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Richest Juvenile Race in Europe Unveiled Exclusively For Goffs Orby Grads

The Goffs Million, a €1-million 2-year-old race open exclusively to Goffs Orby yearling graduates, was announced by Goffs on Tuesday.

The seven-furlong contest is the richest 2-year-old race in Europe and will be held at The Curragh on Sept. 24, 2022 in advance of the Goffs Orby Sale. Open to 2-year-old colts and fillies that were catalogued in the 2021 Goffs Orby Sale on Sept. 28-29, it carries a prize fund guaranteed by Goffs and will pay out to 10th place. In addition, if the 2022 Goffs Million winner subsequently wins a Group 1 race at three in Ireland, the UK, France, USA or Australia, the winning owner will receive a €100,000 bonus from Goffs.

Announcing the new initiative, Goffs Group Chief Executive, Henry Beeby said, “Only Goffs Orby Sale gives the opportunity to win Europe's richest 2-year-old race next year and we are excited to be offering this unique chance to buyers. As was shown at the weekend by the likes of Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and Lucky Vega (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) in the English 1000 Guineas and 2000 Guineas, Orby yearlings perform at the highest level on the global stage and this race will act as the perfect stepping stone for the best.

“Similar concepts have proved defining in the past and we are unashamedly reconfiguring the Million initiative for today's marketplace and will offer a select two-day Orby Sale at Kildare Paddocks this autumn. As one noted breeder told me when I discussed the idea with him, this means 'everyone' will come to Goffs to make sure they have a chance of winning such a big prize especially as prize money will extend to 10th place.

“We recognise that the Orby Sale in particular, and Irish sales in general, need a lift after the challenges created by the global pandemic but the end is in sight with the vaccination programme and we look forward to welcoming a global audience back to Kildare Paddocks, and continuing the momentum of the sale that was very evident up to 2019 when Orby was consistently returning six-figure averages and seven- figure top prices year on year.”

“The Curragh is delighted to be a part of this ambitious and innovative initiative by Goffs to stage an exciting new race that will give a major boost to attracting new owners to the sport, together with providing the platform to attract a significant audience to the racecourse and also delivering major global media coverage for what will be a major highlight of our Autumn Festival next year,” added Pat Keogh, Chief Executive at The Curragh. “We appreciate the continued support of The Curragh by Goffs, which also includes their long standing sponsorship of the G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S.”

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Record Entries For Swedish Derby/Oaks

Over 500 horses are eligible for the 10-race 2022 Swedish Derby & Oaks Series which closed on Mar. 22, Svensk Galopp announced on Tuesday.

All the races are for 3-year-olds and run over three meetings on the Jagersro Racecourse dirt track with the exception of the Bro Park Sprint for Scandinavian-bred horses. Total prize money is almost €7.7 million and the races will be run between June and August. The Swedish Derby is worth in excess of €249,000, while the Swedish Oaks is worth almost €115,000 and the Altamira worth nearly €33,000. The entries are boosted by the inclusion of the full catalogs of the Goffs UK, Arqana and selected Tattersalls Breeze-Up sales. There is no supplemental entry stage for the Swedish Derby & Oaks Series.

Dennis Madsen Director of Racing for the Swedish Racing Authority said, “This year's record entry further endorses the innovative partnerships we have formed with the sales companies and demonstrates among the breeze-up consignors recognition of the value of an entry in the Swedish Derby & Oaks Series.

“We hope that many of the horses entered will remain after the next forfeit stage and that in addition to the horses that are imported into Scandinavia, new owners will take the chance to leave their breeze-up purchases in the series.”

“Sweden's reputation for providing good prize money and good quality racing continues to rise and last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' Turf winner Aunt Pearl whose dam, Matauri Pearl, ran her entire career in training in Sweden is one of many examples of class performers who can claim Swedish heritage. Other notables include 2019 Swedish Derby contender, Tribhuvan, who only last weekend won the GII Fort Marcy S. at Belmont Park.”

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The Revenant to Seek Soft Ground

Group 1 winner The Revenant (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who ran fourth in the G2 Prix du Muguet at Saint-Cloud on May 1, will appear in either the May 30 G1 Prix d'Ispahan at ParisLongchamp or the G1 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot on June 15. A winner of both the G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein on Oct. 3 and the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. on Oct. 17, the gelding ran third in the G3 Prix Edmond Blanc in his seasonal opener on Apr. 3.

“He's come out of the race well,” said the Chantilly-based Francis-Henri Graffard. “He had his Group 1 penalty and the ground was too fast, but he was in good form and he ran a very good race.

“He's entered in the Queen Anne and he will be entered in the d'Ispahan, but I think he will be good to have his soft ground wherever he goes.”

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Coronation Cup For Pyledriver

Dual Group 2 winner Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) is being aimed at Epsom's June 4 G1 Coronation Cup. Co-trainer William Muir, who trains with Chris Grassick, has indicated his stable star exited his second-place finish in the G2 Jockey Club S. on May 1 in good order. A winner of the G2 King Edward VII S. and G2 Great Voltigeur S. in 2020, Pyledriver was also third in the G1 St Leger at Doncaster in September prior to an unplaced run in the G1 QIPCO Champion S. a month later.

“He's come out of his race really well,” said Muir. “His legs are grand, he's trotted well, he's eaten his food, he's fine. He was probably just shy of match fitness and that left him a bit fresh. I did that on purpose as this race wasn't the first and foremost.

“My main objective is to win Group 1s with him this year. The ground was very quick and, getting tired that last bit, he just rolled around, but he's come out of it well. That will settle him.

“We've finished second in a Group 2 and we're in great shape for going forwards. He goes straight to Epsom now for the Coronation. Win, lose or draw, he was always going to go there. He will be perfect come Epsom. There will be no excuses there and there were no excuses on Saturday. Sir Ron Priestley (GB) (Australia {GB}) was better than we were.

“Pyledriver had a little light canter on Monday morning. We're very pleased and it's onwards and upwards.”

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