Ghaiyyath Colt Tops Closing Day of Goffs Orby Sale

There was a dramatic finish to Book 2 of the Goffs Orby Sale as Cormac Farrell secured the session-topping Ghaiyyath (IRE) colt for €195,000 (US$218,400, €1=US$1.12) just four lots before the close of trade. The son of Darley's group 1-winning sire was bought on behalf of Kentucky native Deuce Greathouse. The youngster was one of five six-figure lots to change hands at Kildare Paddocks Oct. 1. Offered by Gerrardstown House Stud, the smart-looking chestnut is out of the winning Acclamation (GB) mare Enjoy Life, a half sister to the listed-winning Ateem (FR). The further family includes smart performers Hearthstead Maison and Rave Reviews, the latter a winner of a listed Oaks trial and a half-length second in the 2005 Premio Lydia Tesio (G1). Farrell said: "He's for Deuce Greathouse; he picked him out. He had to go back to see a horse run before heading to Newmarket. He loved him and I think he's right; he's a proper nice horse. The vendor deserves to get a good price for him, but I think we were probably all out there. Good horses made a lot of money today. "The plan for him is undecided. I'll leave it up to Deuce; he'll make the call as to what he wants to do with him. He's a very fine horse and hopefully has a good future. He made his value, every bit of it. Good horses deserve to be well paid for." The Greathouse family operates Glencrest Farm in Kentucky. Sale Statistics By the close of play Thursday, the two-day Orby Book 2 had seen 343 lots sell for a solid clearance rate of 87%. In turn, those transactions resulted in aggregate sales of €9,784,000 (US$10,958,080), a 14% year-on-year increase. The average price was also up 13% at €28,525 (US$32,015), while the median improved 10% to €22,000 (US$24,640). Both metrics returned new high marks. Orby Book 2 was topped by the Cotai Glory filly bought by Montgomery Motto for €210,000 (US$235,200) Sept. 30. End of sale statement Henry Beeby, Goffs group chief executive, said: "Orby Book 2 always has a hard act to follow, coming immediately after the market leading Orby Book 1, and never more so than this year when Monday and Tuesday set records for turnover, average and median at a sale of depth, strength and vibrancy. But Orby Book 2 has only continued the positivity with its own new highs for average and median that came from two days that enjoyed a terrific buzz and atmosphere right to the end, headed by a record number of six-figure transactions. We have always maintained that this is a sale that outperforms expectations and, as with Orby Book 1, Irish breeders stepped up with their yearlings sending us a superb selection of smart, commercial yearlings. "They were greeted by a huge buying bench from home and abroad with buyers from 31 countries competing with a strong contingent from Britain and Ireland. What is especially gratifying was the huge numbers of British trainers and agents who either stayed on from Orby Book 1 or came especially for Orby Book 2. We counted at least 50 who made bids as well as a further 20 domestic trainers. Their involvement alongside a massive group of overseas buyers precipitated a truly memorable sale and I want to record our thanks to and appreciation of the work of Irish Thoroughbred Marketing, who once again combined with the Goffs Purchaser Attraction Team to ensure that both parts of the Irish National Yearling Sale set new benchmarks and scaled unprecedented heights."