TRADE on day two of the Goffs Orby Sale mirrored the subdued opening session. The clearance rate dipped to 77% and bidding remained restrained, meaning the average and median prices both came in well below the usual Orby standard.

Staged at Goffs UK this year, the two-day sale saw 311 horses sell for an average price of £68,000, which is 35% below last year's corresponding figure. However, last year eight lots sold for €500,000 or more. This year there were none, reflecting a lack of activity by some of the biggest buyers.

The median figure for the two days was £47,000, which is just 18% down on 2019.

Goffs CEO Henry Beeby said: "I do not think anyone approached the sale expecting anything other than it to be tough but we salute our vendors for the way they adapted and read the market as evidenced by the 80% clearance rate which, whilst not up to recent years, demonstrates that vendors were pragmatic in their approach and worked with us to deliver the best results in the circumstances.

"That said we absolutely recognise that the returns of the last two days have been hard on many vendors and we share their pain as we have always prided ourselves on delivering the best prices for the lots we offer.

HAVOC WREAKED

"However we are all aware of the havoc being wreaked on all walks of life by Covid-19 and the impact on the global economy so it is understandable that there are less orders around for racehorses from buying entities, big and small.

"Those challenges are, of course, exacerbated by the ongoing issues around prize money that we read about on a daily basis whilst there are several significant players from recent editions of the Orby Sale that are not present for one reason or another.

"None of this is offered as any excuse or justification as it is plain that Orby 20 is way behind its recent predecessors. Whether that is mirrored elsewhere in the coming weeks remains to be seen but we send our best wishes to everyone selling in Newmarket as this is one interlinked industry whilst we have worked with closely with Tattersalls throughout this crisis as both organisations have done everything in our collective power to provide as near as normal a market place as possible."

SHADWELL PURCHASE

Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum's Shadwell Stud has long been one of the Orby Sale's most loyal patrons and, having been underbidder on Wednesday's top lot, Shadwell's Angus Gold signed for the top lot on Thursday when paying £450,000 for a daughter of Oasis Dream from Bobby and Honora Donworth’s Roundhill Stud.

The beautifully bred filly is out of a winning sister to a host of blacktype winners including Group 1 winner Zabeel Prince, Puissance De Lune and Queen Power as well as the dam of champion filly Rizeena.

The Kilcarn Stud-bred Channel was one of the Orby Sale’s flagships graduates last season when winning the Group 1 Prix de Diane, and her half-sister by Sea The Stars was another of the choice fillies on offer this week. Offered by The Castlebridge Consignment for Kilcarn, she was purchased by John Clarke on behalf of Sunderland Holdings for £360,000.

Peter Brant acquired his multiple US Grade 1 winner Raging Bull from the Orby Sale in recent years and Whitebirch were back in action this week through agent and long time supporter of the Orby Sale Demi O’Byrne, purchasing three yearlings which were headed today by Yeomanstown Stud’s Dark Angel own-brother to group race winner Angel’s Hideaway and the Group 2 placed Perfect Angel that sold for £355,000.

COMPARATIVE FIGURES

2020

Offered: 389

Sold: 311 (80%)

Turnover: £21,142,000 (-44%)

Average: £67,981 (-35%)

Median: £47,000 (-18%)

2019*

Offered: 428

Sold: 363 (85%)

Turnover: £38,089,775

Average: £104,930

Median: £57,500

*last year's figures converted from € to £

ORBY SALE REACTION FROM VENDORS & PURCHASERS IN THE IRISH FIELD THIS WEEKEND