FOLLOWING a disappointing edition of Part 2 of the Goffs Arkle Sale in 2024, the one-day session bounced back in style on Thursday, posting an impressive set of results. Buoyed by the strong participation of the Irish point-to-point men and women, and with some of the choice lots also catching the eye of British trainers who failed to fill their orders in Part 1, the trade returned to the healthier levels it recorded back in 2023.

“We were hopeful that today would return a vibrant trade and are pleased to have delivered a set of results that show improvement in every area,” said Goffs CEO Henry Beeby. “An upswing in turnover, average, median and clearance rate is encouraging, albeit these returns are at a lower level and a 77% clearance rate, whilst much better than last year continues to point to a selectivity in places that has been increasingly evident away from the top in recent times.”

Boardsmill Stud’s Poet’s Word was well-represented over the three days of selling, and almost half of the top 10 lots on Thursday were by the European champion racehorse. Appropriately enough, it was John and William Flood who supplied his best in Part 2, and the €55,000 gelding was bought by Tessa Greatrex of Highflyer Bloodstock.

The agent was in company with owner Lynne Maclennan and Aidan ‘Scobie’ Fitzgerald. Greatrex said: “He was one of the picks of the day, an absolutely gorgeous horse. Lynne and Angus have bought him to go to Ben Pauling, and he’ll spend a year with Scobie first.”

John Flood commented: “It has been very strong trade this week. There was a bit of nervousness beforehand; the top end was always going to hold up, but it was uncertain how strong the rest of the market would be. It has been very, very good across the board, which is encouraging and important for the whole industry. Breeders got on well, pinhookers had lots of success, and when pinhookers get on well they are going to plough into the foals again which helps the breeders - and the wheel keeps turning.”

Another Rockett?

The session-topper emerged as the sale was heading to an end. Consigned and bred by Kieran D. Cotter – the man responsible for Grand National winner Nick Rockett - of Woodhouse Stud in Co Waterford, the son of Crystal Ocean was sold to Paul Nolan, with Goffs bloodstock team member Gerry Hogan carrying out the bidding. The gavel fell at €70,000 – a vast improvement on last year’s top price of €45,000.

Hogan commented: “He’s a lovely horse, a very good, smooth mover and by a stallion on the up, so we were anxious to get him. He’s been bought for an existing client of Paul Nolan’s to go racing. He’s a young horse, foaled at the end of May, and the lads say they’ll take their time with him and bring him along nice and quietly. But he looks a runner.”

Greatrex also took home one of the day’s stars for her husband Warren. This was Grove Lodge’s Harzand gelding out of a half-sister to the Gold Cup winner Minella Indo, consigned by The Glebe Farm.

He cost €46,000. Greatrex said: “He’s a gorgeous horse. I saw him this morning and absolutely loved him. I didn’t want to leave him behind. It’s a lovely page. I’ve tried to buy a few Harzand pointers this year but haven’t been able to. The market has been super strong. All the way down there are plenty of people to buy in the 50-80 bracket. I managed to get some bought, but it’s been hard.”

WITH the three Bleahen brothers generating 10% of the trade in Part 1 of the Arkle Sale, they sold a further six lots in Part 2. Niall provided the lion’s share on Thursday with three offerings, all selling, and Evan Williams signed for two. The more expensive of the duo was a French-bred son of Tunis.

Williams said: “I saw him on Tuesday and I have been waiting and waiting and waiting to have a crack at him. He’s not a big horse by any stretch of the imagination, but he is so active and it is all about movement, so I am chuffed with him.

“I never get fixated on a stallion. I’m always buying on a budget, so I nearly always have to forgive lots of things.”

Hugh Mulryan, part of Adrian Keatley’s team and who trades in bloodstock on the side, spent €43,000 to buy a son of Tirwanako who will be trained by Terence O’Brien for point-to-points.

David Mullins bought a son of Success Days from Glen Stables for €42,000 and Ballycrystal Stables’ Matthew Flynn O’Connor paid the same amount for a Poet’s Word gelding from Sladoo Farm. Flynn O’Connor bought five lots in Part 1 and another five in Part 2.