All Systems Go as Goffs Classic Sale Passes First Test

The latest addition to the breeze-up circuit has passed its first test, with participants giving the opening stage of the Goffs Classic Sale a firm thumbs up. The auction is not scheduled to take place until 6:15 p.m. June 28 after Day 2 of the Irish Derby (G1) meeting at the Curragh, which features the Pretty Polly Stakes (G1). This means breezing and selling bookend trade at the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale, which runs from Wednesday through Friday, with Goffs aiming to be "respectful of an established sale" while also enhancing its own offering. Those who were focused on the 50 or so juveniles that went through their paces at Naas racecourse on Monday were duly impressed by both the location and the caliber stock on offer. "It went very well," said British-based consignor Malcolm Bastard, who is offering a late-maturing St Mark's Basilica (FR) filly (Lot 28) and a well-related son of Not This Time (55). "The actual breeze track was top-class and the ground was superb. It was a beautiful track to breeze on." Those sentiments were echoed by bloodstock agent Matt Coleman, who said: "I thought it was a lovely facility to breeze at. There was good viewing and the track seemed in excellent condition. It's a nice steady uphill climb, so I thought it was the ideal place to breeze horses. It'd be as good a location as any I've been to to watch horses breeze." Although some vendors have questioned the time frame between breezing and selling, Coleman said the additional days would help ease the logistics around buying, especially for agents and trainers with interests in the flat and national hunt markets. "I understand from a vendor's perspective it's quite drawn out, breezing on a Monday and selling on a Saturday, but logistically it suits me," he said. "I know there's plenty of other countries that use a similar system; in Australia and New Zealand, they even breeze a few weeks beforehand. Obviously, it gives everyone plenty of time to view the horses and get through vetting, so it's certainly very workable." After some initial skepticism among the breeze-up ranks, those who have got behind the initiative suggested the sale provided a range of positives for consignors. The positioning in the calendar means they can now pinhook and prepare a later-maturing individual, which opens up new avenues in the yearling market, while it also offers a welcome Plan B for 2-year-olds who have missed an earlier breeze-up sale engagement. One lot that falls into the former category is the Starspangledbanner (AUS) colt out of a sibling to international group/grade 1 winners Sabiango and Silvano (47). The colt, who put in the fastest pre-sale workout, according to times seen by the Racing Post, is being offered by Roderic Kavanagh of Glending Stables, who picked the youngster up during Book 2 of last year's Orby Yearling Sale for €29,000. "In fairness, my business partner, Cormac O'Flynn, was a big believer in the sale and when we bought the horse he earmarked him for this," said Kavanagh. "He's an end-of-April foal and a big, scopey horse so it's worked out. We're glad to be here with him anyway. There's been doubts over the last couple of months over whether we needed to wait with him, but I think it's done the horse well and I think he's a very suitable candidate for the sale." Kavanagh added: "I was very happy with him in his breeze; he breezed well and finished out his gallop nicely. He's by Starspangledbanner, so he's bred to enjoy galloping." "He would've been fine at Fairyhouse (for the Tattersalls Ireland Breeze-Up Sale) too but it's nice to support a new sale. Goffs is our local auction house, and at every stage in the market, buying and selling, we're trying to support them. Hopefully, we'll be rewarded." The top end of the European breeze-up market has been particularly lively in 2025, as evidenced by seven lots making a seven-figure sum between the Tattersalls Craven (two), Doncaster (one), and Arqana (four) events. However, it has not all been plain sailing away from the head of the market, and Kavanagh said he expected that trend to continue at Goffs on Saturday evening.