Beeby optimistic as Goffs November Foal and Breeding Stock Sale gets underway

An intriguing four days of trade at the Goffs November Foal and Breeding Stock Sale begins on Friday at 10am, with the bloodstock world's attention focussed on a catalogue of potential future stars of the sales ring, racecourse and breeding ranks.

Pushed back a month from its usual November slot as a result of coronavirus restrictions, the auction combines foals, fillies and broodmares with some high-class pedigrees.

Although the late withdrawal of the Kingman half-brother to the brilliant Ghaiyyath has taken some of the gloss off the catalogue, there is still no shortage of quality, with siblings to high-class talents suh as Lucky Vega, Terebellum and Arizona among the offerings.

The sale's recent roll of honour is particularly impressive with the aforementioned Ghaiyyath, the world's leading turf horse in 2020, Cheveley Park Stakes heroine Alcohol Free and 2018 Irish Derby hero Latrobe all having graduated from the foal section.

Goffs group chief executive Henry Beeby said he was hopeful of solid trade, with plenty of action on the ground ahead during inspections being a cause for optimism.

Goffs group chief executive Henry Beeby is hopeful of solid tradeCredit: Patrick McCann

He said: "First and foremost we're delighted to hold the sale because the usual certainties in life that you can hold a sale on a certain date don't exist at the moment. We're very pleased to be here and have very detailed protocols that we're applying and we have a huge number of stewards and we're very grateful to everybody for being so helpful and understanding.

"There's plenty of pinhookers here having a look, plenty of potential buyers. The grounds are quite busy and we're just hoping for the best. We recognise that these are very difficult times but we've some very nice foals."

He added: "Yes we've had a few withdrawals but people have quite understandably decided that they don't want to offer in the current climate, but that's absolutely their prerogative, but what we've got here is a nice, commercial bunch and we're hopeful for a steady trade."

On the three sessions of foals, Beeby said: "There's a very nice selection with excellent credentials on paper and we hope they'll be very popular. We'll keep our fingers crossed, a lot of the right sires are represented and there's some very well-bred foals there."

The mares take centre stage on the final day and among the standouts are: the Ballylinch Stud-consigned Annabel's Choice (lot 897), a daughter of Dubawi and Dick Hern Stakes winner Annabelle's Charm, who is currently carrying to last year's Arc hero Waldgeist.

The Castlebridge Consignment have a typically strong draft and Galileo mare Second Glance (949), out of Cheveley Park heroine Rosdhu Queen, is another interesting offering. She is in foal to Coventry winner and exciting young sire Calyx. Another Galileo mare offered by the leading consignor is Monday Monday (954), a half-sister to dual Classic winner Blue Bunting and covered by European champion Too Darn Hot earlier this year.

Goffs November Foal and Breeding Stock Sale factfile

Where Kildare Paddocks sales complex

When Four-day sale from Friday, with all sessions starting at 10am

Last year's stats* From 1,097 lots offered, 873 sold (80 per cent) for turnover of €34,452,200 (up 25 per cent), an average of €39,464 (up 24 per cent) and a median of €20,000 (up 21 per cent)

*Foals parts one and two and Breeding Stock

Notable graduatesGhaiyyath (sold by The Castlebridge Consignment to John Ferguson for €1,100,000 in 2015), Alcohol Free (sold by Churchtown House Stud to Littleton Stud for €40,000 in 2018), Latrobe (sold by Castletown Stud to Margaret O'Toole for €88,000 in 2015)

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