Anticipation for the Goffs Million is building as a high-class group of juveniles look to be on target for the richest two-year-old race in European racing.  Taking place at the Curragh on Saturday 24 September, just three days ahead of this year’s Goffs Orby Sale, the seven-furlong contest has a guaranteed minimum prize fund of €1,000,000. 

45 colts and 34 fillies are currently entered for Europe’s Richest Two-Year-Old Race, with 38 of them in training in Ireland, 38 in the UK, 2 are trained in the US and one in France at Chantilly.  The next forfeit stage is on Tuesday 20th September before final declarations on Thursday 22nd.

The race, which is only open to graduates of last year’s Goffs Orby Sale, attracted a stellar collection of owners with some of the most recognisable and successful names in racing represented. 

Global powerhouse Coolmore, leading American breeders and owners Stonestreet Stables, rising force Amo Racing, Philip Antonacci, KHK Racing from Bahrain, Classic winning owner Martin Schwartz, King Power Racing and legendary Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson are among those with juveniles currently entered in the Goffs Million.

The race also attracted entries from some of the biggest global syndicates with Highclere Racing, MyRacehorse, OTI Racing, Teme Valley and Middleham Park Racing all responsible for a potential ‘One in a Million’ horse.

As befits a race of such calibre, some of the world’s leading trainers are vying for a share of that €1m prize fund.

Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle Stables heads a typically deep Irish team with Dermot Weld, Jim Bolger, Jessica Harrington, Johnny Murtagh, Joseph O’Brien, Ger Lyons, Paddy Twomey Donnacha O’Brien and Willie McCreery among the Group 1-winning trainers with Goffs Million entries. UK trainers hoping to claim the Million include Richard Hannon, Roger Varian, Andrew Balding, Clive Cox, Richard Fahey, Charlie and Mark Johnston, Charlie Hills, Hugo Palmer and Archie Watson. 

The Goffs Million is open to graduates of the Irish National Yearling Sale, the Goffs Orby Sale, which year after year produces horses of the highest quality and that is reflected in the entries for the race.

Last year’s top Orby yearling colt at €1.2m Hiawatha, who was an eye-catching winner at the Curragh last month for Aidan O’Brien and the Coolmore partners, is a Camelot full brother to dual Group 1 winner Luxembourg who landed the Irish Champion Stakes in style on Saturday at Leopardstown and is one of the standout horse among the current entries.

Group 2 July Stakes winner and twice Group 1 runner-up Persian Force was sold by Tally Ho Stud to Peter and Ross Doyle on behalf of Amo Racing at last year’s Orby and the son of Mehmas is another outstanding prospect currently among the Million entries.

Among the fillies with Goffs Million entries is the Joseph O’Brien trained Zoinnocent, who ran out an impressive winner of a seven-furlong maiden at Gowran Park before finishing runner-up in the Group 3 Silver Flash Stakes at Leopardstown. Selected by Justin Casse from The Castlebridge Consignment at the Orby, the daughter of Zoffany is the first horse that US owner Eric Long has had in training in Europe.

Among the other winners in contention for Europe’s richest 2YO race are recent winners New Endeavour, Beauty Crescent, Bossy Parker, Hellsing, Hope You Can Run, Impact Warrior, Ma Belle Artiste, Killybegs Warrior, Magical Sunset, Queen Of Ours, Wahaaj, All Things Nice & Ramazan.

The unraced horses include last year’s Goffs Orby sale-topper, a daughter of the incomparable Galileo and the first foal out of Grade 1 Frizette Stakes winner Nickname by Scat Daddy. Bought for €1.5m by MV Magnier from Baroda Stud, she is named Starry Eyed.

Trevor Stewart’s Change Sings is a Saxon Warrior half-brother to Group 1 winner Halfway To Heaven, dam of Group 1 winners Magical and Rhododendron, and Group 3 winner Theann who is the dam of Grade 1 winner Photo Call.

Bryan Smart meanwhile has Margaret Elizabeth among the entries, a daughter of Kodiac and a three-parts sister to Group 1 Commonwealth Cup, Prix Morny and Middle Park Stakes winner Perfect Power.

The sire profile is typically deep with Galileo, Lope De Vega, No Nay Never, Invincible Spirit, Kodiac, Siyouni, Kingman and Dark Angel among the global elite sires with Goffs Million entries. Up and coming young sires such as Mehmas, Saxon Warrior, Carravaggio, New Bay, Almanzor and Churchill are also represented in the current entries.

Commenting on the Goffs Million entries, Goffs Group Chief Executive Henry Beeby said:

“The introduction of the Goffs Million was a huge hit with buyers at last year’s Orby Sale, and the entries are as exciting and packed full of quality as we hoped and we can’t wait for the big day in ten day’s time. We are proud to be bringing Europe’s Richest Two Year Old to The Curragh and then offering next year’s contenders at Kildare Paddocks in the following days. Irish breeders are the best in the world and are sending more of their best to Orby making it truly unmissable for international buyers”