THE expanded Goffs Open Yearling concluded on Thursday evening and produced a solid set of results given the substantial increase in the size of the catalogue for this year’s sale.
The auction was expanded from one day to two this year which threatened to make this a more testing edition of the sale, but the overall returns were respectable and bear comparison with other recent editions.
Trade in this sector the market was also going to be of a mixed variety and there is a very finite level of demand at this level which is something to bear in mind when examining the final figures.
At its conclusion the Open Sale posted a turnover of just under €2.2 million. Almost 250 more horses were offered this year so the average did drop by 2% to €6,791 while the €4,700 median represented a four point progression. In addition the clearance fell to 72% from 77% last year.
Fittingly the top lot on the final day of the sale fell to Chinese purchaser Zhang Yuesheng after the BBA Ireland’s Michael Donohoe forked out €52,000 for a son of Elzaam.
Over the last two days the Yulong Investments team have picked up some 39 yearlings through Donohoe and quite a few of these are set to remain in Ireland for next season.
This Elzaam colt, who cost €26,000 as a foal and was consigned by Peter Nolan Bloodstock, is one of those that will go into training in Ireland. The colt is out of a half-sister to the Round Tower Stakes winner and successful producer Steaming Home.
“He’s a very nice, precocious type and he looked the standout horse here today,” reported Donohoe. “The stallion has done well so far and I bought a nice horse by him, Vincy, to go to Hong Kong and I would have hopes for both Vincy and the sire,” he said.
Earlier the pace was set by Ger Lyons when he spent €35,000 on a daughter of Tagula from Baroda & Colbinstown Studs. This filly enjoyed a major pedigree update earlier this year when her ill-fated juvenile half-brother Santry finished second in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot.
CLIPPER PURCHASE
Joe Foley had to settle for the role of underbidder on the Tagula but he did pick up a €32,000 daughter of Dandy Man who will race for Clipper Logistics in 2018. The Abbeyleix Stud offering is a half-sister to the recent Rockfel Stakes fourth Hikmaa.
“She’s just a very nice filly who had a lot going for her. The two-year-old is already rated 101 and there’s a very good chance that she will be able to get blacktype before the end of the year which would be nice,” reflected Foley.
A filly from the first crop of War Command emerged as one of the day’s leading lights when she sold to Andy Slattery for €30,000. The Kevin Coffey-owned filly is a half-sister to four winners including the smart Willie McCreery-trained two-year-old Abamanova.
“I saw her yesterday and she’s been on my mind since then. I was hoping she’d make a bit less but I was going to try and bring her home with me if I could. We’ll get her home and then make a decision later on as to whether she will go into training or head to the breeze-up sales,” stated Slattery.
Breeze-up consignor Thomond O’Mara secured perhaps the best-bred yearling on offer over the two days when he spent €23,000 on a colt hailing from the first crop of Frankel’s half-brother Morpheus. This colt is a half-brother to the Queen Mary Stakes heroine Elletelle who went on to breed the Cox Plate victor Adelaide.
FULL SALE REPORT IN THE IRISH FIELD THIS WEEKEND
COMPARATIVE FIGURES FOR THE GOFFS OPEN YEARLING SALE
YEAR CAT OFF SOLD AGG AVG MED
2017 630 433 312 €2,174,800 €6,791 €4,700
2016 222 191 148 €1,057,100 €7,143 €4,500
2015 201 188 137 €1,074,000 €7,839 €5,000
DAY 2
YEAR CAT OFF SOLD AGG AVG MED
2017 220 188 135 €881,850 €6,532 €4,500