Goffs’ Chief Executive Henry Beeby issued a heartfelt thank you to vendors and purchasers after the company’s decision to offer a smaller select bunch of yearlings for its two-day Orby Sale was rewarded with impressive increases in all sectors.
Mike de Kock, left, will train the top lot, who was bought by Jehan Malherbe
A healthy clearance rate of 85% for 354 yearlings offered – down from 414 in 2011 – set the tone, with the average (€90,064) rising by 47% and median (€58,000) by 38%. Overall, €27,199,500 changed hands for 302 lots, a marked improvement on last year’s aggregate of €20,494,000 for 333 sold.
“Our first vote of thanks goes to our vendors as they have provided us with a catalogue of true quality that has been fought over by a diverse and deep buying bench from all over the world,” said Beeby at the close of the sale.
“On countless occasions in recent times we have sent out a call to Irish breeders to send us their best and this year we were repaid with a catalogue of the class, quality and depth equal to any.
“It is no secret that last year’s sale left us a little deflated and we took a long look at the format for 2012, deciding to really focus on quality to ensure that the Orby kept its position as a premier sale of the best in Ireland. That meant we published a smaller catalogue but we were adamant that a certain standard had to be attained in the short and long term interests of the sale.”
Buyers from around the globe were engaged at the top end of the trade in Kildare, with South Africa’s Form Bloodstock, the operating name of Jehan Malherbe, who works closely with trainer Mike de Kock, signing for the sale-topper, a Galileo half-brother to EP Taylor Stakes winner Lahaleeb, at €800,000.
The Tally-Ho Stud offering just exceeded the price paid on the opening day for a full-sister to the unbeaten Group 1 winner Dawn Approach consigned by Jim Bolger’s Redmondstown Stud. The filly will return to Bolger’s yard to be trained alongside her brother by their breeder after Peter and Ross Doyle paid €775,000 for her on behalf of a syndicate.
Demi O’Byrne has paid close attention to yearlings by the late Montjeu this autumn and, after buying two colts in Deauville for €650,000 and €520,000 respectively, he went to €500,000 to secure Croom House Stud’s colt out of the Cherry Hinton Stakes winner Jewel In The Sand.
Nicolas de Watrigant’s Mandore International, which ended the Arqana August Sale as leading buyer, was again to the fore in Ireland, buying a pair of colts by Pivotal and Montjeu for €500,000 apiece. The former was also offered by Croom House Stud and is a half-brother to Group 1 winner Maybe, while the Montjeu colt is out of Alleviate, a multiple-winning grand-daughter of Alruccaba.
Malherbe was back in the fray again when adding a Camas Park Stud-consigned Galileo filly to the top lot at €470,000, while Moyglare Stud Farm made a rare yearling purchase when selecting an Invincible Spirit filly for €420,000 on the opening day. Out of Lady Chryss O’Reilly’s champion racemare Rebelline, the April-foaled filly will make a classy addition to the Moyglare broodmare ranks in due course.
Eighty-four of the 302 yearlings sold made €100,000 or more, compared to 58 at the corresponding sale last year.
