A vibrant Goffs Autumn Yearling Sale drew to a close on Wednesday evening with triple digit increases across the board which followed on from two days of strong trade that substantially bolstered by the presence of quality draft from Derrinstown Stud.

The downsizing of the late Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum’s Shadwell empire resulted in 26 yearlings being consigned by Derrinstown Stud and they grossed just under €1.5 million and yielded a quartet of six-figure transactions.

This in turn acted as the catalyst for an altogether different level of trade to what usually prevails at this sale. However, away from the Shadwell draft trade was competitive and strong with good demand at all levels of the market from a diverse international buying base.

The sale closed with an incredible 92% clearance rate which gave rise to an aggregate of over €6 million which dwarfed any previous edition of this sale.

It was a similar story in other key areas as an unprecedented average of €14,108 was more than double that of last year while the median was also more than twice last year’s tally as it came in at €9,000.

Invincible Spirit

The highest price of the day was achieved by a Shadwell-owned son of Invincible Spirit whom the BBA Ireland’s Michael Donohoe, acting for Yulong Investments, secured with a bid of €92,000. This colt is out of the smart Kevin Prendergast-trained filly Tamadhor.

“He is for Yulong Investments and will be trained by Jessica Harrington. We are big fans of the sire, and he’s a smashing colt that looks a precocious two-year-old type,” declared Donohoe.

The BBA Ireland man was also acting for Yulong when forking out €78,000 for a Shadwell owned son of Lope De Vega who shares his sire with the owner’s Group 1 scorer Lucky Vega.

“Obviously the sire has already been very lucky for Mr Zhang with Lucky Vega who we are looking forward to standing at the Irish National Stud in 2022.

"This colt is a good looking sort from a nice pedigree and he’s obviously been produced by one of the world’s great breeders so we were delighted to get him,” reported Donohoe.

“We bought 20 for Yulong Investments here yesterday and, in all, Mr Zhang is hoping to pick up around 40 yearlings here. He is a great supporter of the industry and hopefully breeders might reciprocate some of that support when Lucky Vega comes to stand here next year.

"Mr Zhang will be fully behind Lucky Vega doing everything he can to make him a success and supporting him very strongly at the foal and yearling sales,” added Donohoe.

Agent Kevin Ross, acting for owners Paul and Clare Rooney, forked out €80,000 for a daughter of Starspangledbanner. This filly is an own-sister to Rhea Moon who was placed twice in as many starts for Ken Condon in August before being sold to America.

Awtaad filly

Joe Foley was another of those in attendance to contend for one of the Shadwell offerings and he was successful in his pursuit of a €78,000 Awtaad filly related to the classy Ger Lyons runner Convergence.

“She’s for Clipper and she’s a lovely filly. The mare is by Raven’s Pass and she reminded me quite a bit of Romantic Proposal (by Raven’s Pass) who won the Flying Five for Clipper on Irish Champions Weekend. Let’s hope she turns out to be something similar,” commented Foley.

Luciano Vitabile secured a Teofilo filly from Shadwell – related to the 1000 Guineas third Hathrah – for €55,000 while a Staffordstown-consigned daughter of Oasis Dream from the family of Islington cost the BBA Ireland €50,000.

Eastern Europe

Over the course of the two days Bobby O’Ryan rounded up 40 yearlings and the vast majority of these were bought for Eastern European interests. However, the agent’s most expensive purchase, a €45,000 son of Free Eagle, will begin his career closer to home after being picked up for Keith Dalgleish.

COMPARATIVE FIGURES FOR ENTIRE SALE

YEAR CAT OFF SOLD AGGREGATE AVERAGE MEDIAN

2021 536 471 431 €6,080,400 €14,108 €9,000

2020 475 273 170 €1,094,200 €6,436 €4,400

2019 455 387 289 €1,693,600 €5,860 €4,000

2018 579 504 300 €1,641,750 €5,473 €3,000

2017 497 433 312 €2,174,800 €6,791 €4,700

2016 222 191 148 €1,057,100 €7,143 €4,500

2015 201 188 137 €1,074,000 €7,839 €5,000

DAY TWO COMPARATIVE FIGURES

YEAR CAT OFF SOLD AGGREGATE AVERAGE MEDIAN

2021 266 237 218 €1,115,700 €13,435 €10,000

2020 179 106 70 €427,600 €6,109 €5,000

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