THE curtain raiser to the yearling sale was Monday’s Horses In Training session. Last year’s session contained a dispersal, but, nonetheless, this time there were substantial advances in all the key numbers. The aggregate, average and median were up by 60%, 37% and 33% respectively. A dozen more horses sold this time and the clearance rate was a very healthy 85%.

Taylor Made Sales Agency sold the five-year-old Summer Bird mare Distinta for $600,000 to Medallion Racing, a partner group to the consignors. A recent runner-up in the Grade 2 Princess Rooney Stakes, Summer Bird is the winner of almost $350,000 and finally garnered a stakes win this year at Gulfstream Park. She is one of four winners from her Storm Bird dam.