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Numbers up at Goffs' November Foal Sale Goffs' November Foal Sale concluded on a high Friday, with increases across the board following a final session which proved a resounding success. After totting up a sale average of €22,260, an 11-percent increase on 2008, and a €13,000 median, up 30 percent, the company's officials were in celebratory mood. "The contrast between 2008 and 2009 has been palpable in terms of atmosphere, buzz, statistics, clearance rates and the overall attitude of all the players attending horse auctions," Goffs Chief Executive Henry Beeby said. "Twelve months ago, the industry was facing the bleakest of times as the worst effects of the worldwide economic downturn impacted on the bloodstock world. The real worry in November 2008 was fear of the unknown, as no one really knew how long, how deep and the shock of the fall resulted in some form of paralysis at the sales, which manifested itself in frighteningly low clearance rates as the autumn progressed. "Happily, the bloodstock world is a remarkably resilient and hardy world populated by a bunch of pragmatic optimists who simply put their heads down and focused on what we know and can influence, rather than what is out of our hands. That approach resulted in better than expected yearling sales, which in turn flowed through to a really solid foal trade at Goffs this week. Indeed, the vibrancy of the market yesterday and today in particular is testament to the enduring success and popularity of Irish bloodstock and the forward-thinking approach and stamina of foal speculators who have been forced to fight significant groups of end users for the best foals each day." Topping proceedings, and the sale overall, was a colt from the first crop of Dylan Thomas (Ire) who sold to Hideyuki Mori for €200,000. Out of In My Dreams (Sadler's Wells), who is a half-sister to Rock of Gibraltar (Ire), Hip No. 811 was consigned by Carriganog Stud and was a stand-out on pedigree on a day of bluebloods. "He will go back to Japan eventually," said Takashi Kodama, who was buying on behalf of Mori. "He's a very nice and well-bred colt. Rock of Gibraltar stood for a season in Japan and was very popular with Japanese breeders." Dylan Thomas was also responsible for a February-foaled colt from Abbeville & Meadow Court Studs who sold for €140,000. Hip 715, out of Virginia Rose (Galileo [Ire]), who is a half-sister to 2002 Prix Giullaume d'Ornano (Fr-G2) scorer and 2003 Tattersalls Gold Cup (Eng-G1) runner-up Highdown (Selkirk), was snapped up by Jim Bolger. Kennycourt Stud were in the thick of the action and, for much of the day, had the top-priced foal when going to €165,000 for a son of Azamour (Ire). Consigned by Rheindross Stud, Hip 738 was the subject of a major update a week ago when Godolphin's Passion for Gold (Medaglia d'Oro) ran away with the Criterium de Saint-Cloud (Fr-G1). That serious contender is out of C'est L' Amour (Thunder Gulch), who also features as this colt's second dam, and this purchase could prove a pinhooking triumph come next summer. Kennycourt Stud's owner Eugene McDermott also paid €130,000 for Ballylinch Stud's Hip 814, a colt from the first crop of 2007 Prix du Jockey-Club (Fr-G1) and Prix Jean Prat (Fr-G1) winner Lawman. The foal is a half-brother to the Group 3-winning Ashdown Express (Ashkalani), who was also second in the 2004 July Cup (Eng-G1), and 2003 Mrs. Revere S. (G2) scorer Hoh Buzzard (Ire) (Alhaarth). Two others heading Kennycourt's way were Meath Farm's Hip 671, a colt from the first crop of Teofilo out of dual Group 3 scorer Redstone Dancer (Namid) who fetched €110,000, and Hip 746 , Eyrefield Lodge Stud's son of Montjeu (Ire). The latter counts as his third dam English and French champion Marwell (Habitat), who would go on to produce multiple highweight Marling (Ire) (Lomond) and Irish champion Caerwent (Caerleon). He was acquired for €75,000. "They're very good, strong, good-walking colts by exciting young stallions and they will be back for resale next autumn," McDermott said. "We've been buying flat foals for the last couple of years and it has been working out so far. One of the two-year-olds that we sold as a yearling in 2008 was Don Carlos (Ger) (Galileo [Ire]), who was fourth to Passion for Gold at Saint-Cloud on Sunday." As the session drew to a close, two colts set the dying embers alight when selling for €160,000 apiece. Willie Browne's Meadowlands Stud snapped up Cloneymore Farm's Hip 840, a son of Cape Cross (Ire) out of the top-class speedster Miss Sally (Danetime), while Paddy Twomey matched that figure 11 lots later for a son of Pivotal. Out of the fast and precocious black-type performer Ooh Aah Camara (Danehill Dancer), he was consigned by Dermot and Meta Cantillon's Tinnakill House Stud. That came shortly after Jim Bolger paid €150,000 for the sale's top-priced filly, who hailed from the first crop of his beloved Teofilo. From the draft of Riversfield Stud, Hip 847 is out of a full sister to the top-class Green Desert duo Kheleyf and Bint Allayl. Selling of the breeding stock begins Saturday. Full results may be found on www.goffs.com.
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