AS the National Hunt industry comes to terms with this week’s record-breaking Goffs Arkle Sale, a leading vendor, bloodstock agent and point-to-point handler have spoken to The Irish Field about the surprising strength of the market.
The two-day Part 1 of the sale saw total spending of over €25 million, making it the largest-grossing National Hunt sale. Some 63 horses fetched six-figure sums, up from 29 last year. Part 2 of the sale also saw significant growth.
Tony Costello, whose Treannahow Stables in Co Clare sold 10 horses for just over €1 million, said: “I think there’s a combination of factors. I think the fact that the British had a better Cheltenham Festival was a big plus. It gave them the confidence to go back in and spend the money to compete against the Irish, and they know that if they don’t spend the money, that they’re not going to be able to compete.
“The second thing I would say is that the results of the Arkle Sale on the track last season – 10 Grade 1 winners for 10 different owners and trainers – is probably unheard of. There was such a wide spread of success that it drew people in.
“The other factor is that jumps racing probably has the greater appeal and it is still relatively affordable. Look at how the flat racing market has grown in the last five years. It has jumped by probably 50-60% whereas the jumps has only gone up by maybe 10-15%.
“The other thing, to be fair, was the strength of the catalogue. A couple of people said it to me beforehand that this was the strongest catalogue they’d ever seen. Every page was a horse that you could potentially buy.
“When you put it all together, the stars aligned for Goffs. The British success, the horses were there, the people were there. I’ll give you a prime example. David Pipe hasn’t been at that sale for years and he bought a horse for 50 grand.”
Bloodstock agent Ed Bailey, who works with trainer Harry Derham, agreed that the British trainers were far stronger in the market than he anticipated.
“We bought eight or nine, it was very good. The physicals matched the pedigrees, and it was a very well-marketed sale. Goffs got everyone there and it turned into fireworks.
“We definitely spent more than we planned. Goffs is a great sales complex to work. It was just a brilliant week. They did a fantastic job, and hats off to them.
Looking ahead Bailey said he would be back for the Derby Sale at Tattersalls Ireland at the end of the month. “We will definitely be back there for more. I’ve seen a few horses that are going there already, and there are some lovely types.”
Point-to-point handler Denis Murphy admitted he and many of his colleagues struggled to land winning bids on day one of the sale.
“The first day was very hard. The second day was a little bit more our kind of world, and the third day was on fire. Luckily I got a few through the second day because the third day was probably harder than, believe it or not, the second day.
“The English trainers were there in force and they were very strong in the pocket too.
“I’d say the Derby Sale will be on fire because there are a lot of people still with orders to fill.
“I’d like to be selling rather than buying.”
Goffs CEO Henry Beeby was on the road on Friday, searching for yearlings for the Orby Sale, and he hopes that this week’s results will influence vendors to place more trust in Goffs.
“I told our board members this morning that the point I will be making to vendors is ‘Look what happens when the best horses come to Goffs – it gets knocked out of the park.’ We deliver every time, and I hope that people who were watching the Arkle Sale and who’ve got a top-class yearling will see that they don’t need to go anywhere else.”