The Goffs Orby Sale will for the second straight year be staged away from its traditional home in Co. Kildare, this year taking place at Tattersalls's Park Paddocks in Newmarket as the result of an agreement between the two sales companies. Originally slated for Sept. 28 and 29, the sale will now be held across two evening sessions on Sept. 24 and 25 after racing at Newmarket and with a daytime session on Sept. 26. The sale will, therefore, be held in conjunction with the Cambridgeshire meeting that features the G1 Cheveley Park S. and G1 Middle Park S.
The Goffs Sportsman's Sale, which traditionally follows on from the Orby Sale, will remain in Ireland and be held in conjunction with the Goffs Autumn Yearling and HIT Sale on Nov. 1 and 2.
The Goffs changes were announced after the Irish government announced it will scrap plans to resume indoor hospitality from July 5 amid concerns about the Delta Covid-19 variant. Ireland's travel and quarantine rules remain among the strictest on the continent. Last week, a UK buyers' bubble established by Tattersalls Ireland that facilitated around 100 UK residents to travel to Ireland for the Derby sale was quashed by the government on the morning of the sale. Referring to that episode, Goffs Group Chief Executive Henry Beeby said, “Last week's events mean that there is currently no confidence in our ability to hold the prestigious Orby Sale in Ireland whilst the current travel restrictions into Ireland remain in place. The overseas buyers 'bubble' that worked so well for the Goffs Land Rover Sale was being replicated at the Derby Sale but was inexplicably withdrawn at the eleventh hour and there is simply no way that vendors, or Goffs, can take the risk that the same thing could happen on the eve of the Orby Sale as there is too much at stake.
“In 2020 we took a later decision to move Orby to our UK sales complex in Doncaster but it is well known that the results were disappointing to say the least and potential Orby vendors have made it clear that is not an option that would be embraced. Therefore we feel it is in the best interests of Irish vendors selling in Orby to clearly state that the sale will be held in Newmarket in conjunction with some top class racing, as we cannot confidently deliver overseas buyers to Kildare, making it impossible for us to properly promote our world-class catalogue to an international audience.
“In many ways this is a disappointing move to have to make but we feel we have been left with no choice by recent events, as yearling vendors need certainty given the value of the yearlings we are asking them to commit to Orby. Our fervent hope and belief is that we will back in Kildare Paddocks for Orby 22 as the Irish National Yearling Sale belongs in Ireland.
“At this point I would like to thank Edmond Mahony and his Tattersalls' colleagues for giving us the option to essentially rent Park Paddocks and accommodate what is a competitor sale. The last 18 months have required all of us to work together in ways we could never have imagined and, whilst there has been plenty of mutually beneficial cooperation and give and take, this is a step further than anything else. We do not underestimate the magnitude of this generous gesture.”
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