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The prestigious Goffs London Sale is preparing to launch Royal Ascot week with an exceptional catalog of 28 lots being offered at Kensington Palace Gardens. This unique auction has established itself as a prime hunting ground for Australian connections seeking proven European stayers.
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott have emerged as regular participants at the sale, demonstrating the growing appeal of tried European horses for the Australian market. Their partnership with Johnny McKeever has yielded notable success, particularly with New Endeavour, purchased for £260,000 at the 2023 sale.
The Hugo Palmer-trained gelding has proven his worth since crossing to Australia, winning the Gr.3 Lord Mayor's Cup and finishing second in the Gr.2 Q22 . His European credentials were established when placing second in the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot just three days after his purchase.
"It's a great social event to kick off the week and it brings to focus several horses who are running at Royal Ascot with chances that are also in the sale. That's a big incentive to a certain type of people to bid on these horses, it's a brilliant idea," McKeever explained.
The Waterhouse-Bott-McKeever combination has maintained their involvement for approximately ten years, consistently purchasing one or two horses annually with considerable success. Their 2021 acquisition Military Mission, bought for £170,000, exemplifies the sale's potential, having won four group races in Australia including the 2023 Gr.2 Zipping Classic at The Valley.
"We bought New Endeavour, and a few years before that Military Mission off Hugo Palmer," McKeever said. "New Endeavour has been Group One-placed, he won a Group Three the other day and he's probably capable of winning a Group One in Australia."
Their portfolio also includes Hoo Ya Mal, who secured a Group Three victory at Goodwood before relocating to Australia. McKeever noted: "All in all, we have had some good success out of the sale and that's normally from buying one or two a year. It definitely gives the Waterhouse-Bott clients a bit of fun."
This year's offering represents 24 individual sires among the horses in training, with the lineup including eight stakes winners and four stakes-placed runners. The catalog is headed by Ghostwriter, a Group Two winner and Group One-placed colt, alongside Group Three winners Rafale Design, Namaron, Monteille, Woodshauna and Path Of Soldier.
Additionally, two stallion shares are being offered in unbeaten Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Gr.1 winner Ace Impact and Cambridge Stud shuttle sire Hello Youmzain.
"We've studied the catalog and been out to see the various lots," McKeever observed. "It's got a very good variation, 2YOs, sprinters, stayers, 3YOs, 4YOs. I would say the quality of this year's catalog is probably the best they've ever put together."