The 2022 Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale got off to a buoyant start at Doncaster on Tuesday.

Day one showed healthy increases on the corresponding day last year, headed by a 27% increase in the median and a 91% clearance rate.

Topping Tuesday’s session was a Night Of Thunder colt sold by Noel O'Callaghan's Mountarmstrong Stud in Cashel, Co Tipperary.

The colt hails from a top family, being out of an Acclamation half-sister to the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes winner Anthem Alexander and sire Dandy Man.

The colt drew bids from parties around the ring before being knocked down to Mark McStay's Avenue Bloodstock for £230,000.

McStay said: "It's probably more than I hoped to have to pay for him but you have to stretch for the good ones. My client had given me a figure and when that figure was passed I got him on the phone and he said to keep going. We were probably on our last bid.

"I saw a huge resemblance to Dubawi in this horse. I worked for Godolphin for many years and sold nominations to Dubawi and I saw a lot him in this horse. He will go to Ireland to be broken by Nina Carberry and plans are fluid after that."

Two yearlings sold for £200,000. The first came earlier in the day with Michael Kinane of the Hong Kong Jockey Club going to £200,000 to secure Trinity Park Stud’s Acclamation colt and that was matched in the final hour with Baroda Stud’s New Bay colt, which was knocked down to Peter & Ross Doyle Bloodstock.

Owner-breeders John and Jess Dance, who famously bought multiple Group 1 winner Laurens at this sale, bought four yearlings and three of them had price tags of £160,000, £150,000 and £150,000.

They paid £160,000 for Alice Fitzgerald's Kodiac colt out of an unraced Rip Van Winkle mare. The two £150,000 purchases were a Ten Sovereigns filly from Manister House Stud and a Ulysees half-brother to this year's Coventry Stakes winner Bradsell.

In total, 12 yearlings made six-figure prices, up on seven on the opening day last year.

Peter & Ross Doyle Bloodstock were the day's leading buyers, signing for nine lots at a total cost of £642,000.

Amo Racing bought just one yearling at the session, a colt by Inns Of Court for £125,000.

Other notable purchases at the top end of the market on Tuesday included Joe Foley giving £105,000 for a son of Soldier's Call, the stallion he stands at Ballyhane Stud, and Donnacha O'Brien paying £100,000 for a colt from the first crop of Magna Grecia, the horse he rode to win the 2000 Guineas.

"He's a smashing horse. Magna Grecia was a very good horse and his stock seem to be fantastical physicals," said O'Brien. "This guy stood out so it was really nice to get him."

The second and final day of the Doncaster Premier Sale will commence at 10am on Wednesday.

Day 1 Statistics

Offered: 218

Sold: 199 (91%)

Aggregate: £8,954,500 (+28%)

Average: £44,997 (+15%)

Median: £38,000 (+27%)