THE European yearling sales season opened on a reassuring if unspectacular note at Doncaster on Tuesday when 83% of the horses offered at the first session of the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale were sold, and the drop in the median price of 21% was generally hailed as respectable.

The opening session saw nine yearlings sell for six-figure sums and were headed by Coulonces Sales’ Starspangledbanner colt which sold to Goffs UK agent Richard Ryan for £170,000. The colt is the first foal out of Dalakania, a half-sister to the Group 1 winner Ziyad, and will go into training with Roger Varian.

Grangemore Stud achieved the second highest price of the day with their Dark Angel colt out of the multiple stakes-placed Kodiac mare Futoon selling to John and Jake Warren for £140,000.

Stock by Premier graduate and proven sire Acclamation were popular throughout the day with Longview Stud’s Acclamation colt out of an own sister to the Group 1 winner and sire Slade Power selling to SackvilleDonald for £120,000, while Tinnakill House's Acclamation colt out of a half-sister to the Group 1 winner Bateel was another to stand-out when selling to Richard Ryan for £115,000.

Phil Cunningham purchased a total of three horses through Goffs’ online bidding system including a Kodi Bear colt from Lewinstown Farm for £110,000, while Peter and Ross Doyle were also busy, securing 11 horses on the opening day, including Redpender Stud’s Acclamation colt for £105,000.

Other purchasers on the day included agent Stephen Hillen and trainer Kevin Ryan (seven horses for £220,000), Dermot Farrington (five), Clive Cox (five), Kevin Ross (three for a total of £190,000), Karl Burke (four horses), Rabbah Bloodstock (three), Nick Bradley (three), Mick Murphy and Sarah O'Connell's Longways Stables (three), Andrew Balding (three), Alex Elliott (three), Jason Kelly (three), Jamie Osborne (three), Joseph O'Brien (three for £195,000), and Eddie Linehan and Johnny Murtagh (two for £115,000).

The second and final day of the sale will start on Wednesday at 10am.

DAY ONE STATISTICS

Offered: 229

Sold: 190 (83%)

Aggregate: £6,970,500 (-34%)

Average: £36,687 (-25%)

Median: £30,000 (-21%)

READ LEO POWELL'S FULL SALE REPORT IN THE IRISH FIELD NEXT WEEKEND