Brian Sheerin

One of the youngest consignors in the business, Fearghal Hogan has enjoyed some brilliant pinhooking results under his own Churchland Stud banner and at just 33 years of age, he can boast something that the majority in this business can only ever aspire to achieve, through his joint-ownership of Group 1 winner Laws Of Indices.

Another manic sale season is upon us. Goffs kick-starts what promises to be an exciting few weeks with the November Foal Sale getting underway on Monday followed by the mares session on Thursday and Friday before the action rolls on to Tattersalls at Newmarket before concluding at Arqana next month.

Goffs sparks happy memories for the family-run Ballinacurra Stud, which comprises brothers George and David Mullins along with their cousin Denis McCarthy, who have enjoyed some major results at the foal sales here in recent years.

Well, that was good. The jam-packed car parks at Kildare Paddocks translated into rip-roaring trade on the opening day of the November Foal Sale as the momentum gathered up towards the end of the yearling season carried over into what proved a memorable Monday for vendors at Goffs. And the €90,000 top lot by Blue

Pa Doyle could not have said it any better than he did. It was at this sale 12 months ago that, when asked to sum up trade, the Galbertstown boss coined the phrase, “those pinhookers are as brave as lions.” That sentence had as much relevance a year ago as it did on Tuesday when Paul McCartan, Michael Fitzpartick, Barry Mahon and Philip Stauffenberg–absolute titans of their profession–fought it out for some of the best foals on offer at Goffs.

If there is one criticism about this bloodstock game of ours, it's the fact that we never seem to need a second invitation for a backslap and oftentimes we can portray things as being rosey in the garden when the opposite may well be true. Not at Goffs on Wednesday where the highest-ever turnover, average and median was achieved at the November Foal Sale.

Yulong Farm's Sea The Stars (Ire) colt topped day three of the Goffs November Foal Sale, selling for €1 million (AU$1.62 million) to Godolphin. The sale's metrics were up across the board on a blockbuster day.

Sheer unbridled enthusiasm. That's exactly what was on show at the November Foal Sale at Goffs this week where, on top of a millionaire lot, turnover climbed by 26% to €32,640,000, the average by 34% to €48,717 and the median by 21% to €29,000. Those are the types of figures that compare favourably to even Book 1 of the Orby and they left Goffs chief Henry Beeby understandably delighted at close of play on Thursday.

Anticlimactic goes by the household name of disappointing and there was no disguising the glum faces at Goffs on Friday when Gouache (Ger) (Shamardal), the dam of live Japan Cup hope Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), failed to sell at €5 million.

The first day of the Goffs November Sale was down across all markers with Gouache (Ger) (Shamardal {USA}), the dam of live Japan Cup hope Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), failing to sell at €5 million (AU$8 million).