AS expected, the figures from 12 months ago were well out of reach for Part 1 of the Goffs November Foal Sale, which concluded today, although this part of the auction concluded with a strong final session that produced much the best clearance rate of the week.

At the close of Wednesday’s session the three days of foals produced a turnover of just over €20 million which was a 20% decline on last year. The €42,315 average dropped by 11 points, although the median actually progressed from €27,000 to €28,000.

Perhaps the most pertinent statistic over the last few days was that the clearance rate dropped from 81% to 72% which indicates a market that is both polarised and is reflecting the trends witnessed at various yearling sales throughout the autumn.

As ever, the centrepiece of the foal sale produced some cracking trade for the best of the Irish foal crop and foremost amongst these was a €350,000 daughter of Kingman who was offered by Jockey Hall Stud on behalf of her breeder, Paddy Burns.

The half-sister to the Solario Stakes winner Aktabantay is by a sire who made a tremendous impact with his first runners this year and out of a mare who was bought for 145,000gns at last year’s Tattersalls December Mare Sale.

The filly was purchased by Franciso Bernal of Outsider Bloodstock who later reported: "She's been bought to race for my client in Spain. My client has one of the biggest sport horse farms in Spain and is now turning her attention to racing.

“This is our third horse as we also bought two fillies by Teofilo and Siyouni at Arqana. This was the foal we wanted today. She'll head to France, perhaps to be trained by Carlos Laffon-Parias when the time comes,” he added.

This price was closely matched by a €320,000 son of Muhaarar who will carry the colours of Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum after being snapped up Shadwell’s Stephen Collins.

The Airlie Stud offering is a half-brother to the July Cup third Eastern Impact and the Canadian stakes winner Miss Katie Mae.

“He’s got the looks, the walk and the pedigree,” reflected Collins. “Obviously we have a lot of young stock by the sire in Shadwell.

"Next year is a big year for him with his first runners but we are very excited about him and this colt was one of the very best individuals on the complex over the last few days.”

The Shadwell team also spent €190,000 on a daughter of Lope De Vega out of the smart two-year-old Accipiter and gave €170,000 for Swordlestown Little’s colt from the very popular first crop of Awtaad

“Awtaad has had a great sale so far. Obviously he was bred and raised at Derrinstown and he's from one of Shadwell's best families which also responsible for Madhmoon,” stated Collins.

"He's getting very good looking stock. We have 15 at home at Derrinstown and we're very happy with those and this colt will be a fine complement to them. He's a strong, good-walking, well balanced colt who looks to have a great temperament.”

A daughter of Dark Angel set the tone for the day when selling to agent John McCormack for €300,000. The own-sister to the Matron Stakes runner-up Lily’s Angel was sold by Neilstown Stud and is the most expensive foal to date to sale out of the Nugent’s fine producer Noyelles.

“She’s a lovely filly by a sire who keeps going from strength to strength. I’ve bought her for an existing client who will keep her in Ireland and it’s likely that she will race here and hopefully add to the family,” stated McCormack.

“It’s a very active family which keep producing good horses and it’s encouraging to see that some top owners have gotten involved in the family.

"Also Dark Angel just keeps creeping upwards. He is a stallion who has kept progressing since he first retired to stud and you can’t cheat the market so what he has done is testament to what a sire he is.”

Another €300,000 transaction came when Hugo Merry struck for a Galileo filly who can boast of Dermot Weld’s dual Derby winner Harzand amongst her siblings.

“I’ve bought her for myself, Jane (Allison) and another friend of ours. It was just a notion really but how else are you going to get into a fabulous family like this.

"She’s a Galileo filly and you can’t get a better broodmare sire and we’ll now give her all the time that she needs,” reflected Merry.

The progeny of Sea The Stars more than played their part in today’s session and his most expensive representative was a half-brother to the Norfolk Stakes runner-up Mind Of Madness. He cost €290,000 and was bought by Camas Park Stud.

Yeomanstown Stud forked out €260,000 for another colt by the sire, and Grove Stud spent €240,000 on a son of Sea The Stars from the family of Covert Love.

Japan beckons for a Dark Angel half-brother to the Irish Oaks second Jack Naylor who cost Harry Sweeney €250,000 and this price was matched by a daughter of Kodiac who was knocked down to Stroud Coleman.

Day 3 Full results

YEAR CAT OFF SOLD AGG AV Med

2018 234 191 161 12,000,000 74,534 52,000

2017 214 187 159 14,966,500 94,129 60,000

2016 190 156 129 10,009,500 77,593 56,000

Part 1

YEAR CAT OFF SOLD AGG AV Med

2018 775 665 480 20,311,000 42,315 28,000

2017 752 660 535 25,515,750 47,693 27,000

2016 749 616 456 17,844,500 39,133 25,000

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