The remarkable results from 2021 proved to be some way out of reach for the latest staging of the two day Goffs Autumn Yearling Sale which concluded earlier this evening although the downward trends in the final figures aren’t quite as pronounced as might initially seem the case.

It still outperformed all recent renewals of the sale bar last year’s which is worth keeping in mind when it comes to assessing the final results.

Last year this auction was a major beneficiary from the downsizing of the Shadwell portfolio with that operation responsible for a draft that produced 10 transactions beyond €50,000 which in turn led to the sale producing an unprecedented set of results.

This year’s auction was of a more low key variety but from a historical perspective it still outperformed all recent renewals of the sale bar last year’s which is worth keeping in mind when it comes to assessing the final results.

Over the two days the sale produced an aggregate of just over €3.7m which was 39% down on last year. The average fell by a third to €9,405 and the median went from €9,000 to €5,500.

The clearance rate for the sale also fell short of last year as it dropped from 92 to 77%.

By way of context though these are the second best set of results produced by the sale since its inception a dozen years ago.

The second session was headed by a €72,000 daughter of the red hot first season sire Sioux Nation whose initial crop of runners have distinguished themselves over the course of 2022.

Neil Sands and his father, Con, of Bronsan Racing secured this granddaughter of the Group 3-winning Ela Merici who was consigned by Mountarmstrong Stud.

The Bronsan Racing colours have been carried to victory this season by the smart Joseph O’Brien-trained juvenile Goa Gajah.

“The sire has done very well this year and that was a big attraction as regards this filly,” remarked Neil Sands. “I’d imagine she will go to Joseph O’Brien who we’ve had plenty of success with over the last couple of seasons. We’re big believers in Joseph who is such a talented trainer and is so good at identifying a horse’s potential.”

The session got off to a bright start when Bobby O’Ryan and Dermot Weld forked out €70,000 for a son of Mehmas from Oghill House Stud. This colt comes from the family of the top class Dead Certain.

“He’s been bought to go into training with Dermot. I loved him when I saw him yesterday morning and Dermot liked him too when he saw him,” stated O’Ryan. “He’s a nice colt by a very good sire and he’s coming off an excellent farm as well. I’m delighted to buy him off Oghill who do such a great job.”

Another to come in at €70,000 was a daughter of Acclamation from Rathbarry Stud who was knocked down to trainer Jack Davison. The latter’s purchase is an own-sister to the winning juvenile Karaoke and they are out of a mare who numbers the Breeders Cup winner Hootenanny amongst her siblings.

“She looks like a racehorse and I cannot wait to train her. The pedigree is there and she will always be worth something, but hopefully she can run as well as she looks,” remarked Davison.

“This is the second Acclamation filly I have bought from Rathbarry this year, I bought one at the Orby as well. Acclamation is a proven sire, they are two exceptional fillies and the pedigree is obviously strong. She ticks all the boxes. I am looking for the next Mooneista so I'm hoping one of these can go close. She is robust and looks precocious, we will get her home, break her straight away and slot her in with the other early two-year-old types.”

A trip to the Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale next April is the plan for a €62,000 son of Soldier’s Call for whom Con Marnane outlasted Bobby O’Ryan and Dermot Weld.

“He’s a lovely colt and I am a big fan of the sire, he was a very quick and high class racehorse. We’ve had a luck with Ballyhane in the past and two of our former breezers, Sands Of Mali and Prince Of Lir, both stand there now,” reported Marnane.

Meanwhile a Sioux Nation filly from Abbeville Stud was snapped up by Dubai-based Nasir Askar for €48,000. The purchaser reported that the filly would be staying in Ireland but it has yet to be decided where she will go into training.

Just four lots from the end of the sale John McConnell splashed out €52,000 on a son of Footstepsinthesand from Rathasker Stud whose grandam is the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes third Littlefeather.

Entire Sale

2022 571 512 394 3,705,400 9,405 5,500

2021 536 471 431 6,080,400 14,108 9,000

2020 475 273 170 1,094,200 6,436 4,400