Press release: Kodiac colt tops vibrant final day of record Orby Sale

From Goffs

A second day of bumper international trade at Goffs Orby Sale saw the Irish National Yearling Sale return increases across the board with a new record median for the Orby, a clearance rate of 89%, an average price of €121,384 and turnover of over €50 million which was a 24% rise on 2021, while the top price of €2.6 million is the highest yearling price in the world this autumn.

Star of the show on day two was Alice Fitzgerald’s magnificent son of Kodiac out of Fikrah (Lot 460) who sold to Peter and Ross Doyle Bloodstock on behalf of owners Magne and Bente Jordanger of Stall Perlen for €575,000.  The Doyle team also purchased the colt’s own-sister Magical Sunset at last year’s Orby who has gone on to win for Amo Racing and Richard Hannon this season, beating G2 Mill Reef Stakes winner Sakheer on her debut, and was fourth in the Goffs Million last Saturday at the Curragh.

Among the large contingent of Orby yearlings purchased for American connections was Pier House Stud’s Ten Sovereigns colt (Lot 505), bought as a foal at Goffs November Sale for €130,000, who sold to Jacob West on behalf of Robert and Lawana Low for €500,000, while earlier Hugo Merry purchased a Sea The Stars filly closely related to La Parisienne from Loughtown Stud (Lot 311) for €460,000 on behalf of Andrew Rosen, Gainesway Stable and LNJ Foxwoods.

A pair of high-class colt to both make the €450,000 mark were Marlhill House Stud’s Galileo colt out of Belesta (Lot 351) that went the way of Justin Casse, as well as Ballylinch Stud’s own-brother to dual Group 1 winner Saffron Beach (Lot 453) who headed several notable Orby purchases by Amanda Skiffington on behalf of owner Fiona Carmichael.

Click here to view the full results.

Reflecting on a record two days at the Orby Sale, Goffs Group Chief Executive Henry Beeby said:

“The expectation coming into the Orby Sale was that we would enjoy a strong trade following good results elsewhere and so we were hopeful of some improved statistics. However nothing could have prepared us for the strength of the market and the vibrancy of the sale especially on day 1 which saw the world’s highest priced yearling so far this autumn at €2.6 million.

“The stunning sister to Blackbeard headed a truly electric trade that resulted from wonderful support from Irish breeders who responded to our strong sale of recovery last year by significantly increasing their support, hence a catalogue that grew by 15%. To return such improved numbers for average and median is particularly noteworthy given those increased numbers as is a clearance rate of 89% which compares very favourably.

“Every buyer has made their mark but it has been wonderful to welcome such a big group of American buyers to Kildare Paddocks, several of whom are making their first trip to a European yearling sale. This followed a concerted drive by our Buyer Recruitment Team working in tandem with Irish Thoroughbred Marketing and we are most grateful to ITM for their enthusiasm and hard work as we work together to promote the Irish National Yearling Sale to a global audience.

“Of course the week started in the most exciting way with the staging of Europe’s Richest Two Year Old Race, the Goffs Million at The Curragh. What a positive, fun and uplifting occasion it proved to be and Goffs are proud to be part of growing and driving racehorse ownership in this way. The winning connections were only a joy as they really embraced the concept, making the most of their big win and immediately reinvesting for next year over the last two days. We are pleased to be continuing the concept as it definitely provides a real focus to drive interest and enthusiasm in Orby.

“Orby 22 has proved, yet again, that it is the measure of any yearling sale anywhere when we have the support of Irish breeders and we send our sincere thanks to each vendor for entrusting us with so many of their world class yearlings. We know we are nothing without the horses but the Class of 22 allowed us to go all out to drive the biggest and most diverse group of buyers to Kildare for many a year and we are so pleased that there are so many success stories from the sale”.