It was an excellent beginning to the year for Goffs Auction House. On February 11 and 12, a healthy market was observed in the buying and selling of horses. A total of 375 horses were offered, and 257 were sold; this means that approximately 73% of sellers achieved their expected results. The success of this sale is also reflected in the more than 50% increase in total ring turnover compared to last year. In 2026, turnover reached €6,326,400, while in 2025 it totaled €3,857,500.
Additionally, this February sale inaugurated for the first time a section dedicated to horses in training from the point-to-point field. For context, in Ireland and the United Kingdom, point-to-point racing is an amateur category of steeplechasing that serves as a formative stage for young horses before they compete in National Hunt racing, the professional jump racing division.
With a median price of €15,000, the sale once again demonstrated that there is a horse for every type of buyer. However, it is worth highlighting the horses that achieved the highest prices, as they once again reflect the diversity of the sale. The colt out of RUSSIAN RIVER (IRE) (Lot 126) was sold by Boherguy Stud to Tally-Ho for €220,000. This comes as no surprise, as Tally-Ho is the home of MEHMAS (IRE), the sire of Lot 126. The horse stood out in the sale for both his physical presence and his pedigree.
The mares SHAMALZA (IRE) (Lot 364) and KATASHUNA (IRE) (Lot 324) were offered by the Aga Khan Studs and sold for €190,000 and €165,000 respectively. Agent Alex Elliott purchased SHAMALZA (IRE) and revealed that she will likely be trained by English trainer Ralph Beckett, who has a special touch with daughters of LOPE DE VEGA (IRE). Meanwhile, KATASHUNA (IRE), a daughter of NIGHT OF THUNDER (IRE), was once again purchased by Tally-Ho Stud. It is worth noting that Goffs is the only auction house in Ireland where horses bred by the Aga Khan can be acquired. The Aga Khan Studs have been breeding horses since approximately the 1920s, carefully developing and preserving maternal lines across several generations.
In the point-to-point section, the top-priced horse was the 5-year-old mare LADY AURORA (FR) (Lot 423), sold by Ballyboy Stables to Aubrey McMahon/Temple Bloodstock for €125,000. According to an interview with Denis Murphy, the mare stood out for her physique and athletic movement. She will most likely be trained by Willie Mullins; in any case, Murphy expressed confidence that she will have a good home, which is ultimately what matters most.
Beyond offering quality, Goffs provides an accessible environment where everyone is welcome: children accompanying their parents to buy or sell horses; individuals with special needs; professionals with years of experience in the racing industry, respected and recognized by all; and a wide diversity of international buyers, as well as individuals from countries such as Croatia, Slovakia, Romania, and the Czech Republic performing important roles, from cleaning the sales ring after the auction to working in the restaurant.
In an era where artificial intelligence continues to grow, Goffs remains human—serving each individual personally and offering tailored service whenever possible. The auctioneering team genuinely cares about every horse sold, demonstrating this by studying each pedigree and identifying the strengths of every individual.
At the end of the day, it is the small details that matter: waiting for each horse to enter the ring before beginning the bidding, learning not only the clients’ names but also those of the young bid spotters who work hard assisting the auctioneer, wishing every buyer good luck, and encouraging people to take another look at horses that did not sell. Because Goffs truly believes in Irish Thoroughbred breeders.
For full results, please visit:
https://www.goffs.com/sale/IRE/February-Sale-2026
Article by Josefina Posada for Agentes 305 – Europe
About The Author
