AN enlarged Goffs Open Yearling Sale, which grew from one to two days and saw an extra 250 horses come under the hammer this year, concluded on Thursday evening with a solid set of final results.

The increased numbers were always going to put pressure on several key areas but the average of €6,791 represented a drop of just two points. The median of €4,700 increased by 4% and, under the circumstances, the clearance rate came in a respectable 72% having been 77% for last year’s one-day edition. As expected, the turnover more than doubled to just under €2.2m.

This sale catered for an altogether different level of the market than the major yearling sales which have taken place over the last two months and trade was of a mixed variety.

At one end of the scale last year’s top price of €38,000 was bettered on two occasions and the number of €30,000 lots doubled but a large number of those that came under the hammer did not recoup their production costs. Furthermore, it is less than ideal that 28% of those offered were deemed surplus to the requirements of the market.

However, it is worth bearing in mind that the clearance rate for the two days was appreciably better than the comparable days at the foal sales last year. Another point to note, and one which has been in evidence for the last couple of years, is that supply to the market place at this level continues to run ahead of demand.

This is something for the entire industry to take note of and there is clear evidence that any further increase in numbers over the coming years would not be a positive development.

The focus now switches to the upcoming round of foal sales and, following a largely positive autumn on the yearling sales front, vendors and breeders can look to the coming weeks with optimism.

Top lots

The sale produced a top price of €38,000 last year but this figure was eclipsed midway through the opening session when French-based trainer Eoghan O’Neill, acting for Rabbah Bloodstock, spent €62,000 on a daughter of Teofilo. The Moorpark Stud-consigned filly is a half-sister to a recent two-year-old winner and comes from the family of the E P Taylor Stakes heroine Folk Opera. In all, Rabbah struck for three lots over the two days.

Chinese purchaser Zhang Yuesheng made a huge contribution to the sale and, acting through the BBA Ireland’s Michael Donohoe, he picked up a total of 35 yearlings. The owner of the promising Yulong Gold Fairy and bargain buy Whitefountainfairy, who went from a €3,000 yearling purchase to a €300,000 two-year-old, was busy at a whole host of price ranges.

Some of the Yulong purchases will head to China but Donohoe reported that around half of the owner’s yearling purchases this autumn would stay in Ireland to go into training.

Among those set to carry the familiar green and white silks is an Elzaam colt from Peter Nolan Bloodstock who fetched €52,000. The €26,000 foal purchase is out of a half-sister to the Round Tower Stakes heroine and useful producer Steaming Home.

The previous afternoon the Yulong Investments team and Donohoe forked out €31,000 for a daughter of Dragon Pulse out of a multiple Group 3-placed runner and they gave €24,000 for a colt hailing from the first crop of the Jersey Stakes winner Gale Force Ten.

Overseas buyers

Among the contingent of foreign purchasers in attendance was Scandinavian trainer Lars Kelp and he signed for a €32,000 daughter of Shamardal hailing from Lumville Farm. This filly comes from the immediate family of the Irish Oaks second Banimpire.

Italian trainer Endo Botti and his wife Cristiana spent €32,000 on a Rip Van Winkle half-brother to the stakes-placed juvenile Mappa Mundi and another destined to head to Italy is a €26,000 son of Farhh. The Egmont Stud offering was showing a reasonable return on the 9,000gns he cost as a foal last year.

English trainer Ron Harris spent €29,000 on a Dream Ahead own-brother to the promising Curragh maiden winner Would You Believe, who sustained a fatal injury on his second outing last month.

Lyons strikes

Ger Lyons is in the middle of helping Colin Keane’s push for title honours but he was also stockpiling talent for next year and he gave €35,000 for a son of Tagula from Baroda & Colbinstown Studs. The colt enjoyed a notable boost to his pedigree this year when his ill-fated half-brother, Santry, was second in the Royal Ascot’s Norfolk Sakes.

A popular Dandy Man filly is destined to carry the colours of Steve Parkin’s Clipper Logistics after falling to Joe Foley for €32,000. She is a half-sister to this season’s promising dual winner and Rockfel Stakes fourth Hikmaa.

Andy Slattery, whose useful inmates Red Sabor and Branch Line have both been sold on to the Far East, went to €30,000 to secure a filly from the first crop of the top juvenile War Command. This Kevin Coffey-owned filly numbers this year’s useful juvenile Abamanova amongst her siblings.