Goffs will stage its Orby and Sportsman’s Sales at its Goffs UK sales complex in Doncaster this year rather than at Kildare Paddocks in Ireland. The dates for the sales have also been slightly adjusted; the Sportsman’s Sale has been moved a week earlier to Sept. 24 and 25, while the Orby Sale will take place slightly later than planned on Oct. 1 and 2 to allow buyers who wish to attend Books 1 and 2 of Keeneland September to self-isolate for two weeks before traveling to Doncaster.
The location change is in light of the Irish government’s 14-day quarantine requirement for visitors to the country.
“In view of the Covid-19 pandemic and the current Irish and localised protocols, and in the best interests of our clients and the Irish breeding industry, the board of Goffs are announcing today that it will, on a purely once off occasion, stage the Orby and Sportsman’s Sales in the Goffs UK sales complex in Doncaster,” said Goffs Chairman Eimear Mulhern. “Goffs shareholders have always sought to provide the Irish industry with an independent sales company with its own ethos, integrity and values and it is in line with this core principle that we have decided to stage the sale at our own premises in the UK.”
Goffs Group Chief Executive Henry Beeby added, “Naturally our first preference would have been to hold what is the Irish National Yearling Sale in Kildare Paddocks but, given the current issues caused by Covid-19, we judge that is not in the best interests of our vendors who have supported us with a stellar selection of wonderful yearlings. Our job is to attract the widest and most diverse group of buyers to our sales and we feel that can best be achieved in 2020 by moving our yearling sales to our UK site as a one-off to deal with the uniquely challenging problems caused by Covid-19.”
“The showing areas for the yearlings [at Doncaster] are second to none and we will ensure that the facilities for attendees are enhanced as much as possible once we have taken the UK Government’s directives into account,” Beeby added. “In addition Doncaster is easily accessible from every part of the UK and is just 1 1/2 hours from central London by train whilst our superb network of international agents will continue to promote these world-class Orby yearlings around the globe. Alongside that Goffs Online will allow absent buyers to participate in the sale and we will ensure that clear videos of yearlings are available for inspection as well as accommodating any buyers who want to bid by telephone. In short, Orby and Sportsman’s will provide their usual world-class service and the only difference will be geographical on this occasion”.
The remaining Goffs sales programme for 2020 will stay in Ireland, including the Goffs November Foal and Breeding Stock Sale. Any vendors not wishing to sell in the UK will be accommodated in the Goffs Autumn Sale on Nov. 2 to 4.
“The situation with our market-leading foal sale is entirely different as by far the biggest group of buyers are Irish so, to be clear, the November Sale will be held in Kildare Paddocks on its planned dates,” Beeby added. “Goffs foals are true market leaders with Europe’s top-priced foals being sold at Goffs in five of the last six years headed by the world’s best in 2019 at €1.2 million, and this year of all years it makes most sense to sell Irish foals in Ireland whilst the Breeding Stock section will be enhanced with our online platform, videos and agents on the ground.”
The Orby and Sportsman’s sales will continue to have the full support of Irish Thoroughbred Marketing.
“We would far prefer that the Orby and Sportsman’s Sales be held in Ireland but regrettably, that is not realistic in the current uncertain climate,” said Horse Racing Ireland Chief Executive Brian Kavanagh. “Horse Racing Ireland understands Goffs’s decision to relocate the sales on a once-off basis and will support Goffs and Irish breeders in these unique circumstances through the continued and proactive work of our subsidiary, Irish Thoroughbred Marketing.”
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