Vibrant trade on the opening session of the two-day Goffs February Sale
saw the clearance rate increase significantly to 65 percent from 47 percent
on the corresponding day last year and a growth in median of 15 percent. The
sale has proven to be an excellent source of pinhooking success and the
speculators were out in force once again on Wednesday.
Irish pinhooker Ciaran Conroy of Glenvale Stud swooped in to secure a
yearling colt from the second crop of European Horse of the Year and six-time
Group 1 winner Dylan Thomas (Ire) for top price of €53,000 during the first
session in Kildare. Offered by Corrin Stud, Lot No. 159 is out of the unraced
Tango Tonic (Trans Island), a half-sister to Prix Niel (Fr-G2) winner Housamix
(Linamix) and Grade 1-placed stakes scorer Housa Dancer (Fr) (Fabulous Dancer).
Conroy admitted the yearling’s young sire was a deciding factor in
Wednesday’s purchase.
“Obviously we all know how good a racehorse Dylan Thomas was,” Conroy said.
“He was most consistent, tough, and very honest with a huge amount of ability.”
An encounter with the stallion’s former trainer, Aidan O’Brien, only added to
that impression.
“Aidan told me the two-year-olds (by Dylan Thomas) that he has are really
training well and how much he really likes them,” Conroy remarked. “It gave me a
lot of encouragement. I was quite keen to have him based on what Aidan told me.”
Of the yearling himself, Conroy continued, “He was a very, very nice-limbed,
good mover with nice color. A very solid horse. He was the one horse all day
that I was hoping that I would be able to buy.”
Conroy confirmed the colt is destined to resell in the autumn. Reflecting on
the first day of business at the two-day Goffs sale, he added, “I think it was a
very good sale for a decent horse. Everyone was there that you would expect to
see at that sale, so I think they did a very good job.”
Second best on the day at Goffs was Slievemurran Stud’s Lot 76, a yearling
filly by Hurricane Run (Ire), who went the way of Bobby O’Byrne for €44,000. The
March-foaled bay is out of Foreign Relation (Distant Relative), making her a
half-sister to Red Rioja (Ire) (King’s Theatre [Ire]), winner of the 2001 Park
S. (Ire-G3) and the 2004 Brown Bess H. (G3). She also hails from the family of
blue hen Brocade (Habitat).
Completing the first-session podium was Corbal-lis Stud’s Lot 178, who was
knocked down to Robert Allcock for €43,000. The yearling son of Azamour (Ire) is
out of Zara’s Birthday (Waajib), who has already produced two black-type
performers, including multiple Group 3-placed listed winner Dohasa (Bold Fact).
Despite a much-improved clearance rate for 100 fewer lots, the gross and
average still fell a little short of last year’s levels. With 113 horses sold,
the gross of €926,100 was down 8 percent from the 2010 figure when 110 horses
fetched €1,008,300. The average was down 11 percent, from €9,228 to €8,195,
while the median increased 15 percent from €4,000 to €4,600.
Selling continues Thursday with the day’s session featuring breeding stock
and horses in and out of training. The full catalog, updates and results may be
viewed at www.goffs.com.