'There has been a real buzz' - total sales exceed £13 million at Premier Sale

Intensity of trade built on an upward curve throughout the two-day Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale, and the final results duly made for positive reading, particularly the rock-solid clearance rate of 89 per cent.

The two days of trade saw 326 of 366 offered lots change hands, which in turn generated receipts totalling £13,334,000 - a 16 per cent year-on-year increase on the Covid-impacted renewal in 2020.

The average closed at £40,902, a 20 per cent increase, and the median was back up 19 per cent to £32,000. As was widely predicted by those who had been busy inspecting the stock on offer, day two proved the stronger of the sessions, as highlighted by the sale of the top lot, the £220,000 Harry Angel colt bought by Alex Elliott.

Wednesday's session finished with aggregate sales of £6,343,500, a 39 per cent gain on the corresponding day from last year. The average was up by the same amount to £42,860, while the median climbed by 43 per cent to £35,000.

In his end-of-sale address, Goffs UK's managing director Tim Kent said: "The Premier Sale is back on track! Last year's sale endured its own Covid-related challenges but, with the help of a very loyal band of vendors and purchasers, we’ve seen a remarkable trade over the two days and proved to everyone that 2020 was a one-year blip due to circumstances beyond anyone’s control.

"The car park has been overflowing since Sunday morning and the footfall of genuine buyers has been incredible. There has been a real buzz around the sales complex over the last few days and it’s great that this has resulted in trade which started well yesterday, finished strong last night, and kicked on again today.

The Silver Sale was topped by the £30,000 son of Brazen BeauCredit: Sarah Farnsworth/Goffs UK

"The impressive 89 per cent clearance rate shows the demand for Premier Yearlings is as strong as ever. The fact that the 13 six-figure yearlings were purchased by 11 different buyers demonstrates the diversity of the buying bench associated with this sale, whilst our policy of going 'back to the future' when selecting the traditional 'Donny yearling' has clearly proved popular with buyers.

"It’s also rewarding to see the sale topped by a son of Harry Angel – a brilliant sprinter who we sold at this sale in 2015. The Premier Sale has proven its ability to produce the very best, having also sold the likes of Dark Angel and Wootton Bassett, and to see them excel at stud is a great advert as to what can be found at this sale."

He added: "We’ve said this before but it is never more relevant than today; we simply cannot do without our clients. Without them, we are nothing and we would like to thank all of our vendors for putting their faith in the Goffs UK team. We are absolutely delighted that this loyalty has been well rewarded, and we wish all purchasers the best of luck with their new racehorses.

"We are already looking forward to next year, when we will see the next star graduates emerge, and build again on two great days in Doncaster."

The Silver Sale followed directly on from the Premier Sale, where the market was headed by a £30,000 Brazen Beau colt consigned by Sarah Fanning Sales on behalf of Vanessa Thompson. The colt, who shares his page with the Classic-winning Just The Judge, was signed for by Scuderia Semeso.

There are no direct year-on-year comparisons after last year's Silver Sale was amalgamated into the Autumn Sale, but the 84-lot catalogue saw 69 yearlings offered and 46 sell for a clearance rate of 68 per cent. Those transactions yielded turnover of £415,000, an average price of £8,830 and a median of £8,000.

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