BBA Ireland and Mr Zhang of Yulong Investments brought their total number of purchases over the two days of Goffs Open Sale to 39 yearlings, and these were headed by today’s top price of €52,000 for a son of Elzaam from Peter Nolan Bloodstock (Lot 493). 
 
Trade for the Open Yearling Sale saw an increase of 105% in turnover over the one day sale last year, with a marginal increase in average and a top price of €62,000 that easily surpassed the sales topping €38,000 in 2016.  Full results and statistics are available here.
 
Reflecting on the three day’s trade for Horses In Training and Yearlings:
 
“A truly international group of buyers have descended on Kildare Paddocks over the last three days with visitors from China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Poland, Scandinavia, Switzerland and USA competing with buyers from the UK and Ireland for both our form horses and the yearlings following concerted and targeted marketing by both Goffs and Irish Thoroughbred Marketing.
 
I confess that we have been stung by the suggestion that we, both Goffs and ITM, did not do enough to attract buyers as reported anonymously in the Racing Post today. We would refute such suggestions albeit against a background of always wanting more. The fact is the market is an unforgiving one and never more so than this year where we saw frenzied bidding at the top of the market at Goffs Orby Sale as a huge group of international buyers fought for the blue bloods. However lower down the scale, at every sales venue this year, it has been harder work but that should do not detract from the huge time and investment we have made on a global basis to market every entry over the last three days. That has included trips to racing stables and race meetings in every target country as well as endless emails and telephone calls leading to hotel bookings, cars heading for the airport and liaison with agents and intermediaries of buyers at all levels.
 
Last year we were recording our thanks to Mr Zhang of Yulong Investments, who was introduced to Goffs by Michael Donohoe of BBA Ireland, and we have ensured his ongoing support of our Orby, Sportsman’s and the last three days’ Open/HIT Sales by working with BBA Ireland, ITM and other Irish businesses to secure his patronage. That has taken time and money, and we would suggest that his leading buyer status demonstrates that the investment was well worth it; this is just one example of the proactivity of the Goffs and ITM teams as we work with companies like BBA Ireland to promote Irish sales and Irish horses at home, in the UK and around the world.
 
Whilst this sale may not be the target when matings are being planned it provides the lowest cost outlet for a large number of yearlings and breeders can rest assured that we will continue to work hard to improve it in future years. Our work is never complete but our desire to deliver should never be doubted”.
 

 
Comparative Figures:

Horses In Training Sale

 
Open Yearling Sale