THE format of this year’s Goffs UK September Sale changed slightly with the addition of a yearling section. That was to prove a low-key day of trade on Tuesday, though the following day’s horses-in-training session provided lively business and that turnover was on a par with 12 months ago.

The pre-sale hype for the sale concerned the drafts from Paul and Clare Rooney, who recently announced that they would be cutting back on the number of horses they have in training, and the annual reduction of the powerful Gigginstown House Stud team. The latter consignment of 27 lots sold for £375,000, while the smaller Rooney draft of 14 sold for £329,000. Combined, they contributed a third of the day’s turnover.