Dam Of Aloha Star Tops Strong November Breeding Stock Sale

Zain Art from Collegelands Stud (Lot 892), dam of this year’s Group 2 Balanchine Stakes winner and Group 1 Phoenix Stakes placed Aloha Star and in foal to Land Force, was the star attraction when selling to Camas Park Stud for €390,000.  Also highly sought after was another Group producing mare in Airlie Stud’s Sindiyma (Lot 922), dam of Sikandarabad and Marie’s Diamond and in foal to Footstepsinthesand, that sold for €315,000 to Ballylinch Stud.  The highlight of the ever-popular Godolphin draft meanwhile was the Siyouni mare Varamini (Lot 911) that was knocked down to Margaret O’Toole for €280,000.  In foal to Invincible Spirit, she is an own-sister to Group 2 winner and Group 1 Prix de Diane placed Volta.

Reflecting on the 2020 sales year, Goffs Group Chief Executive commented:

“Thank goodness it’s over!
 
2020 has truly been a sales year like no other and for all the wrong reasons. Indeed more than anything our overwhelming feeling is one of relief that we have managed to get to the year end having held our sales, albeit with several on revised dates and, of course, some in different locations. Whilst we recognise that we are better off than so many it has seemed that Irish sales have had to deal with some issues and barriers to trade that others have not had to face. However, with the help of many people and entities we made it.
 
Our Foal Sale ended up with a smaller than usual catalogue as understandably some vendors made other plans as, at the time of entry, there was so much uncertainty. Then we were hit with more withdrawals than would normally be the case when the sale had to be delayed. Make no mistake we absolutely respect the decisions people have had to make this year but it meant a contraction in the results we have been able to return especially as several of the absentees had huge sales potential.
 
That said trade was remarkably strong for those that caught the eye culminating in an especially vibrant final day that saw a trio of Frankels sharing top billing at €440,000 when selling to buyers from UK, Japan and Ireland. Not surprisingly last year’s record breaking results were out of reach but it is worth remembering that the 2019 sale outperformed the market and grew by 25% so we have really gone back to 2018 which is not a bad result given the times we are in. In fact the average price is 9% ahead of two years ago and the median static.
 
Our Breeding Stock catalogue was also much reduced and, again, the reasons are clear. In fact you could ask why anyone would want to be selling a broodmare this year in Christmas week so we have been heartened by the level of interest from what has proved to be a global audience with the help of Goffs Online. Again last year was particularly good growing by 28% so perspective is needed when analysing the figures which makes the average and median being within 5% especially pleasing.

So we bid farewell to 2020, a year that no one will look back on too fondly. However there have been some notable moments at Goffs sales on both sides of The Irish Sea, most especially at our NH sales. Within five weeks we recorded two record breaking Point-To-Point prices at hastily arranged sales at Yorton Farm in Wales and sold the legendary Apple’s Jade for an amazing €530,000 in between. Our Land Rover Sale was the first sale in Ireland since the outbreak of Covid, returning better than expected results and set the standard for Store sales for the second year in succession. We also launched Goffs Online which has proved a huge asset at traditional sales as well as allowing us to continue to trade during lockdown with two successful purely online live auctions as well as a timed sale of a notable horse in training.
 
These are the successes but I confess that our yearling sales proved a massive disappointment, most particularly our flagship Orby Sale which we had to move to the UK this year. I would be deluded if I tried to suggest that it was anything other than very challenging and recognise that we did not perform.
 
We were faced with some difficult choices in the midst of the pandemic and got some of them right but undoubtedly made some mistakes. However we cannot change the past but can only state to all our vendors that we will redouble our efforts in 2021 when we all hope and pray that Covid-19, and its massive disruptions, prove to be in the past. 
 
In closing I want to thank everyone for their understanding and forbearance throughout this terrible time. Every vendor has taken a huge leap of faith with each entry whilst all our purchasers are more valued than ever. I especially want to thank HRI and ITM as they have been so supportive and helpful with endless advice and assistance as we navigated our way through what was allowed and, as importantly, was responsible. We have also worked closely with Edmond Mahony and his teams at Tattersalls in UK and Ireland, as well as Eric Hoyeau and all at Arqana to ensure we lessened the impact of the inevitable disruptions to the sale calendar.
 
On this occasion, I also want to pay particular tribute to the entire Goffs team as every one of them, in every department, has offered nothing but support, encouragement and help throughout the year without a hint of complaint as circumstances beyond anyone’s control conspired to make life far from straightforward.
 
Indeed this is an amazing industry and I close by saluting every participant for showing an enduring resilience in the face of something that only seemed to get worse. Let’s hope next year sees an end to Covid related problems and a return to what we know. For now we send our best wishes for a safe Christmas that is as Merry as possible for everyone”.

 
Breeding Stock

 
TOTAL NOVEMBER SALE