Goffs Million Sale opens

Goffs Million Sale opens

Hot on the heels of the inaugural running of their pair of races run at The

Curragh, Goffs start their three-day Million Sale today, followed by the two-day

Sportsman's and Bonus Sale.

Revamped 12 months ago, the Kill auction received

instant gratification with an upturn of fortunes which had been in relative

decline during the final years of the old-style Orby. Miss Beatrix (Danehill Dancer)

and Silk Blossom (Barathea [Ire]) shared the 2.4

million on offer last Tuesday, adding the sizeable pots to wins in the  Moyglare Stud S.

(Ire-G1) and Lowther S. (Eng-G2), respectively. Silk Blossom will be the only

winner on record of the Fillies Five Hundred, as next year will see that race's

purse doubled in line with the Million. The latter race will have a sole filly

winner in its history, as it will be restricted to colts and geldings,

beginning in 2007.

The increase in quality, made possible by the new management

team and vendors, proved irresistible for buyers 12 months ago. Arresting the Orby's decline, the Million returned an average of 99,455 and median of 65,000,

with 27 yearlings sold for 300,000 or more. Following the three-day 663-lot

Million Sale, Friday sees the one-session Sportsman's Sale with its sales race

worth 100,000, while Saturday witnesses the new Bonus Sale, which will also have

its own race in 2007.

The Orby had a rich heritage of top-class performers behind it, led by the

brilliant multiple Group 1-winning heroine Alexander Goldrun (Ire) (Gold Away

[Ire]), who won the Pretty Polly S. (Ire-G1) at The Curragh earlier this term.

Fronting this year's catalog is the English One Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1) heroine Speciosa

(Danehill Dancer), while past graduates include the 2005 Grand Prix de Paris

(Fr-G1) and St Leger (Eng-G1) winner Scorpion (Montjeu [Ire]), four-times Irish St Leger

(Ire-G1) hero Vinnie Roe (Definite Article [GB]), former Emirates World Series Champion Grandera

(Grand Lodge), the 2004 Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1) winner Bachelor Duke (Miswaki), 2004 Man o' War S.

(G1) scorer Magistretti (Diesis [GB]) and 2004 Phoenix S. (Ire-G1) heroine

Damson (Entrepreneur).

With the top sires such as Cape Cross (Ire), Danehill Dancer, Galileo (Ire),

Giant's Causeway, Gone West, Green Desert, Kingmambo, Machiavellian, Montjeu

(Ire), Pivotal and Sadler's Wells featuring this year, alongside the

first-crop sires Dalakhani, Dubai Destination, Hawk Wing, High Chaparral

(Ire), Nayef and Oasis Dream (GB), international demand should be strong.

Regular heavyweight consignors include the last year's top six of Timmy Hyde's

Camas Park Stud, Flash Conroy's Glenvale Stud, Eddie O'Leary's Lynn Lodge Stud,

Denis Brosnan's Croom House Stud, Paul Shanahan's Ashtown House Stud and David

Nagle's Barronstown Stud.

Managing Director Matt Mitchell has cause for optimism

heading towards the 2006 renewal.

"Everybody I speak to is of the opinion that

we have a greater depth and quality than last year and that augurs well," he

said. "The market at the moment looks particularly strong, but there will be

value in there for syndicates and partnerships. The great ideal of the Goffs

Million means there will be the option of two fabulous races, which allow the

opportunity to shoot for the dream."

Selling for the Million begins on Tuesday and runs through Thursday, with the Sportsman's and

Bonus sessions getting underway on Friday and Saturday.

Full catalog and updates can be viewed online at www.goffs.com.