Rocky Bleier © Photo Healy Racing
A strong renewal of Goffs Open Yearling & Horses In Training Sale was topped by three time winner Rocky Bleier (Lot 187) who was purchased by Gerry Hogan on behalf of Barry Connell for €150,000.
The four year old Rock Of Gibraltar gelding has displayed great form this month having won twice since the catalogue was printed, most recently at Naas last Sunday.
H.H. The Aga Khan Studs’ draft proved as popular as ever in the Horses In Training section, headed by the purchase of the three time winning Dabadiyan (Lot 221) by Gary Moore Racing for €80,000, which was followed closely by the €78,000 sale of promising three year old Enzani (Lot 224), who finished fourth first time out yesterday at Navan, to DK Racing.
Dan Skelton meanwhile purchased the winning Azamour gelding Zarib (Lot 222) for €58,000. The Horses In Training concluded on a strong note as Harry Rogers secured the Galileo own brother to Orchestra, Benkei (Lot 255) for €70,000, the last lot of the day.
The highest price in the Open Yearling section more than doubled last year’s sale topper, when Peter & Ross Doyle Bloodstock went to €75,000 for a daughter of Lope De Vega (Lot 146) from Miller Hill.
Commenting on the day's trade, Goffs Chief Executive Henry Beeby said:
“We have never pretended that this sale is our highest profile but trade today has been at a level in line with our very strong renewals of the recent Orby and Sportsman’s Yearling Sales.
"The Open Yearling Sale has advanced significantly and continues to provide a vibrant but low cost outlet for commercial yearlings. Of course a clearance rate of just over two thirds points to an unforgiving market but that is very much the trend these days and those that appealed most had plenty of admirers allowing both average and median to leap by half again whilst this year’s top price of €75,000 was more than double.
"The Horses-In-Training section must be put into context as, of course, we introduced the new Champions Sale last month that enjoyed an amazing debut with an average of over €200,000, a top price of €470,000 and takings of over €2 million. Take those out and today has returned perfectly acceptable trade although it remains a frustration that we cannot persuade more Irish horses with form to sell in Goffs. It is a common theme at this time of year but we will continue to work to reverse that trend.
"For now we can hardly wait for our November Sale that starts with a stunning selection of foals and will sell the subsequent breeding stock to another global audience all of whom will be chasing a slice of Ireland’s best…”
