The one-day Part II session of the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale returned a clearance rate of 72% on Thursday. This represented a drop from 81% last year.

The average price of €6,647 was down 19% and the median of €4,000 was back 33% on the 2023 figure.

The session’s top three lots are all staying on Irish soil, the trio headed up by a New Bay colt bought by Thomond O'Mara under his Kilronan banner for €36,000.

Tattersalls Ireland’s Timmy Hillman was entrusted with bidding duties as O’Mara had left the sales ground after selecting the colt for purchase as a breeze-up prospect.

The yearling was consigned by Rockview Stables.

The colt, bred by Emir Alkas, was sold by Rockview Stables and the farm’s Dermot Dunne said: "He has always been a lovely colt and is by a very popular sire."

Andy Oliver

The Co Tyrone-based trainer Andy Oliver went to €32,000 for Rathbride Farm's Pinatubo colt out of the Elusive Quality mare Sidra.

"He is by a successful young sire and from a strong Aga Khan female line," said Oliver. "He's a nice, good strong colt. I am a great pedigree man, that always is a good start, and he has the pedigree and there's a lot of Shamardal in him, too."

Oliver bought three yearlings in the session for an outlay of €56,000 having purchased five yearlings in Part 1 for a total spend of €119,000.

The September Yearling Sale has always been a happy hunting ground for Oliver and he said: "You have to keep pumping away, and when something comes at your price level you have to strike."

Ger Lyons to train

Racehorse owner Vincent Gaul, who signed under the Wyanstown House banner, spent €30,000 on a colt by Cotai Glory.

Sold by Gerrardstown House Stud and bred by Frank Fahy, he will be going into training with Ger Lyons.

"I liked him as an individual, he looks like a two-year-old type," said Gaul. "I have a few already with Ger and I like to keep them until the end of their three-year-old years. This chap has a reasonable page – the dam's first foal [Ladise, 2022] is a winner and it goes back to some quality."

The pedigree definitely boasts talent – dam Lady Hanson is by Galileo and she is a half-sister to Spirit Of Battle, who was Group 3-placed in the Prix Eclipse.

Their dam Victoria Star is a Danehill own-sister to Mozart, the three-year-old champion sprinter of 2001, and winner of the Group 1 July Stakes and the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes.

Tattersalls Ireland CEO Simon Kerins commented: "After a hugely successful September Yearling Sale it was always going to be a challenge to match the momentum of the previous two days, but it was encouraging to see a diverse international buying bench, with many clients visiting for the first time and expressing their intent to return next year.

"The market at this level, however, does remain selective, as reflected in today’s clearance rate of 72%.

"History does show us that stakes performers can be sourced at this level of the market too with Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup winner Helvic Dream and Group 1 Matron Stakes winner Champers Elysees both being September Yearling Sale Part II graduates. I am confident that today’s September Yearling Sale Part II will yield winners at all levels in the future."

September Yearling Sale Part II 2024 Statistics

Current year 2023 Change %

Lots Catalogued 275 256 +7%

Lots Withdrawn 16 24 -33%

Lots Offered 259 232 +12%

Lots Unsold 73 44 +66%

Lots Sold 186 188 -1%

Total Value (€) 1,236,400 1,546,100 -20%

Median Value (€) 4,000 6,000 -33%

Average Value (€) 6,647 8,225 -19%

% Offered Lots Sold 72% 81% -11%