THE largest edition of the Goffs February Sale for nine years ended with an improved turnover on Thursday evening but some mixed trade over the three days saw the sale lose ground in other key areas.

After being expanded from two days to three this year, the auction produced an aggregate of just over €5.1m which was an 18% improvement on 2016. The average dropped by 13 points to €13,026, while the median falling from €8,000 to €5,500 represented a decrease of some 31%. The clearance rate also fell but only marginally as it went from 66 to 64%.

“The Goffs February Sale has proved to be one of our real success stories of recent years as the preferred option for so many breeders. Indeed, as Europe’s largest mid-winter sale it regularly attracts a diverse catalogue and 2017 turned out to be no exception,” said Goffs Chief Executive Henry Beeby on Thursday evening.

REJECTION

“Over half the catalogue was devoted to foals/weanlings/just turned yearlings – call them what you will – and we saw a virtual mirror image of the trends at the foal sales in late 2016. The best sold very well but there was a clear rejection of those felt to be the least commercial.

“However, the upper end of the market made advances with a higher top price than last year and more lots making €60,000 and over. The clear message is therefore to focus on quality as that is what the market requires although the supply versus demand ratio is a palpable worry for everyone breeding to sell.

“Today’s breeding stock sale has enjoyed a vibrant trade with the strongest sector again at the top end and a top price of €210,000 in the last few minutes of the sale. It was a genuine privilege to offer the first part of the complete dispersal of Ballymacoll Stud and fitting that their beautifully bred filly Edith Wharton was one of the two lots to make the double century at €200,000.

VINDICATION

“That she was bought by White Birch Farm from America, who was so active at Goffs last autumn, is a wonderful vindication of our ability to handle dispersals of such note and market them on a global scale. Alongside their first lots, and the last from the Wildenstein Stables Ltd Dispersal, we were supported with strong drafts from Godolphin, Moyglare, the Aga Khan Studs and several others of note, and we are grateful for their ongoing support of so many Goffs sales,” he concluded.