The Goffs Premier Yearling Sale ended as a tale of mixed fortunes, with figures declining despite strong demand at the top of the market. The average and median prices both fell by 14%, to £39,610 and £30,000 respectively, but the final clearance rate of 82% suggested vendors went in with realistic expectations.

Furthermore, the 460 yearlings offered represented a 13% increase on last year, when all metrics rose- a hard act to follow, especially when breeze-up operations were expected to reduce their spend this time round.

Dream comes true

27 six-figure sales across the two days was particularly encouraging, as was Moyfinn Stud’s incredible story behind Wednesday’s £350,000 top lot. That was the price paid for a Tasleet colt who received the ultimate update while making the journey to Doncaster, as his half-brother Cool Hoof Luke landed the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes.

Oliver St Lawrence made a strong play for the top lot, but it was Amanda Skiffington who had the final say on behalf of Fiona Carmichael, who is sending the colt to Ed Bethell. “He was just the most lovely individual,” the agent commented. “He had the pedigree too. I happen to love Dutch Art mares. My whole team loved him, in fact.

“We had hoped to pay less, obviously, but those updates meant that was never going to happen.”

The popular bay was bred by Moyfinn’s Paul Giles with nephew Patrick Giles, from a broodmare band of five in County Meath. The sale marked an impressive return on the 15,000gns Moyfinn Stud paid for Dutch Monument while carrying the subsequent top lot.

Speaking after the sale, a delighted Paul Giles said, “That sort of money was what I dreamed of, it’s not what I expected. You have to pinch yourself a bit. I’ve been in horses all my life in one way or another and I’ve never had anything like that.”

Oliver St Lawrence gained some compensation when purchasing the day’s second highest-priced lot for £220,000. Thomas Hassett’s Monksland Stables consigned the half-brother to blacktype two-year-old Assertively and enjoyed an important update when the dam’s three-year-old got off the mark in France.

The chesnut hails from the first crop of Starman, whose base Tally-Ho Stud sold one of his daughters to Creighton Schwartz Bloodstock for £185,000. The February-born bay was bred by Tally-Ho out of the group-placed Kodiac mare Lady Aria.

She was one of four six-figure yearlings sold by the O’Callaghan family’s farm on Wednesday, and contributed to their title of leading vendors of the sale. Lynn Lodge Stud claimed runner-up honours in that race, with Yeomanstown Stud, Moyfinn Stud and Manister House Stud the other Irish consignors to feature in the top ten.

Tally-Ho Stud was also responsible for the sale’s two leading sires by aggregate, Starman and Mehmas.

Highflyer Bloodstock’s Anthony Bromley and owner Phil Cunningham led the buyers’ table by some way, having spent over £1million on ten yearlings. Doncaster regulars Peter and Ross Doyle were next, with their 11 buys averaging £68,727 apiece.

A full report on the Premier Yearling Sale will feature in Saturday’s edition.