Kildare native Tadhg Dooley joined the Goffs group as a bid spotter, made his auctioneering debut this year, and is hoping for more hammer time in 2023. He took time out from his day job at Goffs to answer Racing Post's Q&A.
Racing Post: Tell us about your background; were you interested in racing/bloodstock from a young age or did it grow on you gradually?
Tadhg Dooley: I was interested in racing from a very young age and would love going racing. I went to primary school in Ballymore Eustace, County Kildare, and when the Punchestown festival was on in April I would attend every day of it when I was in fifth and sixth year. When Cheltenham came around I would have the Racing Post in school with me, studying the form during my lunch, and remember getting my mum to back Imperial Commander for the Gold Cup for me in 2010.
During those few years, if racing did not capture your imagination, I don't think it ever would. You had horses like Denman, Kauto Star, Quevega, and Big Bucks, to name but a few, all running; it was hard not to fall in love with the game.
The bloodstock side of things grew on me as I got older and began secondary school. I was fortunate enough to have friends who were also interested in racing and bloodstock, so it was constantly being discussed and debated.
RP: You joined Goffs initially as a bid spotter; was that your first job, or did you do anything else prior to working for the company?
TD: I joined Goffs as a bid spotter in 2017 while studying Equine Business at Maynooth University. I began working in TRI Equestrian on the Curragh when I was 16 and once I began college, I started working for Ross O'Sullivan, spending my mornings there before going to college.
For around four months each summer during college, I would try to go somewhere different. I spent a summer at Derrinstown Stud, Woods Edge Farm in Kentucky, and with Madeleine Tylicki and Andrew Kinirons. All these experiences were thoroughly enjoyable, and I learned a lot at each job as they were all great people to work for.
RP: Tell us about what preparation you had/needed before making your auctioneering debut this year?
TD: Before making my debut in September, I had done a few charity auctions, which were great fun and great practice. In the weeks leading up to the Goffs UK September Sale I went down to the rostrum during the week to an empty auditorium with Nick Nugent. I was given last year's Land Rover catalog, which had some reserves written in it. I would start by learning to introduce each horse before beginning selling.
Once Nick was satisfied I wasn't going to make a complete mess of it, I was given a date for my debut and eagerly awaited the lots I was selling. Once I received my lots and my hardback catalog, I must have sold each lot at least 10 times in my sitting room when there was nobody home.
RP: Have you had any further turns with the gavel since, and/or any hopes for what 2023 will bring?
TD: I got another opportunity with the gavel at the Goffs October Horses in Training and Yearling Sale, and I definitely enjoyed it more than in September when making my debut, as the nerves were not as bad. I'm looking forward to another opportunity in the new year.
In 2023 I hope to get my auctioneering license in Ireland, which I have applied for and would love to take to the rostrum at Kildare Paddocks.
RP: Describe, as best you can, a typical day for you working for the Goffs bloodstock team.
TD: Each day working for Goffs is different, which is what I love about it. Most days, you are based in the office assisting clients. I'm a member of the bloodstock team and we are responsible for cataloging sales and attracting desirable entries. This entails assisting vendors in choosing the most suitable sale for their horse.
When a client makes an entry we are responsible for processing it on our system, while also adding it to the Weatherbys system so the pedigree can be created. Once we receive the pedigree back from Weatherbys, it is sent to the vendor to proofread so they can make any changes they want to it once it's in line with the international cataloging standards. After a sale closes, we start assigning stables and lot numbers before sending the catalog off to the printers.
On a sale day, I'm responsible for overseeing the bid spotters, blood-testing teams, and the microchipping at the back gate while also bid spotting on the rostrum, helping the auctioneer.
RP: Who have been the biggest influences on your career?
TD: There have been a lot of different people who have influenced my career to date and I am very thankful for them. My parents have been the biggest influence. They are not involved in the industry but have always supported me in what I wanted to do and encouraged me to work hard.
RP: You've got the vast majority of your working life in front of you—what would be your dream job?
TD: The dream job would definitely be a horse trainer—maybe if I win the EuroMillions!
RP: Do you have any favorite racehorses or sires, past or present?
TD: My favorite horse is, without doubt, Presenting Percy. I am lucky enough to be friendly with the Reynolds family and the day he won the RSA was definitely the best day's racing I've ever had. It wasn't a bad night either! I think he was very unlucky not to win a Gold Cup.
