GIVEN the high demand for horses at Part 1 of the Arkle Sale this week, it was likely that Thursday's Part 2 would benefit from those still seeking to fill orders and so it proved.
While the figures for this second-tier section were unsurprisingly on a much lower level, the final returns showed a significant rise on those recorded on the corresponding day last year.
Turnover was up 34%, the clearance rate rose by six points, and there were double-digit increases in both the average and median prices.
Point-to-point handlers, so often denied by end users when bidding here earlier in the week, played a prominent role. The Doyles of Monbeg Stables bought 11 horses, and John Murphy (Highfort), Jonathan Fogarty, Denis Murphy and Stuart Crawford also made multiple purchases.
The highest price paid on Thursday was the €65,000 paid by Co Galway handler John Staunton on behalf of well-known owner Basil Holian for a son of Way To Paris. The gelding is a half-brother to Downmexicoway, who Staunton bought here for €25,000 here in 2022 and trained to win a point-to-point before selling him privately to Holian. Now trained by Henry de Bromhead, Downmexicoway has won three races for Holian and been Grade 1-placed.
Staunton said: "“He [Holian] saw this gelding was in the sale and was anxious to have him. I've got him a beautiful horse with a lovely step and a lovely attitude. We don't know about Way To Paris yet [first crop are four-year-olds] but he was a good, honest racehorse himself and this individual by him looked like a nice, honest sort, with a good way of going. It's all chance, isn't it?”
A member of Doyen's final crop (which only numbered two foals) was sold by Luke Barry's Manister House Stud for €55,000 to trainer Nicky Richards.
Richards said: "We’ve been lucky with horses by Doyen before, so I hope we’ll be lucky again. He’s been a grand stallion. That’s the fourth horse we’ve bought this week but it’s been hard work. You’ve got to take your hat off to Goffs, there’s some bloody nice horses here. You just have to walk around the yard and wherever you turn there’s a nice horse.
"We had an inkling it might be strong after Doncaster. It was getting very strong there, and for all sorts of horses; the point-to-pointers, horses-in-training and stores. This is a great sport. People get into it and they get hooked. They’re the backbone, but you couldn’t say racing is in a good way. It’s a fantastic industry we’re in though.”
Sam Curling will receive his first champion point-to-point handlers' cup in Wexford on Saturday night and the Tipperary man was busy restocking this week. In Part 1 of the sale, he bought six horses in his own name and another in partnership. On Thursday he added to that tally with a €50,000 son of In Swoop from the Roche family's Tullycanna Stables.
Monbeg Stables ended the week with 35 purchases and their Thursday acquisitions included a Vadamos gelding for €50,000 and a €44,000 son of Jet Away.
"Proper growth"
In his end-of-sale statement Goffs CEO Henry Beeby noted that Thursday's sale had seen six horses sell for €50,000 or more, compared with two on this day last year.
"We are delighted to have finished an amazing week with another day of proper growth," he said.
Still reeling from the success of Part 1, he added: "We said yesterday that Arkle 26 was the highest grossing National Hunt store sale in history but, incredibly, that was an understatement as it actually proved to be the highest grossing National Hunt catalogue ever. That’s some achievement for a sale that until relatively recently was viewed as a second choice for the majority, and vindicates the investment, both in terms of time and money, we have made in the sector over several years.
"The last three days have only served to underline the progress that Goffs has made in the market in recent years, and I repeat our thanks and appreciation for the trust and confidence so many people place in us these days. The positivity around Kildare Paddocks, and the multitude of kind comments about the service we provide, are truly humbling as we know nothing is possible without the backing and support of every client, whether they are involved in one lot or a multitude and regardless of their role.
"This week we have welcomed a veritable Who’s Who of the National Hunt world, and it has been very heartening to see the strength and competitiveness of UK buyers who came to the most successful National Hunt sale on the racecourse this year, following sterling work by Irish Thoroughbred Marketing who, as ever, worked tirelessly alongside the Goffs Purchaser Attraction Team.
"April, May and June have proved to be very fertile months for Goffs National Hunt with superb renewals of our Aintree, Punchestown, Spring and Arkle sales following a storming season on the track for our sale graduates. Thank you to everyone who has contributed; we’ve loved every bit of it and look forward to the next time."