An €88,000 son of Saxon Warrior led the way as the Goffs November Foal Sale got off to a bright start on Monday with an improved set of final figures which bode well for the rest of the week at Kildare Paddocks.

At the end of the session the 172 of the 222 horses offered were sold for an aggregate of just over €3.5 million which was a 3% progression on last year. The €20,430 average was up by 6% while the median dropped marginally as it went from €16,000 to €15,500. A clearance rate of 77% mirrored last year on a day which represented a more than satisfactory start to the week.

The day’s top lot hailed from the third crop of Saxon Warrior whose first crop of runners this year made a very significant impression with pride of place going to Aidan O’Brien’s Victoria Road who recently pulled off such a memorable success in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. The pick of the Saxon Warrior foals on offer was an €88,000 colt from Kildallan Farm who was knocked down to James Hanly’s Ballyhimikin Stud. This colt is out of a half-sister to the Listed-placed pair of Gravity Flow and Impendor.

It had earlier appeared as though an €85,000 daughter of Dandy Man, who was consigned by Forenaughts Stud, would take centre stage. This filly is out of the Sea The Stars mare, Astonished, whose 60,000gns acquisition at the 2020 Tattersalls July Sale is working out splendidly. The mare’s first foal made €160,000 at this sale last year before leading pinhooker Philipp Stauffenberg splashed out €85,000 for this Dandy Man filly whose family goes back to the top class Maids Causeway.

“This filly was one of the best physicals of the day. Joe Foley bought the half-sister by Night Of Thunder for €160,000 here last year so there's every chance that there will be an update there,” reported Stauffenberg who later gave €55,000 for a Dandy Man colt. “The Advertise filly (cost €48,000) who we bought earlier was lovely as well. She was a little bit light on the page but she was a very good physical and we are hoping that Advertise will do something next year.”

Through the first half of the day the pace was set by a €65,000 son of Saxon Warrior who was bought by Michael and Ciara Carty from Collegelands Stud and he is a grandson of the English 1000 Guineas winner Ameerat.

“He’s a nice colt and stood out today. He’s got plenty going for him, he’s from a nice pedigree and he’s by a sire who has done well and is going to have global appeal going forward. This colt will be back for sale next autumn,” remarked Ciara Carty.

Saxon Warrior was again to the fore when supplying a colt from Rochestown Lodge Stud for whom Paul and Marie McCartan gave €62,000. He too will return for sale next autumn.

The Tally-Ho Stud team’s spending for the day took in a €62,000 daughter of Kodi Bear from Summerhill Stables who is out of a winning half-sister to the high class Ardad.

Among the sires being represented by their first crop is the Coventry Stakes scorer Arizona who supplied a colt from Ballybin Stud who cost Peter Nolan €60,000. This colt is a half-brother to the Coventry Stakes second Eldrickjones and the Irish Cambridgeshire second Moddy Poddle.

“He’s a very nice, strong colt and he’s a good representation of his sire who is getting nice stock. The mare has already produced two quality racehorses which you’d like and this colt will be back for sale next autumn,” commented Nolan.

The classic-winning Magna Grecia, whose first runners will hit the track next year, supplied a filly from Comerlea Stables who made €58,000. She was bought by Clough Moyle Stud and is a half-sister to two listed performers.

The sale continues on Tuesday.

COMPARATIVE FIGURES FOR DAY ONE

YEAR CAT OFF SOLD AGGREGATE AVERAGE MEDIAN

2022 251 222 172 €3,514,000 €20,430 €15,500

2021 245 225 174 €3,384,500 €19,451 €16,000

2020 286 254 159 €2,188,200 €13,762 €10,000

2019 272 222 158 €2,871,100 €18,172 €14,000

2018 276 244 145 €2,685,000 €18,517 €15,000

2017 279 245 190 €4,051,550 €21,334 €17,000