A BIG week at Kildare Paddocks ended with a solid edition of the Goffs Sportsman’s Sale which couldn’t match last year’s returns but did return a steady day’s trade with a very respectable clearance rate.

At the close of proceedings, the Sportsman’s Sale produced a turnover of just under €4.4 million which was a decrease of 11% on last year. The average of €18,971 dropped by 9%, while the median came in at €15,000 having been €16,000 12 months ago.

An 85% clearance rate mirrored the tally from 12 months ago and overall this represented a respectable edition of the one-day auction.

This year’s Sportsman’s Sale was topped by a €90,000 colt by Bungle Inthejungle who was the first lot into the ring this morning.

A number of breeze-up men made a play for this Rathasker Stud-consigned colt, whose sire’s first crop of runners have impressed this season, but none could match Roger Marley.

“Obviously the sire has done very well with his first runners and it’s a help that the mare’s first foal is a winner this year. In our opinion he was by far the best colt here today and we’ll look forward to bringing him back for the breeze-up sales next year,” said Marley.

Later in the day Bungle Inthejungle was again to the fore when Joe Foley spent €65,000 on a daughter of the Exceed And Excel horse.

This filly is a half-sister to a useful two-year-old from last season, and her immediate relations include the stakes-winning sprinter The Broghie Man.

“She’s from a great Gerald Leigh family which I’ve always admired and she’s a nice, strong, good-moving filly who looks a two-year-old type,” observed Foley.

“The mare is off to a good start at stud and hopefully she’ll be one to look forward to next year. She’s been bought for Clipper Logistics.”

In the first few hours of the sale Kevin Ross struck for several in demand colts who will carry the colours of Paul and Clare Rooney. These include a €70,000 son of the late Society Rock and a €55,000 Champs Elysees colt.

The Champs Elysees shares his sire with the capable Rooney-owned two-year-old Getchagetchagetcha whom Ross purchased last year.

Among those destined to begin their career across the Irish Sea is an Acclamation filly out of a half-sister to the Beverly D Stakes winner Watsdachances. Aidan O’Ryan bough the Glacken View offering for €60,000.

As the sale neared its conclusion the €60,000 mark was reached by a daughter of New Approach from Lumville Farm who was bought for Michael Fitzpatrick’s J.C. Bloodstock. She comes from the immediate family of Son Of Rest.

The latter’s trainer Fozzy Stack was also to the fore when he spent €59,000 on a daughter of Starspangledbanner offered by Baroda & Colbinstown Studs.

“She’s a good looking, racy filly from a family with plenty of speed. The sire line has been very lucky for us in the past and let’s hope it will be again,” reported the Ayr Gold Cup-winning trainer Fozzy Stack.

Jessica Harrington is to take charge of a €55,000 daughter of Poet’s Voice who was snapped up by the BBA Ireland’s Patrick Cooper. The filly was bought for John Hennessy as a replacement for Bella Figura who was sold abroad earlier this year.

Sportsman’s Sale

YEAR CAT OFF SOLD AGG AV Med

2018 285 268 228 4,325,500 18,971 15,000

2017 286 274 236 4,834,500 20,838 16,000

2016 310 293 236 4,618,000 19,568 15,000

2015 244 225 203 4,892,700 24,102 18,000

Full results of the sale