A RECORD-breaking top lot and two days of good demand for a popular assortment of foals enabled a decidedly varied year on the sales front in Ireland to end on a high as the Goffs December National Hunt Sale maintained its upward trajectory.

The two-day auction faced no easy task as it looked to match some significant gains from 12 months ago but was able to do so after making ground on a number of fronts. The record breaking €230,000 paid for Whistle Dixie on Thursday evening was an obvious highlight and the two highest priced foals on offer also broke new ground for this sale.

DEMAND

However, these peaks were accompanied by a good depth of demand at varying levels and it was heartening to see that the clearance rate for the sale dropped by a mere point and the percentage of foals sold actually improved on 2017.

At the close of the sale the aggregate of over €6.3 million was an improvement of 8%. The average of €14,532 represented a progression of 19 points and the median grew by 12% as it went from €8,000 to €9,000.

The sale of Whistle Dixie was always going to have a major bearing on the figures. She is the most expensive National Hunt mare to be sold anywhere this year and she is also the highest priced jumping mare to be sold in Ireland since 2007.

Furthermore she was the centrepiece of the now annual offering of breeding stock from Gigginstown House Stud and the leading owner’s draft has become one of the cornerstones of this sale.

QUALITY FOALS

Elsewhere the sale was bolstered by an expanded array of quality foals and this was reflected in the growth that took place as the number of foals making at least €35,000 improved from 16 to 22.

In his end of sale statement Goffs chief executive Henry Beeby reflected on events this week, the last 12 months and what the future might hold for various sales in 2019.

“It was also wonderful to see Whistle Dixie prove so popular and only underline Goffs as a sales ring that keeps returning the very best prices for blue-blooded stock, whether they come from the National Hunt or flat disciplines.

“Again we are in the debt of Gigginstown as they have consistently supported this sale with a quality draft of mares each year and we are so pleased they have been duly rewarded.

“So we finish the year on a positive note. This year has been full of highlights but we face 2019 with a combination of optimism and nerves.

GREAT MOMENTS

“We have enjoyed several great moments this year, headed by selling the two highest priced yearling fillies in the world at the Orby Sale for €3.2 million and €2 million, and breaking the Doncaster yearling record with a top price of £380,000.

“Those superb prices, together with the Land Rover record breaker and today’s headlines, clearly demonstrate the ability of the Goffs teams to consistently deliver the best prices and regularly exceed expectations, and we will only redouble our efforts to attract more of the best in the coming 12 months.

“Naturally of concern were the clearance rates for the more commercial types in each category and the increasing polarisation of the market that was so clearly in evidence at the later flat yearling and foal sales on both sides of the Irish Sea.

warning

“The warning signs should not be taken lightly and it behoves all of us in this industry to work together on the elements over which we have influence as there are so many factors outside our control, not least the absolute chaos that is Brexit and what that might mean for us all.”