'Today was a rather sobering end to a big week' - Henry Beeby on a damp day at Goffs

Nothin' lasts forever, even cold November rain. Axl Rose's lyrics rang true around a rain-lashed Kildare Paddocks sales complex on Saturday as the November Breeding Stock Sale drew to a close with a whimper and Storm Bert dumped a considerable amount of mild November rain on the hardy souls who had turned out to bid and the tireless grooms and sales staff, caring for the mares until the very end.

A reduced catalogue could not continue the fireworks from the preceding foal sale and the figures were down on those recorded on the second day of last year's sale, which received a boost in numbers and quality as part of the domino effect of the Niarchos draft on the opening day.

The one silver lining amid all the grey clouds was Saturday's clearance rate of 78 per cent, which was a significant improvement on the 63 per cent recorded on the second day of the sale last year, with 56 of the 72 fillies and mares presented for sale changing hands.

Comparisons of turnover on Saturday with previous years are a little skewed. Sales totalled €445,500, an enormous decline of 65 per cent year-on-year but, for context, a comparison with the second day of the 2022 sale shows a drop of 49 per cent from the €869,400 grossed that day.

More horses came under the hammer in both of those years, however, with 93 in 2022 and 129 last year.

More meaningful is a comparison of the average and median prices. The 2024 average of €7,816 represented a decline of 20 per cent year-on-year and was 15 per cent lower than in 2022.

The median of €5,000 was a drop of 17 per cent year-on-year, with the 2023 figure of €6,000 unchanged from 2022.

Inis Fail, in foal to Sottsass, made €28,000 to Rosemont Stud at Goffs on SaturdayCredit: Ally Murphy/Goffs

Henry Beeby, group chief executive of Goffs, said: "Today was a rather sobering end to a big week but, as throughout the sale, those that appealed were hard enough to buy and we'll only redouble our efforts to persuade more to support the sale. 

"This business can be brutal on occasions, but Irish breeders can be assured Goffs will not rest in our efforts to provide a vibrant global marketplace for them. That's what we live to do and what we love to do."

He added: "Our Breeding Stock Sale was never going to come anywhere near last year’s truly historic sale which, of course, was headlined by the once-in-a-generation Niarchos draft. However, leaving that aside we're perfectly content with trade for the better mares we offered and enjoyed a vibrant trade fuelled by a truly international buying bench."

Profit hard to come by

Saturday's less than vibrant marketplace saw just four fillies and mares sell for €25,000 or more, with the top price of €45,000 given by David Byrne of Rochestown Lodge Stud for Profit Refused.

The three-year-old daughter of Profitable was trained by Kevin Prendergast, who owned her in partnership with Jackie Bolger, and she won a Roscommon juvenile maiden on just her second start.

Profit Refused hails from a current top-class Godolphin family. Her dam, Silver Moon, was bred by Godolphin and is an Exceed And Excel half-sister to dual Breeders' Cup Turf winner Rebel's Romance, who was just a yearling when Christy Behan purchased Silver Moon from the Godolphin draft at the 2019 Goffs November Breeding Stock Sale.

The unraced Silver Moon has a filly foal by Space Blues who made €50,000 to Martin Bozo on Wednesday at Goffs, where she was sold by Ridge Manor Stud.

In addition to Rebel's Romance, Silver Moon is a half-sister to the Grade 1 Manhattan Stakes and Group 1 Jebel Hatta Stakes winner Measured Time, by Frankel, and further back in the family is the Japanese champion and Dubai World Cup star Victoire Pisa.

Just as when Profit Refused crossed the line in front at Roscommon, there was a little distance back to the next-best performer.

Showing the way

Showcasing is showing his mettle as a broodmare sire, with Cartier champion juvenile filly Lake Victoria the outstanding performer foaled by a daughter of the Whitsbury Manor Stud stalwart.

Game Breaker, winning with Kaiya Fraser, sold for €25,000 at the Goffs November Breeding Stock SaleCredit: John Grossick

Her exploits have increased the popularity of Showcasing mares in the sales ring and the second-most expensive mare sold on Saturday was a daughter of the Gimcrack winner.

Rosemont went to €28,000 for Inis Fail, a half-sister to the Listed Scarbrough Stakes winner Rogue Lightning and Sixtygeesbaby, a two-year-old son of Starspangledbanner who won a Newmarket novice event this month for Tom Clover.

Inis Fail has a yearling daughter by Dawn Approach and was offered by Castlehyde Stud in foal to Sottsass, who has been sold to continue his stud career in Japan.

The chestnut was making a profit for Mohammed Alsalem, who purchased her, carrying the Dawn Approach filly, for €12,000 from The Castlebridge Consignment at the 2022 Goffs November Breeding Stock Sale,

Her dam Field Of Stars is out of Map Of Heaven, a Pivotal full-sister to the Group 3 winner Enticing, who is the dam of triple Group 1 Prix de la Foret winner One Master.

The five-year-old Inis Fail had made £80,000 to Paddy Twomey at the Goffs Orby Sale.

Aga can be relied upon

The Aga Khan Studs reliably provide some of the highlights of Goffs Breeding Stock Sales and a three-year-old Gleneagles filly made the mark, selling for €27,000 to the Goatsbridge Syndicate.

Daboya had enhanced her value since the catalogue was published by winning a maiden over a mile at Dundalk this month. Like the sale-topping Profit Refused, she had the assistance of Chris Hayes in the saddle.

Trained by Dermot Weld and with an official rating of 76, Daboya is one of three runners, all winners, out of Dabulena. Successful twice as a three-year-old, Dabulena is a Siyouni half-sister to the Australian Listed winner Dabiyr.

The final member of the quartet who made €25,000 or more was Game Breaker, a first-crop daughter of Soldier's Call. 

A young Jerry Horan in action at Goffs Credit: Goffs

Trained by Rebecca Menzies to win twice over six furlongs in September, Game Breaker was also successful at two for Ralph Beckett and was purchased by Hamish Macauley for 18,000gns at the end of her two-year-old season.

Game Breaker, a €120,000 Goffs Orby yearling, is closely related to the Listed Westow Trophy winner and Listed Redcar Two-Year-Old Trophy second Last Crusader, by Oasis Dream. They are out of the Group 3 Prix Sigy third Spanish Fly, by Iffraaj.

Spanish Fly has a yearling colt by Blue Point, who made €30,000 to Andy Oliver in September, and foaled a colt by Space Blues this year.

Her daughter was consigned on Saturday by Jerry Horan's Ballynure Park Stud, continuing a good week for the Wicklow farm as they also sold the session-topping Sioux Nation foal for €70,000 to Glenvale Stud on Thursday.

More to read

'It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster' - Big Mojo's dam brings €480,000 in latest chapter of remarkable breeding tale