A top price of €650,000 and 21 other lots who made €200,000 or more highlighted a third successive session of mighty trade at Goffs November Foal Sale today.
Key indicators of market health were on a par with last year's corresponding session, with turnover steady at €18,359,000 and the clearance rate improving by one point to 91%.
The premier session of the sale has made giant strides in the past two years, with the average surging by 51% from 2023 to €108,634 today, and the median rocketing by 56% to €78,000 in the same time frame. Turnover represents a 48% rise in two years.
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Mount Coote Stud chose Goffs November Foal Sale to showcase the exquisitely well-bred New Bay half-sister to top-class mares Dreamloper and Santorini Star out of the Listed-winning Teofilo mare Livia’s Dream (Lot 644) and was rewarded for doing so when high-rolling pinhooker Philipp Stauffenberg secured the April-born filly with a bid of €650,000.
“It’s been an amazing day,” said Mount Coote Stud’s Luke Lillingston. “We came here with big hopes as she’s a very special filly. There aren’t many fillies with that sort of pedigree available in the marketplace, and certainly not at the foal sales. But she’s done her stuff, and showed beautifully.
“Needless to say, there was a lot of interest in her, and you’ve got to take your hat off to Philipp Stauffenberg. He’s the bravest of the brave, and stretched right out to buy her – but then it’s always reassuring to buy something with a lot of residual value. We’re very proud of her.”
Asked whether the price exceeded expectations, he replied: “You never know with these ones at the top end, but she certainly went well over the reserve, which was sensible and solid without being in any way silly. In that respect she has, but you always just hope for the best.”
Lillingston was stunned by the electric trade at Kildare Paddocks all week.
He said: “There is no sale on earth like Goffs November Foal Sale. From the bottom up, the enthusiasm for buying foals is quite extraordinary. You don’t see that number of people in Kentucky or England. If the enthusiasm for buying foals could be translated into the wider business we’d have a really successful sport.”
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Another consignor who enjoyed a good day at the office was Moyglare Stud Farm, whose draft included a Night Of Thunder colt out of Ribblesdale Stakes winner Princess Highway (Lot 685) who sold to Ace Stud (Yulong) for €410,000 and a Lope De Vega colt out of Cheshire Oaks scorer Thoughts Of June (Lot 740) who went the way of Abbeylands Farm at €290,000.
Abbeylands Farm’s Niamh Woods said of their pinhook: “He’s a lovely colt, we all fell in love with him when we saw him. He’s from an excellent nursery in Moyglare Stud Farm and he has a great pedigree. Lope De Vega is a serious sire. Hopefully the stars align for us next year.”
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By far the most striking pedigree update in the catalogue belonged to Stanley Lodge’s Awtaad colt whose full-brother Ethical Diamond went from having no black type whatsoever to being a Breeders’ Cup Turf winner in the last month. Peter and Ross Doyle snapped up the suddenly very well-related colt (Lot 678) for €380,000.
“He’s a beautifully well-balanced horse and a really good mover with a fabulous mind,” said Stanley Lodge’s William Kenedy. “Every time he came out of the box, he walked up and down with absolutely no issue. He’s just glorious, and I hope the buyers are successful with him.
“He’s a credit to the team at home, under Nick Cope’s leadership. They’ve worked all summer with these foals, and all their efforts are clear to see.”
Stanley Lodge offered four lots in the session, and all made six-figure sums, with a Lope De Vega filly (Lot 697) selling to Stauffenberg Bloodstock for €310,000, a Mehmas filly (Lot 684) going the way of Pat McCarthy and J Young at €200,000, and a Native Trail half-brother to high-class Stanhope Gardens (Lot 689) being bought by Coolmara Stables and Mark O’Keeffe for €150,000.
“The buyers that we need to have for the sorts of horses we’re producing are all here,” continued Kennedy. “We’re delighted with the prices we’ve received, and absolutely delighted with the service that Henry and Eimear and the rest of the team give us.
“We couldn’t be happier. The celebrations could go on until Christmas time!”
Goffs November Foal Sale continues tomorrow with the fourth and final session getting underway at 10am. It will be followed by the two day November Breeding Stock Sale, commencing at 10am on Friday and Saturday.
Offered 185
Sold 169 (91%)
Turnover: €18,359,000 (0%)
Average: €108,634 (-5%)
Median: €78,000 (-2.5%)
