THE British and Irish yearling sales season kicks off in Doncaster next Tuesday when Goffs UK starts three critically important days of trade.

This week’s Arqana sale in Deauville produced healthy returns despite fears that the volatility of the global economy would hurt demand for luxury goods such as racehorses.

Turnover in Deauville for the premier yearlings came very close to last year’s record levels. More encouragingly, part two of the sale (for more commercial yearlings) generated a record average price and saw double-digit growth in the aggregate and median.

Last year’s Goffs UK Premier Sale also saw records tumble, 416 yearlings selling for an average price of £42,731. The top buyers then were Shadwell and Peter & Ross Doyle, both of whom were busy spending at Deauville this week as usual.

This year’s Premier catalogue is slightly smaller than last year.

The third renewal of the one-day Silver Yearling Sale will take place on Thursday. The median price at this auction has been £10,000 for the past two years but next week’s catalogue is significantly bigger, up 38 lots to 168.

Goffs UK has appointed Australian Tony Williams as its managing director. Williams will take up his position in October but will attend next week’s sale.

Williams has 40 years’ experience in the industry, having worked for Magic Millions for nine years to 2012 before taking a key role in the set-up of respected Australian farm Newgate Stud, whilst he has also been an agent to the Hong Kong Jockey Club in connection with the Hong Kong International Sale since 2000.