Irish EBF Auction Series Final returns to Naas Racecourse 

Naas Racecourse and the Irish European Breeders Fund will once again celebrate the success of the Irish EBF Auction Series when the €120,000 Final takes place on Sunday 12th October, the centrepiece of a high-class two-day meeting that begins on Saturday 11th October.

Now in its eleventh year, the Irish EBF Auction Series has become a cornerstone of Irish Flat racing, providing owners and trainers with valuable opportunities to compete for significant prize money with horses purchased at more affordable levels in the sales ring. 

Since its launch in 2015, the Series has distributed nearly €7 million in prize money, consistently producing inspiring stories of value purchases who have gone on to achieve major success.

The sales ring is the first step on the road to the Irish EBF Auction Series, as only horses purchased at public auction are eligible to compete. Last year, Fiona MacCoul, bought for just €5,000 at Goffs, went on to claim victory in the Series Final at Naas, while the year before King Cuan, purchased for €21,000, captured the €120,000 prize. 

Each year, the series demonstrates how horses sourced at modest sums through the sales ring can take their owners on an exciting journey from the auction floor to the winner’s enclosure.

Joey Cullen, Marketing Director at Goffs, said: “The Irish EBF Auction Series and the €120,000 Final at Naas provide owners with terrific opportunities to win significant prize money with yearlings purchased at reasonable prices. 

"It gives them the chance to compete for valuable maidens without having to take on the elite yearlings in open company. We have seen many graduates from Goffs go on to win through this series and it undoubtedly stimulates the sales market by offering such enticing prize money.” 

There are 24 horses entered in the Final, seven of them winners, six of which have already won an Irish EBF Auction Maiden. 

Nessa Joyce, Manager Irish EBF, said: “The Irish EBF Auction Series has been a phenomenal success. It started in 2015 with a simple concept to create a series with really good prize money for horses that were bought at auction for €72,000 or less, and that has surpassed all of our expectations. 

"The overriding theme since 2015 is the average price of all runners to date, it is only €20,000, that really tells the story of how achievable it is to buy and race in the series. Today we have 26 races including the Final worth €120,000. Each of these races range from €20,000 to €27,000. 

"I’d like to thank all the racecourses who have participated in the series and hosted our races, from May right up until October, and especially Naas who host the Final every year.” 

Alongside the Final, the two-day Naas meeting will also feature a host of other Irish EBF sponsored races including the Birdcatcher Premier Nursery, the Listed Bluebell and Garnet Stakes, and more, adding to high quality cards across the two days.