A NEW format and top lots of €1.9m and €1.1m all played their part in the Goffs November Sale coming to a close last Sunday with an impressive set of final figures.

Earlier this year Goffs took the decision to dramatically alter this week-long sale by beginning with the three strongest days of foals. These were followed by two days of breeding stock before the auction concluded with what are traditionally the two quietest days of foals.

This change in format met with widespread approval and an excellent Part 1 of the foal sale laid the foundations for the entire sale to better last year’s results.

Twelve months ago, the November Sale benefitted from the memorable Wildenstein Dispersal and it says much about the week’s trade that the figures for this year’s sale were able to make across the board gains. The aggregate of just over €42m was a 3% improvement on last year. The average of €38,967 and the €18,000 progressed by five and 20% respectively. Furthermore the clearance rate for the seven days improved from 73% to 77%

Last weekend was given over to Part 2 of the foal sale and trade was of a much more low-key variety to what took place earlier in the week, reflecting the level of demand that exists at the comparable end of the yearling market.

Admittedly it was a struggle for quite a few of those that came under the hammer and a large number of these foals would have struggled to recoup their production costs. Furthermore there were four foals that made at least €40,000 on the corresponding two days in 2016 whereas this year’s top price was €39,000.

However, the clearance rate for the two days did take a step in the right direction.

On Saturday 68% of those offered were sold and on Sunday that figure was 63% as against clearance rates of 47 and 61% in 2016. It was notable that there remained a definite hunger for foals throughout the weekend and a large number of pinhookers turned out to increase their intake for next year’s round of yearling sales.

On the whole this will go down as a fine edition of a pivotal auction for Irish flat breeders and there is little doubt that the new format is here to stay for the coming years.

PART 2 FOALS

A €39,000 colt hailing from the first crop of the Breeders Cup winner Outstrip headed this section of the sale after falling to Tally-Ho Stud. This colt, who will be back for sale as a yearling, was offered by Galberstown Stud and he is out of a half-sister to the French Group 2 winner Baqah.

Also set to return to the sales ring is a €38,000 son of the late Delegator who was bought by David Myerscough. His sale represented a nice dividend for Rochestown Lodge Stud who picked up the dam carrying this foal for €10,000 at last year’s November Sale.

Another €38,000 transaction came when the Castlehyde Stud team struck for a colt by War Command who will be represented by his first crop of runners next year. This grandson of War Front is a half-brother to this season’s placed juvenile Dianthus and the winning Pat Flynn-trained Aunty Audrey.

The popular Elzaam supplied the sale’s early pacesetter in the shape of a €34,000 colt and he was snapped up by Joe Foley who stands the sire. Foley’s purchase is an own-brother to Kevin Ryan’s smart juvenile Alkhawaneej Boy who was an impressive winner on his second start in the autumn.

Bobby O’Ryan reported that he was acting for Suzy Barkley when he forked out €30,000 for a Dandy Man colt out of the useful three times winner Talitha Kum. This colt will return for resale and so too will a €30,000 Zebedee colt who was knocked down to Timmy Hillman.

The pick of the fillies on offer was a €28,000 daughter of Champs Elysees from the family of Sleeping Indian. She was bought by John Duggan while Luke Barry forked out €26,000 for a Starspangledbanner filly hailing from the family of the top sprinter Silver Fling.

The final day of foals was headed by a €26,000 colt from the first crop of the English St Leger winner Kingston Hill. The relation to the Irish Derby third Shalapour will be back for sale next year.

Another of the first crop sires to make an impression was the top two-year-old Ivawood who supplied a €23,000 colt out of the tough eight-time winner Perfect Blossom. Rockview Stables signed for this colt and he will return for sale next year.