THE four-day Goffs November Foal Sale predictably ended on a quieter note on Thursday but the overall results for the week were described by Goffs CEO Henry Beeby as evidence of "a sale of true strength and depth".
A clearance rate of 76% for the week was not at all bad and the turnover of €32.6 million was up 28% on last year, despite there being 40 more foals sold in 2023.
The median price of €29,000 compared favourably with €24,000 from last year.
"I think we can say we have witnessed a sale of true strength and depth that was, at times, simply extraordinary," said Beeby.
“There are so many factors that contributed to the week’s success, not least the huge numbers of young pinhookers looking to invest. All levels of the market made progress, and it is certainly worthy of comment that the number of six-figure lots increased from 42 last year to 75 this time, with three times more surpassing the quarter of a million mark.
"Another key point is the diversity of buyers, so clearly illustrated by 18 different buyers signing for the top 20 lots, and 54 individual entities investing in six -figure foals. That points to a quality and depth to the market that augurs well for the Irish thoroughbred industry."
Beeby acknowledged that Thursday's session, which consisted of foals with less blacktype than on the previous day, was "harder work".
The day's top lot was a Sioux Nation colt from Jerry Horan's Ballynure Park Stud. He was bought by ace pinhooker Ciaran Conroy of Glenvale Stud for €70,000.
Conroy said: "I thought he was a lovely horse. I love the stallion; he's very good. Let's hope that he will be lucky now. We had some good yearlings by Sioux Nation, and you'd be hopeful of those. I hope the best is yet to come, you'd think so, He's done very well - he started from the bottom."
Asked about the week's trade, Conroy commented: "It's very competitive. It was always going to be pretty strong - the yearling sales worked out pretty well. I've bought six so far; we normally buy about 20 or 25.”
Another Sioux Nation colt - this one from Tara Stud - sold for €52,000 to Michael and Laurence Gleeson of Aughamore Stud. And a filly by the same sire from Adam Morgan's red-hot Greenville House Stud realised €40,000 when knocked down to Leon Carrick Bloodstock.
The two-day Goffs Breeding Stock Sale starts on Friday morning.