Moyglare Stud's 3-year-old Irish-bred filly Candle Lit was bought for a sale-topping €100,000 (US$133,493) at the second and final session of the Goffs February mixed sale Feb. 14 at Kildare Paddocks.
Brain Grassick Bloodstock's purchase of the daughter of Duke of Marmalade bolstered final sales figures only slightly as the auction ended well down in total receipts and average price when compared with last year's numbers.
Goffs reported 296 of 435 horses offered as sold for €2,879,750 ($3,844,406) in total revenues, a 22.3% decline from last year's sale when 277 horses sold, including sale record-priced Teo's Sister. The Galileo filly and full sister to Teofilo became the most expensive horse ever sold at the February sale when she was bought for €500,000 ($656,290), also at final session.
Average price was down 27.2% to €9,729 ($12,988), but the clearance rate improved from 62.2% last year to 68.1%. Median price was static at €5,500 ($7,342).
"Whilst some of the statistics may not have matched last year we have returned a strong trade on both days and welcomed another international audience to Goffs following a coordinated approach from Goffs and Irish Thoroughbred Marketing," Goffs chief executive Henry Beeby said.
"Last year's top prices have not been matched but this is a sale that very much reacts to the market.
"The fact is that this year has returned the second best set of results since the pre-downturn highs of February 2008 and over 50% ahead of 2011. Of course we would have preferred to advance again in all sectors but an improved clearance rate and steady median price clearly show we continue to develop the sale. That makes Goffs in February the clear first choice for so many vendors and buyers from home and abroad."
The sale-topping Duke of Marmalade filly, a three-quarter sister to multiple group winner and 2010 Irish St. Leger (Ire-I) runner-up Profound Beauty, was offered as a broodmare prospect. Out of the stakes-winning Highest Honor mare Diamond Trim, she was unraced due to an injury as a foal.
"This was a great and very rare opportunity to get into this family, as Moyglare just doesn't sell fillies from this family," Cathy Grassick told Racing Post. "She is the first filly in two generations of this family to come up for sale and we're delighted to have got her. She's been bought on behalf of an established client."
For complete sales results, visit www.goffs.com.
