Demand For Irish Bloodstock On The Rise

2016 has been a year of much change and uncertainty, with Brexit and the US presidency elections adding to the pressure felt by recovering economies around the world.

With Britain being Ireland’s largest market in the bloodstock sector, Brexit was the main cause of concern for the Irish racing world but it fortunately did not stop the demand for quality Ireland-bred bloodstock.

Irish bloodstock sales generated total revenue of €161,081,325 in 2016, an increase of 7.25% on the previous year, due in part to the Wildenstein family choosing Goffs as the company to disperse some of their revered stock during the year.

With 108 blue-blooded thoroughbreds offered at the venue’s Orby and November Sales, the dispersal was topped by classic winner Beauty Parlour, who brought €1.6million from Peter Brant of White Birch Farm.

Tattersalls Ireland also enjoyed a terrific year with their flagship sale, the Derby Sale, posting a 14% rise in turnover.

The success of September Yearling Sale graduates on the track, led by Galileo Gold winning the 2000 Guineas at Epsom, encouraged buyers and their spending, bringing increases in all areas.

Another sale progressing is the Goresbridge Breeze-Up Sale, which produced a record turnover of €5.289million in 2016, bettering the previous year’s record by an incredible 13%.

Trade was boosted by the innovative live bidding system arranged by Irish Thoroughbred Marketing from Kranji in Singapore. SIngapore buyers secured four horses through the online system.

One of the main concerns for Irish vendors is the demand for National Hunt fillies and the girls did all they could to prove their worth throughout the year.

Annie Power led the way with her historic Cheltenham Champion Hurdle win. Jer’s Girl was another to beat the boys at the highest level, while Airlie Beach looks one to continue where they left off in the current season.

Annie Power was one of seven winners at the Cheltenham Festival for trainer Willie Mullins that saw him crowned the meeting’s champion trainer. A total of 14 winners at the Festival were Irish-trained.

Mouse Morris was another Irish trainer that enjoyed a terrific season, achieving an outstanding Grand National double with Rogue Angel and Rule The World.

Both were bought at the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale, while on the flat, their yearling graduate Galileo Gold won two G1 races.

Another Irish sales graduate to achieve classic glory was Goffs November Sale buy Jet Setting, who provided young trainer Adrian Keatley with his greatest success to date in the Irish 1000 Guineas.

That victory saw her edge out the terrific Minding, winner of the British equivalent, as well as the Epsom Oaks.

Minding’s handler Aidan O’Brien also won the Irish Oaks with Seventh Heaven.

Combined with Kevin Prendergast’s Awtaad in the Guineas, Willie Mullins’ unbelievable Leger win with Wicklow Brave and Dermot Weld’s awesome Derby double with Harzand and Irish trainers took home eight of the ten classics run in Britain and Ireland in 2016.

The French classics were also a triumph with The Gurkha taking the 2000 Guineas for Aidan O’Brien.

Moving from Deauville to Chantilly, where Aidan O’Brien became the first to train the first three home in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, then on to Santa Anita, where the globetrotting Highland Reel took the Breeders’ Cup Turf, an amazing 22 G1 races were won by Aidan O’Brien during the year, helped, in part, by the stronghold champion sire Galileo has at highest level.

Irish breeders also dominated the classic sphere, taking seven of the 10 Classics run in Britain and Ireland, while Irish-foaled horses won 23 of the 35 G1 races during the British flat season as well as 19 races at Royal Ascot.

Irish-bred success continued further afield, with terrific performances Down Under by the likes of Sir John Hawkwood, Gallante, Qewy and Francis Of Assisi advertising the toughness and stamina of Irish bloodstock.

The Melbourne Cup saw the Tony Martin-trained Heartbreak City denied by just a head, his unsuccessful trip through the Goffs sales ring at the Horses In Training Sale a year previous now looking like a blessing in disguise for connections.

Fellow Goffs graduate Obviously, bought for just €2,000 at the February Sale, scored a fairytale win in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, his third G1 victory.

The international flavour of 2016 successes began in March, when One Man Band took the Godolphin Mile on Dubai World Cup night.

Much is owed to Ireland’s world class stallions with Galileo topping the sire table once again this year, two spaces above his half-brother Sea The Stars, whose terrific season was led by Harzand’s Derby double.

Shamardal, Invincible Spirit, Dark Angel and Acclamation are other sires helping Ireland to dominate the stallion tables.

In the National Hunt sphere the late King’s Theatre leads the way, followed by Presenting, Oscar and Flemensfirth.

Irish Thoroughbred Marketing will begin 2017 on a high note by showcasing the top-class bloodstock Ireland has to offer during the Irish Stallion Trail which takes place on January 27 and 28.