CLOSE to 1,500 foals were purchased at the Goffs and Tattersalls foal sales in 2022. Of this group, 62% were re-sold at one of the major yearling sales in 2023 (Goffs Premier, Tattersalls Ireland September, Goffs Orby and Tattersalls October).

We used the average costs and revenues of these 929 pinhooks to estimate their profitability. The costs include the purchase cost of the foal and an assumed keeping cost of £12,000. Revenues consist of the yearling hammer price minus sales commissions. The average pinhooking profit in 2023 was £9,561, representing an average return on investment (ROI) of 18%.