Throughout his career Aidan O’Brien has amassed the most incredible array of feats and records but he saved perhaps his greatest achievement of all for last Sunday’s €5 million Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in Paris where he sent out Found to lead home an incredible one-two-three for Ballydoyle.

In the pantheon of the Arc, which has witnessed some breathtaking efforts, this unprecedented clean sweep is an achievement beyond compare. To have one horse to challenge for top honours in Europe’s most coveted middle distance prize is an achievement in itself but for all three of the trainer’s runners to dominate the finish is truly an effort for the ages.

For the victorious Found, this victory represented a deserved climax to what has been an extraordinarily consistent career at the highest level. She came into this race as the winner of the 2014 Prix Marcel Boussac and last year’s Breeders Cup Turf but she had also settled for nine runner-up finishes in Group 1 company. On this occasion, the Galileo filly towered above her rivals, defeating her globetrotting stablemate Highland Reel (by Galileo) by a length and three parts.

ADVERTISEMENT

Meanwhile, Ascot Gold Cup hero Order Of St George (by Galileo) confirmed himself a stayer of rare quality to secure third. Truly, this was a result to matching anything that O’Brien has achieved during his amazing career.

"We’ve had our eye on this for a long time. When Ryan (Moore) rode her as a two-year-old and said she could win an Arc – he was obviously right. It’s a great feeling to saddle the first three home in an Arc, there’s not much to beat it, but it’s all down to a fantastic team effort and I’m delighted for (owners) John (Magnier), Michael (Tabor), Derrick (Smith) and their families,” said a delighted Aidan O’Brien.

GOFFS ORBY SALE

Away from the racing, all eyes were on Goffs last week for the latest edition of the Orby Sale, which more than matched expectations. The 2016 renewal of the Orby had to match last year’s landmark sale which produced four lots that made at least €1 million. Impressively this year’s sale was able to produce an improved set of returns despite just one lot breaking into seven figures.

At its conclusion, the Orby posted an aggregate of just under €40 million, which represented a 2.5% increase on 2015. The €109,986 finished 5% ahead of 2015, while the median progressed by eight points to €67,000.

The real strength of this sale lay in the demand from €100,000 onwards. There was notable growth in the horses making at least six figures, the amount of €200,000 plus lots improved on 2015 and significantly 16 horses made at least €400,000 as opposed to seven, 12 months ago.

A feature of the sale was the major input from a wide ranging international audience and it was most encouraging to see a number of major new overseas purchases make their mark. Several familiar names headed the leading buyer’s lists with John Ferguson, Shadwell Estates and the South African outfit Form Bloodstock all spending over €2 million.

The top lot was a €1.4 million son of Dubawi and the French 1000 Guineas winner Beauty Parlour who was bought by John Ferguson. The colt formed the centrepiece of the first part of the dispersal of the Wildenstein Stables. The eagerly awaited second part of the dispersal takes place at Goffs next month.

The heights of the Orby Sale should not distract from the serious issue of supply and demand which the thoroughbred industry is going to be repeatedly confronted by over the coming years. This was in evidence at the second part of the Tattersalls Ireland September Sale the previous week and it again played its part in the enlarged Sportsman’s Sale at Goffs.

This auction expanded from 244 lots in 2015 to 478 this around and with demand spread more thinly the final figures for Part I suffered.

The €19,568 average fell by 19 points and the median dropped from €18,000 to €15,000 while the clearance rate fell from 90 to 81 points. Quite simply, demand is spread too thinly and this is going to be a constant theme across all sectors for some time to come.