The Goffs UK and Arqana Breeze-Up sales will now be held in Doncaster on July 1 with the breeze to take place at Doncaster on Sunday, June 28.
Plans had been made by the two companies to hold both sales in Ireland but Thursday’s announcement follows discussions with Tattersalls to simplify logistics for all vendors and purchasers across UK breeze-up auctions.
Owing to Covid-19, restrictions will be placed on the number of people attending the sale in Doncaster with strict social distancing protocols in line with the British government directives. The British Horseracing Authority’s raceday measures will be in place for the breeze.
All buyers wishing to attend must register their interest with Goffs UK and details of the measures will be circulated to all potential attendees in the near future.
In acknowledgment of the differences between Goffs UK and Arqana’s payment and billing conditions, a five per cent levy will be deducted from the sales proceeds of each lot sold from the Goffs UK and Arqana Breeze-Up catalogues and paid to the purchasing agent.
These conditions will apply to both catalogues to ensure all two-year-olds are sold on the same basis and include the standard Goffs commission rates for both sales.
Goffs UK Managing Director Tim Kent said: “The teams at Arqana and Goffs UK are doing everything we can to stage successful breeze-up sales so holding them in Doncaster will be far simpler. We are taking every precaution to make the sale as safe as possible and so we ask that all prospective buyers contact Goffs UK and/or Arqana to register their interest in attending.
“The extra time between breeze and sale acknowledges the additional challenges for buyers this year and he have worked with GBRI and ITM to provide conformation footage of all the two-year-olds to aid pre-sale decision making.
“In addition, we will be offering a new online sale facility for those who cannot attend for which registrations will be taken in the week prior to sale. We will also have the full Goffs UK and Arqana teams on site to take phone bids, meaning bids can be taken in one of three ways, in person as usual, over the phone or via the internet.
“In advance, we would like to thank the BHA and all at Doncaster racecourse for their help and positivity whilst acknowledging the offer of Naas racecourse and HRI who were prepared to assist in hosting the breeze had that been necessary.
“We have also been pleased to work with Tattersalls to make the process as easy as possible for our many mutual vendors and purchasers.”
Freddy Powell, Arqana’s Executive Director, added: “The current context requires agility and cooperation, and this is what we are trying to deliver along with Goffs UK and Tattersalls.
“By holding all European breeze-ups in the same country, utilising an online platform and providing a choice of bidding options, we are hoping to make buyers and vendors’ lives easier and give the sale every chance to succeed.”
