TUESDAY'S Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale saw a 86% clearance rate with an average price of over 21,000gns.

This was the first year of the sale, which was replacing the Ascot Yearling Sale.

The turnover for the sale was almost five million guineas and 17 lots sold for 50,000gns or more, compared to just one last year.

Leading the way was the sole six-figure lot, a colt by Twilight Son who was bought by Adam Driver of Global Equine Group for 120,000gns.

The colt is out of the listed winning and Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes placed Baileys Jubilee and was consigned by Petches Farm, which is owned by Baileys Horse Feeds' managing director Paul Venner.

Purchaser Adam Driver said: "We will get him back to Jo Fenton's and she will work her magic, break him in and get him backed. He is a strong solid horse, so we will see what he shapes up into. He is for Raed El Youssef whom we have bought some breeze-up horses for. We've had a bit of luck with the breeze-up horses, so he thought he'd buy a few yearlings. No trainer has been decided upon yet.”

Aguiar buys Ardad filly

A filly by Ardad out of the Lujain mare Sparkling Eyes, who was bred and consigned by Scarlett Knipe's Cobhall Court Stud, was purchased for 85,000gns by Robson Aguiar on behalf of Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing.

Aguiar, who purchased five lots on the day commented: "I bought a few by Ardad last year and I breezed [Prix Morny winner] Perfect Power, and Ardad himself. This sale is a good investment as I pay the price they are worth, and if they are good you can sell them on.

"I am happy with my purchases – I don't mind if I buy fillies or colts, I like to buy horses that I think will be good racehorses. I look at everything in the catalogue and make a short list of five or six and try to buy them."

Expert Eye

A colt by Expert Eye was knocked down for 80,000gns to the bid of agent Freddy Tylicki with Smarden Thoroughbreds and Steve Bradley. The grey colt had plenty of suitors with bids coming from Middleham Park Racing, Tessa Hetherington and Peter Nolan but it was Tylicki in the gangway who was victorious. The colt was consigned by Michael Fitzpatrick’s Kilminfoyle House Stud who purchased him at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale for 41,000gns.

"I loved him, I thought he was the pick of the sale and I am very taken as to how well Expert Eye is throwing them," commented Tylicki. "This is for a client, and we were very keen on this lad. There is a lovely update on the page as well and this horse has it all going for him.

"No trainer is planned yet, we will chat and make plans. This is the one we wanted and we've got him so we are delighted. He has a lovely physique, a great walk to him, plenty of presence and a very good eye to him."

Kevin Ross buys

Late in the evening, agent Kevin Ross struck to secure the Night Of Thunder colt out of the winning High Chaparral mare Fleabiscuit for 78,000gns after seeing off multiple bidders including Oak Tree Farm’s Norman Williamson and Tessa Hetherington from Park House Stables. The colt was consigned by Ed Player’s Whatton Manor Stud.

"He is by Night Of Thunder, a proper sire, and he is a good solid colt. He is out of mare who had a lot of ability, a High Chaparral mare who won as a two-year-old. I just liked him as an individual," commented Ross.

Ross was one of the day's top purchasers, spending 196,000gns on four horses. Only Kuwait's Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah spent more, giving 200,000gns for six horses.

Con Marnane bought seven horses for a total spend of 146,500gns.

FINAL FIGURES

Catalogued 292

Withdrawn 22

Offered 270

Unsold 38

Sold 232

Aggregate 4,952,000gns

Median 16,250gns

Average 21,345gns

% sold 86%