The annual Goff’s horses in training sale takes place in Doncaster on St Leger week and once again there will be an interesting side show as Gigginstown Stud continue the dispersal of some stars of the turf. But looking at previous sales results it would make you wonder what all the fuss is about.
It was in 2019 that Eddie and Michael O’Leary announced that there were winding down their racing operation and since then they have been selling off their Gigginstown horses in bundles at the annual sales. While there has always been some selling as part of their racing operation, this has been ramping after the 2019 announcement with more horses up for sale this year than ever before.
The Gigginstown dispersal always gets a lot of attention as many of the horses are well known, and the price tag usually matches their fame. But examining the race record of these horses after the sales shows that reputation may be driving price, rather than potential.
Picking up ten of the top sellers from the last couple of years would have cost nearly half a million pounds and produced only four wins from sixty-one runs (a win to run percentage of 7%). Only three of the horses have won a race, while another three have not even managed to finish in the top three on any occasion.
Table: Top Gigginstown horses sold at auction and their subsequent racing record
Taking a different route
Picking up an ex-Gigginstown horse at the sales may get you close to a bit of stardom, but it is unlikely to bring you much success on the track. Of course, owning a horse can bring enjoyment beyond the win/run percentage but to have only three winning horses out of ten seems like a disappointment for the money paid out.
The one exception may be to drop down in class to Hunter Chases or Point-to-Points. Road to Riches has managed one win and four places in hunter chases, while All Hell Let Loose has been placed in six Point-to-Points.
Sport.dat 