Henry Beeby: ‘We’re open for business’

THIS week was a positive one in so many ways, writes Henry Beeby.

Firstly, to be in a position to hold a sale in Ireland for the first time this year is a massive step forward, not just for Goffs but for the Irish bloodstock industry, as it lays solid foundations upon which to build for the rest of the year.

Let there be no doubt that Goffs is open for business in Ireland as has been graphically illustrated this week.

We have been pleased to welcome a small but significant group of British buyers to Kildare Paddocks using the ‘bubble’ method successfully utilised at our breeding stock sales last autumn.

At this point we would like to thank Brian Kavanagh and his colleagues at Horse Racing Ireland who have been pivotal in this connection as I’m not sure it would have been possible without them.

Those British buyers have helped fuel a truly amazing level of trade from start to finish as they bid ferociously against a huge and enthusiastic home team.

When expanding a sale there is always a risk that the quality is diluted but that has very much not proved the case with a two-day Part 1 that has more than maintained the momentum that this sale has built up over the last decade.

We always say we are nothing without the horses as we can’t do it without them and vendors have largely reaped the benefit of their support for which we thank them most sincerely.

So we look forward to the rest of 2021 with hope and positivity. The atmosphere at Kildare Paddocks has been wonderful as buyers and sellers were simply happy to be back at a live sale.

The serious point is that Goffs can and will deliver the best prices for the best horses when we have them, regardless of the category.

We would submit it was ever thus but it almost felt like we needed this sale to prove the point again and, with the help of our vendors and the enthusiasm of the purchasers, Goffs has delivered.