Fairyhouse yet another yearling sale to ride a record tide

Records tumbled at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale, maintaining the trends observed from Deauville to Keeneland by posting its best ever results over the two-day Part I catalogue.

Following the excitement of a record price on the opening day, the stakes were high for Wednesday - and horses and bidders alike proved equal to expectations.

Four six-figure sales grabbed the attention, but the sale's strength in depth was best measured by 44 yearlings sold for €50,000 and above; along with an impressive clearance rate of 90 per cent.

The aggregate of €11,451,000 is the highest the sale has posted in its history, while the median leaped year-on-year by 21 per cent to €23,000. Like the €28,566 average, that was another record.

Leading the charge was a daughter of the ill-fated rookie Society Rock, consigned by Tally-Ho Stud - his home, all too briefly, and responsible for his Group 1 Prix Morny winner Unfortunately, a €24,000 graduate of this sale last year.

It took the substantially higher sum of €160,000 from Joe Foley, on behalf of Clipper Logistics, to secure the daughter of the consistent racemare Coolminx, a Listed-placed daughter of One Cool Cat.

"She is an exquisite filly," commented the proprietor of Ballyhane Stud. "We were very keen to buy her, she is out of a tough racemare and the granddam was very tough too."

The filly was purchased at the inaugural Tattersalls Ireland Flat Foal and Breeding Stock Sale last November from her breeders, Derek and Gaye Veitch's Ringfort Stud, for just €14,500.

Foley and the Clipper Logistics team had earlier made the first €100,000 purchase of the day, this time for a colt by Footstepsinthesand from the Ballymacoll family of Islington.

Ashwood Stud consigned the colt, a half-brother to three winners, on behalf of breeders Cloughmealy Stud. He is out of a Pivotal half-sister to Wild Irish Rose, who won the Listed Stanerra Stakes at Leopardstown this summer for Aidan O'Brien.

"We liked him from the start and were determined not to lose out on him," Foley said. "Two years ago we were underbidders on Larchmont Lad [Group 3 winner by the same sire] here at €110,000 so we weren't going to let that happen again."

Ger Lyons paid €110,000 for a Kodiac colt on a momentous day for the sireCredit: Patrick McCann

Kodiac colt in demand on red-letter day

On the day that Kodiac broke his own record for two-year-old winners in a season, he didn't go unnoticed by buyers seeking next year's star juveniles. Late in the day Ger Lyons paid €110,000 for a colt by Tally Ho Stud's incredible stallion, consigned by breeders Ballyhimikin Stud.

The colt is a son of the winning Namid mare, Greek Easter, who has produced two winners from three foals to race so far. She is a half-sister to Grade 3 Will Rogers Stakes winner Doc Holliday, who was second in the Middle Park; and it is the further family of Balidar.

"I really like him, there is something different about him," said the trainer of his new acquisition. "Because of one or two things with others on the list, he ended up making his way to the top of the shortlist. I have one or two [clients] in mind for him but the most important thing is we have him on the team."

His sale came hot on the heels of John Cullinane giving €80,000 for a filly by Kodiac consigned by Baroda and Colbinstown Studs. She is the first foal of Graphic Quest, a winner twice at two, and a half-sister to Listed winner Fourpenny Lane from the family of Abigail Pett and Medicean Man.

Impressive Garswood pinhook

Tony and Anne O'Callaghan and their sons Roger and Henry proved it is not just an eye for a successful stallion that sets apart the Tally-Ho Stud family, registering a second successful pinhook during Wednesday's sale.

Their colt from the first crop of Garswood sold to trainer Johnny Murtagh for €100,000, making him the most expensive yearling by the young Cheveley Park sire sold to date. That represented a fine return on the €38,000 he cost as a foal.

His dam Abandon is a winning half-sister to Tawqeet, twice successful in the Caulfield Cup and also the winner of the Group 1 Metropolitan Handicap in Australia, after his transfer from England where he was third in the St Leger. It is an important family as third dam Barger, herself a Group 1 performer, is a full sister to the brilliant Triptych.

Rookie Slade catching the eye

Fillies from the first crop of Darley's champion sprinter Slade Power attracted the buyers over the two days with Richard Fahey and Aidan O'Ryan going to €80,000 for a half-sister to Listed Dee Stakes winner Viren's Army from the Castlebridge Consignment.

Viren's Army topped the 2014 Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale at €115,000. His younger half-sibling was bought on behalf of a new client to Fahey's Musley Bank Stables.

"She was a lovely filly, we really liked her an awful lot and are thrilled to have secured her," commented the agent.

Her dam Blue Angel won twice and has produced two winners from two runners so far. She is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Empowering out of a half-sister to Bigstone.

Breathtaking returns

The popularity of second-season sire Bated Breath was a notable feature of the session with three sons changing hands for an average price of €66,667. They were bred on the 2015 fee of £10,000 for the young Juddmonte sire, whose star is on the rise thanks to the likes of Beckford who has twice been placed at Group 1 level.BBA Ireland bought the most expensive of the trio, a half-brother to three winners out of the winning Sinndar mare Adelfia consigned by Creighmore Stables for €75,000.

Showcasing again in the shop window

Whitsbury Manor Stud's Showcasing remained in favour following his star turn as sire of Tuesday's record-breaking €230,000 colt.

Trainer Willie McCreery, acting on behalf of owner Garrett Freyne, bought the top Showcasing lot on Wednesday, a filly bred by Rathasker Stud. Her page had obtained a timely upgrade from Heartache, who last week won the Group 2 Flying Childers Stakes at Doncaster. Heartache is out of the Listed winner Place In My Heart - who is a half-sister to Generous Heart, the dam of this filly.

All hail Acclamation

Of the established sires, Rathbarry Stud's Acclamation built on a season that has raised his profile higher than ever with four yearlings selling for an impressive average of €72,500.

Dermot Farrington bought the highest-priced of the three sold on Wednesday, paying €78,000 for Awbeg Stud's half-brother to three winners out of the Rainbow Quest mare With Colour. Her dam is the Group 2 winner and Group 1 runner-up With Fascination, a daughter of the multiple Grade 1 winner Fran's Valentine and a half-sister to With Anticipation, successful in five Grade 1 races.