THE three-day Goffs Autumn Yearling Sale ended on Wednesday evening with a clearance rate of 85.5%.
This compares favourably with last year's 83%, and the 2024 figure of 78.5%.
The average price of €11,652 was also up about 10% on last year, as was the median price of €6,500 (€6,000 last year and €5,000 in 2024).
Tuesday's top price of €110,000 was not matched on Wednesday but six yearlings did sell for €50,000 or more. They were headed by a Too Darn Hot filly from Derrinstown Stud who was bought for €90,000 by Charles Shanahan who outbid Ross Doyle.
Shanahan signed in the name of Fastrac Bloodstock and said that plans were "up in the air" for the filly whose dam Enbihaar (by Redoute's Choice) was a five-time Group 2 winner and Group 1 placed.
“She’s for a client in England," Shanahan said. "She looks a sharp, fast two-year-old and the mare could run; she had a lot of ability. She’s by the right stallion and it’s always good to buy a nice horse out of Derrinstown; they do a great job.
“She’ll go into training in Ireland, she won’t be for breezing, and hopefully we’ll see her early next year. There’s lots of potential, there’s loads happening in the family and there’s a lot to run. She’ll make a lovely broodmare in the future and that’s what this owner wants."
Swedish trainer Francisco Castro paid €72,000 (through agent Filip Zwicky) for a Coulsty colt from Rathasker Stud. The colt is a half-brother to nine winners including Group 1 heroine Aristia.
Luke Bleahen of Lakefield Farm sold a Mehmas colt for €65,000 to Ian McCarthy's Grangecoor Farm. A €38,000 foal purchase, the colt is a half-brother to Flying Pirate (by Blackbeard) who won twice this year as a juvenile for Eve Johnson-Houghton.
McCarthy said: “He's a lovely horse; we looked at him a couple of times yesterday, and he fit the bill nicely for us. I'm going to take him home and break him and go through the process with him and hopefully produce him at one of the breeze-up sales next year."
The very last lot of the sale was a Camelot filly from Tom Whelan's Church View Stables who was sold to Danny Donovan for €60,000. The filly's dam is a half-sister to the dam of Arapaho Gold, winner of this year's Gimcrack Stakes.
“I thought I’d get her for a little less,” Donovan said. "She will be breezed, but I don’t know where yet. You can’t knock the sire and the mare comes from a good family, so hopefully she will be lucky for me. She is the first Camelot I have bought but have had a couple for pre-training over the years. I like their attitude.”
Niall and Jack O'Mara, sons of Thomond O'Mara, paid €56,000 for a colt by Lope De Vega from The Castlebridge Consignment. The brothers first came to prominence in 2025 when they turned a €16,000 Profitable foal into a £360,000 yearling.
The Deauville breeze-up sales could be the aim for their latest purchase.
"Positivity has continued"
At the sale's conclusion, Goffs CEO Henry Beeby said: “Following a second consecutive year of record-breaking results at Orby Book 1 and Orby Book 2, the positivity has continued with another fantastic edition of the Goffs Autumn Yearling Sale that has built on the big gains recorded 12 months ago. A clearance rate of 85% is noteworthy at any sale and the last three days has seen nearly four times as many yearlings making €50,000 or over compared to last year, which has contributed to double-digit gains for turnover and average as well as an 8% rise in median.
“Whilst Orby grabs the headlines, this sale is just as important to those vendors who sell here, and we certainly view it with as much significance as we work to repay the trust placed in the Goffs service. As in September, we recognise that vendors have options, so we value every entry that is made and work alongside Irish Thoroughbred Marketing to deliver the best prices possible. That work strives to bring the largest and most eclectic group of buyers to Kildare Paddocks, and it really has been like the league of nations over the last three days, with a truly global audience bidding with enthusiasm for the catalogue.
“On Tuesday night Goffs and ITM hosted a dinner for over 120 buyers from Italy and Eastern Europe, and their involvement has been critical to the weeks trade, with the former group accounting for over 130 lots and a further 100 or so going to Eastern Europe. Their participation demonstrates the vital role that ITM plays at Irish sales ,and we salute their hard work as they coordinate with Joey Cullen and the Goffs Purchaser Attraction Team to attract the biggest audience and then ensure they have an enjoyable, productive and memorable visit to Ireland. The colourful and varied groups that have been with us this week came from 19 countries and only enhanced the upbeat atmosphere in the sales ring from dawn till dusk each day.
“So, the three sections of the Irish National Yearling Sale - Orby Book 1, Orby Book 2 and the Autumn Yearling Sale - have delivered at all levels from the elite yearlings at Book 1, across the commercial class at Book 2 and the strong physicals this week. The Goffs team takes pride in exceeding expectations at every sale, and we will only redouble our efforts to continue growth in every sector."