The positive trends from the opening session of the Tattersalls Ireland September yearling sale continued into day two. The auction ended Sept. 26 with increases in its gross, average price, and median price.
On a day in which the sun decided to make an appearance at Fairyhouse in Ireland, the final session enjoyed a 13% upswing from a year ago in median to €8,500 ($10,991 in U.S. funds). The average rose 4% to €10,805 ($13,971), and the gross grew 6% to €2,193,400 ($2,836,110). The number of yearlings that were sold was 203.
The gross for the entire sale for the 414 horses that were bought was €4,823,000 ($6,236,770), an increase of 4% from 2011. The average rose 7% to €11,650 ($15,065) and the median grew 19% to €9,250 ($11,960).
The clearance rate for the two days combined was 87%.
A Bushranger colt topped the second session and was the most expensive yearling that was sold during the auction, bringing €75,000 ($96,977). The amount was the most spent on a horses at the September sale since 2009.
Consigned by Torard House Stud, the colt was bought by Pauline Marterer of Emerald Bloodstock on behalf of the Chantilly (France)-based trainer Urs Suter. The conditioner had left the sale and was giving instructions over the telephone.
"Mr. Suter had picked out this horse and really liked him, but had to leave before he sold," Marterer said.
The colt is the first foal out of the unraced Action This Day mare Clever Day. She is a half sister to Mavoreen (by Sir Cat), who captured the 2003 San Jose Stakes at Bay Meadows in California. Mavoreen also finished second in the 2003 California Oaks at Golden Gate Fields and third in the Sixty Sails Handicap (gr. III) at Hawthorne Race Course.
"For the third consecutive year, the September yearling sale has experienced growth in terms of turnover (gross), average, and median despite this being the smallest catalog in recent years," said Roger Casey, general manager of Tattersalls Ireland. "Whilst we were optimistic of a strong renewal of the sale, we have been absolutely thrilled at the number of buyers in attendance this week. The diversity of purchasers and the excellent demand witnessed from start to finish this week reaffirms to vendors the strength of the market at Tattersalls Ireland.
"The efforts of the Tattersalls Ireland team, coupled with Irish Thoroughbred Marketing, were evident as the number of UK trainers and agents surpassed our expectations, and we again welcomed a large contingent from France, Italy, Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, and Switzerland in addition to our strong domestic support."