“The Dubai World Cup Breeze-Up Sale in association with Goffs” will be held at Meydan Racecourse on Thursday, 24^th March 2022, just two days before the prestigious Dubai World Cup. The sale will be confined to a maximum of 69 two-year-olds that will be sourced from vendors by Goffs and will provide a new buying bench for the sector as the sale will be open to both local and international buyers. The two-year-olds will undergo a full veterinary examination prior to departure to ensure full transparency and buyer confidence.

Announcing the concept, Sheikh Rashid bin Dalmook Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Racing Club said:

“The UAE, Dubai and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum have long been great supporters of the sport. Therefore, we are excited to host the Middle East’s first Breeze-Up Sale, and also the first ever ONLINE sale to be conducted in the Gulf and Middle East region to enhance our owners’ exposure to high quality horses. We are partnering with a world-renowned auction house and together we are taking steps towards creating a bright future for the sport in the UAE.”

Sheikh Rashid added: “As far as the potential horses are concerned, they look like a very exciting bunch of young horses who will hopefully bring plenty of success for their new owners. In addition, Dubai World Cup week is a meeting point for leading owners and bloodstock professionals from Europe, the USA, Australasia and Asia and as such we are hoping for strong trade at the inaugural Dubai World Cup Breeze-up Sale”

“We are extremely grateful to the Dubai Racing Club for the confidence they have shown in the Goffs service by entrusting this prestigious sale to us. We look forward to working with Sheikh Rashid bin Dalmook, the Chairman of Dubai Racing Club and his team to deliver a world class event a day before the eve of the world’s most prestigious race. We have a long and successful track record in the Breeze-Up sphere having held Europe’s first Breeze-Up Sale at Doncaster back in 1977 which also proved the source of the first European Classic winner from a Breeze-Up in Speciosa who won the English 1,000 Guineas. It will be a privilege to conduct a sale of this stature in Dubai at the invitation of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed”.

The two-year-olds will be shipped to Dubai to carry out quarantine prior to the sale and breeze on the dirt track at Meydan the day before the sale, on the morning of Wednesday, 23rd March 2022. Whilst termed a “Breeze-Up” Sale the juveniles will not work against the clock or laser and instead be galloped on the bridle to illustrate their potential and longevity as racehorses in the Middle East.

Nominations will be opened to potential vendors in due course along with stable visits that will take place following the yearling sales season, led by Nick Nugent and Tom Taaffe, the latter of whom brokered the deal on behalf of Goffs.