'Vendors implored us not to cancel the sale' - Goffs February goes online

The rescheduled Part 2 of the Goffs February Sale will be hosted as a live online auction on Thursday, with a mixed catalogue of Flat and National Hunt weanlings set to come under the hammer from noon.

Following a significant number of withdrawals around 80 lots are left in the catalogue, with Acclamation, Camacho, Dandy Man, Mehmas, Nathaniel and Ruler Of The World among the proven Flat sires with progeny on offer.

Among the eyecatchers on paper are Acorn Stud's Highland Reel colt from the family of Wings Of Eagles (lot 359); a daughter of Australia who shares her pedigree with High Chaparral (371) from Baroda Stud; and the Exceed And Excel half-sister to Listed-winning sprinter Copper Knight (374) consigned by Wardstown Stud.

View full Goffs February Sale catalogue

Among the National Hunt sires with stock on offer are Elusive Pimpernel, Jet Away, Milan, Shirocco, Westerner and Yeats. All lots can be viewed with pictures and videos online, while every weanling will be presented with a veterinary certificate against which purchasers can re-examine within 48 hours of the fall of hammer.

It had been hoped pushing the sales date back from its original slot in early February would mean the event could be hosted at Kildare Paddocks in its traditional format, however, the Irish government has since extended the Covid-19 restrictions.

On the decision to move the auction online, Goffs group chief executive Henry Beeby said: "Whilst this is not our first choice, an online option offers an opportunity to trade and several vendors implored us not to simply cancel the sale. We recognise it will not suit some and that buyers would prefer a physical sale, as would we, but we must react and adapt to the latest government directives.

"At this stage we simply cannot say with any degree of certainty when we could hold a physical sale that is both safe and compliant in the short term, and vendors need certainty as they plan their year rather than yet more delays."

Goffs Online has hosted three sales since its launch, including last year's Autumn Yearling Sale and Part 1 of the February Sale, which was topped by the €100,000 Rubira, who was bought by Alex Elliott.

Close to 7,400 bids have been received on the Goffs Online platform from 22 countries during these sales, with over €7.6 million of business successfully conducted.

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