A NOTABLY improved level of trade at the two-day Goffs November Breeding Stock Sale meant that the week long run at Kildare Paddocks ended on a high last weekend.

Following on from a foal sale that couldn’t match the levels of 2014 but still posted quite a strong set of figures, the breeding stock section readily outperformed last year.

The turnover of just under €10m represented an improvement of some 26%. The average improved by 20 points to €31,294 and the median of €15,000 represented a progression of 11%.

Last year’s top price of €480,000 was just out of reach but at the head of the market trade picked up significantly and this was an altogether better sale than was the case last year.

The number of six-figure lots grew from 10 to 17 as the ever popular drafts from the Aga Khan, Darley and Derrinstown found plenty of favour with buyers. As ever the sale benefited from a major input by international purchasers, while it also appeared that domestic demand in this sector had improved.

“We have welcomed a really international audience of buyers following a number of targeted visits across the globe by the Goffs team and our colleagues at Irish Thoroughbred Marketing,” reflected Goffs chief executive Henry Beeby.

“They have flocked to Goffs to take advantage of our unique service and diverse catalogue which, although perhaps lacking a headline star like Chicquita or Banimpire, represented the sort of sound commercial investments that have proved so lucrative for our buyers over the years. It seems that the 2015 offering appealed more than ever as our increases clearly illustrate.

“So we have enjoyed a superb week of trade for both foals and breeding stock headed by the record breaking €1.1m colt foal and frenzied trade throughout Saturday. As ever we salute every vendor and each purchaser. The former group are continuing to back the Goffs service and we welcome the latter, new and established, in increasing numbers,” he concluded.

SATURDAY

As is often the case at this sale a strong draft from the Aga Khan played a central role on the opening day with the €460,000 top lot being the leading owner breeder’s stakes-placed Ebeyina.

The daughter of Oasis Dream was sold in foal to Kodiac and hails from a superb family that has produced the likes of Enzeli, Estimate and Ebadiyla. Ballylinch Stud’s John O’Connor signed for the four-year-old. Ballylinch then added to their tally when giving €260,000 for the Rabbah Bloodstock-owned Majestic Dubawi. A winner of the 2010 Group 3 Firth Of Clyde Stakes, she too was sold in foal to Kodiac.

Another sought after Aga Khan-owned offering was the talented Silwana who bolted up in a handicap on Irish Champions Weekend before then landing the Listed Loughbrown Stakes at the Curragh in September. The relation to Sinndar sold to Japanese purchaser Koji Kamiyama of Kawakami Racing for €320,000 and the intention is for her to race on again next year with trainer Takashi Kodama.

DARLEY DRAFT

The pick of the Darley draft was the 96-rated four-time winner Badr Al Badoor who came to the BBA Ireland’s Eamon Reilly at €270,000. The Acclamation mare came under the hammer with a Dream Ahead covering and hails from a very current family as her half-brother Profitable is a stakes winner this year while another sibling, Ridge Ranger, was Group 3-placed recently. She was bought on behalf of an Irish breeder.

Also coming in at €270,000 was an unraced two-year-old Galileo filly from the Irish National Stud who was picked up by David and Diane Nagle’s Barronstown Stud. The filly is a half-sister to the dual Group 3 scorer Yellow Rosebud and the stakes-winning juvenile Seeharn.

As a marathon 11-hour session neared its conclusion there was still major interest in some of the late lots and these included the placed Galileo filly Mohini. The daughter of the Prix Marcel Boussac winner Denebola was knocked down to Hubie de Burgh after he outlasted Japanese interests with a bid of €270,000.

Some six years ago Bridal Dance fetched €4,500 at this sale but it was all change this time as she sold to American agent Gatewood Bell for €260,000. Bridal Dance is now the dam of this year’s Group 3-winning and Group 1-placed two-year-old Hawksmoor, while she was also sold in foal to the hugely popular Dark Angel.

The unraced Dubawi three-year-old Quake, who was a late addition to the sale, cost Peter Doyle €200,000. She is a half-sister to the Prix Maurice de Gheest scorer King’s Apostle while her grandam is the top-class juvenile Embassy. The first three generations of the family have all produced Group 1 winners which have been spread between England, France, Chile and Australia.

BOLGER’S DRAFT

The pick of a draft from Jim Bolger’s Redmonstown Stud was last year’s Brownstown Stakes winner and Matron Stakes third Tobann. She made €180,000 and was bought by Cathy Grassick for Japanese client K.K. Eishindo. Tobann was sold in foal to Pour Moi and so too was Redmonstown’s Sar Oiche who cost Deerpark Stud €140,000. Sar Oiche comes from the immediate family of Danelissima and Intense Focus.

The listed-placed Elusive City mare Pearl Sea, who is carrying to Exceed And Excel, cost Des Vere Hunt €155,000 and this price was matched by the winning Nickels And Dams. The latter was sold in foal to Charm Spirit and was bought by the BBA Ireland’s Patrick Cooper.

SUNDAY

The Italian Group 3 winner Malagenia led the way on the second and concluding session of the sale when coming to Cathy Grassick for €70,000. The Castletown Stud-consigned filly, who was offered in foal to Worthadd, was bought by Japanese breeder K.K. Eishindo. Malagenia is a half-sister to an Italian Group 2 winner in Kaspersky and Occhio Della Menta who was placed at the highest level.

Several Aga Khan-owned fillies featured prominently and these included the Rock Of Gibraltar three-year-old Shahzeena who was an impressive winner of a Cork maiden at Easter. Pat McCarthy paid €46,000 for the daughter of the stakes-placed Sharleez.

Terrific demand

Following a foal sale that saw terrific demand for Zoffany’s stock it was no surprise to see Fountain Of Hounour fetch €45,000 as she is in foal to the Dansili horse. The daughter of Sadler’s Wells formed part of the Landscape Stud dispersal and was bought by William Johnstone Racing. Her family traces back to such outstanding runners as Rainbow Quest and Warning.

Derrinstown Stud offered a number of the day’s most sought after lots, each of whom was sold carrying to Haatef. The most expensive of these was Majraa who came to Coole House Farm for €38,000. The winning daughter of Invincible Spirit is a half-sister to a Listed performer in France.

Earlier Ormond Stud went to €34,000 for Musaadaqa. The daughter of Tamayuz is out of a stakes-placed half-sister to the French 1000 Guineas scorer Elusive Wave. Elsewhere Tally-Ho Stud spent €32,000 on Derrinstown’s Alyaafel who is closely related to several decent types.

ITALIAN BUYER

Italian buyer Stefano Luciani spent €35,000 on an unraced Manduro half-sister to last season’s Martin Molony and Oyster Stakes winner Tarana, while the French farm Haras d’Etreham gave €32,000 for the Aga Khan’s Darnella. The latter’s close relations include the brilliant Darjina.

Kaleefa, a Roscommon maiden winner for Dermot Weld in the summer and whose dam is a half-sister to Kalanisi, cost Brickfield Stud Ltd €32,000 and Roundhill Stud matched this price for Cintsa Sun. This mare was offered in foal to Helmet and she is a half-sister to Wajeez who emerged as a possible classic horse for 2016 when recently winning a Nottingham maiden by seven lengths.