The Goffs Orby yearling sale ended in Ireland on Thursday with declines as expected in the current era of economic downturns at Thoroughbred bloodstock auctions. But on a positive note, the median went up by just under four percent. The three-session sale at Goffs headquarters in Kill, County Kildare, sold 499 yearlings for about $36,185,516, resulting in an average price of about $72,516 and a median of approximately $40,880. This year's three-day sale replaced the Goffs Million and Sportsman's sales held in 2008. The 2009 Orby sale's gross was down 29 percent. The average was lower by 8 percent, and the median climbed 3.7 percent. The buy-back rate was 18 percent. Thursday's final session-topper was a Hurricane Run-Dance Troupe filly that Jim Bolger bought from Ennistown Stud. The price was about $146,000. The overall sale-topper was a Giant's Causeway-Saoire filly that agent Tom Tate, representing Jim Hay, purchased Sept. 29. That price was about $693,500.