AS the latest edition of the Goffs November Foal Sale neared its conclusion yesterday evening, indications were that last year’s record breaking set of figures were going to be out of reach for the five-day auction.

This autumn the yearling market looked to plateau following a period of sustained growth and pinhookers enjoyed mixed fortunes at the various major auctions.

This week those buying to resell once again turned out in force and demand at the head of the market largely kept pace with 2014. Indeed ahead of yesterday’s final session the number of six-figure lots came in at seven as opposed to eight 12 months ago.

However, across the board there was perhaps a more measured approached to spending. This time around purchasers were possibly mindful that the scope for growth in the yearling market, into which they will be reselling, has levelled off. An indicator of this might be the clearance rates from Tuesday through to Thursday did drop off last year’s levels, while still coming in at over 80% during this time.

An extra day of foals this year meant that the sale played host to its biggest catalogue for eight years and the additional opening session was a quiet one. From Tuesday onwards trade did pick up markedly and the sought after foals were as hard as ever to come by.