THE upcoming foal and breeding stock sales at Tattersalls Ireland, Goffs and Tattersalls in Newmarket received a boost this week when the Irish Government announced it plans to relax the guidelines around international arrivals in Ireland restricting their movements.

After November 29th, international travellers that have a negative Covid-19 swab test result five days after returning to Ireland from a ‘red’ country, under the new EU travel traffic light system, do not need to restrict their movements for 14 days, which had previously been the guidelines.

“Five days is a better result than 14,” said Matt Mitchell, CEO of Tattersalls Ireland, “although my preference would have been for a complete exemption to be given to those travelling on business.”

Henry Beeby, chief executive of Goffs, commented: “We welcome the progress that is being made in connection with overseas buyers being able to attend Irish sales as they are crucial to the market place, and this is certainly a step in the right direction.

“At present we are working with Horse Racing Ireland on a submission to Government that would allow a limited number of targeted buyers to attend Goffs in a safe and compliant manner, but without the need for a specific quarantine period.

“This is vital to Irish breeders with the foal and breeding stock sales approaching as, while there is obviously a strong domestic buyer base, British purchasers in particular have long been an integral part of both our flat and NH sales, and we have received numerous calls asking if they can attend.

“Sadly the number will be small if a quarantine period is required as they simply cannot afford the additional time away from their business and farms, so we are exploring all avenues including pre-sale tests, social distancing at the sales, et cetera.”

Matt Mitchell is increasingly optimistic about trade ahead of the Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Sale, which starts on December 12th. Recent high-profile sales of point-to-pointers could stimulate interest from investors in National Hunt foals.

“I think it will be a good sale. The early signs are good and we have the quality. It was great to see Paul Holden rewarded this week after buying Jonbon for €140,000 at the Derby Sale. I would also suggest that this could be a good time to invest in young bloodstock, as the expert opinion is that Covid will be gone within a year or so, and an economic surge is expected.”

Goffs will stage an online Autumn Yearling Sale on November 17th and 18th, before welcoming back buyers and sellers under protocols for the December NH Sale (Dec 9th-10th) and the delayed November Foal and Breeding Stock Sale (Dec 18th-21st).

Looking back at Thursday’s Goffs UK sale of point-to-pointers in Wales, which saw Jonbon sell for £570,000, Beeby said: “We were delighted with yesterday’s point-to-point sale and salute the vendors who took a leap of faith with our last minute change of location. There was real positivity throughout the day which would give us all great hope for the upcoming December National Hunt Sale and into the future.”