TUESDAY’s Goffs UK October HIT & Yearling Sale was a low-key affair, but experienced important increases across the board. The median price grew by a whopping 150% to £10,000, while the average price rose by 52% to £12,530. The clearance rate of 73% was also up on last year, improving by five points.

The top price of £70,000 was also a notable increase, with bidding reaching £58,000 12 months ago. Donald McCain struck the bid in question to secure Olly Murphy’s progressive five-year-old Lord, who has won his last three starts over hurdles in fine fashion.

From the second crop of multiple Group 1 winner Best Solution, the German-bred gelding began his career on the flat in his native country and joined Murphy earlier this year.

Murphy lost no time in filling Lord’s stable, as he and father Aiden Murphy went to £54,000 for Rahinston Stud’s Karaktar gelding King Jon Oliver. Trained by Lorna Fowler, he placed on debut in April and returned this month to finish second in another maiden hurdle following a 157-day absence.

Anthony McCann was another Irish trainer who enjoyed a successful sale, selling promising four-year-old Answer That to Highflyer Bloodstock for £30,000.

The flat-bred son of Holy Roman Emperor made a promising debut in a Gowran bumper in January and ran well on his seasonal return this month, finishing fourth at Galway, despite being hampered.

The highest-priced offering from the Brookhouse Racing dispersal was dual-purpose five-year-old I Still Have Faith, with Stuart Williams parting with £28,000 for the five-time winner.

Homebred

The top-priced yearling was a filly by Mehmas, bought by Bond Thoroughbred for £40,000. She was bred by Bond Thoroughbred, as were their other two purchases, each consigned by Yapham Manor Stud. It was a similar scenario last year, when Bond’s agent, Jason Kelly, signed for Yapham’s four offerings.

Stephen Burdett’s Alfa Sites Services bought another five of the 12 yearlings sold on Tuesday, from 19 offered. At £15,000, Burdett’s most expensive recruit was a Space Traveller colt out of a blacktype Camelot mare, offered by Consign Ltd.

At the close of trade, Goffs UK Managing Director Tim Kent commented: “These sales are designed to serve as an outlet at the end of the summer and after the major yearling sales and we would like to extend our thanks to the Brookhouse family for selecting Goffs to offer their dispersal. Their draft was well received and we are grateful for the support from others including Kevin Ryan who sent a large draft to Doncaster.

“However, we could always do with more horses as we have proved time and again that we get the prices if given the chances and this is something that we must continually remind our clients when selling horses of any sector – there is an alternative, and we are it.”