LAST year Goffs United Kingdom made some changes to the format at their massive Spring Sale at Doncaster, devoted to National Hunt horses. This time they are holding the sale a week later than last year, but will again be selling for three consecutive days, from May 22nd to 24th, with the stores on the Tuesday, then the horses in training on the Wednesday and the Thursday.
The stores catalogue was published well before the end of April, while that for the horses in training came out a few weeks later. Wednesday’s entries include the usual celebrated Million In Mind dispersal.
There are as usual many Irish entries in the catalogues, which contain a massive 398 horses in training and 269 stores, a grand total of 667 horses. Among the many proven jumpers are graded chase winners Foxrock and Shantou Flyer.
Long established as Britain’s outstanding National Hunt auction, there have been several new world NH records set at the Spring Sales in recent years. Horses sold here in the last few years include Bobs Worth, Rock On Ruby, Riverside Theatre, Uxizandre, Briar Hill, Summerville Boy and Kilbricken Storm, who were all Grade 1 winners at the Cheltenham Festival in the last few years. Other graduates include the Grand National hero Silver Birch, bought for only 20,000 guineas, and the top-class chasers Tea For Two, Tidal Bay and Voy Por Ustedes.
HORSES IN TRAINING
PROVEN NH FORM
Lot 343 CANELO, 5yo ch g by Mahler. From Barbury Castle Stables. Won over hurdles at Doncaster in February and at Fontwell Park in April, placed 3 times from 6 starts. Half-brother to a winner. Third dam Helenium.
Lot 345 PETER THE MAYO MAN, 8yo ch g by Dylan Thomas. From Manor Farm Stables (Million In Mind). Won a bumper at Fairyhouse, 3 hurdles and 2 chases in England, third Grade 2 Dovecote Hurdle, BHA Rating 142.
Lot 352 POLLY’S PURSUIT, 6yo br m by Westerner. From Seven Barrows. Won a bumper at Lingfield and a hurdle at Southwell. Dam own-sister to Denman (Grade 1 Cheltenham Gold Cup) and Grade 1 chaser Silverburn.
Lot 393 DIAMOND BRIG, 6yo b g by Black Sam Bellamy. From Birneyknowe Farm. Won on debut over fences at Kelso in April 2018 by 21 lengths, also won 3 point-to-points, third only other start. Family of Earls Brig.
Lot 503 SHANTOU FLYER, 8yo b g by Shantou. From Carl Hinchy. Won 5 chases and a hurdle, Grade 2 Florida Pearl Chase, Grade 3 BetBright Chase, second Grade 1 Ascot Chase. BHA Rating 157.
Lot 516 COILLTE LASS, 7yo b m by Beneficial. From Manor Farm Stables. Won 3 hurdle races, including listed hurdle at Taunton, also won point-to-point. Dam half-sister to Classified (Grade 1 Cleeve Hurdle, Grade 1 Challow Hurdle).
Lot 670 FOXROCK, 10yo b g by Flemensfirth. From Barry Connell. Won 8 chases and a hurdle, Grade 1 Leopardstown Chase, Grade 2 Ten Up Chase, second Grade 1 Hennessy Gold Cup.
PROMISING POINTERS
Lot 383 NOAH AND THE ARK, 4yo ch g by Vinnie Roe. From Thorne Farm. Won in field of 11 on his debut at Flete Park on April 21st. Half-brother to listed-placed winner. Family of Grade 1 star Lord Of The River.
Lot 384 MEGA YEATS, 4yo br f by Yeats. From Monbeg Stables. Won comfortably by 3 lengths on her debut at Monksgrange on April 29th. Dam half-sister to Snoopy Loopy (8 wins, Grade 1 Lancashire Chase).
Lot 388 MANETTI, 6yo b g by Westerner. From Meikle Ben Stables. Won 3 races and placed twice from 6 starts, including last 2 outings at Loughanmore and Moira. Same grandam as Grade 2 chaser Minella Foru.
Lot 390 CHINENSIS, 5yo b g by Well Chosen. From Calluna House Stables. Won his 2 latest starts, both at Dromahane, fourth only other start. Same grandam as Davenport Democrat (10 wins, listed chase).
Lot 391 COURT JURADO, 4yo b g by Court Cave. From Monbeg Stables. Won in field of 9 at Taylorstown on April 28th on his debut, led most of way. Half-brother to 2 winners. Dam half-sister to Grade 2 star Glens Music.
Lot 392 ACCORDINGTOGINO, 5yo ch g by Perugino. From Lamogue Stables. Won by 6 lengths on his debut at Lisronagh on April 28th. Grandam winner over hurdles and half-sister to 2 winners.
Lot 396 GAMEFACE, 4yo b g by Oscar. From Ballyboy Stables. Second of 14 at Stowlin and third of 11 at Loughanmore, his only 2 starts. Dam half-ister to 2 blacktype placed winners. Strong German family.
Lot 397 EVERYBREATHYOUTAKE, 4yo b c by September Storm. From Shanrod Stables. Impressive 10 lengths winner at Taylorstown on April 28th. Dam half-sister to Washington Lad (Grade 1 placed twice).
Lot 399 ESPOIR DE LOIRE, 4yo b g by Anabaa Blue. From Monbeg Stables. Won on debut at Lisronagh on April 28th in field of 9. Half-brother to 2 winners. Family of champion Galtee.
Lot 401 SHOTGUN SALLY, 5yo b m by Milan. From Monbeg Stables. Won debut at Lisronagh on April 28th. Half-sister to 3 winners, including Shotgun Paddy (Grade 3 Betfred Classic Chase, third Welsh Grand National).
SPRING STORE SALES
SOME PROMINENT VENDORS
Lot 23 3yo gr g by Stowaway. From Ballincurrig House Stud. Half-brother to Granit Jack (5 wins, listed chase in France, second Gade 1 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle). Dam half-sister to French Graded chase winner Grey Jack.
Lot 58 3yo b g by Oscar. From Ballincurrig House Stud. Half-brother to 2 winners. Dam winning half-sister to Vic Venturi (8 wins, Grade 2 Rathbarry Glenview Hurdle, twice Grade 1 placed over fences).
Lot 126 3yo b f by Getaway. From Mill House Stud. Dam half-sister to Polivalente (Grade 1 Prix Maurice Gillois Chase) and Grand Souvenir (4 listed hurdles in France).
Lot 145 3yo b g by Shirocco. From Trickledown Stud. First produce. Dam winning half-sister to Contraband (9 wins, Grade 1 Arkle Trophy Chase, Grade 2 Henry VIII Chase).
Lot 160 MONT SEGUR, 3yo ch g by French Fifteen, From Mill House Stud. Half-brother ro Terrefort (Grade 1 Scilly Isles Chase, Grade 1 Mildmay Chase) and to 2 listed winners in England and France.
Lot 162 3yo b g by Milan. From Ballinacurrig House Stud. Third produce. Half-brother to Muirhead (Grade 1 Royal Bond Hurdle, Grade 1 Munster National). Grandam own-sister to Nononito.
Lot 168 3yo b g by Shirocco. From Trickledown Stud. Dam half-sister to Mansony (12 wins, Grade 1 Drogheda Champion Chase, Grade 1 Dial-A-Bet Chase).
Lot 248 b f by No Risk At All, From Ballinacurrig House Stud. Half-sister to Lac Fontana (Grade 1 Mersey Hurdle) and All Yours (Grade 1 Anniversary Juvenile Hurdle),
COLTS AND GELDINGS
Lot 39 3yo b g by Mahler. From Manister House Stud. Half-brother to 2 winners. Dam won a chase, half-sister to Nas Na Riogh (Grade 1 Finale Juvenile Hurdle) and to dam of French Graded chaser Buddy Banks.
Lot 62 NIKGARDE, 3yo b g by Kapgarde. From Haras de Faydeau. Half-brother to a winner. Dam Nikoline won 3 races, Grade 3 Prix Bournosienne Hurdle, blacktype placed over hurdles 4 times.
Lot 84 3yo b g by Mahler. From Mount Eaton Stud. Half-brother to 4 winners and to dam of blacktype hurdle winners Rather Be and Sign Of A Victory.
Lot 90 FEELING JAP, 3yo b g by Al Namix. From RH Bloodstock. Half-brother to winner in France. Dam winning own-sister to New Little Bric (Grade 1 Scilly Isles Chase) and Graded chaser Little Brick.
Lot 103 3yo b g by Aizavoski. From Peter Nolan Bloodstock. First produce. Dam won p2p, own-sister to Preists Leap (Grade 1 Thyestes Chase, twice).
Lot 137 3yo b g by Fame And Glory. From Glenard Stables. Half-brother to 2 winners. Dam half-sister to Glenelly Gale (Grade 1 Champion Chase) and Cab On Target (20 wins, 5 listed hurdles).
Lot 144 3yo b g by Cloudings. From Monanore Stables. Half-brother to 3 winners, including Wymott (Grade 2 Prestige Hurdle) and Testify (Grade 2 Altcar Chase).
Lot 164 3yo ch g by Getaway. From Ballyreddin Stud. Half-brother to 4 winners, including Klepht (Grade 1 Guinness Chase, third Grade 1 Leopardstown Chase) and Welsh Shadow (listed hurdle).
Lot 216 3yo b g by Kayf Tara. From Ashbrittle Stud. Half-brother to 3 winners. Dam winning half-sister to Detroit City (12 wins, Grade 1Triumph Hurdle).
Lot 251 3yo b g by Shirocco. From Wells Stud. Dam winning half-sister to Prince of Scars (Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle) and Folsom Blue (Grade 2 Grand National Trial). Grandam is Spirit Leader.
FASCINATING FILLIES
Lot 31 3yo b f by Sans Frontieres. From Ralahine Stud. First produce. Dam half-sister to O O Seven (6 wins, second Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle, Grade 1 Champion Novice Hurdle).
Lot 65 3yo b/br f by Kayf Tara. From Little Lodge Farm. Half-sister to a winner of 4 races. Dam winning half-sister to French listed chase winner Nile Bonheur. Family of Grade 1 chaser Politologue.
Lot 72 3yo b f by Great Pretender. From Goldford Stud. Half-sister to 3 winners. Dam One Gulp won 2 listed hurdles, half-sister to Rule The World (Aintree Grand National).
Lot 82 3yo ch f by Lucarno. From Ballyreddin Stud. Half-sister to 7 winners, including Royal Shakespeare (7 wins, Grade 2 Elite Hurdle, Grade 2 Top Hurdle) and to dam of Graded hurdle winner Rock The Kasbah.
Lot 99 3yo ch f by Presenting. From Busherstown. First produce. Dam half-sister to blacktype winners Panther Claw and Empire Of Dirt. Grandam Rose Of Inchiquin won Grade 2 Lismullen Hurdle.
Lot 202 3yo b f by Jeremy. From Mill Road Stables. Half-sister to listed hurdle winner Coillte Lass. Dam half-sister to Classified (12 wins, Grade 1 Cleeve Hurdle, Grade 1 Challow Hurdle).
GOFFS UNITED KINGDOM
Office Address: Auction Mart Offices, Hawick, Roxburghshire TD9 9NW
Sales Address: Goffs UK Sales Complex, Sandall Beat Road, Leger Way, Doncaster DN2 6JP
Telephone: (office) 44 (0) 1450 372222 (sales) 44 (0) 1302 349166
Email: winners@goffsuk.com
Website: www.goffsuk.com
Date: Tuesday to Thursday, May 22nd-24th
Time: 10am on Tuesday and Thursday, 11am on Wednesday
Total lots: 667
Last year’s top lot: Invincible Cave, £210,000
DONCASTER SPRING SALE
Year Lots Lots Turnover Average
Offered Sold £ £
2014 478 413 7,041,300 17,049
2015 536 427 7,628,500 17,865
2016 508 432 9,014,500 20,866
2017 616 536 12,184,700 22,733