A superb edition of the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale got a pivotal four-week period for the European yearling market off to the best possible start.

The main part of the sale was characterised by a superb clearance rate of 93% and strong demand at all levels of the market which produced an aggregate of just under €10m, which was the highest figure recorded in this category for nine years. The average of €24,093 was a record for the sale, as was the €18,000 median. Furthermore, the auction benefited from a tremendous input from international buyers and the number of lots to make at least €50,000 improved from 12 in 2014 to 38.

The auction concluded with the one-day Part II section of the sale and, while trade was operating at a lower level to the preceding days, it still finished well ahead of last year and produced another heartening clearance rate of 86%.

The top lot over the three days was a €130,000 son of the red-hot Kodiac from Tally-Ho Stud. The relation to the US Grade 1 winner Super Quercus was bought by agent Amanda Skiffington and will be trained by Hugo Palmer.

A total of four horses reached six figures and the second-highest price was paid by English-based trainer Joe Tuite when he signed for a €120,000 colt from the first crop of Harbour Watch. This price was matched by French agent Bertrand Le Metayer for an Elusive Pimpernel own-brother to the smart juvenile They Seek Him Here.

Richard Hannon will take charge of a €110,000 son of Footstepsinthesand who was knocked down to Ross Doyle.

The sale also saw the progeny of a number of first-crop sires make an impact. The high-class Australian runner Sepoy and the crack juveniles Requinto and Sir Prancealot made a notable impression with their first yearlings.

Meanwhile, across the Atlantic the all-important and marathon Keeneland September Yearling Sale concluded last weekend with a set of final figures that kept pace with 2014.

The turnover for the 12-day auction came in at just under $282m and that represented a slight increase on last year. The average of $102,549 rose by 3% while the median was $50,000, which matched both last year and 2013.

RACING

The Curragh played host to some interesting action last Sunday where Aidan O’Brien won the Group 2 Beresford Stakes for a record 15th time as the stable third choice Port Douglas sprung a 14/1 surprise. Perhaps of greater significance were the victories of two other O’Brien-trained juveniles, Coolmore and Hit It A Bomb. Coolmore coped well with a shorter than ideal trip to win the Group 3 C.L. & M.F. Weld Park Stakes. The sister to Gleneagles should make up into a smart middle distance prospect next year. In the shorter term, she could play a leading role if aimed at next week’s Fillies Mile at Newmarket. Hit It A Bomb looked a very nice prospect in making a winning debut in a seven-furlong maiden. If he gets the chance to move up in grade before the end of the season, he will be worth following and, in the long term, his is a name to remember.