Goffs Irish Champions Sale postponed with focus turned to Ascot

Goffs has decided to postpone the sale scheduled for the Irish Champions Festival at Leopardstown to a lack of suitable stabling at the racecourse. The company will now prioritise next month's Goffs QIPCO British Champions Day Sale for any recruits.

Goffs group chief executive Henry Beeby said on Thursday: "It became apparent this morning that we would be unable to use the racecourse stables to house the sale horses as we have done in the past, despite working proactively with Leopardstown and the IHRB.

"This is largely due to the expected increase in runners given the expanded racecard and the number of very welcome overseas runners. Naturally we are disappointed, however, as the only option would be to build temporary stables for the sale, we feel this is not appropriate for the quality of horses we intended to offer. 

"We will instead redirect those horses suitable to the Goffs QIPCO British Champions Day Sale at Ascot on October 19. We hope to revisit the Champions Sale concept in 2025 with the benefit of this years’ experience and with more time to plan for all eventualities."

The inaugural Goffs QIPCO British Champions Day Sale at Ascot in 2023 saw high-class sprinter Rogue Lightning sell for £1,000,000 to Richard Brown on behalf of Wathnan Racing and the sale will return to the Ascot parade ring again before racing. Agent’s commission of five per cent will apply. 

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