Nothin’ lasts endlessly, even chilly November rain. Axl Rose’s lyrics rang true round a rain-lashed Kildare Paddocks gross sales complicated Nov. 23 because the Goffs November Breeding Inventory Sale drew to a detailed with a whimper, and Storm Bert dumped a substantial quantity of gentle November rain on the hardy souls who had turned out to bid and the tireless grooms and gross sales employees, caring for the mares till the very finish.
A lowered catalog couldn’t proceed the fireworks from the previous foal sale and the figures have been down on these recorded on the second day of final yr’s sale, which acquired a lift in numbers and high quality as a part of the domino impact of the Niarchos draft on the opening day.
The one silver lining amid all the grey clouds was Saturday’s clearance fee of 78%, which was a big enchancment on the 63% recorded on the second day of the sale final yr, with 56 of the 72 fillies and mares offered on the market altering palms.
Comparisons of turnover on Saturday with earlier years are a little bit skewed. Gross sales totaled €445,500 (US$464,135, €1=US$1.04), an unlimited decline of 65% year-on-year. For extra context, a comparability with the second day of the 2022 sale exhibits a drop of 49% from the €869,400 grossed that day. Extra horses got here underneath the hammer in each of these years, nevertheless, with 93 in 2022 and 129 final yr.
Extra significant is a comparability of the common and median costs. The 2024 common of  €7,816 (US$8,143) represented a decline of 20% year-on-year and was 15% decrease than in 2022. The median of €5,000 (US$5,209) was a drop of 17% year-on-year, with the 2023 determine of €6,000 unchanged from 2022.
Henry Beeby, group chief govt of Goffs, mentioned: “Immediately was a slightly sobering finish to a giant week however, as all through the sale, those who appealed have been arduous sufficient to purchase and we’ll solely redouble our efforts to influence extra to help the sale.Â
“This enterprise will be brutal on events, however Irish breeders will be assured Goffs won’t relaxation in our efforts to supply a vibrant international market for them. That is what we stay to do and what we like to do.
“Our breeding inventory sale was by no means going to return anyplace close to final yr’s actually historic sale which, in fact, was headlined by the once-in-a-generation Niarchos draft. Nonetheless, leaving that apart we’re completely content material with commerce for the higher mares we provided and loved a vibrant commerce fueled by a very worldwide shopping for bench.”
Revenue arduous to return by
Saturday noticed simply 4 tons promote for €25,000 or extra, with the highest worth of €45,000 (US$46,882) given by David Byrne of Rochestown Lodge Stud for Revenue Refused.
The successful 3-year-old daughter of Worthwhile hails from a present top-class Godolphin household. Her dam, Silver Moon, was bred by Godolphin and is an Exceed And Excel half sister to twin Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) winner Insurgent’s Romance and Manhattan Stakes (G1) winner Measured Time , by Frankel  .
The unraced Silver Moon had a filly foal by 2021 Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) winner Area Blues who made €50,000 to Martin Bozo on Wednesday on the Goffs Foal Sale.
