Aga Khan increases stake in Goffs

RACEHORSE BREEDER, the Aga Khan, has boosted his holding in one of Europe’s biggest bloodstock auctioneers after acquiring the interest of a Smurfit family member in Goffs.

Robert J Goff, which owns the Irish-based auctioneering business, said yesterday that Tony Smurfit, son of businessman Michael, has sold his shareholding in the firm to the Aga Khan and the Haefner Moyglare Stud.

The statement said that as a result, the Aga Khan now holds 40 per cent of the company, while Moyglare’s stake is 26 per cent.

In addition to the Irish company, the purchase increases the Aga Khan’s interests in both British and French bloodstock sales companies.

Goffs owns Doncaster Bloodstock Sales (DBS) and has a 30 per cent stake in French operator, Arqana, in which the the Aga Khan holds an 18 per cent share.

The Aga Khan is one of Europe’s most successful racehorse owner-breeders, and owns Giltown Stud in Co Kildare and Bonneval in France. He operates by breeding horses from his own and other players’ stallions rather than buying stock.

His horses have won all of Europe’s top prizes, such as the Derby, Irish Derby and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

US businessman Walter Haefner and his family own Moyglare Stud in Co Meath, which is another leading international racing and breeding operation. Before the Smurfit sale it owned 21 per cent of Goffs.

Mr Smurfit bought his stake from the Aga Khan six years ago. He held the bulk of the 21 per cent, while a number of his associates held a smaller stake. Goffs did not reveal how much he received for the holding.

Goffs is one of the bigger players in its business in Europe, and ranks as the main competitor to the largest operator, England-based Tattersall’s.