A NUMBER of the 13 sires being represented by their first crop of yearlings this week made quite an impact and none more so than Declaration Of War whose 21 offerings through the two days of the Orby all sold for an average of just over €120,000.

The top-class son of War Front was represented by a number of higher-priced lots and these included a €475,000 son of the listed-placed Sleeping Beauty from The Castlebridge Consignment. He was bought by American Justin Zayat, who was accompanied by Justin Casse and David Ingordo.

Zayat, who also spent €360,000 and €340,000 on daughters of Kodiac and High Chaparral, reported that his purchases would return to Florida to be broken before a decision is made on where they go into training.

The Declaration Of War colt’s dam is a half-sister to the very promising Zhukova and comes from a family superbly cultivated by the late Marguerite Weld. Declaration Of War was also responsible for a €350,000 filly who represented a rare Orby Sale purchase by Juddmonte Farms.

In terms of average no first season sire could match the 2000 Guineas and dual Derby winner Camelot. He supplied 21 lots of which 16 were sold for an average of €138,375. These included a €360,000 half-brother to the Epsom Derby second At First Sight who Hugo Merry purchased on behalf of Jim Hay. Earlier, Camelot was represented by a €320,000 filly who Harry Herbert purchased for Al Shaqab.

The dual champion Dawn Approach also fared well. Four of his six representatives reached six figures and these included a €200,000 half-brother to the listed-winning two-year-old Cape Factor, who was knocked down to Blandford Bloodstock. Champion sprinter Lethal Force again caught the eye with his three yearlings averaging €74,000.