Today’s inaugural Goffs QIPCO British Champions Day Sale at Ascot created headlines with a select catalogue offered in the iconic Ascot winners podium which saw the classy sprinter Rogue Lightning sell for a sale topping £1,000,000.

Classy sprinter Rogue Lightning topped the sale when selling for £1,000,000 to Blandford Bloodstock on behalf of Wathnan Racing. Photo Sarah Farnsworth

A 3YO son of Kodiac, Rogue Lightning (Lot 3) looked the star of the sale following his three consecutive wins, culminating in a tough victory in the Listed Scarbrough Stakes, leading into the Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp where he finished an eye-catching fifth place. That effort clearly caught a lot of attention as the Tom Clover Racing consigned gelding received bids from multiple parties before being knocked down to Blandford Bloodstock for £1,000,000.

Goffs Group Chief Executive Henry Beeby introduces the inaugural Goffs QIPCO British Champions Day Sale on the Ascot winners podium. Photo Sarah Farnsworth

Goffs Group Chief Executive Henry Beeby commented on Goffs’ first sale at Ascot:

“Ascot is one of the world’s most iconic racecourses so when the opportunity arose to have a sale here, we pounced on it, and we are delighted with the outcome. 

“It could be argued that past sales here have not been in line with what is the one of the most prestigious brands in global racing and we felt there was an opportunity to re-establish sales at Ascot with a quality of horse not seen here before. That was achieved today in emphatic style with a seven-figure top price which represents another amazing result for Goffs boutique, offsite sales, for which we are the market leader. 

“To be a part of QIPCO British Champions Day has been a real privilege and we wish to thank the Ascot Racecourse executive and trustees as well as the teams at British Champions Series and QIPCO for their support and enthusiasm in this new venture. We are also very grateful to our vendors who entrusted their horses to us and this new initiative and we wish Wathnan Racing, for whom Blandford Bloodstock were acting, all the very best with the future endeavours of Rogue Lightning. 

“We believe sales at Ascot have a bright future as a location to sell quality, top-class bloodstock. Today Goffs and Ascot made a statement to that effect, and we hope to be back here again in the near future.”