VERDICTS on trade at the various sales held during the year are always worth putting on hold. Until all sales of horses of a certain type are completed, it is dangerous to try to analyse the market.

The sale at Goffs was a case in point last week. The foal trade, as I wrote last Saturday, was a case of two halves. The top of the market was strong, the bottom half of foals found the going tough. If you were to attempt to predict the trade for the mares who were following immediately afterwards, you would have suggested caution.