Six lots realising over €1 million with a top price of €2 million, the highest priced colt foal in Europe, the top priced Horse-In-Training in the UK, two European Classic winners and more Grade 1 winners at the Cheltenham Festival than any other store sale were the highlights of another strong year of trade at Goffs that consolidated the 142% growth in turnover recorded since 2010.
Commenting on the 2015 results, Goffs Chief Executive Henry Beeby said:
“2015 has been another year of highs for the team at Goffs and our wide portfolio of sales. We are, of course, delighted to have all but matched last year’s annual turnover at just short of €110 million and consolidated the remarkable growth we have recorded over the last 5 years which outperforms any other European Auction House by some margin.
Four millionaires at the Orby Sale for the first time and to four different buyers was backed up by another 2 European Classic winners to exemplify the Orby Sale’s position as a premier European yearling sale. Those results have been driven by increasing support from leading Irish breeders who are sending more and more of their best to Goffs as we attract a growing and truly international group of buyers each year.
The November Foal Sale set a record for the second year in succession when the Dubawi – Nightime foal became the highest priced colt foal ever in Ireland at €1.1 million. His price proved to be the highest priced colt foal in Europe and Europe’s highest priced Irish foal of the year. This record came 12 months after the Frankel – Finsceal Beo filly who realised €1.8 million which was the highest price in Europe for 12 years and the third highest priced foal ever, both prices cementing the Goffs November Foal Sale’s market leading position in the calendar.
The November Foal Sale was immediately followed by a strong renewal of our Breeding Stock Sale which recorded some impressive statistics with turnover up by 26% and the average growing by 20%, so bucking the trend at other breeding stock sales in the following weeks and demonstrating the enduring appeal of mares and fillies at Goffs, where our European record for a Classic winner remains unbeaten at €6 million.
There were plenty of other highlights in 2015. The February Sale was the only European Mid-Winter Breeding Stock sale to record 6 figure prices with 4 in total, whilst the London Sale on the eve of Royal Ascot built on its incredible debut with the highest priced Horse-In-Training sold in the UK at £825,000 whilst the Champions Sale on Irish Champions Weekend was topped by a price of €450,000.
In National Hunt the Punchestown Sale made more progress with a record price of €280,000 whilst the Land Rover Sale built on its remarkable progress in recent years with a storming trade which was underpinned by another superb Cheltenham Festival when the Land Rover sold more Grade 1 winners than any other store sale.
The year finished with a superb edition of the December NH Sale which is now a real option for the best NH foals and is another sale that has made remarkable progress in recent years with growth of over 450% since 2010.
As referenced following our November and December Sales the one note of caution is the clearance rates that have demonstrably dropped as catalogue sizes have grown this year and that should cause us all to reflect on a rising foal crop given what we learned a few short years ago. Goffs is here to serve the market and we will do everything in our power to provide a vibrant marketplace for every lot in every category but it is certainly worth thinking hard about a market that is enjoying fierce trade for some but little interest in others. So perhaps we should pause for a moment as we consider plans for 2016 and beyond as it behoves us all to ensure we learned from the tough times we endured in 2009/10.
So the theme throughout 2015 at Goffs has been that we will achieve the best for the best. That has been superbly illustrated by the first two crops of the great Frankel who stands at stud in England. Who would have bet that Goffs in Ireland would sell his highest priced first crop foal and first crop yearling but that has proved to be the case with our highs of €1.8 million and €1.7 million in November 14 and Orby 15. These Frankel progeny are just two in a growing list of examples that clearly demonstrate that we will deliver the highest prices when we have the quality that deserves it.
As a result we make no apology for repeating our cry to Irish breeders to send us more of their best at the same time as thanking every single vendor who has supported us in 2015 as we are nothing without them. We also extend our thanks to the growing number of buyers from home and abroad who recognise and enjoy the unique Goffs service; we look forward to welcoming clients old and new back to our sales in 2016.”
2015 figures:
Offered: 3,849
Sold: 3,024 (79%)
Aggregate: €109, 207,462
Average: €36,114
