Tag: Tom Taaffe

‘World-Class’ Goffs Dubai Breeze-Up Has Mass Appeal

A total of 73 juveniles by some of the pre-eminent dirt sires from America complemented by a collection of top European turf stallions are set to go under the hammer during the second renewal of the Goffs Dubai Breeze-Up Sale to be held Tuesday evening in the sprawling parade ring at Meydan Racecourse.

“It's just a huge honour and privilege to be appointed as auctioneer now for the second year by the Dubai Racing Club and the chairman, Sheikh Rashid bin Dalmook Al Maktoum, and it's a great feather in our cap that we are the appointed auctioneers to Sheikh Mohammed, really,” said Henry Beeby, Goffs Group Chief Executive.

Nothing breeds future success like past success, and Beeby is quietly optimistic that this year's renewal outperform the results from 12 months ago.

“It was a great success year one, the vendors have done a mighty, mighty job in learning a huge amount about what's required,” he said. “We've got a really good collection of horses, we've got global interest and we're very excited about the outcome for the sale.”

Beeby credits Goffs International Clients Relations Consultant Tom Taaffe, Nick Nugent and Gerry Hogan for their collective work in liaising with the sale vendors in recruiting the types of horses that can succeed at the races, be it in the Gulf region or beyond, now and in the future. Taaffe suggested that the freedom to travel abroad during 2022 has made the task at hand significantly easier.

“The vendors, purchasers, Goffs and the Dubai Racing Club have learned much from last year,” said Taaffe. “This year, the vendors–without any COVID restrictions–have moved around the globe, particularly the States, and picked up what they feel is suitable to come to this sale. I would say that the results will reflect that proof out on Tuesday night.”

The variety of horses on offer will suit all budgets, said Taaffe.

“Goffs and the Dubai Racing Club have produced a world-class catalogue to be held in a world-class country,” he said. “The horses in the catalogue are designed to be at three levels, there are many purchases that are top level and middle level and a slightly lower level. We are happy to present these horse to any audience.”

'Three-Quarter Speed Work On the Bridle'

Beeby would know a thing or two about breeze-up sales, as his late father Harry was the former chairman of Doncaster Bloodstock Sales (now Goffs UK), which launched the concept of such an auction in the 1970s. An old-school mentality has been agreed to by the auctioneer and the Dubai Racing Club to allow the sales horses a chance to display their innate ability under tack without necessarily emptying the tank. This year's gallops took place Monday over the synthetic training track.

“This is a breeze-up with a difference because virtually every other breeze-up held around the world are very clock-based,” said Beeby. “When I first started with my father, what people were looking for in those days was a good three-quarter speed work on the bridle showing potential. That's what we told the vendors last year and I think it sat very well.”

Taaffe added: “We have to credit His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and His Highness Sheikh Rashid for agreeing with Goffs to run the sale with no clocks. There is no timing here, it's not based on speed, it's about producing the most quality horse that will develop with more of a 3-year-old programme in mind and longer longevity because they race at four, five, six, seven here. Having no clock here is a big thing, we can give a horse a chance to develop and its head not to be blown. The emphasis is more on the longevity and a good career rather than speed.”

Take Two

During last year's inaugural sale, 55 2-year-olds (from 69 offered) changed hands for turnover of €8,467,630, good for an average of €153,957 and a median price of €99,169. The event was topped by a colt by the wildly successful Hill 'n' Dale Kentucky-based Curlin who fetched just shy of €620,000 from Mohammed Al Subousi.

The 2022 Breeze-Up received a timely endorsement when two of its graduates–Go Soldier Go (Tapiture, €123,962) and Mr Raj (Bolt d'Oro, €86,773)–finished first and second, respectively, in the Listed Al Bastakiya S. on Super Saturday Mar. 4. The duo face a rematch in Saturday's G2 UAE Derby. Big Red Farm purchased Labeling (GB) (Frankel {GB}) for just over €520,638 at last year's event and watched as the half-brother to G3 Chartwell Fillies S. winner and G1 Matron S. runner-up Lily's Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and to the stakes-winning and multiple Group 2-placed Zurigha (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) won his maiden at first asking before finishing third, beaten a half-length, in the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity last December.

“We've had 14 individual winners out of the sale now, six different countries,” said Taaffe. “People are aware of that and I would expect it to fester and grow from there. This is a world-class sale, make no doubt about it. It can stand up properly over the test of time.”

Beeby believes there was a bit of a feeling-out process among buyers and sellers alike last year which he expects to have dissipated this time around.

“There was plenty of interest last year, but there's definitely been greater interest this year,” he said. “A lot of people watched last year, and we were pleased with the results, but there were people watching and monitoring and now they've seen the success.”

The team at Goffs and the Dubai Racing Club are committed to grow and evolve as necessary, and Beeby believes that will be on full display during Tuesday's sale.

“I think the greatest thing we all learned was what that particular market wants and what works there,” he said. “The horses that did well at the sale were the dirt horses or the real top-of-the-range European horses–the Frankels and Dubawis. You've got to work to your market. We've got another good bunch.”

For the entire Dubai Breeze-Up catalogue, please click here.

 

 

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Top Consignors Focus On Dirt-Breds For Goffs Dubai Breeze Up Sale

The demand for American dirt-bred horses for next month's Goffs Dubai Breeze Up Sale has, according to Eddie O'Leary and Con Marnane, two titans of the game, provided consignors with a clear framework about what will and won't ring buyers' bells in the sales ring. 

While Tom Taaffe, the client relations agent at Goffs, described last year's inaugural Dubai Breeze Up Sale as “a very good start,” there is a growing confidence among consignors that next month can be even better, with Marnane admitting to have 'upped his game big time.'

The sale, which takes place on Mar. 21, will also feature a new name on the catalogue, with Shane Power of Tradewinds Stud offering a Yoshida (Jpn) colt that he and his partners in the horse sourced specifically for this sale. 

O'Leary sold both of his American-bred colts under his Lynn Lodge Stud banner at this sale last year and is back again with one by Collected and another by City Of Light, which he hopes will be a timely offering given the stallion sired G3 UAE Oaks winner Mimi Kakushi on Friday.

He said, “I thought last year's sale provided everyone with a good platform to build on. We are bringing bigger and better dirt-bred horses in general this year which will suit their programme that bit better, so hopefully it works. 

“The programme in Dubai does not kick off until October onwards so there's no point in bringing a sharp Showcasing (GB) colt thinking it will suit because it won't. Their programme is all about good, big scopey dirt-bred horses who will come into their own next year. That's what they want.”

He added, “Looking through the catalogue, you may as well be in Keeneland. We went to buy horses last year that we thought would suit Dubai and the programme that they have over there. We've two for the sale this year and one is by City Of Light. He's the only City Of Light colt in the sale, which is great, because a City Of Light sired the winner of the UAE Oaks at Meydan on Friday. 

“Let's hope this sale can build on last year. We're bringing the horses that we think will suit the programme in Dubai and we hope that the trainers take the sale to heart. The horses are there on their doorstep and they don't have to travel halfway around the world to go and buy them. Let's see what happens.”

Tom Taaffe | Goffs 

Taaffe shares O'Leary's optimism. Having seen a lot of the 73 catalogued horses in the flesh, he says that the physicals match up with the pedigrees and expects that to be reflected in the sales figures. 

“Most of these consignors are taking their best horses to this sale,” he said. “The catalogue is made up of roughly 85% dirt horses and there are some very good physicals and pedigrees in the sale. There are three tiers and we hope to cater for every type of buyer. I would be confident that we have gone up a gear from last year.

“I'm more than happy with the quality of the horses in the three tiers and the response that we are getting from the clientele that will be attending the sale from various different countries has been good.”

Reflecting on the inaugural Dubai Breeze Up Sale, he added, “As I said last year, it was a very good start. From the outside, people felt it was fabulous but, internally, I know in my own heart that there are things that we will all learn from. That includes the Dubai Racing Club, Goffs, vendors and purchasers. I think we've made a lot of progress in the year and hopefully we can see that in a month's time.

“Most importantly, for a first sale, we already have 13 individual winners and these horses were predominantly bought to be more 3-year-olds and upwards types. So, at this stage, to have that many winners is fantastic, not to mention the Group 1-placed Labeling (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in Japan. For a small sale of 69 catalogued last year, that's pretty good.”

One of those winners was a Night Of Thunder (Ire) colt, consigned by Marnane's Bansha House Stables, who went on to be named Desert Man (GB) and scored impressively on the dirt in Saudi Arabia. 

However, Marnane has refined his approach to this year's sale, and offers a Le Brivido (Fr) half-brother to G1 Dubai World Cup winner Prince Bishop (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and an Audible colt who is very much built for the dirt. 

Marnane said, “We've upped our game big time for this year's sale. We've an incredible Audible colt. Goffs told us that we needed to bring American-bred horses that will handle the dirt, but we've a Le Brivido (Fr) going down there as well, and he's a brother to Prince Bishop (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who won the Dubai World Cup. You don't get a better pedigree for Dubai than that.”

He added, “I'm bringing a nice grass horse and an American dirt horse. A racehorse is a racehorse and there's loads of grass races in the Middle East and the American programme is now split 50-50 between the dirt and the turf as well. 

“Amy bought the Audible at Fasig-Tipton but sure the prices at the yearling sales in America were cuckoo. We had to up our game big time to buy a horse for this sale. The prize-money is so good in America that people can justify buying a yearling for what they are making over there. It was tough to buy them.

“The standard of horses that is coming through the breeze-ups is excellent. Proper horses. We've over 100 black-type and group horses sold and three Royal Ascot 2-year-olds as well. That's fair going. We've been very lucky.”

And, with that sort of track record, the famous 'Bansha Bullets' phrase was coined. But, tell us Con, has it been hard getting used to preparing these bigger dirt-type horses for the breeze-ups compared to the lightning-quick 2-year-olds?

Con Marnane | Goffs

“By Jesus, these two are fast! But I'll tell you one thing, hats off to Sheikh Mohommed, who looks after the staff who go down there very well. His generosity is fantastic. There has been good success from last year's sale and it's only going to get better.”

He added, “It's a work in progress but Goffs did a wonderful job last year in getting the buyers there and I've no doubt that they will do the same again this time round. It's a mammoth task, getting 69 horses on the plane out of Shannon down to a sale in Dubai and then for it to go well after that. You've got to take your hat off to them.”

Like O'Leary and Marnane, Power set out to buy an American dirt-bred horse, and explained why he wanted to be a part of the action in Dubai.

“It's an interesting concept. It's a new outlet for us and is totally different to what we are used to doing so it's good to explore something different. I own the Yoshida colt in partnership with Jerry Horan, who bought him in Keeneland last year. Yoshida is obviously a Grade I winner on dirt and the market seemed to gravitate towards these big horses with dirt pedigrees last year. You need to bring a two-turn dirt horse and you definitely need something with a bit of size. This fella is just over 16hh, is a big scopey horse, so he should fit the bill physically and on pedigree as well. Hopefully it all comes together.”

He added, “My brother Alex was at this sale last year and said that a lot of the horses who sold well came up the middle of the track. Rather than coming up the rail, it looked more impressive if a horse could breeze straight up the middle of the track, so we've had that in the back of our minds in preparing this lad. 

“As well as that, this sale comes up pretty quickly after Christmas. You don't have a lot of time from Christmas to the sale. They are big horses, so it's a different sort of challenge in preparing them for a breeze. 

“While they don't have to break the clock, and they can come up the track three-quarter pace, it's been at the forefront of my mind to try and be a step ahead of where I needed to be with him, just because the sale comes up so quickly. 

“To be fair to the horse, he has a great appetite for feed and work, and he has been telling us all along that he can take the workload which was great because this was always the sale we wanted to go to with him.”

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Stage Set For Inaugural Dubai Breeze-Up Sale

DUBAI, UAE–The interesting thing about talking to trainers from different parts of the world is that one man's gallop is another man's breeze, or indeed another woman's canter. Even within the specialised sector of the breeze-up sales, a Donny breezer may set a different pace to a Guineas breezer, often deliberately so, and for the inaugural Dubai Breeze-up Sale the focus is more on letting the 2-year-olds stretch out and show their moves over the two furlongs rather than rousting them along at a searing pace.

Not one for the clock-watchers, then, but that's no bad thing, and the 69 horses set to sell on Wednesday evening at Meydan racecourse weren't exactly hanging around as they skipped across the dark Tapeta all-weather surface of the Meydan training track.

As we have come to expect from this seasoned band of breeze-up vendors from Ireland and Britain, an impressive array of young bloodstock was on show on Tuesday morning. The consignors flitted to and fro, some looking a little more pensive than others, but they will have been heartened by the group of potential buyers perched trackside on steps and benches to witness this inaugural venture laid on by the Dubai Racing Club in association with Goffs. Among them was Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum, proudly supporting a baseball cap with the name of his dual Group 1 winner Perfect Power (Ire), who is a shining example amid the breeze-up graduates of 2021. Sitting alongside the sheikh was Richard Brown, the man who bought not only Perfect Power but also his sire Ardad (Ire), another classy breezer, both from their breeder Tally-Ho Stud.

The man in the driving seat for much of the project has been Goffs' Tom Taaffe, who not so long ago could have been found around this time of year sending strapping steeplechasers to Cheltenham. The former trainer appears to have a pretty breezy attitude to life in general, and he must have drawn some satisfaction watching on as the canters, gallops – call them what you will – were conducted without incident. 

Up on the balcony of the track's watch tower was 'the voice' of Goffs, group chief executive Henry Beeby, who must have felt almost at home, as if he was on his elevated rostrum in Ireland, only this time a little warmer and brighter. To Beeby's mellifluous backing track the 2-year-olds appeared one by one, around the turn and down the straight, cantering off into the distance with the vast Meydan grandstand as a backdrop. On Wednesday evening they will be auctioned off in its shadow, with the business end of the sale taking place in the Meydan winner's enclosure – a place to which many of their eventual buyers will no doubt hope to return one day.

“It went like clockwork,” said Beeby after the breeze show. “As a group the horses breezed exceptionally well. I think the breeze-up vendors have really risen to the challenge and given us a lovely bunch of horses. It's a new venture and they have taken a chance but the conditions that the Dubai Racing Club has put in place have given them confidence.”

The general consensus among those who put their money into finding horses to bring to Dubai at last year's yearling sales is that the operation has run smoothly so far, with plenty of vendors having reported being very busy through the viewing sessions. Time will tell if that interest turns into a decent return for them on this first date in the 2-year-old sales calendar, but present indications are encouraging.

Mickey Cleere of MC Thoroughbreds was the guinea pig, both as consignor and rider, when breezing lot 1, his colt by Gun Runner, the stallion who was runner-up to Arrogate in the Dubai World Cup five years ago. The bay colt is out of the 10-time winner Bank Audit (Wild Rush), whose victories include two at Grade II level.

“We're absolutely delighted to be here and to be a part of this sale,” said Cleere, who has three juveniles catalogued, including the only one by America's champion sire Into Mischief. “The horses travelled over great, the facilities are top class and all the right people seem to be here looking. I think it should be a success looking at the quality of horses here. There seem to be a lot of people with very nice horses, and we think we have nice horses too. The three of them are very different but they are nice and by the right sires with decent pedigrees.”

Cleere's fellow breeze riders included an accomplished gang of Irish jockeys, featuring Gary Halpin, Pat Dobbs, Andrew Slattery and Rory Cleary, while Louis Steward, who is set to ride Volcanic Sky (GB) for Saeed Bin Suroor in Saturday's Dubai Gold Cup, also took to the saddle. And for National Hunt fans of a certain vintage, there was the chance to see Norman Williamson gather up his reins again aboard two horses to be sold under his Oak Tree Farm banner. For all his success at Cheltenham and beyond, Williamson is just as well known in these circles as the vendor of War Of Will (War Front) and last season's European champion 2-year-old, Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}).

Among his offerings in Dubai is a French-bred colt who will become the first son of Godolphin's Group 1 winner Cloth Of Stars (Ire) to be offered at a breeze-up sale. Slated as lot 29, he looked very professional in his breeze on Tuesday morning and hails from a family deep in European black type, his dam Mediteranea (Fr) being a Smart Strike half-sister to the Group/Grade 1 winner and young sire Erupt (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) as well as Listed winner Marie De Medici (Medicean {GB}).

American-sired juveniles outnumber their European counterparts in the catalogue, which intriguingly also includes a colt by Shadai stallion Daiwa Major (Jpn) out of the former champion filly Peeping Fawn (Danehill), who owns a pedigree to match her sparkling race record. A three-parts-brother to the Chesham S. winner and G1 Moyglare S. runner-up September (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), he is consigned by Willie Browne's Mocklershill as lot 31.

Looking ahead to Wednesday'a main event, Henry Beeby added, “We're very hopeful. With a new venture you never know but I think the conditions we find ourselves in now, with quality horses, the interest pre-sale and at the breeze-up, it's looking in good shape.

“We are very grateful to Sheikh Rashid at the Dubai Racing Club for appointing us. It was a big vote of confidence in Goffs and we appreciate it.”

Uniquely for a Thoroughbred auction, all buyers have to pre-register and, in the style of fine art auctions, will be issued with a paddle with which to bid. The sale is set to commence at 5pm local time. At the time of writing, there have been three withdrawals (lots 7, 35 and 58). For the full catalogue and to view the breeze-up videos, please click here.

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Dubai: The New Breeze-Up Frontier

Never afraid to explore different avenues, Goffs brings an international flair to this year's breeze-up circuit with the launch of a 2-year-old sale in Dubai.

Hosted by the Dubai Racing Club (DRC) in association with the sales company at Meydan racecourse during Dubai World Cup week on March 23, the Goffs Dubai Breeze-Up Sale represents an audacious move that involves the shipment of 69 horses to Dubai from Europe. This is done with the aspiration that exposure of the European breeze-up product to an international audience will be rewarded with enthusiastic trade.

The European breeze-up scene, of course, is basking in the afterglow of an outstanding season on the track highlighted by the unbeaten champion 2-year-old Native Trail (Fr) (Oasis Dream {GB}), G1 Middle Park S. and G1 Prix Morny winner Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}), and top stayer Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}).

In addition, there remains a steady presence by graduates in the Middle East, particularly in Dubai, where the likes of Al Tariq (Fr) (Oasis Dream {GB}), Haqeeqy (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Midnight Sands (Speightstown) and Summer Romance (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) have each won stakes races in the past 14 months. Indeed, rarely does a meeting pass in Dubai without the European breeze-up circuit being represented by a winner. Take for example the meeting on March 25 at Meydan, at which the progressive Summer Front colt Summer Is Tomorrow, purchased for £120,000 by Tadhg O'Shea and Michael Burke from MC Thoroughbreds at the Arqana Breeze-up Sale, ran out the wide-margin winner of the Al Karama S. Two days later at Jebel Ali, Al Habash (Arrogate), sold by Star Bloodstock for 130,000gns to Ed Sackville at the Tattersalls Craven Sale, broke his maiden for Bhupat Seemar.

However, it's not all about Dubai. European breezers are also racing with distinction in Saudi Arabia, a good example being Street Boy (Street Boss), a Tattersalls Craven graduate who won his first two races just months after his purchase last year. Factor in additional potential interest from Bahrain, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, North America and Europe and it's easy to understand the hopes of Goffs to establish this sale as a high-flying event on the sales calendar.

“It's hugely exciting,” says Tom Taaffe, Dubai Sale co-ordinator. “It appears to have caught the imagination.

“Henry Beeby [Goffs CEO] has always given me an open hand to explore different avenues for Goffs. It was suggested to me a few years ago that this was something that might work, so we followed it up back then, put some work into it and ended up by putting a proposal together.”

Nothing came of those early efforts but the groundwork had been laid, and so when the idea was revisited last year upon the interest of Sheikh Rashid bin Dalmook Al Maktoum, chairman of the Dubai Racing Club, the sales house didn't need much encouragement to set the wheels in motion.

“Sheikh Rashid rang me to ask if we could look at it again,” says Taaffe. “So I travelled out to Dubai, had various meetings, and we pulled it all together. The contract was signed on the day of the Prix Morny [Aug. 22] and we were able to announce it later that evening.”

The timing of the announcement ensured that the Goffs UK Premier Sale, held that week in Doncaster, was awash with Dubai breeze-up chatter. It also ensured that the breeze-up community had plenty of time to digest the idea ahead of the sales season, in particular the Kentucky yearling sales, an area of the market that is traditionally attacked by European pinhookers.

And attack it they did. With the idea in mind that plenty of Dubai's racing is staged on dirt, the catalogue features 30 American-breds, among them those by top Kentucky sires such as Into Mischief, Curlin, Gun Runner, Kitten's Joy, More Than Ready, Speightstown and Uncle Mo. Justify is also among the first-crop sires represented. 

The other half of the catalogue understandably offers a more European slant and is similarly impressive, boasting representation from Dubawi (Ire), Frankel (GB), Kingman (GB), Kodiac (GB), Lope De Vega (Ire) and Oasis Dream (GB). Also of interest is a colt by top Japanese sire Daiwa Major (Jpn) (Sunday Silence) bred by Coolmore out of champion Peeping Fawn (Ire) (Danehill) (Lot 31).

“At the outset, we were hoping to produce a catalogue that was half and half–half turf and half dirt,” says Taaffe. “Dirt and turf both work well in all those countries. 

“There is always going to be a bit of scepticism when something new is launched and we respect that. But the consignors, who are a seasoned, hardy bunch of guys and extremely professional, have really backed this and given us some of their best horses. We started off with over 200 entries and we have ended up with an excellent group of horses–I think people will be amazed at the quality on offer.”

The catalogue consists of 72 lots but three are reserves, meaning that 69 will go under the hammer from 34 British- and Irish-based individual consignors.

Willie Browne's Mocklershill is numerically the strongest with nine, among them the aforementioned Daiwa Major colt and a Kingman colt out of Listed winner Snowy Winter (Elusive Quality) (Lot 48).

Church Farm and Horse Park Stud send through a Frankel half-brother to G3 winner Lily's Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) (Lot 30) while Malcolm Bastard breezes a Dubawi daughter of Listed winner Joyful Hope (GB) (Shamardal) (Lot 24), herself a sister to champion Crackerjack King (Ire) (Shamardal). Mark Grant's trio includes a Dark Angel (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) colt who is closely related to champion Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal) (Lot 57).

Those with American Grade I connections include two from Meadowview Stables in a Maclean's Music half-brother to Grade I winners Majestic Harbor (Rockport Harbor) and Danza (Street Boss) (Lot 8) and a Mendelssohn colt out of the Grade I-placed Maybellene (Lookin At Lucky) (lot 28). 

The trio catalogued by American Pharoah are also unsurprisingly well-related, among them Grangecoor Farm's colt out of G3 UAE Oaks heroine Polar River (Congrats) (Lot 36), herself a half-sister to another UAE Oaks winner (and former European breezer) in Down On Da Bayou (Super Saver).

Justify is represented by a filly out of G2 Pocahontas S. winner Dothraki Queen (Pure Prize) from Aguiar Bloodstock (Lot 13) and a colt out of Listed winner Sarrocchi (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (Lot 44) from Diego Dias.

When it comes to sire power, Micky Cleere's MC Thoroughbreds draft also takes the eye as vendor of a colt by Gun Runner (Lot 1) and a filly by Into Mischief (Lot 67), both sires who are carrying all before them in the U.S. Cleere, who will breeze the horses himself, went shopping last year with this sale in mind.

“It's exciting and something to look forward to,” he says. “It's nice to bring the horses to these buyers for a change. We had this sale in mind when we were buying last year, certainly when it came to the Gun Runner–that was the plan when we looked at him.”

The Gun Runner colt is out of Grade II winner Bank Audit (Wild Event) while the Into Mischief filly is out of Grade III scorer Ageless (Successful Appeal). The draft is rounded out by a Raven's Pass (Elusive Quality) colt from a black-type American family (Lot 5).

“Gun Runner looks a serious sire,” says Cleere. “And this colt is the only one by him in the catalogue. He's a good-sized colt and a good mover. Donal Keane was out looking at Keeneland for us and we liked this horse but he didn't sell in the ring, so we followed him down and got it done. And I'm glad we did as he's a lovely horse.

“The Into Mischief filly is very strong and she's fast. She's generous in her work and improving with every week. And the Raven's Pass is a good solid horse who is also very genuine.”

American influences also make up the draft belonging to Brendan Holland's Grove Stud, which offers a colt by Hard Spun (Lot 3) and a filly by Speightstown (Lot 54).

“Goffs and Tom Taaffe have worked extremely hard to make this sale happen and hard to promote it,” he says. “I've got two nice horses–both are good-sized, good-looking, square horses by respectable sires. Hopefully they'll come up the track with a bit of style.”

The Hard Spun colt, who cost $80,000 as a Keeneland September yearling, is a three-parts brother to Hawthorne Derby winner Mohs (Hard Spun) while the Speightstown filly, who cost $50,000, is the second foal out of the winning Union Rags mare Surprising Twist.

“We were looking to get three tiers of horses,” says Taaffe. “We have catalogued some upper-league horses. Then there are ones which will be more affordable and a solid middle group in between. And I'm confident some of those middle-market horses will pull up into the upper league.”

So how will it work?

“Sheikh Mohammed's vision is incredible and he has been very generous,” says Taaffe. “A lot of it is at his own cost, the staff expenses and the plane taking the horses out for example. So it's very important from Goffs' perspective that we have a catalogue with the right horses, and that was one of the reasons for having the horses vetted beforehand [chosen entries were only confirmed once they had passed a vetting examination during the early weeks of February].

“They fly in on 17 March on a temporary quarantine pass. The jet goes out of London Stansted with the British-based horses and flies into Shannon to collect the Irish horses. They will load up straight away and then go straight on to Dubai. 

“They should all be in their stables in Dubai by 9.30 p.m. that night. Then they spend two days in the NOFA quarantine facility at the track. They have excellent facilities; they'll be able to make use of a hacking track and lunge rings among other things. Then on the Sunday morning, they will be able to use the training track if they want and again in the evening as well. And they can repeat that again on the Monday. For those wanting to watch them train, they'll all be wearing cloths carrying their lot numbers.”

Prospective purchasers will be able to view the horses on Sunday between 4 and 8 p.m. and again on Monday within the same time slot. The breeze takes place from 7:45 a.m. onwards on Tuesday, Mar. 22 on Meydan's Tapeta training track and, in a departure from the norm, horses will be required to turn in a gentle two-furlong breeze, allowing them to be judged for their movement rather than by the clock.

“It's early in the year and a lot of these horses won't be running until November at the earliest,” says Taaffe. “They'll have to be let down afterwards and acclimatise for a few months before going into pre-training. So there'll be no timing and no stride pattern figures, it'll be all about allowing prospective purchasers to see that the horses can move well.

“When it comes to selling them, the horses will come up to the receiving barns at the track and we'll have five walking in the parade ring at the time of the sale while one is being sold in the winner's enclosure.”

The sale kicks off at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Mar. 23 and the bidding will be conducted in Emirati Dirham.

While the expectation is that many will be bought to race in Dubai, Goffs have received intentions of interest from buyers based worldwide. Indeed, given that the horses are coming in on a temporary quarantine pass, it's not inconceivable that several will make the return trip to Europe.

“We've had interest from Europe, Australia, Japan and Turkey, alongside all the Gulf Cooperation Council countries,” says Taaffe. “The Saudi Arabian race programme in particular is becoming a lot larger [the Saudi Jockey Club will host 90 meetings at the King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh this season, up from 64 in 2020-21]. There is another racetrack near Mecca called Taif that they're looking to make more use of during the summer months. So they'll be racing 12 months of the year and they need horses to fill that programme.”

He adds: “It's exciting. The whole team at Goffs have put a lot of hard work into it. Nick Nugent [Goffs executive director] has worked hard with me on the logistics. 

“We're delighted in the way it's been embraced and supported worldwide. If you have proper horses and proper people, then you will have a proper sale. 

“We're very pleased with the catalogue and I'm confident that the consignors will be well rewarded. But this sale will also be judged on what happens afterwards on the track. We want to be selling good horses and also sustainable horses that run year after year, that is the ethos behind it.”

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