Goffs London Sale: Waterhouse/Bott jump in for two

Cover image courtesy of Sarah Farnsworth

Written by TDN Europe

Gai Waterhouse has supported the Goffs London Sale since its inaugural year nearly a decade ago, extracting from past editions the likes of Hoo Ya Mal (GB) (Territories {Ire}), who co-cost her £1.2 million (AU$2.255 million) this time last year.

On Monday, Waterhouse and co-trainer Adrian Bott purchased two lots at the popular single session, assisted by bloodstock agent Johnny McKeever, who had also been on the ticket for Hoo Ya Mal last June.

The first horse, bought in partnership with Craig Thompson's Mount Hallowell Stud, was Cuban Dawn (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), bought for £300,000 (AU$565,000) from his breeder Jim Bolger and co-owner Teme Valley Racing.

The 3-year-old colt has finished second in two of his three starts during May, having made his debut in the Listed Tetrarch S., in which he was fourth behind subsequent G1 Irish 2000 Guineas winner Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}).

Teme Valley was also the co-owner, with Ballylinch Stud, of Waterhouse and Bott's second purchase, New Endeavour (Ire). The New Bay (GB) gelding was sold for £260,000 (AU$490,000) and is entered for both the Britannia and the Buckingham Palace S. on Thursday for local trainer Roger Varian.

Gallery: Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott's Goffs London Sale purchases, images courtesy of Goffs

Top lot Ascot-bound

It was nine years ago that the racing crowd first descended on London on the eve of Royal Ascot for the sale for the inaugural Goffs London Sale, plenty of the catalogue having smart entries for the week ahead.

The Goffs London Sale is a unique concept in Europe, and as much a lavish cocktail party as it is a horse sale.

But since that inaugural event of 2014, the boutique auction, which has been tweaked and trimmed in the process, has sold 148 lots for just shy of £37 million (AU$70 million).

That tally was boosted by the £3,770,000 (AU$7.1 million) total bid on Monday when, from 21 lots offered, including breeding rights to Havana Grey (GB) and Soldier's Call (GB), 11 were sold at an average of £342,727 (AU$645,000) and median of £250,000 (AU$470,000).

The top lot went the way of the G3 Marble Hill S. winner Givemethebeatboys (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}), who led all comers when sold for £1.1 million (AU$2.1 million) to Con and Neil Sands of Bronsan Racing. He will remain in training with Jessica Harrington and heads almost immediately to the G2 Coventry S. this week.

Generally 10-3 third-favourite for the Coventry, Givemethebeatboys is set to be ridden by Frankie Dettori but he will now not carry the colours of Theresa Marnane, whose husband Con and daughter Amy bought the dual winner for just €11,000 (AU$18,000) at the Goffs Autumn Yearling Sale last November.

“Goffs puts on such a show,” said Amy Murnane after the sale. “Everybody who is anybody is here, and we just hope that the horse goes on to win the Coventry tomorrow (Tuesday). Mrs Harrington and Kate Harrington have been a huge part of this horse's career and they are so excited to see him run tomorrow, which gives us huge confidence in him.”

Kate Harrington confirmed that the colt will return to her family's stable in Kildare.

“We're delighted for Bronsan Racing to have bought such an exciting horse in Givemethebeatboys, and let's hope he can go and do them justice in the Coventry,” she said. “He will stay in training with us after Ascot, which is very exciting.”

Sale highlights

Other notable highlights of the sale included No Nay Mets (Ire) (No Nay Never {USA}), who won a Royal Ascot qualifying race on his sole start at Gulfstream Park for trainer George Weaver and Bergman Family Racing.

As such, not only has he had his airfare paid by Ascot Racecourse, but he has now netted his owners £800,000 (AU$1.5 million) before even setting foot on a racecourse again.

The No Nay Never (USA) colt, who was bred by Coolmore and sold as a yearling by Baroda Stud at Arqana for €180,000 (AU$290,000), was bought by Liam Culman's Tuckernuck Stables.

Ocean Vision (Ire) (U S Navy Flag {USA}) was knocked down to Marquee Bloodstock, with bloodstock agent Martin Buick acting on behalf of Ramiro Restrepo, best known for purchasing Kentucky Derby winner Mage (USA) (Good Magic {USA}).

It is understood that the 3-year-old will remain with his trainer, Tim Donworth, in France for the immediate future, but the plan is for the colt to continue his career in America.

Ocean Vision, who was sold for £250,000 (AU$470,000), was one of three French-trained horses to be offered at the sale. He won the Listed Prix de Pontarme in May among his four victories from 10 starts for Jonathon Kirkland and Geraldine Ryan.

Joseph O'Brien's useful dual-purpose campaigner Nusret (GB) was knocked down at £300,000 (AU$565,000) to Jayne McGivern of Dash Grange Stud, who also owns his sire, Golden Horn (GB). Four-year-old Nusret, a multiple winner on the flat and over hurdles, holds an entry for Friday's Duke of Edinburgh S.

Breeding rights to last year's champion first-season sire Havana Grey and one of this season's leading lights of the freshman division, Soldier's Call, were offered at the start of the sale. They were bought respectively for £205,000 (AU$385,000) by China Horse Club and £80,000 (AU$150,000) by Oliver St Lawrence.

“We are delighted with today's London Sale, which saw strong demand from an international audience capped by a dream result for the connections of Givemethebeatboys,” said Henry Beeby, Goffs Group chief executive.

“For Goffs to be here in the grounds of Kensington Palace, welcoming so many friends and colleagues from international racing, is something we are very proud of. It's what we're all about – the business of buying and selling top-class horses but making it as enjoyable a process as possible.”