A week after one horse has scooped the one million-euro prize, the 2006 Goffs Million Sale will provide the opportunity to purchase the winners of two such races in 2007.The first running of the Goffs Million will take place alongside golf's Ryder Cup, which happens at the K Club in nearby Straffan later the same week.
The Goffs Million Sale in Ireland has moved up a gear after it was announced recently that two separate races worth 3.2 million euros in total would be run next year.By introducing the new races with increased prize money, Goffs is actively trying to challenge the position of Tattersalls as Europe's dominant premier yearling auction. Graduates of this year's sale, which runs from September 26-28, will be eligible to contest the two races -- one for colts and the other for fillies. The winner of each contest will receive 1 million euros.Details of the new races and prize funds were revealed by the chairman of Goffs, Eimear Mulhern, who emphasized Goffs' commitment to the bloodstock industry."Last year was an unprecedented year for Goffs and we thank and salute our vendors for the support offered to the inaugural Million sale," Mrs Mulhern said. "We look forward to building on this support as we develop the concept in the years ahead."As well as looking towards the Irish and British markets, the launch campaign for the Goffs Million Sale will also target potential purchasers from Europe, Japan, and Dubai.The inaugural Goffs Million, the richest 2-year-old race in Europe, will be run over seven furlongs later this year and is open to both colts and fillies. Along with the Fillies Five Hundred, a seven-furlong contest for fillies worth 500,000 euros to the winner, it forms part of a seven-race card at the Curragh, Ireland on Tuesday, September 19.There have been 331 entries for the Goffs Million, among them 2-year-olds trained in Ireland, the UK, France, and Germany.