Crucial week for Irish breeders at Goffs

HENRY Beeby says the Goffs team is looking forward to a week of “strong trade” at the November Foal and Breeding Stock Sales.

The four-day Foal Sale starts on Monday, followed by the two-day Breeding Stock Sale on Friday and Saturday.

Last year’s sales saw significant gains but they came on the back of an exceptional yearling season. This year the yearling market has been patchy in places and it’s thought the majority of pinhookers struggled to make a profit.

Beeby said: “We are delighted with the feedback we have received on the catalogue, though the physicals have to match the pedigrees. We’re looking forward to, hopefully, a strong trade for the ones that appeal.”

On the suggestion that pinhookers might take a pull next week, Beeby said: “What I have learned down the years is that pinhookers are an amazing bunch of people. When they have a good trade, they reinvest. When things don’t go quite so well, they reinvest. Perhaps it’s because, like me, this is all they know.

“Yes, last year’s Foal Sale was a bonanza, particularly on the Wednesday. If we could get anywhere close to matching last year’s trade, we’ll be pleased.

“But we’ve analysed it and there were some significant pinhooking successes, both in our own yearling sales and at other sales from foals bought at the Goffs November Sale last year. So the well-bred, good-looking foal will be as hard to buy as ever.”

With the American bloodstock scene enjoying a boom, Goffs hopes to see more US buyers on the ground next week.

Beeby said: “Everybody who’s anybody that we can think of, we believe, is coming. And so I think the ring will fill for those foals that appeal to the market and we have plenty of those on paper.”

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