Goffs auction brings in €51.6m

Buyers paid a total of €51.6 million for 800-plus yearling thoroughbreds sold over the three days of bloodstock auctioneer Goffs' million sale this week.

The total was almost €20 million ahead of the €32 million paid at the equivalent sale last year.

Managing director Matt Mitchell told The Irish Times last night that it was the company's best yearling sale. "We have substantially increased our market share," he said.

A key attraction this year was the fact that horses sold at the sale will be eligible to run in a Goffs-sponsored race next year with a first prize of €1 million.

The auction took place against a boycott by Dubai's ruling family, the Maktoums, of horses sired by stallions belonging to the Irish-headquartered Coolmore operation run by John Magnier.

This was widely expected to hit the sale, as the Maktoums are among bloodstock's biggest spenders. The Maktoums spent €8 million between them on 38 horses at Goffs this week, several of them by their own stallions. Coolmore spent €3.2 million on 12 horses by its stallions.

Hamdan al-Maktoum spent €1.8 million on the most expensive horse sold, a son of US-based stallion Kingmambo, which is not owned by either operation.

But Mr Mitchell said last night that the sale's success was largely down to a strong middle market. "The real story for us this week is that 166 horses sold for over €100,000," he said.

Other buyers included bloodstock agency BBA Ireland, which spent €3.3 million.

Among the vendors, Glenvale Stud made almost €3 million from the sale of 15 horses. Croom House, run by former Kerry Group boss Denis Brosnan, sold 10 horses for just over €2 million.

Abbeville and Meadow Court Studs, run by the daughter of former taoiseach Charles Haughey, Eimear Mulhearn, and her husband John Mulhearn, made €1.2 million from the sale of 10 horses. Ms Mulhearn is also chairwoman of Goffs.