2,928,300 18,534 15,000
2015 248 214 173 3,509,000 20,283 16,000