Aga Khan draft ignites the Goffs Autumn Horses In Training Sale as Ridhaz leads the way at €220,000

The Aga Khan draft provided much of the bonfire night spark at Goffs for the Autumn Horses-In-Training Sale, which ignited on Tuesday when the first tranche of horses impeccably turned out in His Highness's green and red livery came into the ring during lunchtime. 

Their appearance roused those in the cafe from their seats and had those bidding online anxiously hovering over the bid button.

Three-year-old Iffraaj gelding Ridhaz bookended this season with victories for Mick Halford and Tracey Collins and the full-brother to Listed Star Appeal Stakes winner Riyazan, who was trained by Halford, sparked a bidding battle with prospective purchasers launching offers from all around the ring.

Billy Jackson-Stops was the most persistent of those and the agent kept the pace of his bidding relentless as the price soared ever higher, passing €100,000 then €105,000 and onwards past €200,000. 

Michael Donohoe of BBA Ireland was also determined to land his quarry and when he pushed the price to €220,000, Jackson-Stops had no response and the gelding's fate was decided, with Nick Nugent dropping the hammer in favour of Donohoe and his client.

Standing with BBA Ireland colleague Eamonn Reilly, the successful buyer confirmed that Ridhaz will be swapping the Curragh plains for the sand of the Middle East.

"We have followed him all during the summer and Michael Halford recommended him very highly to us,” he said. 

“He’s a progressive horse and hopefully he can continue on an upward curve. He likes fast ground and is a winner on the all-weather too, so he should have everything to suit him out there."

Michael Donohoe (left) and Eamonn Reilly of BBA Ireland in action at GoffsCredit: Sophie Webber Photography

With a Racing Post Rating (RPR) of 92, which was earned on what will prove to be his final start in Ireland, at Dundalk in late September, Ridhaz has demonstrated steady improvement throughout his career, a comment which also applies to the gelding who followed him into the ring.

Masoun, from the first crop of Too Darn Hot, has an RPR just 3lb lower and possesses a similar profile to Ridhaz. With Darley announcing his sire's fee would increase to £90,000 a couple of hours before the dual winner took his turn under the sale ring spotlight, the €105,000 Blandford Bloodstock forked out for a winning son looked like value.

David Skelly, who was bidding on the phone, confirmed: "He has been bought for an existing client of Stuart's [Bowman]."

Successful on his most recent two starts at around 10 furlongs, Masoun is a half-brother to Mashia, who was placed in the Group 3 Snow Fairy Stakes last season, and they are out of Massinga. The 13-year-old daughter of Selkirk won the Listed Noblesse Stakes and is a half-sister to the Group 2 Golden Fleece Stakes third Masaff, who carved out a successful career in Australia.

The United States could be the eventual destination for the Aga Khan-bred Camelot three-year-old Imarajan, who was bought for €70,000 by Patrick Harty on behalf of Sean Clancy of Riverdee Stables in Virginia.

Harty, however, will hope to plunder rich prizes over jumps with the lightly raced gelding to stave off that prospect.

Harty, who was standing with his father Eddie, said: "He’s the first horse we’ve had for him. He’s a lovely model, the Camelots that have run under National Hunt rules have done well, and the record of horses bred by the Aga Khan Studs speaks for itself.

Aga Khan Studs representative Ridhaz on the way to making €220,000 at GoffsCredit: Sophie Webber Photography

"Imarajan could eventually go to race in America, though I hope he’ll stay with us forever and we can still race him there. We were at the limit of our spend."

Gordon Elliott and his team purchased the Champion Hurdle third and multiple Graded hurdles winner Zanahiyr from the Aga Khan and last year went to €100,000 for Kadeen, the sale-topping New Approach three-year-old from the draft overseen by Pat Downes.

Aidan O'Ryan was the familiar face tasked with bidding duty at Goffs on Tuesday and he was pushed to €68,000 for Raydamann, a Sea The Stars full-brother to the Group 3 Derrinstown Stud 1,000 Guineas Trial third Ridenza and a half-brother to Rajapour, a son of Almanzor who won the Listed Prix Isonomy and was third in the Group 3 Prix de Fontainebleau.

Out of Group 2 Debutante Stakes winner Raydara, a half-sister to the dam of this year's Group 1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches winner Rouhiya, he will join the aforementioned duo at Cullentra House.

Another three-year-old from the draft whose future lies in National Hunt racing is Zarak colt Kalkanli, who was bought by trainer Andrew Slattery for €50,000.

"We came here looking for a horse to go juvenile hurdling with and being an Aga Khan homebred son of Zarak, he is just what we were looking for. We will get him gelded and go on from there," remarked the happy purchaser.

The Aga Khan draft of nine horses sold accounted for receipts of €624,000 or 43 per cent of total turnover on Tuesday, emphasising how reliant the Irish horses in training sector is on the beautifully-bred horses from Gilltown and Haras de Bonneval.

Away from the Aga Khan draft, the highlight was a gelding with National Hunt black type as Denis Hogan sold the multiple Graded-placed Thecompanysergeant.

Second at Grade 2 level over hurdles and twice third in Grade 3 novice chases, Thecompanysergeant was one place ahead of Zanahiyr when fourth to Spillane's Tower in the Grade 1 Fairyhouse Gold Cup Novice Chase in April. The son of Kayf Tara brought €110,000 from Gavin Cromwell and Kevin Ross.

Thecompanysergeant was bought by Kevin Ross Bloodstock and Gavin Cromwell for €110,000Credit: Sophie Webber Photography

"He’s a very consistent horse with good form," said the trainer of his latest acquisition. "He’s still a novice but eligible for all those big handicaps; we have to find an owner for him now.”

Valinor, a three-year-old daughter of Free Eagle offered by the Castlebridge Consignment brought the best price for a filly on Tuesday when knocked down to bloodstock agent Ed Stapleton for €50,000. Stapleton was bidding on behalf of Saudi Arabian trainer Hamad Alotaibi.

Stapleton said: "I really liked her physically and Hamad bought a horse through me at this sale last year, Female Soldier, who has been very successful. 

"He made the trip to Newmarket last week, and then decided to come across here, and was on the lookout for another similar filly. She will be very competitive out there and she also has a great pedigree to join the broodmare band in Saudi Arabia."

Bred by Norelands Bloodstock, Valinor has run four times this year for Harry McCalmont and Joseph O'Brien, finishing in the first four on each occasion.

She is a half-sister to the Grade 3 Noble Damsel Stakes third Messidor and they are out of Pyrenean Queen, an unraced Zoffany half-sister to the Group 3 Denny Cordell Lavarack and Lanwades Stud Stakes winner Duchess Andorra.

Second dam Andorra is a Cadeaux Genereux full-sister to the European champion two-year-old filly Embassy, second dam of Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest winner King's Apostle.

Andorra is also a half-sister to Nanshan, granddam of Australian Group 1 winners Atlantic Jewel and Commanding Jewel and third dam of Hong Kong champion Russian Emperor.

The trio of six-figure sales compared with just one at last year's renewal helped the sale post improved turnover with Tuesday's figure of €1,447,950 up by 13.5 per cent which clawed back the year-on-year losses recorded by the aggregate in 2023. 

From fewer horses sold offered, 94 as opposed to 121, the clearance rate was also much better than 12 months previously at 87 per cent against 74 per cent in 2023. With 82 of the 94 horses selling, the average improved by 27 points to €17,658 but the median fell sharply, down 20 per cent from €7,500 to €6,000.

In his end of sale statement, Henry Beeby, Goffs' Group chief executive, issued his familiar cri de coeur.

A tender moment at Goffs on TuesdayCredit: Sophie Webber Photography

He said: "We’ve said it before, many times, and we’ll say it again, 'Send us the horses and we will deliver'. Every year we comment on the size of our HIT entry as we reflect on a good trade for the catalogue and demonstrate that what we offer has sold well.

"As ever that was no more evident than with the sale-topping HH Aga Khan draft and we are so grateful for his ongoing support as the day would certainly be much less without those horses. 

"It is just our hope that more Irish owners and trainers take notice and see that Goffs will provide at least as good a market for the category as was available elsewhere last week, but we can’t do it without the support.

"However, we will continue undaunted to strive to grow the catalogue as the time and date makes so much sense with so many overseas buyers combining a visit with our large Autumn Yearling Sale. Goffs Horses In Training is a convenient, low-cost option when compared to the alternative and is promoted around the globe by Irish Thoroughbred Marketing and our network of international agents, but they can only work with what we have which makes it a challenge."

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