The Goffs Autumn Sale closed on a high on Wednesday, with an 85% clearance rate and double-digit increases in turnover and average as well as an 8% rise in the median. Charles Shanahan has been one of the busier buyers this week and was responsible for the €90,000 Too Darn Hot top lot from Derrinstown Stud. Unlike his previous buys this week, the Too Darn Hot filly was bought on behalf of a client to go racing. He said, “I bought her on behalf of a client in England. She is a sharp two-year-old and the mare could run – had a lot of ability. She's by the right stallion and it's always good to buy a nice horse out of Derrinstown Stud, who do a great job. She's going to stay in training in Ireland and she's not for breezing. Hopefully we'll see her next year.”Turnover climbed by 16% to €5,415,500 while the €11,697 average represented a 14% jump. The median was €6,500. But the real story of the week has been the strength of the international buyers, who have made this sale a hugely respected outpost for so many traders. Goffs chief Henry Beeby commented, “Following a second consecutive year of record-breaking results at Orby Book 1 and Orby Book 2, the positivity has continued with another fantastic edition of the Goffs Autumn Yearling Sale that has built on the big gains recorded 12 months ago.“A clearance rate of 85% is noteworthy at any sale and the last three days has seen nearly four times as many yearlings making €50,000 or over compared to last year which has contributed to double-digit gains for turnover and average as well as an 8% rise in median.”He added, “Whilst Orby grabs the headlines, this sale is just as important to those vendors who sell here, and we certainly view it with as much significance as we work to repay the trust placed in the Goffs service. As in September, we recognise that vendors have options, so we value every entry that is made and work alongside Irish Thoroughbred Marketing to deliver the best prices possible.“That work strives to bring the largest and most eclectic group of buyers to Kildare Paddocks, and it really has been like the league of nations over the last three days with a truly global audience bidding with enthusiasm for the catalogue. Last night Goffs and ITM hosted a dinner for over 120 buyers from Italy and Eastern Europe, and their involvement has been critical to the weeks trade with the former group accounting for over 130 lots with a further 100 or so going to Eastern Europe. Their participation demonstrates the vital role that ITM play at Irish sales and we salute their hard work as they coordinate with Joey Cullen and the Goffs Purchaser Attraction Team to attract the biggest audience and then ensure they have an enjoyable, productive and memorable visit to Ireland. The colourful and varied groups that have been with us this week came from 19 countries and only enhanced the upbeat atmosphere in the sales ring from dawn till dusk each day.”“So, the three sections of the Irish National Yearling Sale – Orby Book 1, Orby Book 2 and the Autumn Yearling Sale – have delivered at all levels from the elite yearlings at Book 1, across the commercial class at Book 2 and the strong physicals this week. The Goffs team takes pride in exceeding expectations at every sale, and we will only redouble our efforts to continue growth in every sector.“And so on to the market leading Goffs November Foal Sale which has catalogued a mouthwatering selection of the best Irish foals to be offered anywhere this year. They will be followed by our November Breeding Stock Sale featuring the inaugural Chicquita Session which has really caught the imagination with 22 class acts that are the epitome of the best of Irish breeding.Patience Pays Off For FranciscoBidding on behalf of owner Francisco Castro, Goffs agent Filip Zwicky went to €72,000 on a Coulsty colt from Rathasker Stud. Originally slated for the Orby Sale, the half-brother to G1 Prix Jean Romanet winner Aristia (Starspangledbanner) was one of the highlights from the supplementary section of the catalogue. Zwicky said, “This horse has been bought for Francisco Castro. He was here for the Orby with a good order but he couldn't fill it. He decided to skip all of the other yearling sales in favour of coming back here to find the best colt that he could. He saw the horse on Monday and liked him a lot. He was waiting patiently for him all week so that was great.”He added, “The trade has been good again. Very strong for the horse we have been after. But this horse was the one we wanted. He was an Orby horse who came into this sale as a supplement, so I was very happy to get him.”Breeze-Up Handlers Get Some Last-Minute Shopping Done It may not come as the greatest surprise in the world that some of the breeze-up handlers are last-minute shoppers. Whatever about leaving everything until Christmas Eve, it would appear that plenty of well-known names leave filling stables to the last minute as well. Ian McCarthy, who operates under Grangecoor Farm, was one of the bigger breeze-up buyers on the day, holding off a spirited effort from trainer Ciaran Murphy on a €65,000 Mehmas colt from Lakefield Farm.The handler said, “He has been bought to go breezing and was one we really liked. I think he could suit something like Craven or maybe even a Tattersalls Ireland Breeze-Up Sale. We only have about six or eight to breeze and he is a nice one to have on the team.”Danny O'Donovan snapped up the last lot into the ring, a €60,000 Camelot filly, while his neighbour Cormac Farrell bought the lot before that, a Sioux Nation colt for €30,000. As well as the well-known handlers getting in on the action, there was also room for some of the younger breeze-up players to get in on the action. Step forward Niall O'Mara, son of Knockanglass man Thomond, and Jack Kennedy, son of Sherbourne Lodge boss Ger. The two youngsters combined to land a €56,000 Lope De Vega colt from Castlebridge to go breezing. Of course, it wasn't the first rodeo for the pair, given Niall sold a Profitable colt to Blandford Bloodstock at Donny a couple of years ago for £360,000. He had sourced the colt for just €16,000 at this very sale the previous autumn. Can lightning strike twice?Golden touchNobody got rich, but, any day you turn €1,000 into €16,500 is a good day and that's exactly what Goffs' very own Conor Wixted did – alongside Stephen Keogh and Leah Burgess at Raheendaw Farm – with lot 677. A filly by Make Believe, she was sourced at the Goffs February Sale and her increased value left Henry Beeby, who was on the rostrum for lot 677, joking that he must be in line for “a very good Christmas present” from Wixted. Buy of the dayWillie Browne will forget more about this business than most people will ever know and the €16,000 he parted with on a Calyx colt early on in the afternoon could look like money well spent at the breeze-ups next spring. Out of a winning Night Of Thunder mare, the Calyx colt looked fast and could be one for Donny next year. 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