Goffs UK and Arqana join forces to stage breeze-up in Ireland in June

An innovative partnership between sales companies and a new racecourse venue form part of an outside-the-box solution to the breeze-up calendar being thrown into disarray by the coronavirus pandemic announced on Saturday.

Goffs UK and Arqana are joining forces to hold both their breeze-up sales in Ireland on revised dates at the end of June. The two-year-olds will work at Naas racecourse grouped by vendor, potentially in a timed breeze a few days before being offered at Goffs' Kildare Paddocks on June 29 to 30.

The dates are dependent on the resumption of racing in some form in any or all of Britain, Ireland and France, but it is hoped they will allow time for lockdown measures to be relaxed so there can be some attendance at the sale.

The sales companies stressed that proximity to other rearranged European breeze-ups would be taken into consideration to ensure the optimum dates for everyone involved, and that all government directives will be followed to ensure the safety and well-being of those in attendance.

Henry Beeby: reached agreement with ArqanaCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

The extended gap between the breeze and the sale is intended to allow films of the breeze-up work and other vital purchaser information to be disseminated around the world, while an online platform will support the live auction.

Potential purchasers will be offered the facility to bid as normal, over the telephone or remotely via the Arqana and Goffs websites.

The companies went on to explain that the sales had been diverted to Ireland as 143 of the 165 Goffs UK lots and a further 135 lots in the Arqana sale are from Irish vendors, so the move allows for the necessary time lag between breeze and sale.

Goffs UK and Arqana stated they will ensure that adequate provision is made for their UK and French-based entries to be accommodated.

Arqana executive director Freddy Powell and Goffs UK managing director Tim Kent said in a joint statement: “We are committed to providing the most vibrant marketplace possible for our breeze-up vendors and believe that this option delivers the best chance of achieving that goal.

“This year’s selection of breezers in both catalogues is as good as ever and we are confident they will impress in any arena.”

Both catalogues are currently online and, while the two-year-olds will breeze by vendor to meet social distancing protocols that are likely to still be in place, the sale will be conducted by a combination of the Goffs and Arqana teams in the existing catalogue order.

Revised conditions of sale applicable to both catalogues to reflect that the sales are being held in Ireland will be produced and additional information relating to the breeze-up work and veterinary examinations will be provided in advance of the sale.

Freddy Powell: committed to finding best marketplace for clientsCredit: Patrick McCann

In a further joint statement, Goffs group chief executive Henry Beeby and Arqana president Eric Hoyeau said: “We are extremely grateful to Naas Racecourse, HRI and Irish Thoroughbred Marketing for their helpful and proactive reaction to our request to hold our breeze-ups in Ireland.

“These are challenging times but the bloodstock industry is constantly willing to adapt and innovate to whatever circumstances arise. In connection with our joint approach, Goffs and Arqana have always been closely allied and we will work as one to ensure we do our best by our loyal vendors.”

The Goffs UK breeze-up had originally been scheduled to take place on April 22-23 at Doncaster and was then postponed to London on the eve of Royal Ascot in June, but it was later confirmed that meeting would take place behind closed doors if at all.

The Arqana breeze-up was supposed to go ahead in Deauville on May 8-9 but that was ruled out when Emmanuel Macron this week extended the French lockdown until May 11.

Arqana have also pushed back their Summer Sale, which includes a selection of breeze-up lots, to the week commencing July 20. It had earlier been slated for June 29 to July 1.

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