Drama and disbelief abounded at Goffs Nov. 22 as Gouache, dam of this year's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) winner Goliath, was led out of the Goffs November Breeding Stock Sale unsold at €5 million (US$5.2 million, €1=US$1.04).
Goliath is set to contest the Japan Cup (G1) Nov. 24, but even the prospect of an almost immediate pedigree update was not enough to prompt the massed ranks of major players to join the fray so far into seven-figure territory.
Goffs group chief executive Henry Beeby was on the rostrum when Gouache took to the ring, and commented on events by saying: "I quote my late father as he always said, 'If you haven't got a horse, you can't sell it.' Even if people are looking for big money, you bring the horse to the ring and present it to the market.
"We've promoted this mare, the current owners value her very highly, obviously, and when we spoke about it yesterday they drew comparisons, for very understandable reasons, with Alpha Centauri and Alpine Star, who sold for €6 million apiece last year.
"They were looking for something between five and six (million) and the market didn't agree. It's disappointing for us and slightly frustrating, but if you haven't got the horses you can't sell them, and all we can do is our best. I've said it before and I'll say it again, it's the vendor's prerogative."
Beeby added that there was still the potential for a private deal to be struck outside of the ring.
Gouache, who was presented by Millennium Stud, was making a fairly swift return to the sales ring having been signed for by the Rotterdam-based Agrolexica International Trading at €200,000 at Arqana last December, at which point Goliath's biggest accomplishment was winning a listed contest at Clairefontaine.
Goliath is one of three winners out of Gouache, who was offered in foal to Baaeed. Her first foal, Goliath's sister Gamine, won five races in Germany, while her third foal, the Cloth of Stars filly Galaxy, shed her maiden tag since the publication of the November Sale catalog. The mare delivered a Blackbeard filly bred under the banner of Millennium Stud March 27.
Top Lot Honor Goes Elliott's Way
Her Honour was also led out unsold when the bidding reached €850,000, but Springfort Park Stud later struck a private deal with Alex Elliott at €725,000 (US$754,000). The 13-year-old daughter of Shamardal has developed into a prolific producer despite her earlier covers having been to a range of stallions who failed to shine at stud.
Her four winners at paddocks feature first foal Mirage Hero, a listed-placed son of Due Diligence; her second foal is her best to date, with Brazen Beau mare Vadream winning four races, including the Bengough and Palace House (both G3) stakes; while her fourth foal turned out to be Midream, a listed-placed daughter of U S Navy Flag.
She has since received some punchier covers, as befits her status as the dam of three black-type horses. She has a 2-year-old colt by Kodiac, a yearling filly by New Bay, and she was offered in foal to Night of Thunder.
"She wasn't sold for €850,000 obviously, but we honored our last bid in the ring," said Elliott. "What a producer. She's a Shamardal mare from a huge family with Harzand and Emily Upjohn on the page (under the second dam).
"She's bred stakes horses by inferior stallions really. It's time to upgrade her and Peter and Hugh McCutcheon reluctantly agreed to sell her. They didn't really want to let her go, but she'll be bred to some big stallions now. I'd imagine we'll breed her to Frankel or Wootton Bassett.
"She's been bought for an English breeder and she's going to reside at Baroda Stud with David Cox. The McCutcheon brothers have kept a New Bay filly out of her, so they'll still be cheering her on. She's in foal to Night of Thunder too, who's going to stand for €150,000 next year. She's a mare with a bit of age but she's proven."
Gone West
Neither Jacob West nor Mike Repole were in attendance at Kildare Paddocks, but that did not stop the names of the leading agent-owner combination appearing prominently on the results. The pair were bidding through Goffs agent Tom Taaffe when they landed Firebird Song from the Godolphin consignment at €230,000.
The 8-year-old daughter of Invincible Spirit, the dam of one winner from one runner, was offered in foal to Blue Point, who is set to stand the 2025 season at €100,000. There is plenty of bold black type on the page as Firebird Song is a sibling to the dam of Sirenia Stakes (G3) scorer Symbol of Strength, while Territories appears beneath the second dam.
"She's for Jacob West, agent for Mike Repole, who's been a great supporter of here for the last number of years," said Taaffe. "I gave them a shortlist this morning and I couldn't believe it when, at 10 to 5 their time, Jacob texted me with an addition! Mike is an early morning person and had it all covered. She'll go back to America because he wants to bring some international bloodlines into his broodmare band."
The six-figure purchase helped Godolphin top the consignors' table with 24 lots sold for an aggregate of €1,943,000.
Sale Statistics
The session saw 207 mares offered and 161 changed hands at a clearance rate of 78%. Direct year-on-year comparisons in the key market metrics are heavily distorted by the presence of the once-in-a-generation Niarchos draft on this day last year. Turnover for the day reached €10,839,000 (US$11,272,560), which is 15% behind last year's results minus the Niarchos contingent. The average was €67,325 (US$70,018), which was also back 15%, while the median was down 5% at €40,000 (US$41,600).
The November Breeding Stock Sale concludes Nov. 23 with a session starting at 10 a.m. local time.
