A DOZEN lots sold for £100,000 or more at this year’s Goffs UK Premier Yearling sale, a long way from the 35 that occupied the same position 12 months ago. It was a very different place then, and no one could have predicted the changed world we now occupy, especially those brave foal buyers hoping to reap a pinhooking reward in 2020.

With a top price this year of £170,000, this was some way below last year’s £440,000 sale of a son of Kingman to M.V.Magnier. Now named Admiral Nelson, he is a winner and ran fourth in the Group 2 Richmond Stakes. Last year the top 12 lots sold for £150,000 or more, so while the sale average and median have both fallen by about a quarter, the top of the market has also been impacted severely.