Fast Company colt the top lot during Saturday's foal session

A son of Kildangan Stud stallion topped the session during the second part of the Goffs November Foal Sale on Saturday, when hammered down to Tally-Ho Stud for €52,000.

"What a wonderful action, he walks for Ireland," said Bernard Condren as the session-topper was led around the ring. "You can bring him back to any yearling sale next year."

Consigned by Collegelands, the April-born colt hails from the family of Kitza, who placed in both fillies' Classics in Ireland, and Epsom Dash scorer Atlantic Viking.

Tally-Ho have played an active role at this year's foal sales and on Wednesday paid €180,000 for a Teofilo colt closely related to the Listed winner and sire Portage from the further family of Rail Link.

The operation also stretched to €22,000 for a colt by its resident stallion and grandson of the Park Express Stakes scorer Danehill Music.

Later in the piece, Nanallac Stud sold another colt by the sire to Wyanstown House for €28,000. The March foal is out of Oonagh, a winning Arakan half-sister to Listed winner Majestic Myles and the Coventry Stakes second Parbold.

made his mark on the European Pattern this year with Minstrel Stakes winner Larchmont Lad and Anglesey Stakes scorer Marie's Diamond, and a son of the sire from the family of Oaks third Relish The Thought made €33,000 to Woodtown House Stud.

The January-foaled colt is out of placed daughter of Dubawi, also the damsire of this year's Group winners Royal Julius, Tantheem and Comedy.

'Major challenges facing breeders'

In his end-of-sale statement, Goffs group chief executive Henry Beeby said: "Everything is relative. Whilst today’s trade could not be described as strong it has moved up a notch compared to yesterday and those foals that were deemed to have residual value have enjoyed keen competition from a large group of pinhookers right up to the very last lot.

"Today’s top price of €52,000 is a fair bit higher than at last year’s comparable sale and it was perhaps revealing that the clearance rate was two points ahead of day one.

"None of this however should detract from the issues we highlighted yesterday and we recognise the major challenges facing breeders in the current climate.

"Our commitment is to continue to work tirelessly to provide the best market possible and we continue to invest around the world as we strive to attract the biggest number of buyers to each sale.

"We appreciate the support we receive from so many breeders and were pleased that the upper end of our Foal Sale earlier in the week enjoyed a strong and vibrant trade for the best with several very happy vendors.

"That the four-day Foal Sale median price held steady is interesting but it must be viewed against a clearance rate that was short of 2017 as well as the fact that last year’s Foal Sale made huge advances so we are still well ahead of 2016 by every measure.

"The format of the sale is now well established and the addition of the new Barns X, Y and Z to give us an additional 96 stables, taking the total to 762, has been universally well received.

"At this point I want to pay tribute to our Facilities Manager, Ger Hennessy and his superb team who literally worked night and day to complete the new blocks whilst at the same time delivering the impeccable service for which we are renowned. Nothing is too much trouble for Ger and his colleagues, and we are lucky to have them on our team."

Figures

Saturday saw 154 of the 252 foals on offer change hands for a clearance rate of 61 per cent and total receipts of 1,033,800, down 36 per cent on last year. The average fell from €8,227 to €6,713 while the median dipped significantly from €5,800 to €3,700.

Total foal sales for the week amounted to €21,354,800, down 21 per cent on last year, though still higher than the previous year's five-day sale, while the average came in at €33,630, down nine points, and the median held steady at €20,000.

More from the Goffs November Sale:

'A third of the thoroughbred bloodstock on these islands is worth nothing'

Black Friday: harsh reality bites as malaise hits Breeding Stock market

Dearth of superstar lots leads to across-the-board declines