A significantly improved clearance rate told the tale of heightened demand at this year's Goffs November Foal Sale.
The four-day event witnessed 861 youngsters come under the hammer, and an enthusiastic and diverse buying bench saw to it that 707 of those found a new home. In turn, the clearance rate went from 77% 12 months ago, when 672 lots sold, to 82% this time around.
Those 707 transactions yielded turnover of €34,160,500 (US$39,411,310, €1=US$1.15), a 5% year-on-year gain. The average price was almost identical at €48,320 (US$55,747), although the median dipped by seven points to €26,000 (US$29,996), down from €28,000 in 2024.
In his end-of-sale statement, Goffs group chief executive Henry Beeby said: "Rarely have I auctioned in a more vibrant atmosphere, especially on Wednesday, and we can only thank both our vendors for entrusting us with the cream of the Irish foal crop once again, together with the array of purchasers for the confidence they continue to show in Goffs November."
Sands of Mali has had his share of headlines in recent days and was once again front and center Nov. 20 as one of his daughters topped the final session of a buoyant November Foal sale.
Finn Kent stepped up with the bid of €100,000 (US$115,371) that secured the filly (Lot 768) out of Almarada, from the Galbertstown Stables draft.
Kent knows plenty about the pedigree as he previously bought the youngster's half brother Almarada Prince, a £40,000 2-year-old purchase, who won four races. He also pinhooked the 2-year-old half sister Alma de Fuego, a €90,000 pickup who has shown glimmers of promise for Oliver Cole and Valmont.
"I thought she was the class act of the day," Kent said. "Sands of Mali is an exceptional stallion. Joe Foley did a brilliant job with him at Ballyhane and I'm sure he's going to go from strength to strength at Yeomanstown. He's going to be well supported and he's a very good influence."
It has been a week since it was revealed that Yeomanstown Stud had prevailed in a sealed bid auction to acquire Sands of Mali, who has been set on a steep upward curve during his five years at Ballyhane Stud. Despite never being advertised at a fee above €6,500, the group 1-winning son of Panis has come up with a slew of stakes performers, including Commonwealth Cup (G1) heroine Time For Sandals and group 3 scorer Copacabana Sands.
Yeomanstown invested in two of his offspring during the four-day foal sale. The brace includes the colt out of Tullypole Annie from Ennell Lodge Stud who realized €90,000 Thursday.
"We underbid the filly this morning that Finn bought so we were very keen to get this one, it would've been hard to leave without him," Robert O'Callaghan said. "These good foals, especially with the way this week has gone, you have to go above and beyond to get them.
"The stallion is really on an upward trajectory and there's been a great buzz about him here this week, we've had so many people coming up to us who want to use him next year. I think that's shown in how his foals have sold this week."
Sands of Mali's foals were bred at a fee of just €5,000. His 14 sold lots at Goffs brought receipts totaling €554,000 and an average price of €39,570. He will stand the upcoming breeding season at a career high of €22,500.
