Goffs Magazine 2017

GOFFS N EW-LOOK NOVE MBER SAL E | JOH N OS B O R N E | TR I P A DVI S O R | LO N D O N SAL E | JAG UA R

Section Head

2017

Magazine

Strong & Stable SIR MARK PRESCOTT & KIRSTEN RAUSING

BLUEBLOODS

MEET IRE ND’S TOP STALLIONS GROUP 1 GEMS AGENTS RECALL THEIR BEST BUYS

10 YEARS HENRY BEEBY ON A DECADE AS CEO

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THE JUDGE TIMMY HYDE’S LIFETIME IN BLOODSTOCK

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Welcome

GOFFS MAGAZINE 2017

Welcome

They say a week is long time in politics. I would counter such an assertion with the suggestion that 10 years is a short time in bloodstock as it is a decade since Goffs and DBS merged, and it only seems like last week.

“Time flies when you’re having fun” is another old cliché that probably rings true and certainly so in my case for, despite having to navigate the most severe financial crisis in living memory, I have loved my time with Goffs so far and approach the future with hunger, ambition, excitement and passion.

Last year DBS morphed into Goffs UK and so brought to fruition one of Eimear Mulhern’s key goals when she took over the chairmanship of Goffs in 2005; to take Goffs into the UK marketplace. I am proud that I helped her deliver that aspiration, and I truly believe one of the great strengths of this company is our joint ambition and vision for Goffs as a major auction house with 18 sales across six locations throughout the year, all of which are bound by one high standard of industry, innovation and integrity.

To deliver those standards we are supported by a great group of people on both sides of the Irish Sea, and it is my strong belief that you will not find a more focussed, ambitious or talented bunch working for any bloodstock auction house; we are truly lucky to have them on our team.

I hope that the articles in these pages manage to convey all of these sentiments and more, as we report on several good news stories and chat to some true giants of the industry such as Timmy Hyde, Kirsten Rausing and Sir Mark Prescott, three of the most recognisable and respected people in our game. All have made an indelible mark on the fortunes of Goffs and we look forward to a similar impact from a few of the young guns that are also highlighted, as well as hearing about some of the stars that have been sourced at our sales in recent years, not least from the Doncaster Breeze-Up, whilst Jehan Malherbe explains his approach to yearling selection from a South African perspective.

Ireland enjoys a deserved global reputation for the best and our stallion feature along with the profile of John Osborne and his successor at the Irish National Stud, Cathal Beale, illustrate the point well, whilst there is also a fascinating interview with our own Legs Lawlor which has been crafted as only he can by Nick Nugent, whose columns in The Irish Field are so popular.

Finally I want to thank Leo Powell and Mark Costello at The Irish Field as this is our first collaboration with them, and I for one am delighted with the result.

Henry Beeby Group Chief Executive

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CONTENTS

57 16 Contents GOFFS MAGAZINE 2017

111

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NEWS AT 10 Henry Beeby reflects on 10 years as Goffs CEO

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BUYING THE BEST The day I bought a Group 1 winner at Goffs

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WORLD LEADERS The stallions underpinning Ireland’s bloodstock industry

12 16

COMPANY NEWS Important updates from Goffs and Goffs UK

READY TO RUN The Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale was electric

AMY MURPHY A rising star in the training ranks

ALEX ELLIOTT Bloodstock agent under the spotlight

64 67

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GEORGE SCOTT Meet the up-and-coming young trainer

38 45 46

FORM BLOODSTOCK Indepth interview with South African agent Jehan Malherbe

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27 31

HOT IN THE CITY A truly sweltering sale in the capital

50 52

MICHAEL O’CALLAGHAN A trainer going places fast

RACING ROYALTY Sir Mark Prescott and Kirsten Rausing are two of the most intriguing personalities in the sport

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TRADITION UPHELD John Osborne did the family name proud at the Irish National Stud

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TIMMY HYDE Leo Powell interviews the highly respected breeder and consignor

JUSTIN ZAYAT Getting to know the CEO of Zayat Stables

LET’S DO LUNCH Nick Nugent interviews his well-travelled colleague Elaine ‘Legs’ Lawlor

WORLD WIDE WEB Goffs has a great international network of agents

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CONTENTS

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AIDAN O’RYAN Beckford’s buyer is making a name for himself

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NOVEMBER SALE The Goffs Breeding Sale holds increasing global significance

86

DARREN BUNYAN The Curragh trainer has made great strides

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DRIVING AHEAD Behind the wheel with Eimear Mulhern and Roger O’Connor

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TRIP ADVISOR Great tips for visitors to the sales

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FOCUS ON FASHION The latest in style from Brown Thomas

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GOFFS PROPERTY A truly unique Tipperary stud farm is on the market

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ON CAMERA Photos from Goffs events in London, Kildare, Doncaster and Dublin

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GOFFS CO-ORDINATORS: Niamh O’Hehir; Michael Orton EDITOR: Mark Costello ART DIRECTOR: Jane Matthews CONTRIBUTORS: Henry Beeby, Michael Clower, Aisling Crowe, Michelle Kinane, Donn McClean, Nick Nugent, Leo Powell, Lissa Oliver, Nancy Sexton. COVER IMAGE: Sarah Farnsworth PRODUCTION MANAGER: Mary Connaughton ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER: Paul Clemenson GOFFS ORBY MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED BY ASHVILLE MEDIA GROUP. Blackhall Green, Dublin 7.

Tel: (01) 432 2200; Fax (01) 672 7100 Email; info@ashville.com. Material printed in this journal is not necessarily endorsed by Ashville Media Group. All rights reserved.

Reproduction by any means in whole or in part without the permission of the publisher is prohibited © 2017. GOFFS NATIONAL HUNT MAGAZINE WILL BE PUBLISHED IN DECEMBER.

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DARK ANGEL

The Champion Sprint Sire

LETHAL FORCE

Gr. 1 July Cup Track Record Breaker Champion Sprinter 2013

MECCA’S ANGEL

Gr. 1 Nunthorpe Stakes (Twice) Track Record Breaker Champion Sprinter 2015

HARRY ANGEL Gr. 1 July Cup Track Record Breaker

Yeomanstown Stud, Naas, Co. Kildare, Ireland Tel: +353 (0)45 897314, Fax: +353 (0)45 897708 Email: yeomanstownstud@eircom.net, www.yeomanstown.ie FC advert template.indd 1 242639_Yeomanstown_SM_GoffsOrby2017.indd 1

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HIGHLIGHTS

FIRST SALE Auctioning Jane Eyre for e2.4 million at my first sale as Goffs Group Chief Executive in September 2007. A yearling filly

by Sadler’s Wells, she achieved the highest price at Goffs since the Shergar colt Authaal fetched £3.1 million 23 years earlier.

THE

NEWS AT AFTER 10 YEARS AS GOFFS GROUP CEO, HENRY BEEBY PICKS OUT HIS TOP 10 MOMENTS ON THE ROSTRUM FROM THE PAST DECADE

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HIGHLIGHTS

WE NOW HAVE FOUR LONDON SALES UNDER OUR BELT and they have undoubtedly been a gamechanger. In year one we sold the first Frankel foal in the world, with his dam, for £1.15 million. Last year we sold Classic winner Jet Setting for £1.3 million. Truly this sale is like no other.

It really has become the talking point of the bloodstock world and allowed us to promote Goffs to a whole new audience at the optimum time.

FINSCEAL BEO HOLDS A SPECIAL PLACE IN GOFFS HISTORY. We sold the dual Classic winner’s Montjeu yearling colt for e2.85 million in 2013 and her Frankel filly foal for e1.8 million in 2015. We are indebted to the Ryan family for those unforgettable days.

BANIMPIRE What a sale we had in November 2011. Jim Bolger’s racemare Banimpire made e2.3 million and we sold three Sea The Stars foals – one for e850,000 and two at e800,000 apiece. I auctioned Banimpire and two of the foals. It was a massive breakthrough, especially coming after a deep recession. Banimpire was the highest priced filly in Europe that year and the three foal prices were also unequalled, which proved a massive point for us

THE SALE OF UN TEMPS POUR TOUT FOR £450,000 under the DBS banner in 2013 was very important as it demonstrated that we remain at the top table for National Hunt sales.

The horse has since won the French Champion Hurdle and twice at the Cheltenham Festival.

SELLING CHICQUITA FOR E6 MILLION in November 2013 was a moment I will never forget. The previous highest bid I had taken at Goffs was e2.85 million but the opening bid for this Irish Oaks winner was e3 million. Landing the Paulyn Dispersal against all the odds and then delivering the highest price ever in Ireland and at any breeding stock sale in the world that year was incredibly satisfying.

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HIGHLIGHTS

IN 2016 GOFFS WAS AWARDED THE WILDENSTEIN DISPERSAL, another major coup which took the industry by surprise. To handle the two biggest dispersals in the world in the space of three years made another big point, especially as the vendors in both cases were delighted with the results.

GOFFS UK STAGED ITS FIRST AINTREE SALE IN 2016 and the top price was a whopping £335,000 for point-to-point winner Samcro. To produce the highest price for a National Hunt horse that year at a new sale was another important milestone. Samcro has since won all three of his starts in bumpers.

LET’S BE HONEST – the 2016 Goffs UK Breeze Up Sale was difficult and frankly disappointing. But to see the two top priced horses (Ardad and Prince Of Lir) both winning at Royal Ascot just a couple of months later was simply wonderful.

LIVING THE DREAM. I truly love this job, the ups and downs, the challenges, the wins in the ring and on the track. I love working with the people at Goffs and Goffs UK. I love interacting with so many passionate people in the business, vendors and purchasers. I love the thrill of auctioning at Goffs, Doncaster, London, Punchestown, Aintree and Leopardstown, whether it’s e6 million or £1,000. I’m just so very proud to be part of a truly great company that works to the highest standards at every sale and on every day of the year. I wouldn’t, and couldn’t, do anything else and I am genuinely grateful for the opportunities I have been given.

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news

NEWS & WINNERS IT HAS BEEN A GREAT SUMMER FOR GRADUATES OF GOFFS FOAL AND YEARLING SALES, WHO CONTINUE TO MOP UP BIG RACES

GRADUATE 1 ORBY RIBCHESTER AMONG WORLD’S BEST

Orby Sale purchase Ribchester is currently the fourth highest-rated thoroughbred in the world and the highest rated thoroughbred in the world that was sold at auction in Europe. The four-year-old has rocketed up the ratings following spectacular victories in the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury and the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot. Also a Royal Ascot winner last year, and winner of the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes at two, the colt by Iffraaj was sold at the Orby Sale 2014 by the Irish National Stud to Highfield Farm for €105,000, and previously as a foal at Goffs by Kilmore Stud to Jamie Railton Bloodstock for €78,000.

HERE COMES ANOTHER STAR Here Comes When continued the amazing run of Group 1 success for Orby Sale graduates when holding off fellow Orby graduate Ribchester by a neck in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood in early August. Consigned

by Grove Stud to the 2011 Orby Sale, Here Comes When was purchased by Hugo Merry Bloodstock for €170,000. Trained

by Andrew Balding, Here Comes When races in the colours of Dr Jim and Fitri Hay.

AND 2 BARNEY HARRY DOING

GOFFS UK PROUD

3 BECKFORD LOOKS THE

BUSINESS Orby Sale

graduate Beckford was being hailed as the best two-year-old to have raced so far in Europe this year after his smart victory in the Group 2 Railway Stakes at the Curragh’s Irish Derby weekend. Trained

by Gordon Elliott, the son of Bated Breath was purchased by Aidan O’Ryan and Gordon Elliott for €55,000. He was due to run in the Group 1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh on August 13th.

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The three-year-old colts Barney Roy and Harry Angel, both graduates of the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale, have been stars of the summer flat season.

A £70,000 yearling when sold

by Castletown Quarry Stud to Peter and Ross Doyle Bloodstock, Barney Roy was a smooth winner of the Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and only lost out by a shorthead to Ulysses in the 10-furlong Coral-Eclipse at Sandown a few weeks later. The Premier Sale was celebrating back-to-back Group 1 Darley July Cup wins at Newmarket when Harry Angel led home last year’s winner Limato in a 1-2 for the Doncaster sale. Harry Angel is likely to be aimed at the Group 1 Sprint Cup at Haydock in September, a race won by the Goffs UK Silver Yearling Sale graduate Quiet Reflection last year. He was purchased

by Clive Cox from the draft of Ballyphilip Stud at the 2015 Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale at Doncaster for just £44,000.

Harry Angel

HANNAH MARKS JOINS TEAM Hannah Marks has been appointed Digital Marketing Executive for Goffs and Goffs UK. An equine science graduate of University College Dublin, Hannah comes to Goffs as a graduate of the Godolphin Flying Start programme. During her two years on Flying Start, Hannah gained marketing experience at Arrowfield Stud in Sydney and the Dubai Racing Club, and she combines her digital know-how with a passion for bloodstock from her time with Flying Start, at Keeneland, and in her previous role in pedigree research at Shadwell.

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%

CLEARANCE RATE AT THE 2015 SPORTSMAN’S SALE

PARTNERSHIPS 4 PERFECT THE Goffs London Sale in

association with QIPCO was again one of the highlights of the summer and is covered elsewhere in this magazine.

Goffs wish to extend their thanks to Sheikh Fahad Al Thani and his brothers for the continued support of QIPCO as title partner to the London Sale which has played such a key role in it success.

The supporting partners of luxury brands also help create the special ambience that has become synonymous with the London Sale. We were delighted to welcome back Selfridges, Chateau Léboube and Select Mobile this year, and we were thrilled to introduce JetSmarter, Rolls-Royce, and Claridge’s as official partners to the 2017 sale.

WORKING CLOSELY WITH TOP 5 GOFFS CHINESE OWNER THE relationship between

Goffs and the Chinese racing industry were strengthened when Goffs sponsored the international raceday at the Yulong International Racing Tournament in July. Yulong Park in Shanxi province is owned by Zhang Yuesheng, who has made a major impact as a buyer at Goffs in recent years. Goffs’ sponsorship at Yulong also helped develop ties between the Irish racing industry and China, where the sport is growing fast. Mr Zhang said: “We are running regular race meetings all year around in Youyu, where the Yulong Jockey Club is based. Only through working with and learning from Goffs and other Irish friends, such as Irish Thoroughbred Marketing and BBA Ireland, can we achieve our goal.” Ireland’s reputation as a world leader in producing quality thoroughbreds is recognised by Mr Zhang. “Irish breeders are renowned for producing tough, durable and sound horses because of the country’s great grass quality and mild climate,” he said. “Also, the horses bought in Ireland settle in better and quicker after arriving in China because Ireland and China are both in the northern hemisphere. He said: “Goffs is one of the top sales companies in the world. There are horses to suit every budget.” The owner proved himself a good judge with his purchase last year of a Casamento filly at the Sportsman’s Sale for €3,000. Named Whitefountainfairy, she won a maiden at Fairyhouse and was sold for £300,000 at the Goffs London Sale. On his return from China, Goffs CEO Henry Beeby said: “I was impressed with the entire set-up at Yulong.

I very much enjoyed my visit and the warm hospitality shown to me.”

SPORTSMAN’S SALE IS ‘THE IRISH DONNY’ The Goffs Sportsman’s Sale, a one-day yearling sale taking place immediately after the Orby Sale, is replicating the success of the Goffs UK Premier and Silver Yearling Sales as a source of commercial speed. Last year’s Sportsman’s Sale produced the winners of both divisions of the Brocklesby Stakes at Doncaster (Santry and Requinto Dawn, both sold for €24,000) and the Weatherbys Super Sprint winner Bengali Boys (€11,000). Goffs CEO Henry Beeby said: “The return to a one-day Sportsman’s Sale will benefit all concerned and bring the sale back in line with its previous success. I regard this sale as the ‘Irish Donny’, and am confident its reputation for producing winners at bargain prices will continue to grow.”

MADAM’ PROVES BARGAIN BUY THE Goffs Champion Sale will again take place before racing at Leopardstown on Saturday, September 9th. One of the highlights of the 2016 sale was the purchase of Madam Dancealot for €260,000. She more than justified her purchase price when, in July of this year, she won a Grade 2 turf race at Del Mar for Slam Dunk Racing and trainer Richard Baltas.

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INTERVIEW

THE

KING OF

t’s hard to believe that it is a decade since Timmy Hyde was inducted into the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association’s Hall Of Fame. Since then his reputation has been enhanced even further.

Breeding the Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist, in partnership with his son Tim and Paul Shanahan, has been yet another career highlight, while most recently he co-bred the Irish Derby winner Capri. The story of Timmy’s career, and his father Tim before him, is inextricably linked to Goffs and horses sold by the sales company. His father was associated with many great racehorses as a jockey, trainer and a pinhooker, before that term came into common usage. The 1946 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Prince Regent, Vincent O’Brien’s 1954 Grand National winner Royal Tan and Phonsie O’Brien’s 1960 Irish Derby winner Chamour all had a Hyde connection. “My father’s family was full of horsemen, and were great hunting people. Hunting and show jumping were my father’s loves, he was mad about both.

He became a top point-to-point rider and then an amateur. When he couldn’t get an amateur licence to ride a horse he trained in the 1938 Grand National he turned professional. He won the race the next year on Workman, and he was champion Irish jockey and rode the 1946 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Prince Regent,” Timmy recalls. “In 1940 my father bought Camas Park. The previous owner had two sons, both killed in the war, and there was no one to take on the running of the place. We have been here ever since. In 1980 we started the stud farm business. My father had a lot of success buying and selling horses. He bought Royal Tan as a young horse and sold him to Vincent, and bought and sold, to Clem Magnier, the 1953 Irish Grand National winner Overshadow. In 1950 he trained the Irish Grand National winner Dominick’s Bar, who was ridden by the recently deceased Martin Molony.

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PHOTOGRAPHY: CAROLINE NORRIS

CAMAS PARK STUD HAS BEEN BUYING AND SELLING TOP-CLASS WINNERS AT GOFFS SINCE THE 1950S. TIMMY HYDE TELLS LEO POWELL HOW PROUD HE AND HIS WIFE TRISH ARE TO SEE THE FAMILY TRADITION CONTINUE

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“He bought the 1951 2000 Guineas winner Ki Ming as a foal at Goffs for 370gns, while Chamour was bought as a foal through his great friend Jack White and sold as a yearling at Goffs.”

Timmy’s father had a bad accident at Clonakilty Show in 1951 which left him paralysed. However, it didn’t dent his enthusiasm for life and the business, and these qualities have been inherited by his only son.

“Hunting was my passion, along with show jumping. I was master of the Golden Vale for 12 years and the Tipperary Foxhounds for 10, and my son Tim now hunts the latter as one of the jointmasters.”

As a young man Timmy excelled with ponies and he was a red ribbon winner many times at the world-famous Dublin Horse Show, including landing a number of championships. “I remember winning five times at Dublin one year! Show jumping was more lucrative than being a jockey, and I traded a lot in show jumpers, bringing them to a pitch and selling them on.”

Goffs graduate Kinloch Brae was the best horse Timmy rode during his career as a jockey. Together they won the Cathcart Chase at Cheltenham in 1969. Timmy enjoyed race riding. “Kinloch Brae was really good. He was the best horse in Ireland at the time and attracted a lot of attention because he carried the same colours as Arkle, a horse whose backside I saw many times. He was unbelievable.”

When a knee injury forced Timmy’s retirement from the saddle, he knew that training was not to be the next step. He had always been a trader and so his main business became buying and selling, including selling two Olympic medal winners, Krept who won silver for Germany and Gay Monarch, a bronze medal winner for Italy.

“Pinhooking was originally the bread and butter, though I also sold horses for the Niarchos family and the Sangsters.” Timmy had learned well, for a time tagging along with bloodstock agent and veterinary surgeon Jack White at the sales.

ABOVE: Timmy and Trish in the garden.

BELOW: yearlings at Camas Park Stud.

“I REMEMBER WINNING FIVE TIMES AT DUBLIN ONE YEAR! SHOW JUMPING WAS MORE LUCRATIVE THAN BEING A JOCKEY, AND I TRADED A LOT IN SHOW JUMPERS.” 18

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INTERVIEW

Timmy’s son Tim is a veterinary surgeon and works closely with his father. BELOW LEFT: a front view of the main house.

BELOW: a quern stone used for hand grinding in ancient times.

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INTERVIEW

Getting a good price in the sale ring is one thing, but your reputation is built on selling good horses.

On that score Camas Park and Timmy have a record second to none. “We have sold the winners of more than 70 Group 1 races – or something like that,” he says bashfully. “It’s all about finding the good horse, and you need good luck too. You cannot beat hard work and grafting also.”

What does Timmy look for in a pinhook? “Quality is number one, and you need good legs. Sometimes you have to compromise a little if the horse strikes you as a racehorse. You have to have a certain amount of pedigree – you don’t want an empty page!”

While Timmy has an outstanding record as a pinhooker, he has built an equally impressive CV as a breeder. “You like to breed the Classic horse. We try to cater for all tastes and breed sprinters too. The market is about speed, but the great racehorses are those that got a mile and a quarter, a mile and a half. I like to think that the Derby is, and will remain, the best race of all.”

The sales and breeding businesses have changed a lot over the years, and Timmy has embraced these changes. That does not stop him looking back over the years with great fondness and not a little nostalgia, though he is quick to stress “I am not sentimental when it comes to horses. I love horses, good horses, but this is a business.”

Timmy says that his father and Jack White were the two key influencers in his career, and the close connection with the latter extended to combining, along with the late Jack Powell, to purchase 15% of Doncaster Bloodstock Sales (now Goffs UK) back in the seventies. “At the time it had the best National Hunt store sale in Ireland and England and I was selling horses there and doing really well. The company was making money and we said we’d get involved.”

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“QUALITY IS NUMBER ONE, AND YOU NEED GOOD LEGS. SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO COMPROMISE A LITTLE IF THE HORSE STRIKES YOU AS A RACEHORSE. YOU HAVE TO HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PEDIGREE – YOU DON’T WANT AN EMPTY PAGE!”

Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist was bred by the Hyde family’s American base Summerhill Farm.

Selling horses then was perhaps not always as serious as today. “They were fun times too. People didn’t take life as seriously then, and there were great characters about – Ken Oliver, Jack Doyle, Mickey Browne, Jack White and the likes. They were wonderful judges of horses and bought all types, National Hunt, flat, show jumpers and hunters – everything. “ While Timmy’s father was alive Harry Beeby, along with Ken Oliver, started to visit Camas Park, where each year there were three or four yearlings for sale. “I’ve known and been friends with Harry since then, and know Henry since he was a young boy. He’s a very good man, a hard worker and has great ideas. The Beebys are great people.”

While reminiscing about the business Timmy recalls the late Robert Sangster. “There was a great man, a huge enthusiast, and he was a fun man too.

He enjoyed his time in racing and bought a lot of classic winners. Together with Vincent O’Brien and John Magnier they changed the whole business.

“John’s role in making the business global has been amazing. Earlier Derby winners were most often sold to America, but then these men kept them at home and it’s gone on from there. European racing and breeding has never been stronger.”

For more than half a century Timmy has had a strong ally and supporter at his side, his wife Trish.

For once he is somewhat lost for words when asked about her. “What can I say? She’s great, wonderful.”

Laughingly, Trish adds that “someone recently said we are still together because we are rarely together!”

However, it is clear that family is the most important part of their life, and their pride in the five children and many grandchildren is palpable.

Their son Tim is at Camas Park and he and his father are very close. Timmy expands on this. “We have an amazing relationship and get on really well.

He is a veterinary surgeon, is very experienced in the business and spends all his time here. His wife Carolyn, who is also a vet, also plays an important role here.”

It gives Timmy and Trish great pleasure to have all of their children so involved in the business, and all have made their mark. Wendy is married to Eddie O’Leary, Valerie to John Osborne, Janet to Norman

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INTERVIEW

“NEVER IN MY WILDEST DREAMS …”

Authaal holds a special place in the history of both Goffs and Camas Park Stud. The most expensive yearling ever sold at public auction in Ireland, Timmy remembers seeing the son of Shergar for the first time. “He was in Tommy Stack’s place in Thomastown as a foal. I remember going to see him in the summer. He was backward and very light at the time. Demi O’Byrne, a great judge of a horse, was involved with me at that time.

When we saw him again at the sale in Goffs he had improved so much we decided that we would go for him. We got him.” The following year, 1984, the colt headed back to Goffs, and Timmy was hopeful of a good sale. What happened next was extraordinary. “Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined he would sell for what he did. To double your money would be doing really well. There was a lot of attention paid to him, and we had the press down to see and photograph him before the sale. He was the talking horse of the sale.

He was early in the catalogue (Lot 19). Who could comprehend the price he made? First he hit a million. Holy god, then it was two million. It was amazing.” Asked if the price was life changing, Timmy laughs heartily before uttering the understatement: “It was a big help!” The price achieved for Authaal has only once been bettered at public auction in Ireland, when Chicquita sold for e6 million at Goffs in 2013.

RIGHT: a Jacqueline Stanhope portrait of the 1939 Grand National winner Workman, ridden by Timmy’s father and namesake.

Williamson and Carol to Charlie Swan. What a hierarchy to have founded.

It is not just horses who have been nurtured and developed at Camas Park. Timmy can claim a role in the career paths of luminaries such as Ciaran ‘Flash’ Conroy, Eddie Fitzpatrick, US trainer Eddie Kenneally and his brother Johnny who owns and operates Erinvale Thoroughbreds in Australia, Kentucky stud owner Noel Murphy, and Ted Campion.

The last-named was part of the syndicate that pinhooked Nyquist. For many years too Edmond Ryan, now operating on his own, was a Camas Park stalwart.

Timmy clearly enjoys his life and is as hungry and ambitious today as he was when he started out. “It’s a wonderful life and I love all of what I do. Going to the sales, winning a point-topoint, racing of all kinds – I love it full stop.”

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TIMMY HYDE

THE GOFFS LINK

SOME OF THE BEST CAMAS PARK HORSES TO BE SOLD AT GOFFS

AUTHAAL (IRE) 1983 c. by Shergar out of Galletto (Nijinsky) More than three decades after he sold from Camas Park for a then record price of IR3.1 million guineas, Authaal remains the highest priced yearling ever sold at public auction in Ireland.

From the sole crop by the brilliant dual Derby winner, Authaal was bought as a foal at Goffs for a then European record price of 325,000gns. He won seven races, including the Irish St Leger and two Group 1 races in Australia, the Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Underwood Stakes.

DANCING RAIN (IRE) 2008 f. by Danehill Dancer out of Rain Flower (Indian Ridge) Bred by Swettenham Stud, Dancing Rain was sold as a yearling in Part 1 of the Goffs Orby Sale in 2009 from Camas Park to Liam Norris and William Huntingdon for €200,000. She won four races and £572,505 including the English and German Oaks, in addition to the Group 2 Qipco British Champions Fillies’ and Mares’ Stakes. She later sold, in foal to Frankel, for 4,000,000gns.

FROZEN FIRE (GER) 2005 c. by Montjeu out of Flamingo Sea (Woodman) Purchased by Timmy Hyde at the Goffs February Sale in 2006 from Kildaragh Stud (agent) for €250,000. Trained by Aidan O’Brien to win the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby and a total of £675,301 in prize money.

Authaal Grandera

GRANDERA (IRE) 1998 c. by Grand Lodge out of Bordighera (Alysheba) Bred by Stan Cosgrove, Grandera was purchased as a foal at the Goffs November Sale in 1998 from Brittas House Stud by Timmy Hyde for IR£46,000, and resold at the following year’s Orby Sale to Amanda Skiffington for IR£30,000, having pulled a shoe just before entering the sale ring. He won six races and £1,892,603 and his Group 1 successes comprised the Irish Champion Stakes, Prince of Wales’s Stakes and the Singapore Airlines International Cup. PHOENIX REACH (IRE) 2000 c. by Alhaarth out of Carroll’s Canyon (Hatim) Purchased at the Goffs November Sale in 2000 through John O’Byrne for IR£16,000, Phoenix Reach went on to become a triple international Group 1 winner, earning £1,976,865. He won the Canadian International Stakes, the Hong Kong Vase and the Sheema Classic and is a Group 1 sire. He was sold as a yearling at Doncaster.

RED EVIE (IRE) 2003 f. by Intikhab out of Malafemmena (Nordico) Bred by Dermot Cantillon and the Smurfit’s Forenaghts Stud, Red Evie was bought by Camas Park as a foal for €50,000.

In a stellar racing career she numbered the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes and the Matron Stakes among nine victories, and she is dam of the brilliant Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Found, also winner of the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac at two and the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf at three.

SAFFRON WALDEN (FR) 1996 c. by Sadler’s Wells out of Or Vision (Irish River) Bred by Stavros Niarchos, Saffron Walden topped the 1997 Goffs Orby Sale and was the highest priced yearling in Europe that year when he sold from Camas Park to Demi O’Byrne for IR1.2 million guineas. He was a Classic winner at three, capturing the Group 1 Irish 2000 Guineas, the second of Aidan O’Brien’s 11 successes in the race.

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Thomas Hobson, raised and sold as a yearling

by Mount Coote Stud, runs out an easy six length winner of the 2017 Ascot Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Two days later, he went on to finish a close second in the Queen Alexandra Stakes at the same meeting.

... AND THE BIG THINGS TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES!

Situated on 500 acres of prime limestone pasture within easy reach of Shannon and Cork airports and all the major stallion studs in Ireland, MOUNT COOTE STUD is a family-run operation which has a proud tradition of raising and selling top class horses. By giving our young stock the best possible start in life, we ensure that are able to achieve their full potential both in the sales ring and on the racecourse.

Racing Success Since 1963, the stud has raised and/or consigned the winners of 165 Black Type races, many on behalf of clients. These include: 14 Group 1 races • 25 Group 2 races • 44 Group 3 races

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We take care of everything Boarding • Breeding Advice • Bloodstock Management Service Luke and Tabitha Lillingston, Mount Coote Stud, Kilmallock, Co. Limerick, Ireland.

T: +353 (0)63 20330 • M: +353 (0)87 919 5780 (Luke). luke@mountcootestud.com • www.mountcootestud.com

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HARRY ANGEL set a new

➤

6f track record at Haydock when winning the Sandy Lane Stakes (Gr.2) and has since landed the July Cup (Gr.1) at Newmarket

BATTAASH broke the

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5f track record at Sandown when winning the Coral Charge (Gr.3)

European Champion 2YO filly TIGGY WIGGY ➤ lowered the 6f juvenile track record at York in the Lowther Stakes (Gr.2) before adding the Cheveley Park Stakes (Gr.1)

O UR GOF

F S D RA F T …

311 c. H eerat 449 c. H oly Rom an Emp eror (½ to X tension )

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Paul & Marie McCartan +353 87 2575729

03/08/2017 16:37 12:55

INSIGHT

George is a big fan of Coolmore stallion Camelot.

What qualities do you look for in yearlings? I like a horse that moves very loosely, almost like a cat. I find that most problems relating to training are directly with the knees, so I don’t like to see open knees and look for close plates, with still room to develop. Temperament is also important, but can be hard to assess from only seeing a horse a couple of times at the sales.

How and when did you first get involved in bloodstock? My interest in the bloodstock industry comes hand-in-hand with being a trainer. Even though I was always set on becoming a trainer, I kept a close eye on the bloodstock industry, because if you don’t have quality horses you aren’t going to succeed as a trainer.

My initial interest in racing was sparked from growing up on a farm, where we always had horses, and although I started out riding in point-to-points, I loved the speed and pedigrees of flat horses and the summer racing.

Tell us about one of your best Goffs Orby or Goffs UK Premier Sale purchases? We haven’t had many runners yet from those I’ve bought at Goffs, but we do have a very nice Kodiac filly which we bought last year and I like her very much. I think she’s going to progress through the season and give her owners a lot of fun.

What new stallions are you keen on and why?

Of the freshman sires, I’m looking forward to having a look at yearlings by Australia, but as a trainer I prefer to see the produce in training; it’s hard to judge the new sires by just what

FIVE MINUTES WITH…

George Scott TRAINER

“Have your own opinion and not be guided by what everyone else is telling you”

you see at the sales. I’m a huge fan of Camelot and have two lovely fillies by him. He had everything going for him when he went to stud, pedigree and performance, and looks to have bred that quality into his stock.

From what I’ve seen of my own horses and others I’ve seen in training out on the gallops I think he will be a success. I also like Helmet, he breeds a durable, tough type of horse that shows speed, but can also get a trip.

What advice would you give to anyone wishing to work in the bloodstock business?

Have your own opinion and not be guided by what everyone else is telling you. Trust your own instinct and be confident in your ability, and stick with that until proved wrong. At the end of the day, buying a horse at the sales is only the start of a very long process. Treat your owners as well as you possibly can and build a trusting relationship.

Who has been your biggest influence in the business and why? There is no one particular person, I’ve been lucky enough to have been educated by some very good industry people, both in the bloodstock and training side.

I think what’s more important is to have hands-on experience and to learn from experience. I always try to learn from mistakes.

We all make mistakes, but if we can learn from them, we’ll keep improving.

“Helmet breeds a durable, tough type of horse that shows speed, but can also get a trip”

Outside of racing and sales, what are your interests?

Well, I’m in the middle of getting married and planning a September wedding, so that is taking up all my time! I love all sport, especially cricket.

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LONDON SALE

MAKE A WEEKEND OF IT THESE ARE THE CHAMPION HOT SPOTS TO UNCOVER IN DUBLIN AND KILDARE DURING THE IRISH CHAMPIONS WEEKEND AND ORBY SALE, WRITES JO LINEHAN.

LEO POWELL WITNESSED SPIRITED BIDDING AT THE 2017 GOFFS LONDON SALE

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LONDON SALE

Supornthip Chougrangsee, Vichai and Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha

IT wasn’t only the temperature that soared at the 2017 Goffs London Sale. The one-hour auction, staged once again at The Orangery at Kensington Palace, saw the average price rise by 26% to over £375,000 and the median was up almost 80% to £340,000. A curtain raiser for the five-days of racing at Royal Ascot, many of the entries carried engagements at the festival as an added attraction. The million pound barrier was threatened but not surpassed as a dozen of the 19 horses offered changed hands in glorious sunshine.

Incredibly, half of the lots sold were purchased by a single buyer, Alastair Donald of SackvilleDonald acting for Thai billionaire Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, the owner of Leicester City football club.

Their shopping basket comprised five horses with form and one broodmare. The sextet cost a bit more than £2 million, a large part of the total turnover. That said, the two leading lots on the night were not among the six buys. Heading trade at £900,000 was the threeyear-old Exceed And Excel colt Lockheed, runner-up on his last start in the German 2000 Guineas. This 450,000gns yearling had shown ability at two when he was placed in the Group 1 Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes. Bought by bloodstock agent Chris McAnulty, Lockheed will continue his racing career Tom Magnier and bloodstock agent John McCormack

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Dubai trainer Satish Seemar (right) was among the buyers, while Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha (top right) bought six horses

in Hong Kong where he will be trained by John Size.

Afterwards the agent said: “He will be gelded and given a couple of months here in the UK before being shipped to John Size’s yard in Hong Kong. He’s for a long-time owner Henry Cheng Kar Shum and this is the first time he has purchased at a European sale. I must pay particular thanks to his personal assistant Eric Wong who was instrumental in facilitating the purchase.

“I would also like to thank Goffs and the China Horse Club for entering such an exciting horse. It’s my first time here at the sale and there is a terrific atmosphere which really sets the scene for the week ahead.”

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LONDON SALE

ABOVE, Gai Waterhouse.

Australian agent Chris McAnulty (right) paid £900,000 for top lot Lockheed. David Redvers (far right) of Qatar Racing

Alastair Donald of Sackville Donald bought six horses for a new client

“THE FIGURES SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES AND DEMONSTRATE THE ENORMOUS HUNGER FOR THE QUALITY AND CLASS THAT IS OFFERED AT THE SALE.” Born To Play, a three-year-old son of Born To Sea, was a late addition to the sale from Joe Murphy’s Crampscastle Stables, prompted no doubt by his second-place finish in the Group 3 Airlie Stud Gallinule Stakes. A 20,000gns yearling buy, bidding was intense for him this time and Nick Nugent’s gavel fell at £500,000 in favour of John Bahan, acting for a Hong Kong buyer. Chris So will handle his future career.

Alastair Donald’s spending spree started with the second lot to be offered, Whitefountainfairy from Jessica Harrington’s all-conquering Commonstown Stables. Bought by BBA Ireland on behalf of owner Zhang Yuesheng for €3,000 at last September’s Sportsmans Sale, the two-

year-old daughter of Casamento won a six-furlong maiden at Fairyhouse on her second start and she cost her new owner £300,000 this time.

The next lot sold was Night Of Glory who won a 10-furlong maiden at the Curragh on his second start for Michael O’Callaghan. This was enough to see his €50,000 yearling value increase to £340,000.

Alastair Donald’s third purchase was one of two broodmares offered for sale, and both were present at the sale.

The 13-year-old Tale Of The Cat mare Baldovina is the dam of Ceiling Kitty, winner of the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot, and she was sold in foal to Le Havre. She also had a filly foal by champion Muhaarar at foot and the whole package cost £300,000. SackvilleDonald’s most expensive purchase was Straight Right, a 2017 Listed winning three-year-old son of Siyouni trained

by Christophe Forland. He cost £450,000. Sheila Lavery bred and trained the three-year-old Tagula gelding Twin Star to win a Navan maiden and he then finished fourth in the Gallinule Stakes. He sold for £260,000. Donald brought his total spend to just over £2 million when his bid of £400,000 secured Tisbutadream from David Elsworth’s stable. A fourtime winner and Group 3 placed, the daughter of Dream Ahead is a half-sister to Group 1 runner-up Persuasive.

The last lot in the sale was the maiden Yulong Warrior from Michael Halford’s yard. The twoyear-old son of Street Cry was runner-up at Cork and Navan over six and five furlongs respectively and he now joins Satish Seemar having changed hands for £360,000. He was sold by owner Zhang Yuesheng, one of a pair he parted with on the night.

Group 3 winner Aim To Please was sent to the sale

by Francois Doumen but was passed out unsold at £380,000. Shortly afterwards a private sale was concluded at £340,000 and owner John Dance will now race the daughter of Excellent Art. After the hammer fell on the final lot, Goffs CEO Henry Beeby said: “We’re delighted with the fourth renewal of the London Sale. We welcomed a huge international audience once again which got Royal Ascot week kicked off in some style. The figures speak for themselves and demonstrate the enormous hunger for the quality and class that is offered at the sale.”

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INSIGHT American Pharoah

How and when did you first get involved in bloodstock?

My family founded Zayat Stables in 2005 when I was 13 and I was instantly hooked.

We came to Goffs because my Dad had been talking about becoming more international. A lot of great bloodlines are being bought outside of the USA and we wanted to bring back some of these bloodlines, so we have been bringing back fillies and mares from Europe. We really wanted to break new ground and fill out a little and maybe even return to race a few horses in Europe.

Last year was my first time in Ireland and I really loved it and Goffs couldn’t have been more welcoming.

Tell us about one of your best Goffs Orby or Goffs UK Premier Sale purchases?

They haven’t raced yet, but I have a couple of favourites I like, a lovely High Chaparral filly who I have nicknamed Big Meech, after my wife Michelle; and a colt we’ve named Irish Territory, who’s the most expensive Declaration Of War colt over here, so he’s exciting. We also have a colt by Kyllachy who is with Wesley Ward and could be ready to race quite soon.

FIVE MINUTES WITH…

JUSTIN ZAYAT ZAYAT STABLES CEO

“If you don’t have passion for the sport you’re not going to make it.”

What new stallions are you keen on and why?

Everyone is excited about Frankel and we’re really excited by his progeny. There are not that many over here and we have one of our own. And of course we’re very excited now the American Pharoah foals are hitting the ground; he’s really stamping his stock well and they’re all so like him. It’s a real case of deja vu!

Outside of racing and sales, what are your interests?

I live in Manhattan and have a very close group of friends. I’m very athletic, I enjoy playing basketball and ice hockey and I play a lot of sports. I like to keep active and busy, but for me racing is 24/7!

What qualities do you look for in yearlings?

Athleticism is the number one thing. I close my catalogue when I view them, I don’t want to be biased and once I like an individual, then I’ll look at his pedigree and think about what potential he might have for us and what our expectations might be and whether he’ll fit in. With fillies, I can be more forgiving if she has a good pedigree, because she has a residual value as a broodmare. The next step then is vetting, which is a make it or break it point. Then we try to set a price, because the whole atmosphere of a sale can get you emotionally involved, “I want that horse!” and it’s easy to get carried away, so my Dad and I sit down and try to agree on what the horse is worth.

What advice would you give to anyone wishing to work in the bloodstock business?

Work your way from the bottom up. I guess you could say I had a Harvard education in racing, I was lucky enough to meet with such respected professionals, but I would have been better working hands-on instead of high school. I might have understood the horse better. You have to have passion, if you don’t have passion for the sport you’re not going to make it because there are so many bad times in with the good times and you’ve got to be prepared to take it in the belly sometimes. Passion will see you through.

Who has been your biggest influence in the business and why?

Of course it is my Dad (Ahmad), without him I would never even have known about racing. I met Bob Baffert at 13 and he has become my mentor since. I look up to him and he knows that, and he helps me and he tells me when I have a bad idea and encourages me when I have a good idea.

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Cape Premier Yearling Sale 20 - 21 January 2018

South Africa’s Leading Yearling Sale

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Contact Adrian Todd (MD) E: adrian@cthbs.com T: +27 (0) 21 880 5720 Cape Thoroughbred Sales Office E: admin@cthbs.com T: +27 (0) 21 873 0734 European Representative: Mick Flanagan E: mick@townleyhallbloodstock.com M: +353 86 609 8119 W: www.capethoroughbredsales.com

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SPECIAL AGENTS

“ONE OF THE MOST MEMORABLE DAYS OF MY CAREER”

Covert Love won the Irish Oaks and the Prix de l’Opera

MY FIVE BLOODSTOCK AGENTS TELL AISLING CROWE ABOUT A GROUP 1 WINNER THEY SOURCED AT GOFFS OR GOFFS UK

HUGO MERRYCOVERT LOVE (€26,000)

Bloodstock agent and breeder Hugo Merry was involved with 2015 Irish Oaks and Prix de l’Opera heroine Covert Love from the very beginning, as he bred the daughter of King George winner Alamshar. In a serendipitous twist, when the filly went to the Goffs Orby Sale of 2013, Merry purchased her on behalf of Mark McStay for the sum of €26,000. When McStay was forming the FOMO Syndicate to race the filly with Hugo Palmer, there was no fear of Merry missing out on the dream that followed. “Fortunately Mark McStay syndicated her and I was able to retain a share,” Merry explains. After Listed race success over a mile and a quarter at Newcastle, Palmer believed the filly capable of making the leap to the highest level in the Irish Oaks.

Ridden by Pat Smullen, and sent off at 7/1 for the Classic, Covert Love was a resounding winner over a high quality field that included Together Forever, winner of the Fillies Mile at two, Ribblesdale Stakes and future Grade 1 winner Curvy, Speedy Boarding (who would enjoy success in the following season’s Prix Jean Romanet and Prix de l’Opera) and the multiple Group 1 placed Jack Naylor. For Merry it was the culmination of a fantastic story: “I was at the Curragh for her Irish Oaks success and I enjoyed that immensely. It was a terrific day and one of the most memorable of my career.” A close second in the Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks followed before Covert Love gained her second top level triumph at Longchamp on Arc day 2015. “Sadly work clashed with Hugo Merry (extreme right) retained a share Longchamp and I wasn’t there for her Prix de l’Opera success but I did watch in Classic winner Covert Love it and absolutely revelled in it,” he smiles. Covert Love was sold after her racing career to Katsumi Yoshida in Japan and is in foal to Deep Impact.

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SPECIAL AGENTS Dream Ahead won five Group 1 races during his career

RICHARD BROWN BLANDFORD BLOODSTOCK

“WE KNOW WE ARE GOING TO GET A RACEHORSE AT DONCASTER”

Geoffrey Howson and Matthew Houldsworth

DREAM AHEAD (£36,000)

All through the spring of 2010, Richard Brown had been hearing of the exploits of a colt by Diktat who was being prepared for the Goffs UK Breeze Up at Tally Ho Stud in Westmeath. Roger O’Callaghan, a shrewd judge, had repeatedly told Brown of the searing pace this two-yearold had and, when it came to the sale, the colt proved even better than O’Callaghan had said. “He did an exceptionally impressive breeze,” Brown recalls. “He had a very sore shin and really he galloped on one leg and did it in a very impressive way. We were hand-timing it with flags, which is a bit amateur compared to how we do things now, but even then the time was impressive.” Brown had the colt x-rayed and found no fractures or other issues with his legs and, although the soreness had caused the colt to fail a number of vettings, the agent trusted his vet and believed in the horse. He called trainer David Simcock to tell him about this very fast, but lame, horse that he wanted to buy and, because they had built up a trust between them, Simcock assented. They were rewarded with five Group 1 triumphs. “I watched the Middle Park with Roger and I was in Deauville working at the sales for his first Group 1, the Prix Morny, so I got to witness that too. The Middle Park victory was probably my favourite of all Dream Ahead’s wins. It’s the photograph I have framed and hanging on my wall. When he beat Goldikova at Longchamp that was fantastic too because she was an exceptional horse,” he adds.

Richard Brown

“HE DID AN EXCEPTIONALLY IMPRESSIVE BREEZE”

MATTHEW HOULDSWORTH

HOWSON AND HOULDSWORTH QUIET REFLECTION (£32,000)

There is usually a grain of truth in old proverbs and, reflecting on the Doncaster Silver Yearling Sale of 2014, it would appear that the finest wine was served last because the yearling filly by Showcasing out of My Delirium, who would become known as Quiet Reflection, was one of the last lots through the ring.“She stood out as an individual but I thought that maybe I had paid too much for her afterwards because she didn’t make a huge profit when she was sold on to Karl Burke at the breeze up sale in Donny the following year,” reveals Matthew Houldsworth, who purchased her that day. “I am very glad that I bought her and the prestige and publicity she has brought us has far outweighed any financial gain. It is hard enough to buy a winner, so to have purchased a Group 1 winner massively bolsters your reputation.” Fast forward to Royal Ascot 2016 and the newly minted Commonwealth Cup, fast becoming a highlight of the week, sees Quiet Reflection sprint to Group 1 glory. “That was quite a moment and to win it in the way that she did was very special,” he says.

Three months later, and up against her elders in the Sprint Cup, Quiet Reflection dashed up Haydock’s home straight to add further Group 1 glory to her already glittering reputation. “We buy the majority of our yearlings at Doncaster and we go there with an air of confidence because we know we are going to get a racehorse. Quiet Reflection proves that you don’t have to spend hundreds of thousands of pounds to buy a top-class racehorse.”

Quiet Reflection won both the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot and the Haydock Sprint Cup

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SPECIAL AGENTS

“DONNY HAS BEEN A VERY LUCKY PLACE FOR US”

Ross Doyle

ROSS DOYLE

PETER AND ROSS DOYLE BLOODSTOCK

CANFORD CLIFFS (£50,000), LAW ENFORCEMENT (£18,000), OLYMPIC GLORY (£65,000), TOORMORE (£36,000), TIGGY WIGGY (£41,000), LIMATO (£41,000) AND BARNEY ROY (£70,000) The third generation of his family to source top-class racehorses from the Doncaster sales ring, Ross Doyle - along with his father Peter - has purchased many horses successful at the highest level of the sport over the last decade. From the St Leger Yearling Sale of 2008 came five times Group 1 winner and Classic hero Canford Cliffs. Two years later the father and son team found Gran Criterium victor Law Enforcement. In the Premier Yearling Sale of 2011 they unearthed another gem in Olympic Glory, successful four times at the highest level. A year later it was champion two-year-old Toormore that they sourced from Doncaster and at the 2013 renewal of the Premier Yearling Sale they bought two Group 1 winners – Tiggy Wiggy and Limato. “My family has been buying horses at Donny for a long time, first my grandfather Jack, then my father and now myself and it has been a very lucky place for us as we have bought a lot of really good horses there,” says Doyle. The success of horses sourced at Doncaster’s Yearling Sales has brought increased competition, with the leading bloodstock operations now regulars at the sales ring. The extra buying power now present in Doncaster hasn’t prevented the Doyles from adding yet another Group 1 winner to their Doncaster roll of honour.

“We bought Barney Roy, who won the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot this year, at Donny as a yearling too. All the top-class horses we have bought at the sales there have been for reasonable enough prices and Canford Cliffs, Olympic Glory and Barney Roy became top-class European milers in their own right.”

Barney Roy won the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot this year

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SPECIAL AGENTS Military Attack became a prolific Group 1 winner in Hong Kong

“AN ATTRACTIVE COLT WITH A PEDIGREE THAT YOU CAN SOMETIMES BUY” Amanda Skiffington

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AMANDA SKIFFINGTON ANGLIA BLOODSTOCK

MILITARY ATTACK (€40,000) The global appeal of horses purchased at Goffs is illustrated in the career of Military Attack. He went from the Orby Sale via racing in England to winning the Group 1 QEII Cup at Sha Tin and Kranji’s Group 1 Singapore Airlines International Cup while accumulating just shy of £5 million in earnings.

Amanda Skiffington spotted the son of Oratorio at the Orby Sale of 2009 and was drawn to the colt by his looks. She recalls clearly: “He was a good-walking, big attractive colt, a very nice horse but a little back at the knee, which a lot of Danehill-line horses are, and I presume that it put some people off buying him. Luckily that meant I was able to buy him, along with the late John Hills who trained him initially, for a client.” Skiffington and Hills were able to purchase Military Attack for €40,000 – a bargain when considering he has earned more than 100 times that amount over his racing career. He is a shining example of the approach she takes to buying horses. “Military Attack was an attractive colt with a pedigree that you can sometimes buy. I am trying to buy racehorses at good value prices. I don’t have a huge budget, so when I get to buy one and it goes and performs on the track it is enormously satisfying,” she adds.

The agent never got the opportunity to see Military Attack’s greatest triumphs for herself, “I was a loyal supporter on television as I never got out to Hong Kong to see him win and it was great to watch him. He had such a long career.

He was placed in two Group 1 races last year at the age of eight so I hope he gets the happy retirement he deserves.”

Middle Park Stakes winner Astaire was another one of her good value Goffs purchases, finding him for €45,000 at the 2011 November Foal Sale, while Architecture, second in both the Oaks and Irish Oaks last year, was bought at Doncaster’s Premier Yearling Sale of 2014 for just £26,000.

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BREEZE-UP

YOU CAN’T

BEAT

RESULTS ON THE TRACK ENSURED THAT THE 2017 GOFFS UK BREEZE-UP SALE WAS A RUNAWAY SUCCESS, WRITES MARK COSTELLO

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BREEZE-UP

HE

dream result for any European breeze-up auction house is surely to see your top-priced lot come out just a couple of months later and win at Royal Ascot. Now imagine if you had joint top lots. What odds would you give on BOTH of them becoming Royal Ascot winners? Incredibly that is exactly what happened following the 2016 Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale when Ardad and Prince Of Lir won the Windsor Casle Stakes and Norfolk Stakes respectively at the Royal meeting. Just eight weeks earlier both colts had shared top honours at Doncaster, selling for £170,000 each. In total there were four graduates of previous Goffs UK BreezeUp Sales in the Royal Ascot winner’s enclosure last year. It was no wonder, then, that the 2017 breeze-up sale saw significant gains in the key indicators. A 90% clearance rate, the average price up a staggering 37% and the median 36%.

Reviewing the entire 2017 European breeze-up market in June, James Thomas of the Racing Post left readers in no doubt that Goffs UK was the big winner. “In view of such positive oncourse results it seemed inconceivable that there would not be renewed demand in 2017. Even so, the Goffs UK team deserve plenty of credit for the sheer magnitude of the turnaround.”

There were buyers from 12 countries active at the 2017 Goffs UK Breeze Up Sale.

RIGHT: This year’s top lot was bought by Godolphin and was a winner on his debut within weeks of the sale.

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BREEZE-UP

There were some spectacular pinhooking successes at the 2017 sale. The decision taken by Roger and Tony O’Callaghan to hold on to the Kodiac colt out of Sodashy when bidding reached e58,000 at last year’s Orby Sale was justified in no small measure when the breezer sold for a whopping £360,000 – a new sale record price – to bloodstock agent Dick O’Gorman.

Named Roussel, the colt made a winning debut at Leicester before the end of May and was beaten by a neck in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot. Kodiac is also the sire of Ardad and Prince Of Lir. A dozen lots sold for £100,000 or more at the 2017 Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale and another of these was from the Tally Ho consignment. A home-bred son of Zebedee from the family of Canadian champion Peaks And Valleys, he was bought by Stephen Hillen and Kevin Ryan for £100,000.

Two more breezers by Kodiac traded at £100,000 each.

First to reach a six-figure sum on the day was the Kodiac son out of Florida City, already dam of three winners and from the family of Bushranger.

He was one of four lots purchased by Mark Richards for the Hong Kong Jockey Club. Rebecca Curtis Racing sold him and the price was double what he made in the same ring last August.

Meadowview Stables consigned a daughter of Kodiac from the Ballymacoll female family of Islington and Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente. She was bought for £100,000 by the Stroud Coleman agency and this was a substantial increase in value from the e21,000 she cost last year. Put in training with Richard Fahey and named Wirral Girl, she won a novice race impressively at Beverley in July.

The second best price at the sale was paid by Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock for a colt from the final crop of Lonhro. A son of a winning half-sister to Ascot Gold Cup and St Leger winner Leading Light, he was acquired by Justin Rea for a mere $17,000 last September and this time sold from Rea’s Fairgreen Stables for £210,000.

If that American yearling buy was a bargain, so too was the More Than Ready colt from Gaybrook Lodge Stud, owned by 12-year-old Anna and 10-year-old Philip McCartan. He was snapped up for just $5,000 at the same Keeneland sale and Kerri Radcliffe was forced to £200,000 to secure him this time. Radcliffe’s husband Jeremy Noseda saddled the colt, named Gotti, to win at Windsor in June.

The best price for a filly was £190,000 and this was paid by David Redvers for a daughter of Showcasing and the stakeswinning Lucky Story mare Primo Lady. Named Out Of The Flames, she was an impressive winner at Windsor in May for trainer Richard Hannon and Qatar Racing, and she finished third in the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Two other fillies were among the leading dozen lots and

RIGHT: Trainer Karl Burke with agent Matthew Houldsworth.

BELOW: Prince Of Lir was a £170,000 Goffs UK Breeze-Up purchase in 2016 and he defeated the prolific The Last Lion in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot. BOTTOM: Jamie Osborne trained £70,000 purchase Armum to win and then sold her for £250,000 at the Goffs London Sale eight weeks after the Breeze-Up Sale

THE SALE-TOPPER ROUSSEL MADE A WINNING DEBUT AT LEICESTER AND WAS JUST BEATEN

BY A NECK IN THE WINDSOR CASTLE STAKES AT ROYAL ASCOT

2017 GOFFS UK BREEZE-UP SALE

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OFFERED:

134

SOLD:

AGGREGATE:

(90%)

(+53%)

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Blandford Bloodstock’s Richard Brown paid £140,000 for one of them, a daughter of Tamayuz. She was bred by Shadwell and sold at the Goffs Open Sale last November for e12,000 to Michael Byrne who consigned her from his Knockgraffon Stables. She will be trained by John Gosden.

Completing the line-up of six-figure fillies was Grove Stud’s daughter of Acclamation and the two-year-old winner Sister Red. Dick O’Gorman paid £100,000 for her. Charlie Appleby now trains this filly, named Spring Cosmos, for Godolphin, and she looked a star when making a winning debut at the Newmarket July meeting.

David Redvers knows all about Havana Gold and his bid of £135,000 for The Bloodstock Connection’s half-brother to Grendisar secured the March-born colt.

£5,403,000

AVERAGE:

MEDIAN:

(+37%)

(+36%)

£45,025

£30,000

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BREEZE-UP

ABOVE: Almost £5.5 million was spent at the 2017 sale, up an amazing 53% on the previous year. BELOW: The clearance rate this year was a superb 90%

LEFT: A total of 12 horses at the 2017 Breeze Up made over £100,000, up from nine in 2015’s record sale. BELOW: Jim McCartan (left) of Gaybrook Lodge is congratulated on a great sale by Tim Kent of Goffs UK.

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BREEZE-UP BELOW: Connections pose with 2016 Royal Ascot winner Ardad, another £170,000 Goffs UK Breeze-Up buy. BOTTOM: The 2017 Breeze-Up Sale produced a 37% growth in the average price to a record £45,025

GOFFS UK BREEZE-UP COMPARATIVE FIGURES 2013-2017 YEAR

OFFERED

SOLD

AGGREGATE

AVERAGE

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

121 149 147 149 134

98 128 132 110 120

£2,902,300 £4,690,000 £5,032,500 £3,605,750 £5,408,000

£29,615 £36,641 £38,125 £32,780 £45,067

Lope De Vega’s son of the winning Oasis Dream mare Wadjeka, whose third dam was the brilliant Miesque, cost Con Marnane £42,000 last August in this ring and on his reappearance his value soared to £115,000, being purchased by Sheikh Abdullah Al-Malek.

Special mention must go trainer Jamie Osborne who, through agent Federico Barberini, bought the Society Rock half-sister to Ardad for £70,000 at the Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale. Osborne cleverly named her Armum and, after she had won a Chester Plus 10 maiden in June the filly was on her way to the Royal meeting via an engagement at the Goffs London Sale. There she sold to Ed Dunlop for £250,000. Goffs UK managing director Tony Williams described the Breeze-Up Sale as “an amazing experience for the entire team at Goffs UK and indeed our consignors who supported us.

“Our team have travelled extensively to promote this event and our vendors have been rewarded accordingly, with 12 countries being represented on the buying list and faces not seen at Doncaster before, in addition to our local buyers who have again supported us well. I thank everybody on our team, our vendors, buyers and participants for their support and wish all them all the very best.”

“AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE FOR THE ENTIRE TEAM AT GOFFS UK AND INDEED OUR CONSIGNORS WHO SUPPORTED US.”

ABOVE: Anthony Stroud signs for a purchase RIGHT: Trainer Hugo Palmer talking with Roger O’Callaghan

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TALLY-HO STUD A proven source of WINNERS We invite you to drop into Barn H for light refreshments Yearlings by

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SIR PRANCEALOT

KODIAC

ZEBEDEE

PLUS DANDYMAN, REQUINTEO, SIR PERCY, KYLLACHY, PIVOTAL, DAWN APPROACH MORPHEUS

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03/08/2017 16:39 14:05

ABEL TASMAN, 1st, 2017 G1 Kentucky Oaks G1 Acorn Stakes Horse in Training purchase

AN EYE FOR TALENT In the world of bloodstock, reputation is everything. Just ask Mick Flanagan…

As owner and director of Townley Hall Bloodstock, his passion, personal touch and outstanding international track record finds him held in the highest renown across bloodstock circuits the world over.

Mick has purchased several recent Group 1 winners across global racing’s main jurisdictions, including the USA (Abel Tasman, 1st, 2017 Kentucky Oaks & Acorn Stakes), the UK (Marcel, 1st, 2015 Racing Post Trophy) and Australia (Grand Marshal, 1st, 2015 Sydney Cup and Vanbrugh, 1st, 2015 Spring Champion Stakes). To see what he can add to your bloodstock portfolio, talk to him today. +353 (0)86 609 8119

mick@townleyhallbloodstock.com

MARCEL 1st, 2015 Racing Post Trophy Gr 1 Foal purchase

GRAND MARSHAL 1st, 2015 Sydney Cup Gr 1 Horse in Training purchase

VANBRUGH 1st, 2015 Spring Champion Stakes Gr 1 Yearling purchase

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02/08/2017 14/06/2017 13:55 10:38

INSIGHT

What qualities do you look for in yearlings? I’m a sucker for action, how a horse moves.

A good head and good depth of girth are also qualities I think many of the good ones have.

Temperament is also key.

Pleaseletmewin

How and when did you first get involved in bloodstock? When I had to leave the USA in 2012 due to visa complications, I did not have any contacts back in England and I did not want to continue working as an assistant trainer, which I had done for four years after I’d completed the Godolphin Flying Start in 2008. Renowned bloodstock consultant Jamie McCalmont kindly gave me an opportunity to work as his assistant. At the end of 2014 it was time to branch out on my own and establish Elliott Bloodstock Services.

Tell us about one of your best Goffs Orby or Goffs UK Premier Sale purchases?

My best Goffs buy has to be Pleaseletmewin (by Power), who I bought for owner Richard Roberts and trainer Ralph Beckett at the Goffs UK Silver Sale in 2015 for £36,000. He won three of his seven starts at two, culminating in the Group 3 Horris Hill at Newbury. He was then sold for 450,000gns to Qatari interests. Frustratingly I was underbidder on him that time around but it was good to be able to help connections get as much as possible!

FIVE MINUTES WITH…

Alex ElliotT BLOODSTOCK AGENT

“Working in the business is a way of life and you have to be prepared to put it before all else”

What new stallions are you keen on and why? As a racehorse I thought Camelot was just about faultless. A real looker, with speed and stamina, I’m looking forward to seeing more of his progeny hit the track in the second part of the season. Fame And Glory will be a big loss to the jumping game.

Outside of racing and sales, what are your interests?

Choose a job you love and you will never work a day in your life.

That is certainly how I feel about life as an agent so although racing and sales are pretty much a 24/7 job that isn’t how it feels. That said I do enjoy my music, sport and travelling when time allows.

Who has been your biggest influence in the business and why? There really are too many to name.

The trainers I worked for, Philip Hobbs, Michael Stoute, Christophe Clement and Eoin Harty taught me all about the equine side. The Godolphin Flying Start gave me a great insight onto the industry as a whole on a global basis. The trainers I am buying for now such as George Scott, Michael Bell, Ralph Beckett and Simon Callaghan, are hugely influential when it comes to the direction that Elliott Bloodstock Services heads from now on!

What advice would you give to anyone wishing to work in the bloodstock business? Working in the business is a way of life and you have to be prepared to put it before all else. Get out there and get yourself known to the main industry players, be open-minded but also stick to your opinion when you know you’re right!

Camelot

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FORM BLOODSTOCK MARK RICHARDS

Mark Richards of the Hong Kong Jockey Club

IM POSS IBLE SOUTH AFRICAN BLOODSTOCK AGENT JEHAN MALHERBE TELLS MICHAEL CLOWER ABOUT HIS HOPES FOR THE LOCAL RACING AND BLOODSTOCK INDUSTRY

DREAM

THE

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FORM BLOODSTOCK

Gibraltar Blue, Dubai City Of Gold and Gold Circle Oaks winner Front House, Mutahadee (who cost €80,000 and earned $1.3 million), leading South African sprinter Welwitschia 2014 Phoenix Sprint scorer Scream Blue Murder and this year’s Gladness winner Diamond Fields.

Malherbe continues: “We are not scared to buy late foals and backward types because, while some race in England or Ireland initially, we are shipping the rest back to South Africa where they will be given plenty of time because they are not going to race until they are three.

“As a result we are not under the same constraints as people in Europe because they have to buy yearlings that can run at two, certainly early on as three-year-olds. In other words we are buying a slightly different type to the hot pedigrees the hot people are after.”

The grey-haired Jehan Malherbe (pronounced Jehaan Malherber) is explaining his Orby philosophy in the Kenilworth press room on the second floor balcony after being confined to his eyrie high up in the stands for the past five hours.

He is a commentator, by common consent one of the best in South Africa, and he prefers to swot up the colours between each of the nine races rather than mingle with the crowd.

“WE TRY TO OUTMANOEUVRE THE MARKET BY GOING FOR YEARLINGS

BY STALLIONS THAT HAVE PROVED THEMSELVES BUT HAVE GONE A BIT OUT OF FASHION” FORM Bloodstock’s Jehan Malherbe, a regular at the Orby Sale since 2005, was third only to Sheikh Mohammed and Sheikh Hamdan on the buyers’ list last year when he spent over €2 million on 11 yearlings.

The tall South African acts for some of the richest people in his native country, including Gaynor Rupert and Mary Slack of the Oppenheimer diamond dynasty, but the rand is weak and in South Africa horses cost only a fraction of what they make in Europe. So how hard is it compete at Goffs with the might of the Maktoums and the Magniers?

“In some ways it’s impossible,” answers Malherbe, shaking his head at the enormity of the task. “But we try to outmanoeuvre the market by going for yearlings by stallions that have proved themselves but have gone a bit out of fashion – horses like Cape Cross and Rock Of Gibraltar – when other people are chasing after the progeny of the new kid on the block.

“Nearly all our buying is for fillies with international pedigrees and the aim is to turn them into stakes winners and so become valuable broodmares in South Africa. Obviously it’s a bit of a longshot but we have been lucky so far.”

His purchases include multiple Group winner

THE THREE AMIGOS WORK HARD, PLAY HARD

Jehan is usually accompanied at the sales by top South African trainer Mike de Kock and renowned veterinary surgeon John McVeigh. They make a formidable team but they also know how to enjoy themselves.“We’ve worked and travelled the world together for more than 20 years,” Jehan explains. “When looking at yearlings we believe three pairs of eyes see more than one.” Asked for details about their nights out, Jehan believes what happens on tour stays on tour, but did reveal one anecdote.

“After a very long night in Cashel we were in shoddy nick awaiting our early morning pick up to Ballydoyle.

Our pick-up, Eamonn Cullen, arrived in worse shape than us. “After that very long morning we had to endure negotiations with Paul ‘Shannigans’ [of Coolmore Stud] and life has never quite been the same since!”

RIGHT: Mike de Kock, Eamonn Cullen (background) and John McVeigh

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FORM BLOODSTOCK LEFT: Mutahadee was an €80,000 Orby buy who went on to win over €1 million in prize money

Now 61, he was brought up in Cape Town, the son of a racecourse doctor who became chairman of the South African Jockey Club. He rode as an amateur (“a lot of races but not many winners”) and showjumped, but became a commentator almost by chance.

“After a few beers at the races I would do an imitation commentary and one day the official commentator fell sick so they said, “Okay, now you can have a try.”

When the commentator failed to recover Malherbe was given the job and, but for apartheid, he would now be plying his profession in America.

“I went to Maryland for four weeks for an audition in 1989. They gave me the job and told me to get the paperwork sorted. But I couldn’t get a green card because they wouldn’t issue them to people in the old South Africa, and it was going to take eight months of processing to get me into the country legally. The racecourse wasn’t prepared to wait so it all fell through.”

He had already started as a bloodstock agent, going into partnership with Charles Faull who was importing stallions as well as producing the weekly Turf Guide – hence the decision to call their company Form Bloodstock. “Being a bloodstock agent is a tricky business to get into,” Malherbe observes drily. “No-one wants to use you until you’ve got a proven track record –and you can’t get that if no-one uses you.”

Back to Goffs and the Orby Sale where he is invariably accompanied by Mike de Kock who will train the purchases and vet John McVeigh (he of the long white hair). “We stay in a variety of places, nowhere special, just wherever we find is open and we begin looking at the horses on the Saturday. I will have already prepared a shortlist of the pedigrees I regard as a suitable and those are the only yearlings we look at. McVeigh expresses his opinion and he also vets the horses.”

So what of the racing industry in the country where the purchases will end up? Malherbe looks across at the impressive greensward over which he has been

48

commentating for so long and his gaze seems to stop when he reaches the set of starting stalls. “It’s a good product, our breeding industry is reasonably vibrant and we have a lot of rich people putting up a lot of money,” he finally answers.

“But we have a problem and, as a result, we are up against it from a quality point of view because we can’t compete with countries than can shuttle stallions – and this is a major disadvantage.”

He doesn’t have to spell it out. Mention South Africa to anyone in the racing world and they can tell you about African Horse Sickness and the consequent bar on exports unless horses have served three months’ quarantine in Mauritius - or a 60-day lockdown in America so debilitating that no-one even tries that route.

“We have to get the protocols changed to allow exports,” Malherbe continues, his voice raised slightly as he focusses on something clearly dear to his heart. “It’s not that we are going to export a massive amount, even though people here dream about places like Korea, but being able to shuttle sires would be a notable plus.”

Malherbe believes he knows how it could be done.

“All our efforts, and all our talk so far, has been scientist to scientist, breeder to breeder and trade council to trade council. Obviously you’ve got to get the science right but we have already done that and we’ve had it right for years.

“In my experience the only way these things get done is government to government and unfortunately I’ve never heard of our Minister for Agriculture getting on a plane to talk to his counterparts in Europe about this. Until that happens we are not going to make progress but, if it could be made to happen, it would be a dramatic game-changer for the whole South African bloodstock industry.”

“OUR BREEDING INDUSTRY IS REASONABLY VIBRANT AND WE HAVE A LOT OF RICH PEOPLE PUTTING UP A LOT OF MONEY.”

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FORM BLOODSTOCK

ABOVE: David Keoghan, Mary Slack, Jehan Malherbe, Fozzy Stack and Mike de Kock. BELOW: Bought for just €55,000 at the Orby Sale, Diamond Fields defeated Alice Springs in the 2017 Gladness Stakes

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insight

the look of the horse himself, he looks like the type I’d like to buy, and his stock have started very well on the track. I have a twoyear-old filly by him that has a brilliant attitude towards training.

Outside of racing and sales, what are your interests? I am half way to getting my pilot’s licence, with about 25 hours of flight time built up and 10 hours of solo flight which I have survived! I really enjoy it, as it commands 100% of your attention while you are doing it, and it just switches you off from the stresses of the day job.

How and when did you first get involved in bloodstock? At the age of about 15 I became interested in racehorses, and began working for a local trainer in Tralee. From there my passion grew and I knew it was what I wanted to do. In 2006 I dipped my toe in the water buying our first foal from Goffs. The foal in question went on to be named Alazan and ended up winning seven races.

FIVE MINUTES WITH

MICHAEL O’CALLAGHAN

Tell us about one of your best Goffs Orby or Goffs UK Premier Sale purchases? Queen Of Power was purchased at the Orby. She was bred by Max and Lyn Morris.

She was a very talented filly, however her career was cut short due to injury. She carried the colours of my dad. She won her maiden impressively at Gowran, and then went on to run well in the Irish 1000 Guineas, soon after which she was retired. Now Or Later, who finished third in the Irish 1000 Guineas, I purchased at Goffs UK from Tally-Ho Stud.

What new stallions are you keen on and why?

Swiss Spirit is one which I like, as I have what is a very speedy two-year-old filly by him called Crown Leah. She doesn’t look early and sharp, but possesses a lot of natural ability, which Queen Of Power – a very talented filly is a good sign. I also like bought at the Orby Havana Gold. I really like Sale for just €28,000

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TRAINER

What qualities do you look for in yearlings? I generally look for quite a mature yearling that is well developed and not too raw. They have to be very well balanced, with a good hip and hindquarters. They have to handle the whole occasion of the sales well, as a racehorse’s mind is its most important asset. I also like them with a bit of presence about them.

What advice would you give to anyone wishing to work in the bloodstock business? To work hard, always keeping your eyes and ears open, and your mouth shut most of the time. You should never be afraid to make mistakes, as that is how you learn, but you should be afraid of making mistakes twice, as that proves you didn’t learn the first time.

The Classic-placed Group 3 winner Now Or Later was a £42,000 Goffs UK BreezeUp Sale purchase

Who has been your biggest influence in the business and why? My father has been my biggest supporter from the moment I started in horses, and his support has never waned. Apart from him, I would have quite a few influences in the business, people who may not even realise they are. I have tended to watch and study successful people over the years, to try and learn from them, questioning why they do things, and learn from them, without them even knowing.

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Tristram Lewis ARTIST

“Oil study of Denman”

“I have been fascinated by art and the natural world my entire life, I am particularly interested in the physiology of animals, especially horses which I have studied from the inside out. Keeping our own few thoroughbreds at home has afforded me a unique opportunity to understand every aspect of what makes a racehorse.”

Making equestrian portraiture in oils or bronze,to all scales. Examples of both paintings and sculpture can be seen at: The Osborne Studio Gallery, 2 Motcomb St, Belgravia, London SW1X 8JU. Ph: + 44 20 723 59667 Web: www.osg.uk.com Contact Tristram Lewis: Anne Braynes Cottage, Willesley, Tetbury, Gloucestershire. GL8 8QU Email: tristram.lewis@btinternet.com Ph: 07970 508935 Instagram: @tristramlewis

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02/08/2017 16:51

INTERVIEW

GLOBAL LOCAL GLAMOUR LADY

GOFFS AUCTIONEER NICK NUGENT DISCOVERS HOW HIS COLLEAGUE ELAINE ‘LEGS’ LAWLOR HAS MADE FRIENDS IN RACING ALL OVER THE WORLD

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Not many people are immediately identifiable by a single name- music has Madonna and Beyonce, racing has Frankie and Ruby. And then there is Legs, as Goffs Director Elaine Lawlor is better known across the racing world.

“It was a nickname from school originally and plenty of people know me by no other name.

Everybody I’ve met in racing calls me Legs”.

Her association with Goffs goes back over four decades and Lawlor is a local girl in every sense.

The story really starts in the late 1800s when James Lawlor bought a farm at Greenhills, Kill, very close to today’s Goffs sales complex.

Lawlor’s son Myles married Bridget Keeley from close to Punchestown who, in 1913 acquired a hotel in Naas. The early advertising carried a commendation from Lady Mayo of Palmerstown House, whose father-in-law, the sixth Earl, was the first commercial breeder of flat horses in Ireland, commissioning Robert Goff ’s first known sale of yearlings in 1866.

Mrs Lawlor would develop a reputation as Ireland’s leading outside caterer, servicing the Curragh and Punchestown racecourses among other places.

The hotel remained in the family’s ownership until relatively recently and Legs was reared in Naas.

She remembers the current Goffs buildings being constructed in 1975, a few years before she headed to

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INTERVIEW

“We try to outmanoeuvre the market by going for yearlings by stallions that have proved themselves but have gone a bit out of fashion”

the USA, where her jobs included PA to John Gosden.

“A great time to be there with performers such as Royal Heroine and Bates Motel in the stable”.

There followed 12 years as racing manager to Tom Tatham, the breeder of Sunday Silence, before a stint acting as the Irish representative for Highclere Thoroughbred Racing and then re-joining Goffs, for whom she had already acted as USA agent for many years. A huge number of international buyers, many of whom attended the recent Orby Sale, see Legs as their first point of contact with the Irish sales scene.

During Royal Ascot in 2009 Legs met the vice chairman of the Victorian Racing Club. Peter Barnett would soon become more than just a dining companion and the couple were married in 2015.

Life now sees them spend their time divided between Ireland and Australia.

Another landmark moment in 2015 came during the Magic Millions Sale in January. Legs was travelling to the sale with her friend Anne Seitz, who works with Fasig Tipton in Kentucky. Magic Millions’ major shareholder is Gerry Harvey, (owner of Harvey Norman). His wife, Katie Paige-Harvey, herself a highly successful businesswoman, had put in place an initiative at Magic Millions to introduce more women into racing and ownership.

Legs and Anna decided to buy a modest priced

filly and engaged bloodstock agent James Bester to find them the right animal. He secured a filly by Star Witness for A$65,000.

Legs and Anna quickly syndicated the filly among a total of 40 ladies from seven different countries and including associations to five sales companies.

In addition to the Goffs and Fasig Tipton connections, ‘It’s All About the Girls’ shareholders include Anne Hoyeau (wife of Arqana’s Eric), Nic Cox (wife of Magic Millions CEO) and Petrea Vela, a director of New Zealand Bloodstock. Choosing the trainer must have been the easiest part - the highest profile woman in Australian racing, Gai Waterhouse.

LEGS AND ANNA QUICKLY SYNDICATED THE FILLY AMONG A TOTAL OF 40 LADIES FROM SEVEN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES AND INCLUDING ASSOCIATIONS TO FIVE SALES COMPANIES

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INTERVIEW LEFT: Legs with Gai Waterhouse and James Bester

The horse, named Global Glamour, is a dual Group 1 winner and provided her trainer with a first win in the Thousand Guineas at Caulfield. That was the filly’s second Group 1 race in seven days, coming just a week after she had won the Flight Stakes at Sydney’s Randwick.

The syndicate members each invested A$5,000 to cover the purchase price and two years’ costs. To date the filly has won $1.3 million and is now being lined up for a tilt at Australia’s newest racing initiative, the Everest, a $10 million race at Randwick.

The race will target the best sprinters in the world and see 12 runners compete over 1,200 metres at weight-for-age on October 14th. It will be the richest six-furlong race in the world and the richest turf race in the world and, in terms of prize money, is only behind the Pegasus World Cup (1,800 metres) and Dubai World Cup (2,000 metres).

Rather like its founder, the It’s All About The Girls syndicate is making the journey from Australia to Ireland and Legs is setting up a new syndicate to purchase at the Goffs Orby Sale.

Unsurprisingly the trainer will be the first lady of Irish racing, Jessica Harrington, and Patrick Cooper of the BBA Ireland will be charged with finding the right animal. The bar has certainly been set very high for them both.

After every major race in Australia, connections are invited to the podium to address the public and the media. After Global Glamour won the Guineas that task fell to Bester on behalf of the owners - the token cock among the hens.

As a social tour de force to match any in the racing world it was no surprise when he stood up to the microphone and announced: “That’s the first time in my life I’ve been able to please and satisfy 40 women within 90 seconds.”

Although Global Glamour will be sold after her racing career, the immediate plan is to campaign for as long as makes sense. She has already been courted

by Royal Ascot and Hong Kong but the decision was to let her mature before asking her to travel outside Australia.

If she makes as big an impression outside the land of her birth as Legs Lawlor has done, it will be quite an achievement.

Legs may know many of the most powerful and successful people in the racing world but she has that enviable ability to be at ease in any company. As the granddaughter of the woman who set the standard in Co Kildare hospitality it is a gift that is, quite simply, in the blood.

LEGS’ FAVOURITES

MILL HOUSE: “Bred by my grandmother, Bridget Lawlor.”

SUNDAY SILENCE: “I was working for Tom Tatham of Oak Cliff Thoroughbred Breeders when he bred this amazing colt.”

NICHOLS CANYON: “I raced him in partnership with Rachel Hood when in training with John Gosden.” QUALITY ROAD: “Raised and grazed by good friend Ned Evans. I watched him win the Metropolitan Mile and the Donn Handicap in America.

QR produced speed figures that put him in the rarefied company of some outstanding racers and sires, including his own, Elusive Quality. He is the leading fourth crop dirt sire in the States and sire of this year’s Kentucky Oaks, Acorn Stakes and American Oaks winner Abel Tasman, as well as Hootenanny.” GLOBAL GLAMOUR: “I syndicated this dual Group 1 winning filly for ‘It’s All About The Girls’ in 2015 when purchased by James Bester for A$65,000 at the Magic Millions Sale. Trained by Gai Waterhouse she has earned $1.2 million to-date. We are all certainly living the dream!”

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London

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Paris

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Frankfurt

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THE THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS’ ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH AFRICA

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STALLIONS Sea The Stars

STALLION STARS

IRELAND IS HOME TO SOME OF THE BEST THOROUGHBRED STALLIONS IN THE WORLD. LISSA OLIVER VISITED THE SEVEN IRISH STUD FARMS WHICH ARE HOME TO THE NINE STALLIONS WHOSE FEES FOR 2017 WERE €50,000 OR ABOVE.

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STALLIONS

F

you haven’t long to spend in Ireland and are looking for a pleasurable day out, then a visit to Ireland’s leading stallions fits the bill perfectly. They reside in some of the most scenic spots in the country and, beginning at Tally-Ho Stud in Westmeath, you can meander through Kildare toward Thomastown and on to Fethard in Tipperary. The scenery may be beautiful and the hospitality at the various stud farms along the route legendary, but what really makes the trip worthwhile is the opportunity to meet some of the best thoroughbred stallions in the world. That there are two pairs of brothers in our list shows the equal importance of the mare too! If you are lucky enough to meet the gentlemen Exceed And Excel, Kodiac and Sea The Stars; or monsieur le rock star Lope De Vega; imposing Dark Angel and Invincible Spirit; or international superstars Shamardal, Galileo and Fastnet Rock, you will come away with a true understanding of why Ireland is the thoroughbred cradle of the world. Look at the pastures surrounding you, at the muscle and bone standing before you and the even temperament of all nine of Ireland’s leading sires and you know you are in the land of the horseman. Between them, seven of the stallions have sired 260 individual Group winners. Throw in eight-time leading sire Galileo and that’s another 66 Group 1 winners alone to add on. So let us wander through the land of the true giants…

DARK ANGEL

YEOMANSTOWN STUD (€65,000) This dapper 12-year-old grey son of Acclamation, out of the Machiavellian mare Midnight Angel, is a fine advocate of “going to work on an egg”. Apparently, he loves an egg for breakfast, which could be why he has such a great libido! He is a proven outcross for Northern Dancer line mares and is the sire of 21 Group winners to date. He has sired 57 stakes performers and the best of his offspring must surely be champion sprinter Lethal Force and the brave and consistent Mecca’s Angel, a dual heroine of the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes. Perhaps his most popular son is Sovereign Debt, an eight-year-old gelding who won his 14th race when landing the Group 3 Diomed Stakes at the Epsom Derby meeting and is so typical of Dark Angel progeny, who just seem to keep improving with age. We can only wonder what we missed out on

by Dark Angel’s early retirement to stud, having proven himself a top-class twoyear-old when winning four of his nine races, including the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes and Group 1 Middle Park Stakes.

Still, racing’s loss was breeders’ gain and Dark Angel enjoyed a phenomenal year last year, siring 23 individual Group and stakes performers, which included Divine, Persuasive and Ardhoomey. He was also represented by no fewer than 40 two-year-old winners, including five individual stakes winners. Better yet, like all of the leading sires, he is quickly establishing his own dynasty, with sons Lethal Force, Estidhkaar, Gutaifan and Alhebayeb already at stud and hoping to pass on those speedy but long-lasting genes.

EXCEED AND EXCEL, KILDANGAN STUD (€50,000)

The bay son of Danehill, out of the Lomond mare Patrona, is now 17 and is “an absolute diamond of a horse” according to the stallion men at Kildangan. He’s clearly a pleasure to have around and, if you’ll pardon the obvious, he never has a bad word to say about anyone! I’m told he’s a great guy for helping the new stallion men learn the ropes, too. He was, of course, an Australian champion sprinter who twice set a new course record, over six and seven furlongs, winning seven of his 12 starts. Now he dominates as the world’s leading sire of juvenile winners and stakes winners and has been champion sire in Australia. His 131 stakes winners are led by Group 1 winners and sires Excelebration and Helmet and he has sired 63 Group winners to date. Of those, 30 have been Group-winning two-year-olds, including last year’s recordbreaker Yalta. Winning for him already at Group level this season are Championship, Mix And Mingle, Priceless, Heavy Metal in Dubai and Mr Stunning, in Sha Tin, underlining his global impact.

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STALLIONS

FASTNET ROCK,

COOLMORE STUD (PRIVATE)

Mecca’s Angel

Helmet

The chilled out 16-year-old bay looks every inch a sprinter and the son of Danehill out of the Royal Academy mare Piccadilly Circus was indeed a champion over five and six furlongs in Australia, winning six of his 19 races and runner-up seven times, showing remarkable consistency. Yet he’s as relaxed a customer as they come and takes shuttling to and from his homeland in his stride. Having secured the champion three-year-old and champion sprinter titles in Australia, he became Australia’s champion sire in 2011/12 and again in 2014/15 and his Irish foal crops ensure he is just as competitive on this side of the world.

You would expect his offspring to inherit his speed, but in fact he is also a surprising source of stamina and the lethal combination is a hallmark of his versatility as a sire. Fascinating Rock, the Group 1 Champion Stakes and Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup hero, is perhaps the best-loved of his sons and the Group 1-winning juvenile of last year, Rivet, may add further lustre to his CV as the season progresses. Fastnet Rock’s daughters are equally noted for their toughness and include the Group 1 Oaks winner Qualify, Intricately, winner of the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes at two, Diamondsandrubies (Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes) and globe-trotting Zhukova, who won the Group 1 Man O’War Stakes for Dermot Weld. In all he has sired 76 Group winners from his 216 stakes performers.

Fastnet Rock

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STALLIONS Galileo

GALILEO,

COOLMORE STUD (PRIVATE) There doesn’t seem much we can say here that Galileo (above) hasn’t already said himself.

The 18-year-old bay is a living legend – and he knows it! While he knows exactly who the visitors at Coolmore are there to see, he’s a perfect gentleman, too, and hasn’t let stardom go to his head. His stallion man describes him as “a creature of habit” and, like any senior gentleman, he likes his routine.

He is, of course, bred to be a star and is fast approaching the feat of beating the records of his own sire, Sadler’s Wells. His dam, Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe heroine Urban Sea, was a phenomenal broodmare, by Miswaki, and is represented in this feature again by Sea The Stars. We’re talking racing royalty and it pretty much started with Galileo. He was champion three-year-old, winning the Group 1 Epsom Derby, Group 1 Irish Derby and Group 1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes in style. And then he went to stud and the story really got going. It may have been a slow start by his own high standards, but he became champion sire in 2008 and after winning it again in 2010 he had hung on to his title to the present day. His 64 Group 1 winners include world champion Frankel, Epsom Derby winners Australia, Ruler Of The World and New Approach, Irish Derby heroes Treasure Beach, Soldier Of Fortune, Cape Blanco and Capri, and other classic winners Magician, Gleneagles, The Gurkha, Minding, Churchill, Winter, Was, Roderic O’Connor, Misty For Me, Golden Lilac, Order Of St George, Sixties Icon and Nightime.

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Tiggy Wiggy

STALLIONS

INVINCIBLE SPIRIT,

IRISH NATIONAL STUD (€120,000) Now aged 20, the bay son of Green Desert and classic heroine Rafha (by Kris) takes everything in his stride.

He’s incredibly straightforward and that’s probably what makes him such a good stallion. It’s a trait he passes on, but there’s also steel and determination about him, very much in evidence when he raced. He was the winner of seven of his 17 races from two to five years, the pinnacle being the Group 1 Haydock Sprint Cup. As with so many of our leading stallions, it was his career after racing that shot him to real stardom and saw him outshine even his own celebrated sire. He is a prepotent sire of sires, with 15 sons at stud, and has sired 50 Group winners, 15 at Group 1 level, and a total of 175 stakes winners. He is also the proud grandfather of seven individual Group 1 winners. Never let it be said that older stallions slow down when it comes to winning progeny, as last year’s Group 1-winning National Defense, Profitable and Signs Of Blessing argue otherwise, the latter already further adding to his group tally this season. Dual classic-winner Lawman, Kingman, Moonlight Cloud, Charm Spirit, Muthmir, Shalaa, Territories, Ektihaam and Born To Sea are other household names to have represented him on the racetrack.

Invincible Spirit

KODIAC,

TALLY-HO STUD (€50,000) The 16-year-old bay Kodiac is a Danehill half-brother to Invincible Spirit and is described by all who know him at Tally-Ho Stud as an absolute gentleman, one of the kindest, most uncomplicated horses you could wish to meet. A child could lead him, such is his temperament, but there must be a bit of fire in there somewhere, because his mild-mannered offspring have seen him soar to the top end of the sires’ table, coming alight when it matters most. His own racing record hardly pointed to such a celebrated career at stud, winning four of his 20 races, but it speaks volumes for him that agents and pinhookers soon spotted his potential and fell in love with his progeny. Their faith was rewarded and to-date he is the sire of 62 stakes performers, including 14 Group winners. Last year proved his best ever so far, seeing his progeny win e3.7 million on the track and 52 of his yearlings fetching e100,000 or more at public auction. He sired five individual two-year-old Group and Listed winners in 2016, bettered only by Galileo who sired seven. Of his 28 Group and stakes winners, 14 have registered their successes at two and include the champion two-year-old Tiggy Wiggy, who went on to be placed in the 1000 Guineas. Besharah was another of his Group-winning juvenile daughters who placed in a classic at three. Just to show Kodiac is no one-trick-pony, however, Lingfield Derby Trial winner Best Solution looks like being a son to follow over middle-distances.

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STALLIONS Harzand

SEA THE STARS,

GILLTOWN STUD (€125,000) We have met a lot of gentlemen on our tour of stallions and, although the bay has grown in confidence and self-assurance since he first took up stallion duties, 11-year-old Sea The Stars is still the same charming, polite and utter gentleman of his race days. He no longer looks quite so racing-fit these days, but remains elegant, in build and disposition.

He was the perfect racehorse, winner of six consecutive Group 1s in six months, including the 2000 Guineas, Derby and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, and is proving to be just as good at stud, as could be expected from one of his breeding, a Cape Cross half-brother to Galileo, no less. He got off to a flying start as a sire and his first crop included the Classic winners Sea The Moon and Taghrooda. Last year Harzand (pictured left) gained him an Epsom Derby success and followed up in the Irish Derby, to earn a place at stud alongside his illustrious sire. One-fifth of Sea The Stars’ runners have performed at stakes level (62) and Cloth Of Stars, Mekhtaal, Vazira and Zelzal are among his 21 Group winners. His lifetime ratio of 12.1% stakes winners to runners is a figure bettered only by Dubawi at the same stage of his career.

SHAMARDAL,

Casamento

KILDANGAN STUD (PRIVATE) A son of the ultra-tough Giant’s Causeway, Shamardal won the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes as a two-year-old, when trained by Mark Johnston. Transferred to Godolphin for his classic season in 2005, he won the Poule d’Essai des Poulains, the Prix du Jockey Club and the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. Despite not racing again after that, he was crowned champion European miler and he has since established himself as one of Europe’s most important sires. His progeny tend to go best on fast ground, so it should be no surprise that his sons Able Friend and Dan Excel won multiple Group 1 races in Hong Kong. Closer to home, his best progeny have included Mukhadram, Lope De Vega, Zazou, Tryster, Lumiere and Casamento. Shamardal’s stud fee was initially e40,000 in 2006. It dipped to as low as e20,000 during the recession in 2009 and 2010 but quickly rose to e50,000 and then e70,000 before turning ‘private’ for the past two seasons.

LOPE DE VEGA, BALLYLINCH (€50,000)

At 10, this imposing chesnut son of Shamardal, out of the Vettori mare Lady Vettori, is the youngest of the current leading sires we’re looking at here, but there’s no young rookie about him. He knows he’s good and he has the attitude to go with it, something of a king of all he surveys. That probably stems from the admiration Belardo he was used to as a well-regarded two-year-old and dual classic-winning three-year-old, winning the Poule d’Essai des Poulains and Prix du Jockey Club for André Fabre. He made an immediate impression at stud with 25 individual winners and no fewer than four Group-winning horses, champion two-year-old Belardo among them, in his first crop. Not surprisingly, their efforts earned him the honour of being champion first crop sire in Europe in 2014. In the short time since he has already sired 50 stakes performers at the time of going to press. His 15 Group winners include Jemayel, The Right Man, Very Special and Blue De Vega, while Vega Magic, French Fern and Santa Ana Lane have also confirmed his status in Australia.

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insight

can imagine, with the lifestyle of anyone based in the industry, it’s very hard for other interests due to the time taken up by racing and the sales. It’s something I wouldn’t change for the world.

However, I do like to get together with a group of friends for a nice meal and a bottle of bubbles.

Albany Stakes winner Different League is by Dabirsim

How and when did you first get involved in bloodstock? Growing up on my father’s Wychnor Stud I was surrounded by bloodstock from a very early age. I used to spend all of my spare time and school holidays doing anything and everything that involved horses and from about the age of 14, after riding out for one of my local trainers, I was bitten by the racing bug.

Tell us about one of your best Goffs Orby or Goffs UK Premier Sale purchases? I bought two nice colts last year from the Premier Sale. A very good-looking Arcano out of Royal Blush, who is likely to be hitting the racecourse in the next month, and a Champs Elysees out of the Cheshire Oaks winner Good Morning Star.

What new stallions are you keen on and why?

Havana Gold has made a serious impact in his first season. The other stallion to be catching the eye would be Dabirsim, who is currently the only first season sire to have sired a Group winner.

FIVE MINUTES WITH…

Amy Murphy TRAINER

What qualities do you look for in yearlings? I like a horse to be athletic and be able to use himself, as well as have a good brain. I like to watch how they cope with the pre-parade as normally that gives you a good gauge on their ability to cope with being surrounded with a lot of activity.

What advice would you give to anyone wishing to work in the bloodstock business? Learn as much as possible from as many people as you can. Have your eyes and ears open at all times. Spend time shadowing and working underneath people whilst soaking up every bit of information you can.

Who has been your biggest influence in the business and why? My family have been a huge influence on me and I’m very grateful for everything they have taught me. Luca Cumani and Tom Dascombe both gave me chances at an early age, which I will be forever grateful for.

Havana Gold

“I like a horse to be athletic and be able to use himself, as well as have a good brain.”

Outside of racing and sales, what are your interests? As I’m sure you

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INTERNATIONAL

WORLD WIDE WEB FEELING A BIT LIKE MISS MONEYPENNY, AISLING CROWE CONTACTED ALL OF GOFFS’ INTERNATIONAL AGENTS AND ASKED THEM FOR NEWS ON THEIR REGIONS

ANGELO ROBIATI

MATTHIAS SEEBER

Everyone is aware of the situation in Italy and how much peril it is in. Many owners and breeders have given up as it takes too long to receive prize money, up to eight months in many cases. Despite this, a smaller group of people remain involved in Italian racing and breeding, working to improve the situation and hoping that they can make a positive change. The residual market in Italy has to be carefully cultivated because of the current climate, which means it is extremely necessary for me, as the Italian agent for Goffs, to intensify my efforts on behalf of the company. I try very hard to spend time with people, meeting them at the races or in the training yards. Sometimes it is more productive to have a drink with someone or assist people at the sales, giving advice, consulting and analysing pedigrees and helping make travel arrangements. Last year, to promote the Goffs Orby and Sportsman’s Sales, we organised a race at San Siro in Milan which was supported

by Irish Thoroughbred Marketing. It was a contest for two-year-olds and part of the prize was a €2,500 bonus to be spent at the Goffs’ yearling sales. It was a huge success and we are planning another race for this year.

What is important to me is that, three years after taking over the position as Goffs’ representative in Germany, I have begun to capitalise on the steadily increasing awareness of Goffs in Germany in general. More specifically, my name is recognised whenever Goffs’ input is required. That said, I expect less introductory work for this year and onwards and to have more conversations with German players about the benefits of being present, and ideally active, at Goffs.

Reflecting the size of the German market which had a little over 1,000 active owners registered in 2016, it is not so much about quantity but rather quality of players. To that end I have been lucky to attract the interest of Germany’s two leading agents – former jockey Manfred Hofer and Holger Faust – both acting on behalf of some of the most important German thoroughbred investors to Goffs for the last few years. While I will continue to give my best in order to maintain their interest and that of others, my core objective for this year’s Orby Sale is to translate some of the verbal commitments I have received from our everbusy leading German trainers to attend Goffs Orby. Owing to the comprehensive size of the German thoroughbred market, my work is predominantly done in face-to-face discussions at the races, equine social events and the meetings of the relevant associations throughout Germany. My use of selective advertising supports these efforts. Being an active owner and breeder myself obviously helps in my role with Goffs as it provides additional contact points, along with authenticity. At the end of the day, however, it is the potential success of Goffs’ graduates which paves the way for future acquisitions at Goffs.

ITALY

GERMANY

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INTERNATIONAL

FILIP ZWICKY

GAVIN HERNON

I have been working as Goffs’ Scandinavian agent for 10 years and was appointed to the same role for Goffs UK on January 1st this year. Last year Scandinavian clients bought 17 horses from the Goffs Orby and Sportsman’s Sales, making Goffs by far the greatest source of yearlings imported to the region in 2016. Goffs has maintained this position for the last seven years and we are planning to keep it by reminding our clients of the great value, excellent horses and superb hospitality created by the Goffs team in Ireland.

The months leading up to the Orby and Sportsman’s Sale I spend travelling around Norway, Sweden and Denmark, meeting clients and cheering for the graduates bought at previous Orby Sales. The growing success of Goffs’ graduates on the track in Scandinavia is the best advertisement possible for the sales. I am so lucky to be in a place where we now have winners almost on a daily basis. The two and three-year-old and high-level winners sourced from Goffs are tweeted through our @GoffsNordic account. Personally, being at Goffs and working around the premises is like a home away from home for me and I believe the familiar surroundings and friendly atmosphere are essential to the success that Goffs enjoys with its Scandinavian audience.

I have been acting as French representative to Goffs for a little over a year. France is a very important aspect to Goffs’ business, accounting for over 2 million in purchases for 2016 alone. The French racing industry boasts some of the highest prize money in Europe and the lucrative French owner premiums make France a very attractive location to have a horse in training. A lot of my work on behalf of Goffs consists of phone calls and emails, following up on the previous year’s Orby graduates, as well as attracting new business to Irish shores. It is also very important to highlight the many successes by Goffs purchases in France, and I try to be on the ground in training centres as much as I can in an effort to attract new business.

Arranging clients’ travel to Kildare is one of the many ways that Goffs excels in client relations. I am very confident that Goffs’ relationship with the French breeding and racing industry is one that will continue to flourish for many years to come.

SCANDINAVIA

KISHORE MIRPOURI EASTERN EUROPE

Irish bloodstock has been very successful in Poland over the last decade at all levels and Irish horses are regarded by trainers as being tough and genuine. With this kind of reputation for a product, and an esteemed global sales company as Goffs to represent, life just couldn’t get better! Well-bred fillies would be the attraction for the owner-breeders in this part of Europe at the Goffs Orby Sale. They are mainly the type of horses that my clients are looking for and Goffs always has fillies with nice pedigrees on offer which owners want to come to Ireland to buy, especially looking to the future of their operations and retaining them as broodmares. The stoutly-bred yearlings which progress with age and distance would be popular at the Sportsman’s, Open Yearling and the Horses in Training Sales among clients from Central and Eastern European countries. They all want to win the Derby! I represent Goffs in nine different racing countries in this part of Europe and, although it can be challenging at times with a lot of travelling around each country, and trying to meet as many people as I can, it actually really makes my role more exciting.

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FRANCE

GIANLUCA DI CASTELNUOVO ITALY

I love this job and take pride in it, even if it is very difficult at the moment for the Italian market. The Italian racing community is getting smaller every year due to lack of organisation and help from the government. That said, we are doing very well and we have increased the number of purchases at Goffs UK in the last few years.

I have a good relationship with my own clients who are ready to follow my suggestions on where to find the best value for money. I like to stay in touch with our buyers throughout the year and follow the progress of their purchases.

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INTERNATIONAL

CHRISTIAN VON DER RECKE GERMANY

There are only about 1,600 horses in training in Germany. At the top level they are good enough to win the Arc, the Irish Derby and the King George.

But at the lower level we could do with some more owners. I’ve been working with Goffs UK for about six years and have bought over 50 horses there. German buyers are more interested in older horses from Britain as they already have a handicap mark and you can improve quite a few of them. The vendors at Doncaster have always been straight with me.

There have been no unwelcome surprises and that is a huge advantage.

ESTANISLAO VILLALON SOUTH AMERICA

I became the Goffs’ representative for South America in May of this year and I am honoured and excited to take on the role and challenge it presents.

I am based in Argentina, where I am from, but I have worked with clients in Brazil, Peru, Chile and Uruguay previously, and I will continue to work with them and to encourage them to come to Ireland to trade at Goffs. What I have done since taking up my role is to promote the Orby Sale with owners, trainers and breeders in Argentina and other countries. I am teaching my clients about what Goffs means, the tradition and heritage of selling top-class thoroughbreds for over 150 years. I am putting much emphasis on the pedigrees that we can buy at the Orby Sale to my clients, to show them the calibre of horse that they can purchase. The main idea is for clients to purchase nice fillies and race them in Argentina with the aim of winning blacktype races with them. We will be looking for fillies with excellent pedigrees that will suit the stallions we have in Argentina and the ones that shuttle here too. Hopefully we will bring home some great broodmare prospects from this year’s Orby Sale.

GATEWOOD BELL USA

This is my third year working with Goffs and each year we have gotten a few more people to come to the sales. Growing the brand in North America is not something that will happen overnight but the word is spreading and it is headed in the right direction. I believe in the people at Goffs and the product they are selling. The more horses we buy here and bring back to America, the bigger it is going to get. Word of mouth has a huge part to play in growing the reputation of Goffs and last year we got a couple of buyers with big reputations to come over and purchase horses at the Orby and November Sales. Getting those teams here and introducing them to Goffs and Irish horses was a huge pleasure. Their presence and purchases were worth so much to enhancing the brand and its reputation in North America. Plenty of people here see an opportunity to go to Europe and buy good horses and there are a lot of people open to turf horses in America. We are standing more and more top-class turf stallions each year with Kitten’s Joy, then Noble Mission coming from Europe and now Flintshire retiring to stud in Kentucky too. Good horses come from everywhere and buying horses in Ireland is an idea that appeals to owners and breeders in the US. People who are in the market for high-end fillies to add to their broodmare band or colts who could make it as stallions need to shop at the top end sales across the globe and Goffs is one of those sales. The discerning, highend buyers want the best horses. If these horses are presented to them, as they are in Goffs, then you will have no shortage of people coming to Kill to buy them.

The top 20% of the market is what will attract them and, at Goffs, there are a good few of those kind of horses to choose from. I leave Kentucky before the final session of the yearling sales ends to travel to Goffs and I really enjoy working the sales ground in Kill. It is so easy to navigate and the team is really nice and friendly and there is lovely accommodation close by. It is real easy to get through the barns and if there is a horse coming up in five hips that you’re interested in buying, you won’t miss it if you’re down in a barn because everything is so well-laid out and easy to get round.

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INTERNATIONAL

TAKAYA KIMURA

MARK PLAYER

The Japan Racing Association is quite strict on racecourse access and most racegoers are restricted to the public area. It’s the same for training centres but, as I am working as a jockey’s agent, I can easily approach owners, trainers and other potential Goffs’ clients.

Visiting owners’ places to discuss racing is not the right way to conduct business here as they are busy during the week. In Japan, race meetings are held only on the weekends. So I go racing at the weekend to meet people at the tracks and I also visit the training centres to speak with trainers about the quality of Irish bloodstock and encourage them to recommend buying Irish horses to their clients.

That is what I can do to promote Goffs sales and try to get people to the Orby and November Sales. Many Japanese owners consider it difficult to go abroad to purchase horses due to the language barrier. They are unable to understand European sales catalogue, so I write my own information in Japanese for owners and trainers to read. This is my third year as Goffs’ Japanese agent and I am working hard to improve Goffs’ reputation and profile among Japanese owners. They appreciate that Goffs is a fair company offering quality horses to Japanese buyers.

I may be the front person for Goffs in Australasia but my work is made easier by the knowledge I have a strong support team behind me. I can talk to Henry [Beeby], Elaine [Lawlor] or Joey [Cullen] at any time, particularly in the build-up to sales, so we can hone in on the individual needs of clients, to ensure they are met. There are three important things I try to get across to people when I am speaking with them about Goffs.

They are the value for money that Goffs offers for purchasers, that buyers can be certain they are getting the very best of Irish bloodstock and that they will be looked after by the entire Goffs team, not only while they are in Ireland but before and after the sales too. That is how I try to make a compelling case for people to travel to Ireland to purchase horses from Goffs. Much of what I do is about building relationships. This an equine business but it is also a relationships business. It involves getting to know people and finding out what their needs and wants are. My role is to enhance the relationships between buyers in Australia, New Zealand and Asia. How I do that depends on which country buyers are from and our relationships with them. It could just be telephone contact with some people. For others it is meeting them at the races or watching trackwork and then there are more people who I would go to lunch or dinner with. Really it is all about knowing the clients. The work doesn’t begin and end with purchasing horses at the sales. A lot of the time I have to make arrangements for the horses’ care afterwards. If the horse is destined for Hong Kong, it may stay for 12-18 months in Ireland, so we have to arrange appropriate care for the horse and Goffs’ people will visit the horses to ensure they are being looked after and update the owners. Different owners have different requirements – some horses will remain in Ireland, others may be sent to England – so we have to tend to all their needs. It is not just a sales service, it is an aftersales one too and people can be confident that Goffs offer the best of both. When I am in Ireland, I try to meet the vendors, producers, breeders and consignors to develop relationships with them and to learn as much as I can about the background of horses, so that I can give clients the best possible information. The growth in turnover from the Asia Pacific region in the last couple of years has been very satisfying. I am in this role four years now and the best is yet to come, I hope.

JAPAN

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PERSONALITIES

LOYALTY & RESPECT NANCY SEXTON SPOKE TO TWO OF THE MOST DISTINGUISHED PERSONALITIES IN RACING ABOUT THEIR 21-YEAR ASSOCIATION

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PERSONALITIES

IT was back in 1996 that Kirsten Rausing sent her first horse, a filly named All Is Fair, to Sir Mark Prescott. Rausing, by then, had assumed a respected standing within the sport as the owner of Lanwades Stud near Newmarket, then home to Hernando and Selkirk, and Staffordstown Stud in Co Meath, the nursery from where several Goffs Orby sale-toppers have been prepared and sold. Prescott, meanwhile, had trained that remarkable two-year-old Spindrifter out of his Heath House Stables in Newmarket to win 13 races in 1980 and would go on to handle the career of top sprinter Pivotal and Prix de Diane winner Confidential Lady among others.Thus began one of the most successful racing partnerships of the recent era. As Rausing highlights below, all bar one of the horses she has sent to Heath House have won.

There have been many memorable moments along the way, led by the Group 1 exploits of the sisters Alborada and Albanova, bred by Rausing out of Alouette, and the exhibitions of speed displayed by another homebred Starlit Sands. Here they reflect on those memories and their partnership over the past 21 years.

How did you meet?

KR: Sir Mark bought [Nassau and Sun Chariot Stakes] Last Second as a yearling from us. I didn’t know him at all before that. We sold her in conjunction with Airlie Stud at the Goffs Orby Sale and Prince Faisal Salman came rushing into the ring at the last minute as she was trundling around the ring - hence her name. Then as Sir Mark did so well with her, I asked him if he would train a filly of mine, a Selkirk filly named All Is Fair who was related to Last Second. She won at two. Since then, every single animal that he has trained for me bar one has won.

Sir Mark: Miss Rausing bred Last Second in partnership with Sonia Rogers and I bought the filly at Goffs with Paul Webber for Prince Faisal. We were given a figure to go to by Prince Faisal, who had been held up by fog in London. I remember we were standing in the ring on the top balcony and had got to the figure and had to stop. We were absolutely heartbroken but as she was being knocked down, suddenly Prince Faisal arrived and said ‘keep going’.

And she was called ‘Last Second’ for that reason.

Dermot Weld was underbidder. She was small and rather weak necked but very, very athletic and wide jawed. Jack Waugh had a very good expression for those sort of animals - ‘all the working parts are there, nothing that you don’t need’. She was fragile but very good. She had to be held up and I used to say it was like watching a bow being pulled back and released. I remember she won first time up as a two-year-old and then went to the Curragh where she won the C.L. Weld Park Stakes and survived a stewards’ enquiry. Dermot Weld’s was second by a head, so he had a rotten day; he’d been underbidder on her and then she’d beaten one of his in a race named after his dad and survived an enquiry. To his eternal credit, Dermot put on a very good face. You

see, you need so much luck in training. Thanks to Last Second, Miss Rausing sent me All Is Fair and then Alborada. And then because of that Mrs Rogers sent me [Doncaster Cup winner] Alleluia. And suddenly my career was transformed. But if Prince Faisal had turned up a minute later that day at Goffs, who knows.

What were your first impressions?

KR: He’s very amusing and highly efficient. Obviously an outstanding trainer.

Sir Mark: It didn’t really occur to me that she would know the words to every Bob Dylan song that’s ever been written. There was more to her than I realised.

Describe each other’s strengths KR: Tremendous experience, sheer horsemanship and attention to detail. Analytical dedication. Then there is his tremendous loyalty to jockeys. I think George Duffield was with him for over 30 years - they never had a written contract. And at the end of one season at the Doncaster November meeting, they would say ‘see you next year’ and that was it. That was something that you would never see today.

Sir Mark: Miss Rausing knows the game from the factory floor. What people forget is that she’s done it from the bottom - she can muck them out, she can plait them, she’s led them up.

She worked a couple of years at Airlie Stud and also did a bit of eventing. Also a highly intelligent person, she has a phenomenal memory and is a master of languages, so can converse with anybody. And she has a tremendous sense of humour.

Any particular memorable horses or moments?

KR: Obviously the star is Alborada, our dual Champion Stakes winner and the top-rated three-year-old filly in the world of her year on the International Classifications. She fractured her near hind pedal bone as a foal, otherwise she would have been sold as a yearling. I remember she had been off the track for a while before her second win in the Champion Stakes. That race stands out because she had run only once before that season in the Nassau Stakes, where she’d been disappointing. I think Sir Mark felt afterwards that we should call it quits but as it was just the one bad run, I thought that she should be given the benefit of the doubt and so we pressed on. Then we had her sister Albanova, a triple Group 1 winner.

Goffs Orby purchase Last Second was the filly that led to Sir Mark training for Kirsten

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PERSONALITIES

Club Cup. Sonia kept saying to me “I think you should have a word with Kirsten and explain how much the Cesarewitch is worth,” and then Miss Rausing kept saying to me “I think you should have a word with Sonia” and so forth. So on Sunday I said to them “I have refereed enough boxing fights to know better than to stand between the two fighters, so you two let me know where she’s going to run.”

So eventually word came to run her in the Cesarewitch. She was an absolute certainty. She was cantering, absolutely running away, and then at the bushes, she fractured her pelvis and hobbled in. Sonia and I got to the unsaddling enclosure first. Then Miss Rausing sailed into view. Mrs Rogers and I were aware that some terrible retribution was awaiting. Kirsten just looked down at us and said: “Comment, I feel, is superfluous.”

Alborada won the Champion Stakes at Newmarket in 1998 and 1999

All that success stems from the one mare, Alruccaba.

Sir Mark also had another very good filly for me called Starlit Sands, who won the Group 3 Prix d’Arenberg over five furlongs. She was also beaten only a half a length in the Queen Mary Stakes.

Sir Mark: Certainly Alborada and Albanova. Two full-sisters who were very similar in ability. There were only two pounds between them but I think Alborada was probably the better of the two. Then there was Doncaster Cup winner Alleluia, in whom Kirsten owned a half share. She won six races, never stopped improving yet never won a gallop at home.

And although some of her families stay real well, she can breed them quick as well. Starlit Sands, for example, was just sheer speed - she’s the fastest horse I’ve had.

Any favourite memories?

KR: When Alborada won her second Champion Stakes in 1998, held that year at the July course, they were just pulling up and Sir Mark was ahead of me, sprinting to meet George Duffield and the filly. I was just behind them and I could see George wiping a tear from his eye. Sir Mark reaches them and the first thing he says, by way of greeting, was “For God’s sake, George, pull yourself together!” I pretended not to hear it - I did think it was quite unfair - but I never alluded to it until a couple of years later.

“Poor George,” I said to Sir Mark. “Well, I had to say that!” he replied. “You didn’t have to,” I said.

“Yes I did!,” he said, “Otherwise my own waterworks would have started!” Sir Mark has also bought a lot of nice horses off me at the sales over the years.

One particularly nice colt was Foreign Affairs, by Hernando out of a mare, Entente Cordiale, that I bought off Robin Scully for 2,000gns. Sir Mark trained him to win 12 races, including seven listed races, and over £350,000 in prize-money.

Sir Mark: There was a marvellous moment after the Doncaster Cup with Alleluia when Mrs Rogers wanted to go for the money and Miss Rausing rather wanted to go for the blacktype. The decision was whether to run in the Cesarewitch or the Jockey

74

The greatest changes you’ve seen in the sport?

KR: The disappearance of the great owner-breeders - Major L.B. Holliday, Lord Howard de Walden, Sir Jakie Astor, Gerald Leigh, Ballymacoll … The other very significant and very damaging change is the bloodletting in terms of prize-money. Actual prize-money today is de facto considerably less than it was 40 years ago - it’s absolutely shaming. This pernitious state of affairs trickles through all layers of the industry and I’m sure everybody involved would like to pay stable staff better or give them more time off.

Sir Mark: The increase in the size of strings, particularly in National Hunt racing. When I was riding - very badly - Peter Cazalet was champion trainer and had 45 boxes. Fred Winter had 50. It’s more noticeable within the jumping game than on the flat because back then on the flat you did have Francois Mathet in France with over 100, and then there was Sir Noel Murless and Sam Armstrong in Newmarket with about 100, and that was thought to be far too many! I think the lads have to work much harder today. In the old days, it was the easiest job in the world. They did their two lots but they were paid a pittance and treated appallingly. But now they have to work very hard. Safety on the racecourse has also improved enormously and then there’s the dividing of races - I have a photo of myself riding in a novice hurdle and I’m number 54!

Do you have any remaining ambitions?

KR: To survive in the industry!

Sir Mark: To win an English classic, particularly the Derby.

Kirsten Rausing with the Galileo yearling filly out of Starlit Sands who sold for €1,050,000 at the 2015 Goffs Orby Sale

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IRISH NATIONAL STUD

PASSING ON THE

BATON

AS HE LEAVES THE IRISH NATIONAL STUD, JOHN OSBORNE TELLS DONN MCCLEAN HOW HARD WORK, STRATEGY AND A BIT OF LUCK HELPED TURN THE FARM’S FORTUNES AROUND

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IRISH NATIONAL STUD

J

OHN Osborne remembers 1979 well.

Tap On Wood won the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket that year, beat Kris in a thriller. Tap On Wood was by the Irish National Stud stallion Sallust, out of the Irish National Stud mare Cat O’Mountaine. He was an Irish National Stud project from the tip of his nose to the last hair in his tail.

John was prepping yearlings for the sales at Goffs that autumn and, unsurprisingly, it was Tap On Wood’s full-brother who stood out.

“I remember it vividly,” he recalls. “Watching in the ring at Goffs. David Nagle was the auctioneer, Vincent O’Brien bought him. He made 182,000.

I remember the two because, when the bidding stopped at 180,000, M.V. signalled two, David Nagle took it as 200,000, and we were all delighted. When he wound it back, it meant two thousand, not two hundred thousand; we were all a little disappointed, but still to make 182,000, that was great.”

John Osborne and the Irish National Stud go back even further than that.

His late father Michael was manager of the stud from 1970 to 1982, so it was here that John spent his formative years, playing and working, playing in the grounds as a kid or helping to prep yearlings when he was older. Sometimes he and his siblings would seize the opportunity when the tour guides were on lunch to take a group of tourists around the Japanese Gardens. Sure they knew more about the gardens than the guides did.

It was in 1970 that Michael Osborne set up the Irish National Stud’s management course that is now an integral part of the stud’s DNA and which has been the fore-runner to other similarly-intentioned educational and experiential programmes in the bloodstock industry globally.

“The stud management course is one of our greatest assets,” says Osborne. “It runs for six months, January to June, but it’s intense. Some of the top people in the bloodstock industry have passed through the programme.

“And it’s not just what they learn, it’s what they are becoming a part of. They are friends for life, and it’s a vertical connection as well as a horizontal connection. They have connections with people who did the programme, all the way from 1970 until now. It’s a very powerful entity.”

Osborne took over as CEO of the Irish National Stud in 2010. He was made for the job: bred for it, groomed for it. Times were tough back then, the Celtic Tiger had long since roared his final roar and Ireland struggled. The Irish National Stud struggled. The stud owned just 13 broodmares at the time.

In 2008, the Irish National Stud made a loss of e2 million, in 2009 it made a loss of e4 million, in 2010 it made a loss of e1 million. That is serious

Watching racing with President Higgins

hemorrhaging for any organisation to suffer in a three-year pummelling.

In his review of the state’s assets in 2011, economist Colm McCarthy recommended that the Irish National Stud should be sold.

Slowly and inexorably, the economy picked up and, when he started in 2010, Osborne started to turn the stud around.

Of course, a recovering economy helped, but a rising tide does not lift all boats, and it was massive for the Irish National Stud at the time that it was John Osborne’s hand that was on the tiller. Not only did Osborne bring with him his business acumen and his depth of knowledge of the international bloodstock industry, but he also brought with him a vision for the future of the stud, and the trust of the board to implement the plans that would cross the bridge between his vision and reality.

“I said to the board at the start, we need to re-invest and we need to get lucky. You need an awful lot of luck in this game, but if you are smart about your investments, you have a chance. It’s a strange business strategy though, stay in the game until you get lucky.”

The harder you work, the luckier you get. The Irish National Stud’s receipts from the sale of yearlings in 2010 totalled a mere e350,000. In 2014 they amounted to e1.5 million. Last year they totalled e1.7 million.

That’s growth of 386% in receipts from yearlings during Osborne’s sevenyear tenure.

“WE HAVE ALWAYS DONE WELL AT GOFFS, AND THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN VERY GOOD TO US AND FOR US”

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IRISH NATIONAL STUD

John Osborne with the stud’s class of 2017

“The first yearling that we sold at Goffs under my term as CEO was the first lot on the first day of the 2010 Orby Sale. Lot 1, a Teofilo filly out of a mare called Vadorga, from the Vahorimix family. She made just e30,000. She was a nice filly, but it was a tough year and she had a bad draw. We thought that she was better than that, and she proved to be. She went on to be a Group 1 winner, Voleuse De Coeurs. She won the Irish St Leger in 2013.”

Osborne continued to re-invest. They bought some mares that year, and the year after that, and the year after that. They weren’t expensive mares, but Osborne thought that they were value for what they cost.

At one stage, he figured that they had invested in 18 mares and had spent a total of e600,000 on the whole lot. The most expensive mare was Propaganda, who cost e100,000 in Arqana in 2011, carrying to Invincible Spirit. They sold the filly for e280,000 at Goffs in 2013 as a yearling.

Propaganda’s next foal was the star of the stud’s 2014 yearling draft, another Invincible Spirit filly, and they got e720,000 for her, again at Goffs.

So e100,000 had generated over a million within two and a half years.

“The link between the Irish National Stud and Goffs is strong. We have always done well at Goffs, and they have always been very good to us and for us. It is a relationship that works very well.”

Osborne bought another mare, Lethal Quality, an Elusive Quality mare out of the Seattle Slew mare Lethal Temper, for 36,000gns in 2010. Her third foal was an Invincible Spirit filly who made e375,000 at Goffs in 2013. Her next foal was another Invincible Spirit filly, who made e350,000, bought by Peter and Ross Doyle, who was named Promising. Trained by Richard Hannon, she finished second in the Group 3 Prestige Stakes last year as a juvenile, and she finished third in the Group 3 Nell Gwyn Stakes on her debut this season.

These are some of the investments, the smart investments, sprinkled with a little bit of luck, that keep you in the game.

The tourism side is hugely important for the Irish National Stud but the fact remains that the lion’s share of the stud’s revenue, about 80%, is generated through the bloodstock side. To that end, re-investment is key.

The stallions continue to drive the business forward, Invincible Spirit remains as successful as ever, and latest exciting recruit Free Eagle is hugely popular. The stud now has 40 broodmares and a solid financial footing. John Osborne’s seven-year tenure as CEO of the Irish National Stud has been an unqualified success, and the future looks bright. All they need now is a little bit of luck.

THE LION’S SHARE OF THE STUD’S REVENUE, ABOUT 80%, IS GENERATED THROUGH THE BLOODSTOCK SIDE. TO THAT END, RE-INVESTMENT IS KEY

CATHAL BEALE

“I WANT TO CONTINUE THE PROGRESS” CATHAL Beale recognises that he has big shoes to fill in taking over from John Osborne as CEO of the Irish National Stud, but he has the ideal credentials for the job. A graduate of English and History from UCD, he has worked for Paddy Power, the Racing Post and Forenaghts Stud, and he has also completed the Irish National Stud’s stud management programme, and the Godolphin Flying Start programme. “I have been lucky to gain the experience that I have gained,” he says. “I have experienced lots of different facets of the industry internationally, in Dubai and Australia and America, as well as in Ireland and Britain.

And it has been great to meet so many key people in the industry.” His family hasn’t been steeped in racing or breeding for generations, but he has been interested in the industry from an early age. “My grandfather was a farrier and my dad was always interested in racing from a fan’s perspective,” he says. “Initially I wanted to be a racing journalist, so I decided that I should learn as much about the industry as I could, but the more I learned about this side of the industry, the more interesting it got.” Chairman of the YITBA for two years, he has just completed a Masters in Management at UCD, and is relishing the challenge that lies ahead. “I’m looking forward to it. It’s a huge role, huge shoes to fill, but John has done a fantastic job, the place is in great shape. John has developed a great team and there is an excellent board in place. I want to try to continue the progress. The majority of the revenue is from stallion income, the challenge is to find the next big thing, for breeders and for shareholders. And to try to breed top class racehorses, develop the tourism side, tell the story.”

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INSIGHT Aidan O’Ryan

Outside of racing and sales, what are your interests? Not much, really!

It’s your life rather than your job, so there’s not much time for anything else, but I do like a bit of soccer and I’ve always supported Celtic. I get to a few Premiership games when time allows.

How and when did you first get involved in bloodstock? I’ve been involved all my life. My dad (Bobby) has been a bloodstock agent for over 40 years and it was always what I was going to do.

It’s just in the family.

Tell us about one of your best Goffs Orby or Goffs UK Premier Sale purchases? My cousin Robin O’Ryan, who works as assistant to trainer Richard Fahey, and I had to go to £105,000 for Ribchester, but he was the one yearling out of the whole catalogue we had to have. He looks a bargain now, but it was a lot to go to at the time, but even then we could see he was good. I bought Beckford at the Orby and obviously he looked very good at the time. I was putting together a syndicate for Gordon Elliott and at €55,000 Beckford was one of the dearer ones. He looked a real two-year-old type.

He was Gordon’s first two-yearold runner and winner and has since won the Group 2 Railway Stakes on his second start. I have to mention Labaik, who I bought at Goffs. He was very quirky and leaves us with plenty of memories, for a variety of reasons, shall we say! When he won the Supreme Novices’ at the

What qualities do you look for in yearlings? It’s crystal ball territory, all you can do is try and get as close to right as you can. A good, athletic walk is important and they have to be correct. For the flat horses I buy for Gordon Elliott and Richard Fahey, it’s important to get a sharp early type with a good action.

FIVE MINUTES WITH…

AIDAN ‘MOUSE’ O’RYAN BLOODSTOCK AGENT

Cheltenham Festival it was unreal, just an amazing day.

ABOVE: Aidan (right) with brother Kevin, a Goffs HIT agent.

RIGHT: This year’s Group 2 Railway Stakes winner Beckford was bought for just €55,000 at the Orby Sale

What new stallions are you keen on and why? Elusive Pimpernel may not be new, but he’s new to the National Hunt ranks and I was very impressed by his stock so far on the flat. He could be a proper National Hunt sire. He’s a very good-looking horse and his stock are the same. He’s exceptional value and I’ve bought a few on the strength of that and they’re progressing really well. Morpheus on the flat. For his pedigree he’s incredible value and I’ve seen a few of his yearlings and I like them a lot. Battle Of Marengo is another whose stock are very nice and he’s getting the right support.

What advice would you give to anyone wishing to work in the bloodstock business? I was lucky, to be bred into it, but you need to be good at it, too. If you work hard and are with the right people they’ll capitalise on it and give you a chance.

Who has been your biggest influence in the business and why? It has to be my dad and his cousin Robin.

It was Robin who put in a good word and got me on the team for Richard Fahey. My dad has always been fully supportive.

No matter what (brother) Kevin and I have wanted, he’s always encouraged us and been there for us.

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22 winners and passed the £1.2 million in returns for our owners so far this year (July, 2017).

• Nick Bradley Racing is not just about the enjoyment of owning a race horse, but is also about investment.

• Nick personally manages and retains an investment in every horse • Be part of the excitement and join us in the Winner’s Circle today!

• Nick is looking to buy yearlings in the upcoming sales, ready for the 2018 season.

• You can register your interest in purchasing yearlings at the email below;

info@nickbradleyracing.co.uk For current available shares visit www.nickbradleyracing.co.uk Telephone: 07780112636

Railway Stakes (Group 2) winner, Beckford Beckford was purchased by Nick and Aidan O’ Ryan last year at the Goffs yearling sales and went onto WIN on debut at the Curragh, trained by Gordon Elliott!

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 The leading equine diagnostic and research facility in Ireland  Offers vets, breeders and owners the most comprehensive range of tests  World-class veterinary advice on equine health, environment and performance  A not-for-profit company dedicated to the Irish equine industry Agricultural Laboratory of the Year 2016 Johnstown, Naas, Co. Kildare, Ireland Tel: 045 866 266 Fax: 045 866 273 Email: iec@equine-centre.ie www.irishequinecentre.ie

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NOVEMBER SALE

The Goffs November Sale is becoming an influential auction for foals by first-crop stallions

IN MICHELLE KINANE TRACES THE GROWTH OF THE GOFFS NOVEMBER SALE AND FINDS THAT THE SALE IS AN IDEAL SHOWCASE FOR FOALS

BY FIRST-SEASON SIRES

IN

over 150 years selling horses, Goffs has become a premier destination for buyers and bloodstock agents from around the world. The November Foal and Breeding Stock Sale is a key auction in the Goffs’ calendar and in recent years it has made world headlines through the sale of Chicquita (€6 million), Banimpire (€2.3 million) and Beauty Parlour (€1.6 million). There have also been plenty of astonishing foal prices. It was at the Goffs November Sale that the highest-priced foals from the first crop of Sea The Stars and Frankel changed hands. Again in 2016, Goffs sold the highest priced foal in Europe. With the November Sale becoming an increasingly influential place to launch foals by first-season sires, it will be no

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NOVEMBER SALE

Kieran Sheehy, Robert Moran and John Perrota

Poule d’Essai des Pouliches winner Beauty Parlour topped the 2016 November Sale at €1.6 million

Emily Magnier and Eimear Mulhern

surprise to see foals by freshman stallions such as Golden Horn, Gleneagles and Muhaarar feature at this year’s sale.

The 2017 November Sale has a new format and one of the reasons for the change is because a significant number of buyers wanted more time to inspect the better foals.

With more and more international buyers coming to Goffs to find premier foals, it makes sense to offer the premier breeding stock immediately after the premier foals and capitalise on this global buyer presence at Goffs.

Julie Lynch of Fastnet Stud said: “A good foal will make as much at Goffs as anywhere else. High-priced sale toppers in the past decade have proven that if you have good stock then the elite buyers will turn up.”

Hugh Hyland of Oghill House Stud echoed this view. “One of the major positives regarding Goffs for us is its proximity. The journey takes a lot less out of young foals. We can transport them at a time that suits us and don’t have to worry about the weather or the ferry crossing.

“Goffs and Irish Thoroughbred Marketing do a superb job of attracting clients from all over the world. Anybody who is serious about horses simply cannot afford to miss the Goffs November Sale. From a vendor’s point of view, that’s very important too”.

The November Foal Sale has been a very happy hunting ground for pinhookers in recent years.

This is where multiple Group 1 winner Gordon Lord Byron was picked up for just €2,000 and Royal Ascot Group 1 winner My Dream Boat was a steal at only €3,500 as a foal. Classic winner Jet Setting was a €7,000 foal purchase.

Mark Wallace and Dermot Farrington

“HIGH-PRICED SALE TOPPERS IN THE PAST DECADE HAVE PROVEN THAT IF YOU HAVE PROVEN THAT IF YOU HAVE GOOD STOCK THEN THE ELITE BUYERS WILL TURN UP.”

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Other prolific winners to have been sold as foals at Goffs for €15,000 or less include multiple Group and Listed winner Kool Kompany, leading Hong Kong sprinter Peniaphobia and last season’s Group 3 and Listed winning juveniles Sir Dancealot and Legendary Lunch.

At the premier end, this year’s outstanding miler Ribchester, French 1000 Guineas runner-up Sea Of Grace and recent Group 1 winning juvenile Dick Whittington were all bought for €105,000 or less at Goffs as foals.

Group 1 winning filly Roshdhu Queen was a €120,000 foal and she was later sold for two million guineas. European champion first season sire Sir Prancealot was a €52,000

GOFFS MAGAZINE 2017

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NOVEMBER SALE LEFT: Amy and Con Marnane. BELOW: Godolphin is one of the world’s top bloodstock operations which consistently chooses Goffs as a venue to sell breeding stock

THE SALE AGAIN POSTED STEADY FIGURES IN 2016 WHEN A FILLY FOAL BY SIYOUNI SOLD FOR €775,000 A number of major dispersals have been hosted at the Goffs November Sale in recent years

foal purchase and just 11 months later he fetched €140,000 as a yearling at the Orby Sale.

In 2015 another Goffs foal became the highest priced colt foal in Europe that year when a colt by Dubawi out of Irish 1000 Guineas winner Nightime sold to Godolphin for €1.1 million. Now a two-yearold, the colt is named Pitch Dark and, in training with Charlie Appleby, has entries in the Group 1 Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes and the 2018 Investec Derby.

The sale again posted steady figures in 2016 when a filly foal by Siyouni took top honours when selling for €775,000. The average and median prices were €28,814 and €15,000 respectively.

Without doubt there will be plenty of foals in the 2017 Goffs November Sale catalogue by some of the world’s most accomplished stallions, but what firstseason sires should we watching out for?

Well, there’s the aforementioned champion juvenile and three-year-old Gleneagles, a superbly bred son of

Galileo, the Derby and Prix de l’Arc winner Golden Horn, and the first progeny by high class sprinter Muhaarar.

We can also look forward to seeing foals by Prince of Wales’s Stakes victor Free Eagle, the 2000 Guineas hero Night Of Thunder, French Group 1 winner Make Believe, St Leger winner and Derby runner up Kingston Hill, plus Australian shuttlers Hallowed Crown and Brazen Beau who both bring distinctive sire lines to European breeders.

Other first-crop stallions whose foals are highly anticipated include those by speedy two-year-olds Gutaifan, Hot Streak, Due Diligence and Ivawood.

Expect to see the catalogue on the Goffs website from midOctober and keep the dates November 19th-26th free in your diary.

GOFFS NOVEMBER SALE - NEW FORMAT 20-26 NOVEMBER 2017 PART 1

2016 TOP PRICE/AVERAGE

NO. OF LOTS

FOALS - MONDAY (Day 3 in 2016) FOALS - TUESDAY (Day 4 in 2016) FOALS - WEDNESDAY (Day 5 in 2016) MARES - THURSDAY (Day 6 in 2016) MARES - FRIDAY (Day 7 in 2016)

€105,000/€18,500

220

€150,000/€30,000

220

€775,000/€78,000

220

€1,600,000/€86,000

270

€135,000/€12,000

260

PART 2

2016 TOP PRICE/AVERAGE

FOALS - SATURDAY (Day 2 in 2016) FOALS - SUNDAY (Day 1 in 2016)

€85,000/€10,400

270

€42,000/€7,600

200+

(Equivalent 2016 Session)

(approx.)

NO. OF LOTS

(approx.)

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INSIGHT Bought for €17,000 at the Goffs Sportsman’s Sale, Madame Thunder won a two-yearold maiden at Naas on her racecourse debut

How and when did you first get involved in bloodstock?

I don’t remember a time where I wasn’t involved with horses. My late father Arthur was a trainer and I grew up in the stables, going racing and to the sales with him.

Tell us about one of your best Goffs Orby or Goffs UK Premier Sale purchases? I have been lucky to have bought some very nice winners from Goffs but the two I’m most excited about are a Dark Angel colt I bought at Goffs UK last year from Yeomanstown Stud and a Teofilo colt I bought at Goffs from Lumville Stud. They are both twoyear-olds with a very big future and I expect them to run from August onwards.

What new stallions are you keen on and why? For me I am still waiting for one of the first season sires to put their hand up. I was impressed with the few Dabirsims I saw. After Different League winning the Albany I will be giving them a closer look. I have an Epaulette filly at home and we are looking forward to her.

Outside of racing and sales, what are your interests? I am probably a bit boring to some people in that racing and finding

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FIVE MINUTES WITH…

Darren BUNYAN TRAINER

the next star at the sales is my sole interest!

“Stress and pressure only break things.

Keep a clear mind and hard work gets results.”

What qualities do you look for in yearlings?

Size, good conformation and an athletic type are the qualities I most look for and, of course, temperament. Pedigree is an obvious bonus, but the individual themselves is first on my list.

What is your favourite racecourse and why? The Curragh would have to be high up the list. We’ve had some good days there with Mister Trader and Hit The Bid. What is the worst part of the job? When they get beaten.

Actually I can deal with that, it’s part and parcel of the game. But seeing good horses being sold out of the yard hurts. I guess it’s a reality for a small yard.

Is there any race you would dearly love to win? You might be surprised but my dream is to train the winner of the Kentucky Derby! My brother Brian and I were in Churchill Downs in 2006 when Barbaro won.

It left a big impression on me. You need a mature three-year-old to go there but I believe it can be done from Europe. Everybody has to have something to aim for and that’s mine.

Who has been your biggest influence in the business and why? Without a doubt, my late father. He was a genius around a horse.

What advice would you give to anyone wishing to work in the bloodstock business?

Stress and pressure only breaks things. Keep a clear mind and hard work gets results.

The 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro

GOFFS MAGAZINE 2017

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® Feed supplement for horses

20/10/2014 11:26

Racing is always about senses.

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Sweden might not be the first country that springs to mind for most racehorse owners.

Considering that the average purse is about €12,500 and that no races go for less than €4,500 we feel that is a bit of a pity. Especially when training fees start at about €1,000 per month.

From 2018 appearance money to all runners will secure that owners can normally deduct 25% VAT on all costs.

And if you make a loss from racing it can in most cases be set off against profits from other businesses.

Furthermore, corporate tax is only 22 %.

Horse racing does not always make sense.

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RECOMMENDED

Royal Hospital Kilmanham

Belts by Paul Smith available from Louis Copeland in Dundrum Town Centre

SEAN FLANNERY

BLOODSTOCK MANAGER, GOFFS BOOK A ROOM AT: The Westbury Hotel. Ideally located in the heart of Dublin city, just off Grafton Street.

Great rooms and a really good vibe throughout the hotel. A GOOD PLACE TO EAT IS: Corfu Greek Restaurant on Parliament Street in Dublin. A hidden gem in a vibrant part of the city, just around the corner from Dame Street.

Excellent food with great service and very reasonably priced. IT’S WORTH VISITING: Royal Hospital Kilmainham. The oldest classical building in Ireland and home to the Irish Museum of Modern Art. It boasts incredible gardens set in a public park. PICK UP A GIFT AT: Dundrum Town Centre in South County Dublin has everything under one roof. The largest shopping centre in the country, it’s just half an hour’s drive from Goffs.

GILL JEFFREY

BLOODSTOCK, GOFFS UK BOOK A ROOM AT: The four-star Crown Hotel in the small market town of Bawtry, located a 20-minute drive from Doncaster. A GOOD PLACE TO EAT IS: The China Rose in Bawtry, a fabulous Cantonese restaurant with excellent food and service. IT’S WORTH VISITING: York Minster which is one of the biggest Cathedrals of its kind in northern Europe. The train from Doncaster to York takes just 22 minutes.

PICK UP A GIFT AT: McArthur Glen Designer Outlet in Fulford, York is a 50 minute car journey from Doncaster. Over 120 UK and international clothing brands on offer at discounted prices.

Westbury Hotel

YOUR TRIP

ADVISOR

THE GOFFS TEAM PASS ON THEIR PERSONAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PLACES TO STAY, EAT AND PLAY IN YORK, KILDARE & DUBLIN DURING THE SALES SEASON

York Minster

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RECOMMENDED

JOEY CULLEN

MARKETING DIRECTOR, GOFFS BOOK A ROOM AT: The five-star K Club is very popular with visitors to the Orby Sale with several arriving early to take advantage of playing one of Ireland’s most famous golf courses – the Ryder Cup course. A GOOD PLACE TO EAT IS: The Brown Bear in Two Mile House closely followed by Fallons in Kilcullen. Both fine examples of great Irish food and hospitality. IT’S WORTH VISITING: The Irish National Stud in Kildare and its world famous Japanese Gardens is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Ireland each year. PICK UP A GIFT AT: We’re lucky to have the two best Irish equestrian shops on our doorstep, Berneys Saddlery in Kilcullen is world renowned for its handmade saddles and tack, while TRI on the Curragh is a superb spot for coffee and a browse after watching early morning gallops on the Curragh.

Sophie’s at The Dean

NIAMH O’HEHIR

MARKETING MANAGER, GOFFS BOOK A ROOM AT: The Dean on Harcourt Street in Dublin is a very cool and fun boutique hotel. Head to the rooftop Sophie’s Bar and Restaurant at sunset for 360 degree views across Dublin city. A GOOD PLACE TO EAT IS: For the best pub food in Dublin a visit to L. Mulligan Grocer in Stoneybatter (Dublin 7) is a must. It has a serious selection of whiskeys and craft beers. IT’S WORTH VISITING: A climb up Killiney Hill in south Co Dublin for breathtaking views of Dublin Bay. PICK UP A GIFT AT: Brown Thomas on Grafton Street has it all - the best of international luxury brands and home-grown Irish design, and a wonderfully helpful and friendly personal shopping team to help you find the perfect outfit. A visit to their new Beauty Lounge on Clarendon Street is a real treat before a night out in Dublin.

GEORGE STANNERS

The Earl of Doncaster

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DIRECTOR, GOFFS UK BOOK A ROOM AT: The Earl of Doncaster. Only a stone’s throw from the complex, this quirky hotel was re-developed a few years ago and has now become a hub on sales nights. Within easy reach of a few decent restaurants. A GOOD PLACE TO EAT IS: Cactus Jacks. This Mexican-themed restaurant has a great atmosphere, especially when a high flying National Hunt agent takes on a few Alabama Slammers from the cocktail menu!

IT’S WORTH VISITING: If Doncaster Rovers FC have a home match head for the Keepmoat Stadium. Leaving aside the quality of the football it can be amusing to watch the die-hard supporters of a north of England League One club. PICK UP A GIFT AT: Doncaster Market. It is very well known and buzzing with activity. Open Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays – a typical north of England tradition.

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RECOMMENDED MICHAEL ORTON

MARKETING MANAGER, GOFFS UK BOOK A ROOM AT:The four star Mount Pleasant Hotel is a great place to stay. It’s the first choice with many clients, is well appointed and has an excellent restaurant.

Harry’s Grouse Night during the Premier Sale at the hotel is a real highlight for some.

A GOOD PLACE TO EAT IS: Thai at the Sal, a new restaurant in the city centre that serves beautiful Thai food.

IT’S WORTH VISITING: Bawtry is a nice little village just 15 minutes south of Doncaster with loads of nice restaurants and bars – well worth an evening visit during your stay. PICK UP A GIFT AT: Gibson Saddlers have a great shop on the complex which is the perfect place to pick up a gift for any horse enthusiast.

BARBARA BASHFORD

PAM PAXTON

The Rum Rooms

BLOODSTOCK, GOFFS UK BOOK A ROOM AT: Owston Hall Hotel. The location is nice and quiet and there’s a golf course. The food is excellent with the added bonus of spa and gym facilities. A GOOD PLACE TO EAT IS: No 7 The Rum Rooms for food that’s slightly different to elsewhere in Doncaster. The staff are great and of course there’s the cocktails … IT’S WORTH VISITING: Bawtry is an upmarket small town, less than 20 minutes’ drive from Doncaster, with excellent restaurants and bars. PICK UP A GIFT AT: Lakeside Village is an outlet shopping village in Doncaster with 45 stores.

HOSPITALITY, GOFFS BOOK A ROOM AT: We are spoilt for choice in Naas – Lawlor’s Hotel is right in the centre of town. The Osprey is a modern hotel within walking distance from Naas, and its new Herald & Devoy restaurant should be popular with Orby guests this year, while the Killashee House Hotel is more traditional and boasts one of the best spas in the county. A GOOD PLACE TO EAT IS: For special occasions Vie De Chateau in Naas serves authentic French cuisine.

Las Radas tapas and wine bar or Rustic Pizza are ideal for something more casual. IT’S WORTH VISITING: Kildare Village, just 15 minutes from Goffs, is the largest outlet shopping village in Ireland with over 90 luxury brands. PICK UP A GIFT AT: Emporium Kalu in Naas stocks a stunning range of casual and formal wear, from classic chic to more quirky styles. But the real secret to Kalu’s loyal following is their staff whose knowledge, experience and attention to detail means you always leave happy.

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property

GOFFS Property has been selected by Bob and Deirdre Lanigan to handle the sale of their Tullamaine Castle Stud in Fethard, Co Tipperary. Founded in 1982, the 186-acre property is home to a small but select band of broodmares and has produced a long list of top class thoroughbreds.

Tullamaine Castle Stud is a 19th century castle built by William Tinsley of Clonmel between 1823-38 for John Maher, Member of Parliament. It was later home to the Hon Mrs Pamela Jackson (one of the famous Mitford sisters) and afterwards to William Albertini before it was acquired by the current owners. The stud is set in one of the leading locations for thoroughbred breeding in Ireland.

Located just outside the village of Rosegreen and close to both Coolmore and Ballydoyle, Tullamaine Castle boasts limestone-rich fertile land. The listed castle is approached through wrought iron gates, and a long sweeping mature tree lined avenue, in stunning parkland with exceptional views of the Comeragh mountains. The house interior has a Georgian design. The five ground floor reception rooms, including a spacious drawing room and library are all bright and well proportioned. The main hall has a sweeping oak staircase leading to five very fine bedrooms, which not only overlook the gardens and fields, but also have uninterrupted views of Slievenamon. Two secondary bedrooms are located further down a corridor and an additional stairs leads to three rooms. The backdoor leads out to a sunny enclosed walled garden with greenhouses, a kitchen garden and pathway guiding you towards the yard office and stables. There is a four bedroom residence attached to the yard ensuring sufficient housing for a stud manager or staff. The stud facilities at Tullamaine are second to none. The paddocks are free draining with post and rail fencing and sheltered by magnificent beech and oak trees. In turn there is a terrific shelter belt bordering the lands and there has been extensive planting carried out by the present owners over the last 30 years. The main yard is situated at the back of the castle.

Viewing is strictly by appointment with Andrew Nolan of Goffs Property, who will also supply the price on request.

Tel: +353 45 981048 (office), +353 86 2416690 (mobile) Email: andrew@goffs.ie Web: goffsproperty.com

YOUR

HOME CASTLE IS YOUR

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Lake Coniston, Close Conflict, Yellowstone, Bin Ajwaad, Mistertopogigo, Golden Pond, Dangerous Diva, Delilah, Hot Tin Roof, Distant Mirage, The Miniver Rose, Pollenator.

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08/08/2017 11:24 05/09/2016 09:51

JAGUAR

ROGER O’CONNOR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, CURRAGH RACECOURSE

How long have you been working in the racing industry/your background? While I am new to racing,

I have been working in the sport business sector for the last 17 years, and in the Curragh Racecourse and Training Grounds as CFO since August 2016. It is an exciting and challenging role, demolishing and building a new racecourse and at the same time running a full racing season from temporary facilities, so there is never a dull moment! Before this I was working in professional rugby.

I am a qualified accountant and have also completed an MBA from the Smurfit Business School.

Have you ever worked on a project which compares in size to the Curragh redevelopment? While I have

extensive experience, I haven’t worked on a capital project of this scale previously. It is a very exciting and ambitious development that will deliver world-class facilities for all to complement the iconic status of the venue and the firstclass track that we have in in the Curragh.

Is the project on schedule? Yes. It is a tight schedule but

ON DRIVING

SINCE 2010 JAGUAR HAS BEEN AN OFFICIAL PARTNER OF THE GOFFS ORBY SALE. IT’S A PERFECT MATCH OF THOROUGHBRED BRANDS. AS JAGUAR CONTINUES TO GROW IN POPULARITY WITH THE RACING COMMUNITY, WE SPOKE TO TWO JAGUAR DRIVERS ABOUT THEIR ROLES IN THE INDUSTRY.

we are currently on track, I am happy to say.

Do you live in the area? I live in Booterstown, Co Dublin, and I commute every day to the Curragh. It takes

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JAGUAR sporting event with a quality racecard. You may also see a few F Paces on display, as Jaguar are a key partner of the weekend, adding a touch of class to what has become a top racing event in the calendar. At the Curragh, we are learning with each event we hold in our temporary facilities, constantly seeking and taking on board feedback from the public and all stakeholders, and making appropriate adjustments with a view to delivering a top-quality event for the racing public and the participants. Longines Irish Champions Weekend will be the close of the 2017 season in the Curragh which means we will just have one more season before we are opening the new facility. It is a very exciting time to be involved.

EIMEAR MULHERN CHAIRMAN, GOFFS

The bloodstock market appears to be enjoying strong growth.

How do you explain that? The demand for quality horses is very

45-60 minutes but it is a pleasure to make the journey in the comfort of my Jaguar F-Pace, looking at all the traffic queuing going into Dublin on the other side of the road as I cruise along out of town! The car is very comfortable, economical and a pleasure to drive.

healthy at the moment and I think this is largely due to the number of new entrants to the market place in recent years. There are buyers now from many Middle Eastern countries, South Africa, China, etc., and also increasingly from America, where European pedigrees are again much sought-after. The industry at the top level is very encouraging.

Global uncertainty is of concern, as it is to all companies involved in international trade, but many of our clients at the higher end are somewhat protected from the uncertainty. In the National Hunt market we have a number of significant players who have given this sector a huge boost and the success of Goffs graduates has helped us to grow market share in this area.

What attracted you to your current car? Being

What are your expectations for the Orby and Premier Sales?

relatively tall, I was looking for an SUV, mainly for comfort and reliability. I wasn’t aware the F Pace was out at the time but when I first saw it in Spirit Motor Group I was immediately smitten! It looks great, quite unique, classy and distinctive, incorporating traditional Jaguar qualities with a new modern sporty SUV.

We are looking forward to the yearling sales with anticipation, albeit being aware of many uncertainties in the world at the moment. Flat yearling sales are particularly affected by global uncertainty, currency and stock market fluctuations. However, if current trends continue, we are anticipating a very strong trade for quality yearlings.

What were your impressions of this year’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby day? I was working

on the Board of Horse Racing Ireland. It is a privilege to represent the breeding industry on the Board and I find it hugely interesting and stimulating. Membership does take up a lot of time, particularly as all Board members serve on a number of sub-committees; therefore it is quite a commitment. It may not be recognised just how much time Board members give but its work is important to the industry and therefore essential that members give it the time and energy it deserves.

on the day. From our point of view it went very well and most patrons who attended really enjoyed the day, the temporary facilities and the Derby itself. It was a great race – very closely fought! The Curragh stages Day 2 of Longines Irish Champions Weekend on Sunday, September 10th. What can we expect on the day? I think you can expect to see a great

The Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes is one of three Group 1 races at the Curragh on Sunday, September 10th, Day 2 of Longines Irish Champions Weekend

You are also on the board of Horse Racing Ireland. Does that take up much of your time? Yes, I am the breeders’ representative

Do you think Irish Champions Weekend has caught the imagination of the racing public? I do - as one of the biggest events

in flat racing in Ireland it brings together the best of Irish competing with the best internationally, and is a wonderful showcase for Irish racing, breeding and hospitality. Every major racing country has its pinnacle weekend, such as Arc weekend and the Breeders’ Cup, and the quality racing on Irish Champions Weekend to date puts Ireland right up there. From a Goffs point of view, as Ireland’s leading bloodstock auctioneers we were obviously keen to add our wholehearted support to making this weekend a success. Our involvement across the weekend begins with the Champions Sale at Leopardstown that we hold together with our partners Brown Thomas. It’s a great opener to the weekend, and on Sunday at the Curragh we proudly sponsor the Group 1 Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes.

Is there much driving in your job or do you travel much in your free time? My life involves a huge amount of travelling, both to and

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Mocklershill

Europe’s Premier Breeze Up Farm

Trip to Paris Gold Cup Winner at Ascot 2015

Consignors with a reputation for big race winners.

Mocklershill is based at Grangebarry Farm, Fethard, Co. Tipperary. The farm is sited on a world renowned 75 acres of golden vale grassland and consists of a wide range of premier facilities. These include a 5 furlong uphill gallop made from woodchip and a 3 furlong sand work area, starting stalls, turn out paddocks and lunge ring.

We are the leading consignors at the European Breeze Up Sales for the past 30 Years.

Willie Browne, T/A Grangebarry Stables, Grangebarry, Fethard, Co. Tipperary.

Phone: 052 9157817 | Mobile: 087 6347271 | Email: Williebrowne@mocklershill.ie Web: www.mocklershill.ie | Email: grangebarry@mocklershill.ie

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JAGUAR

from Goffs, attending various sales, race meetings and industry meetings. I often joke that I live in my car and this certainly is partially true. Therefore, a safe and comfortable car is particularly important. I have been a Jaguar customer now since I first saw the relaunched Jaguar range displayed on the lawn at Goffs. They are lovely to drive, and have every comfort included. They hold the road beautifully and I feel very safe. I also drive to Kerry quite regularly and, rather than it being a chore, I enjoy the opportunity to listen to my music with few distractions. I certainly love my F Pace and cannot recommend it enough for business and for leisure.

What attracted you to your current car? Previously, I drove an XF and loved it. The F Pace showcased at Goffs last year and, when the team at Jaguar gave me one to drive for a day, I was converted. It drives impeccably. It certainly does not feel like driving an SUV. It is light to handle and extremely maneuverable, which is great in cities and for parking too.

Eimear at the Curragh on Irish Champions Weekend with Rear Admiral Mark Mellett, Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces, and Annemarie O’Brien

98

Why do you think Jaguar is so popular with the racing and bloodstock community? Because we clock up an

enormous amount of mileage throughout the year. Driving is an integral part of what we do, whether it is visiting clients, going to race meetings, attending sales, etc. So people need a car that is reliable, efficient and comfortable and Jaguar cars certainly have all those attributes.

Last year you sold your Meadow Court Stud but do you still have breeding stock? Yes, I was fortunate enough to

buy a lovely, smaller farm on the northern side of Kildare town called Kilnagornan. Its proximity to Meadow Court has enabled me to retain the excellent team on the stud and to continue with the same service providers. We now trade as Abbeville Stud, concentrating mainly on breeding, sales and racing some homebreds. We have a lovely band of broodmares and I am absolutely delighted with how the horses are thriving on the new farm.

What other business or bloodstock goals are on the horizon for you? On a personal note I am always ambitious

for the stud and constantly striving to breed more stakes horses and perhaps even one truly great one from our new base in Kilnagornan. In terms of business I am enthusiastic and always working to achieve maximum results for the various interests and entities with which I am involved. This of course relates particularly to Goffs. The surge in international high end buyers at Goffs in recent years is crucial to the future success of our sales, so along with the wider Goffs team I will continue to travel extensively for the company to develop and maintain international contacts. Outside of the sales, we are currently exploring options on developing surplus lands at Kildare Paddocks. I am directly involved in this process with Henry, our Financial Director Rae Lawless and our advisers. The onsite interaction with the Goffs team is particularly helpful and stimulating and I really enjoy this aspect of the work.

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Boundaries without limits

When working with horses, you cannot compromise on safety or strength.

The unique qualities of all Duralock’s PVC-u equestrian fencing systems are not just incredibly strong, but also internationally acclaimed as safe, easy to install and competitively priced.

Call +44 (0)1608 678238 visit www.duralock.com or email sales@duralock.com

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02/08/2017 16:57

The Buying ~ The Selling ~ ~The Racing ~ The Breeding ~ ~

Be a part of it Groups/Individuals

Patricia Burke 087 2600 277

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Sound Science & Highest Quality Standards using The highest Quality Ingredients & Home Grown Cereals

Enquiries Mill (Co. Antrim) – R.O.I 048 94423052 N.I 028 94423052 NI Alan Hyde 0044 (0)75 95273304

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04/08/2017 15:06

Fashion Velvet jacket, €925; Shirt, €265; Skirt €1,595, all Dries Van Noten at Brown Thomas

Fashion Forward

AUTUMN WINTER 2017 IS A SEASON WHICH SHOWCASES THE RE-EMERGENCE OF HIGH OCTANE GLAMOUR AND FEMININITY. WE PRESENT A SELECTION OF THE DESIGNER OFFERINGS AVAILABLE THIS SEASON FROM BROWN THOMAS, IRELAND’S HOME TO THE WORLD’S LEADING LUXURY BRANDS AND OFFICIAL PARTNER TO GOFFS CHAMPIONS AND ORBY SALES.

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fashion

SOFT ROMANCE EVOLVES FROM THE ROMANTIC THEMES OF PREVIOUS SEASONS. ALL SHADES OF RED ARE FEATURED STRONGLY THROUGHOUT THE AW17 COLLECTIONS PARTICULARLY AT ROKSANDA...

Dress, €2,070, Roksanda at Brown Thomas

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Fashion Orange coat, €2,400, Delpozo at Brown Thomas

ARTFUL ARCHITECTURE DOMINATES WITH DESIGNERS SHOWCASING STRUCTURED RUFFLES AND EXAGGERATED SHOULDER DETAIL...

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fashion

LEFT: Check jacket, €2,600, Gucci; blouse, €845, Chloé; skirt, €1,300, Gucci, all at Brown Thomas RIGHT: Check jacket, €2,980; trousers, €1,300, both Dior at Brown Thomas

BROWN THOMAS is located on Dublin’s Grafton Street, just 30 minutes from Goffs. To book a personal shopping appointment please contact Michelle Curtin at personalshopping@brownthomas.ie

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Register for Plus 10 bonus scheme More than €11.25 million in bonus prize money paid out to date Breeders win up to €2,500 if their horse wins a Plus 10 race 100 Irish 2YO races feature a bonus every year

Foal Registration:

Yearling Registration:

Owner Registration:

31 August in foal year

30 June in yearling year

28 February in 2YO year

“If a horse is registered for Plus 10 I know from experience what an incentive it is for my clients, more often than not they’ll instruct me to take the chance, bid one higher, knowing the horse can potentially win an extra €12,500.” Ed Sackville, Bloodstock Agent

For more information visit www.plus10bonus.com or contact +353 (0)87 675 5232

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11/07/2017 12:39

Newmarket Equine Hospital Cambridge Road Newmarket CB8 0FG United Kingdom

NEWMARKET EQUINE HOSPITAL

Comprehensive Equine Veterinary Services With over thirty veterinary surgeons working from a state-of-the-art Equine Hospital, we can cater for all your equine veterinary needs.

Tel: +44(0)1638 782000 email: office@neh.uk.com www.newmarketequinehospital.com

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SEEN AT THE SALES

Pictured left are PAUL SHANAHAN and JAMIE OSBORNE. Pictured left are FIONA CRAIG, EVA MARIA HAEFNER and DERMOT WELD. Pictured above is DAVID O’CALLAGHAN. Pictured left are YVONNE AND ADRIAN NICOLL.

ORBY SALE

IMAGES

SPOTTING FUTURE STARS AND MEETING OLD FRIENDS AT THE GOFFS ORBY YEARLING SALE IN THE OCTOBER SUNSHINE

Pictured right is SHEIKH HAMDAN AL MAKTOUM

From left is DERMOT FARRINGTON; TOM DASCOMBE, MICHAEL OWEN and ED SACKVILLE. Below are WESLEY WARD AND JUSTIN ZAYAT.

Above, PETER DOYLE and STEPHEN COLLINS. Right, MV MAGNIER. Far right, RONAN GRIFFIN

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MACROOM HAULAGE

Shavings / Sawdust Woodchips for Gallops & Winter Pads Contact: David Murphy - T: 087 4125010 • www.macroomhaulage.com

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One of Ireland’s longest established Equine Veterinary Practices Specialist Medicine & Surgical Services Prepurchase examinations for all International Markets In attendance at all Major Thoroughbred Sales

The Curragh, Co Kildare. Tel: 00353 45 521373 / Fax: 00353 45 521114 / www.aleh.ie / email: info@aleh.ie

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“Mighty oaks from little acorns grow”

Footstepsinthesand - Renaissance Rio (c) Lot 154 Orby sale 2017 Enquiries to deroforde@gmail.com / twitter@D_Forde_Bldstck

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HEDGEHOLME STUD Standing the very fast son of OASIS DREAM INTRINSIC a half brother to Mutakayyef and Intimiation.

First foals sell in 2017.

We also offer full boarding, sales preparation and can provide for horses out of training.

Winston, Darlington, DL2 3RS│Andrew Spalding 07990 518751│Nim Spalding 07818 400419 Web: hedgeholmestud.com│Email: hedgeholme@gmail.com

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SALES LEFT: GAY KELLEWAY is a regular purchaser at the Breeze-Up Sale.

RIGHT: NICK COLOMB, GAVIN PRITCHARD-GORDON, TOM PRITCHARD-GORDON and MARK RICHARDS scouting for horses on behalf of the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

THE

BREEZE-UP

THE ONE-DAY GOFFS UK BREEZE-UP SALE IN APRIL SAW A 90% CLEARANCE RATE AND A RECORD AGGREGATE, AVERAGE AND MEDIAN PRICE.

ABOVE: SEAN QUINN and RICHARD KNIGHT assess the breezers on Town Moor. FAR LEFT: Agent TOM MALONE LEFT: KERRI RADCLIFFE with delighted vendors ANNA and PHILIP McCARTAN

BELOW: DICK FRISBY, TIM KENT, DAVID LODER and ANTHONY STROUD

ABOVE: BUTI BINTOOQ ALMARI and ALLESANDRO MARCONI. RIGHT: BEX VARDY leads a two-year-old in the presale ring

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Sales Almost £17.5 million was spent at the 2016 Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale, trade which saw the average price reach a record £44,078. Among the leading vendors, selling nine lots for £534,000, was Manister House Stud, whose LUKE BARRY is pictured left with pinhooker KITTY COWHEY.

BELOW LEFT: Goffs UK Managing Director TONY WILLIAMS with Marketing Manager MICHAEL ORTON. RIGHT: Trainer KEVIN PRENDERGAST with JEREMY HARLEY.

THE

PREMIER

FOR THE FIFTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR IN 2016 THE GOFFS UK PREMIER SALE RETURNED IMPROVED FIGURES FOLLOWING TWO POWERFUL DAYS OF SUSTAINED TRADE AT A LEVEL NOT WITNESSED AT DONCASTER AT ANY SALE IN MEMORY

RIGHT: Trainer TIM EASTERBY takes a break.

BELOW RIGHT: TOM DASCOMBE and MICHAEL OWEN have a laugh. BOTTOM RIGHT: ROGER O’CALLAGHAN with ANTHONY BROMLEY

ABOVE LEFT: TONY COYLE and KEVIN O’RYAN. RIGHT: CHARLIE HILLS and ANGUS GOLD. LEFT: HARRY HERBERT and JAKE WARREN

LEFT: Just a couple of days before she got her trainer’s licence, AMY MURPHY bought two colts at the Premier Sale. ABOVE: BOBBY O’RYAN with MARK DWYER, bought six yearlings at the sale on behalf of Rebel Racing and they included Royal Ascot winner Rajasinghe.

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social network

LEFT: Lee Westwood and Mike Dillon.

RIGHT: Karen Millen.

LEFT: Marco Samburo, Mara Batur, Su-Ann Khaw, Susie and Ray Montague.

BELOW: Otis Ferry and Lady Alice Manners.

THE MAGIC OF

LONDON

ABOVE: Elliott and Rebecca Walden, Ann and David Hanley. BELOW: Meta Osborne, Lily and Dermot Cantillon

THE GOFFS LONDON SALE, IN ASSOCIATION WITH QIPCO, ATTRACTED LEADING FIGURES FROM INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE RACING AND BLOODSTOCK WORLDS TO KENSINGTON PALACE ON THE EVE OF ROYAL ASCOT

LEFT: Alannah Weston.

ABOVE: Jake Warren.

LEFT: Gai Waterhouse.

ABOVE: Lady Ana and Sir Robert Ogden.

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social network

LEFT: Michelle Curtin and Katie McGrath of Brown Thomas’ personal shopping team present autumn/ winter 2017 looks. BELOW LEFT: Michelle O’Coileain.

BELOW RIGHT: Eimear Mulhern

LEFT: Debby Halligan, Anita O’Leary and Louise McCartan. RIGHT: Patricia Costello and Zoe Weld. BELOW: Derville Meade and Una Manning.

GLAMOUR

QUEENS

PROMINENT FIGURES FROM IRELAND’S RACING SCENE ATTENDED A PRIVATE FASHION SHOW AT DUBLIN’S MOST EXCLUSIVE DEPARTMENT STORE, BROWN THOMAS, TITLE PARTNER OF THE GOFFS CHAMPION SALE ABOVE: Heather Fitzpatrick. BELOW: Hazel Doyle, Tamso Doyle and Marise Doyle

ABOVE: Jackie Bolger and Ann Cunninghan.

BELOW: Michelle Curtin and Linda Shanahan.

Johanna Lacy, Ruth Gleeson and Ciara Hogan

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GOFFS ORBY SALE 26 – 27 September 2017 GOFFS SPORTSMAN’S SALE 28 September 2017

See you at the Sales...

RIBCHESTER

Gr.1 Queen Anne Stakes Orby Sale graduate

BARNEY ROY

Gr.1 St James’ Palace Stakes Premier Sale graduate

GOFFS UK PREMIER SALE 29 – 30 August 2017 GOFFS UK SILVER SALE 31 August 2017

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The Home of Racing Legends Just 20 minutes from both the Curragh & Punchestown racecourses, The K Club in Straffan Co. Kildare is the perfect destination for those who want to learn the origins of the Spor t of Kings!

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL +353 (1) 601 7200 Email: sales@kclub.ie www.kclub.ie

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social network

ABOVE LEFT: Ed Walker, Kirsten Rausing and Camilla Walker.

RIGHT: Holger Faust and Alwina Groenwald.

IN THE

CLUB

EVERY YEAR GOFFS WELCOME VISITORS FROM HOME AND ABROAD TO A RECEPTION IN THE LUXURIOUS K CLUB ON THE EVE OF THE ORBY YEARLING SALE

LEFT: Henry Beeby and Eimear Mulhern.

BELOW: Zoe Donald Barbara Keller and Philippa Hills.

ABOVE: Roger and Hanako Varian.

RIGHT: Jackie and Jim Bolger.

BELOW: Jocelyn de Moubray, Gautam Kotwal and Crispin de Moubray.

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social network

RIGHT: Sandra Morris and Laura O’Brien.

BELOW: John Ferguson and Lord Grimthorpe.

ABOVE: Alex Cole, Elaine Lawlor, Dr Jim and Fitri Hay.

Laura Gomez and Catherine Magnier.

LEFT: John O’Connor and Sonia Rogers.

BELOW: Charlie Johnston and John Kilbride.

ABOVE: Takaya Kimura, Miwako Kimura and Fukunda Hiroshi. LEFT: Georgie and Patrick Noone.

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The ROA’s Third Party Liability Insurance covers members for up to £10million from the fall of hammer* Not being a member could be costly.

The good news is you can join us for the equivalent of just 63p a day. You’ll nearly 8,000 owners who know a good investment.

Interested? Call 020 7152 0200 or visit roa.co.uk

*Terms apply

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