Goffs UK and Arqana are joining forces to hold both their Breeze-Up Sales in Ireland on revised dates at the end of June. The Two-Year-Olds will work at Naas Racecourse by vendor, potentially in a timed breeze a few days before being offered at Goffs Kildare Paddocks on 29th & 30th June.

Goffs UK Breeze Up Sale graduate A’ALI wins the Gr.2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot 2019

The dates are dependent on the resumption of racing in some form in the UK and/or France and/or Ireland, and hopefully allow time for lockdown measures to be relaxed so that there can be some attendance at the sale whilst the proximity of and arrangements for other European Breeze-Ups will also be considered to ensure the optimum dates for everyone involved. Naturally all Government directives will be followed to ensure the safety and well-being of each person attending.   The extended gap between breeze and sale will allow films of the breeze-up work, and other vital purchaser information, to be disseminated around the world whilst an on-line platform will support the live auction with potential purchasers being offered the facility to bid as normal, over the telephone or remotely via the Arqana and Goffs websites.   The sales have been diverted to Ireland as 143 of the 165 Goffs UK lots and a further 135 lots in the Arqana sale are from Irish vendors so the move allows for the necessary time lag between breeze and sale. Both companies will ensure that adequate provision is made for their UK and French based entries to be accommodated.   Commenting on the latest developments, Arqana Executive Director, Freddy Powell and Goffs UK Managing Director, Tim Kent said:   “We are committed to providing the most vibrant marketplace possible for our Breeze-Up vendors and believe that this option delivers the best chance of achieving that goal. This year’s selection of Breezers in both catalogues is as good as ever and we are confident they will impress in any arena”.   Both catalogues are currently on-line and, whilst the two-year-olds will breeze by vendor to meet social distancing protocols that are likely to be in place, the sale will be conducted by a combination of the Goffs and Arqana teams in the existing catalogue order. Revised Conditions of Sale applicable to both catalogues to reflect that the sales are being held in Ireland will be produced and additional information relating to the breeze-up work, veterinary examinations etc. will be provided in advance of the sale.   Goffs Group Chief Executive, Henry Beeby and Eric Hoyeau, Arqana President believe that this move demonstrates an industry pulling together at a crucial time, saying:   “We are extremely grateful to Naas Racecourse, HRI and Irish Thoroughbred Marketing for their helpful and proactive reaction to our request to hold our Breeze-Ups in Ireland. These are challenging times but the bloodstock industry is constantly willing to adapt and innovate to whatever circumstances arise. In connection with our joint approach, Goffs and Arqana have always been closely allied and we will work as one to ensure we do our best by our loyal vendors”.

fonte : www.goffs.com

In a spirit of entente cordiale prompted by the extraordinary environment of the coronavirus pandemic, Goffs UK and Arqana have announced that they will join forces to hold their respective breeze-up sales together in Ireland on June 29 and 30.

In what could be a first for European sales, the horses will gallop “potentially in a timed breeze” a few days prior to being offered for sale at the Goffs complex at Kildare Paddocks. There will also be an online bidding facility to support the live auction.

A joint statement released by the two companies on Saturday afternoon read, “The dates are dependent on the resumption of racing in some form in the UK and/or France and/or Ireland, and hopefully allow time for lockdown measures to be relaxed so that there can be some attendance at the sale. Naturally all government directives will be followed to ensure the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved.”

It is normal practice for the sale to take place in the day or days immediately following the breeze session but the intended gap between the horses breezing and the sale being conducted is to “allow films of the breeze-up work, and other vital purchaser information, to be disseminated around the world whilst an online platform will support the live auction with potential purchasers being offered the facility to bid as normal, over the telephone or remotely via the Arqana and Goffs websites.”

Each sale originally had 165 lots catalogued for Doncaster and Deauville respectively. The relocation to Ireland is a practical step in light of the fact that 143 of the Goffs UK lots and a further 135 of the Arqana horses are being prepared by Irish consignors.

Arqana executive director Freddy Powell and Goffs UK managing director Tim Kent put their names to a joint statement which said, “We are committed to providing the most vibrant market place possible for our breeze-up vendors and believe that this option delivers the best chance of achieving that goal. This year’s selection of breezers in both catalogues is as good as ever and we are confident they will impress in any arena”.

Teams from Goffs and Arqana will be at work at the sale, which will be conducted in the existing catalogue order, though the juveniles will breeze vendor by vendor in order to comply with social distancing requirements.

Goffs Group chief executive Henry Beeby and Eric Hoyeau, president of Arqana said, “We are extremely grateful to Naas Racecourse, HRI and Irish Thoroughbred Marketing for their helpful and proactive reaction to our request to hold our Breeze-Ups in Ireland. These are challenging times but the bloodstock industry is constantly willing to adapt and innovate to whatever circumstances arise. In connection with our joint approach, Goffs and Arqana have always been closely allied and we will work as one to ensure we do our best by our loyal vendors.” (by : TDN)