A FINE son of the increasingly popular Dandy Man emerged as the star of the yearling section of this year’s Goffs February Sale when fetching €86,000 to top Wednesday’s session of the three day sale.

Over the last two days, the trends established at the major foal sales late last year were again in evidence. There was healthy demand for those deemed to have the necessary commercial appeal for the yearling sales in the autumn but it was vastly tougher going elsewhere.

The issue of oversupply in an increasingly discerning market place was again highlighted in the figures for the yearling section of the sale.

This year 111 more yearlings came under the hammer at the February Sale and this section of the sale produced an improved aggregate of just over €2.1 millionm but the average of €10,646 fell by 23 points and the median of €5,500 dropped by 31%. The clearance rate of 59% was down four points on 2016.

The standout lot of the day was the aforementioned €86,000 son of Dandy Man for whom Peter Doyle, acting for Ciaran Conroy, outlasted Paul McCartan. The colt was sold by Collegelands Stud and he is out of a half-sister to the smart two-year-old Johannes.

“He’s a very good foal and a well prepared one who comes off a very good farm who always have nice foals here,” remarked Doyle. “Today he was standout but in any sale he would have been a very nice horse. He’s a lovely mover with a smart pedigree and I’ve bought him for Ciaran Conroy, who will be reoffering him in the autumn.”

This week has marked a first venture into sales consigning for the sales circuit regular Mick O’Dwyer and his Cashel Bloodstock supplied three of the top six lots on offer. O’Dwyer, who is especially familiar to many in his role for Baroda & Colbinstown Studs at all major sales throughout the year, offered several popular Kodiac yearlings and the most expensive of these was a €72,000 colt from the family of Rags To Riches.

That colt was bought by Tally-Ho Stud after they outlasted Tom Whitehead and, just a few minutes later, agent Margaret O’Toole paid €42,000 for a son of Kodiac hailing from the same pedigree. Both horses will be back for sale later in the year and a similar path beckons for a €52,000 Kodiac filly from Cashel Bloodstock who was knocked down to Troy Steve. The latter reported that he was acting for the Cambridge-based operation Piermill Bloodstock.

The only New Approach yearling on offer went to the BBA Ireland’s Richard Fitzsimons for €60,000. This Airlie Stud-consigned colt is out of a winning half-sister to the Breeders Cup Mile winner Domedriver and he too was purchased with resale in mind.

The Spanish agency Stamina Turf came up short in their quest for the Le Havre filly who topped Tuesday’s session but Rafael Rojano and Cuco Diaz enjoyed better luck when striking for a €56,000 son of Acclamation.

“He’s been bought for a Spanish partnership and he will go to France now. A decision will be made later on whether he is reoffered or kept to race,” said Rojano.

Leading National Hunt buyer Dick Frisby parted with €41,000 to secure a son of Flemensfirth and this price was closely matched by Peter Kavanagh when he picked up a €40,000 Lawman filly out of a half-sister to top class Blue Bunting. The Lawman may be kept to race.

READ RYAN McELLIGOTT'S FULL REPORT & MARKET COMMENT IN THE IRISH FIELD THIS WEEKEND