Image © Healy Racing
The seventh Goffs Aintree Sale was successfully staged at the opening day of the Randox Grand National Festival with the sale seeing 23 lots sold for a clearance rate of 88% at an average price of £90,218.
The seventh Goffs Aintree Sale was successfully staged at the opening day of the Randox Grand National Festival with the sale seeing 23 lots sold for a clearance rate of 88% at an average price of £90,218.
The sale got off to a strong start with the dual Grade 2 winner and Cheltenham Festival victress Love Envoi, who had started her career winning a Wexford point-to-point bumper for Sean Doyle before progressing into a top track mare for Harry Fry, selling to the bid of Rathmore Stud for £135,000.
The sale topper came halfway through proceedings with Rob James’ Jukebox Jury gelding He Can’t Dance, the winner of his debut at Monksgrange, who was purchased by Gordon Elliott Racing for £300,000.
There were a total of five other Irish Pointers that broke the six-figure mark, including Denis Murphy’s Monksgrange runner-up Holloway Queen, who sold to JP McGrath Bloodstock for £180,000, whilst another horse with recent four-year-old mares’ maiden form, that of Jonathan Fogarty’s Flamingo Grove, a debut winner at Tattersalls last Sunday, was bought by Stroud Coleman Bloodstock and Jonjo O'Neill for £150,000.
Continuing the trend of mares proving to be in demand, Paul and Andy Pierce sold their Jackie Hobbs, who had beat the aforementioned Holloway Queen at Monksgrange, to Hagg Hill Farm for £130,000.
That purchaser also signed for Paddy Turley’s Portrush runner-up Cobbler’s Boy for £115,000, whilst Parish Quiz, a battling winning at Knockanohill, was bought by Hamish Macauley and Rebecca Menzies for £100,000.
Goffs UK Managing Director Tim Kent commented: “It is always a highlight to be here at Aintree and it’s been a pleasure to watch this sale become a part of the iconic Randox Grand National Festival since its launch in 2016. Today’s sale had plenty of highlights, including a top price of £300,000, but the results also reflect a difficult few weeks for us and our vendors.
“The inclement weather has meant a large number of point-to-point meetings have been postponed or cancelled, so it has been very difficult to compile a catalogue to meet the high expectations for which this sale has become renowned. That being said, we exist to provide a stage from which vendors can sell their stock and we are grateful to everyone who have supported the sale this year.
“The Aintree Sale has a wonderful record of producing high-class racehorses, as evidenced by the five Grade 1 winners coming from the first five-sales, and we are confident that more will emerge from this year’s offering.
“As ever, we would also like to extend our gratitude to the Aintree executive for their help and enthusiasm towards this fantastic event and we look forward to our return at next year’s Grand National Festival.”
Sale Statistics
Offered: 26
Sold: 23 (88%)
Aggregate: £2,075,000 (-30%)
Average: £90,218 (-26%)
Median: £75,000 (-32%)
