Book 3 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale kicked off on Thursday abd continued the buoyant trade seen at Books 1 and 2, with significant rises in all the key indicators.

The top price of 150,000gns was the second highest at this fixture whilst the turnover, average and median rose by 43%, 31% and 63% respectively.

The top lot was a colt by Ulysses, sold by Sussex couple David and Geraldine Hegarty for 150,000gns today, having bought the horse for just 4,000gns last year. The colt is a full-brother to Gwan So, who was placed in listed company this season for Limerick trainer Richard O'Brien and he was purchased today by agent Matt Coleman on behalf of an American client, Bill Mathis.

Coleman said: "Bill Mathis owns Eve Lodge, who was the first horse I bought for him – I bought her after she won her maiden and she went on to win the Sirenia Stakes. Bill was keen to try and buy a few yearlings. He bought a share in a couple of fillies – one in Book 1 – and we tried to find a couple of colts, but we found Book 2 very strong so I thought we’d keep going here.

"I just thought he was the best colt I saw here, he is very athletic. He’s a full-brother to Gwan So, who has been sold to go to Annabel Neasham in Australia.

"He’s a light-framed, athletic Galileo-type and I could see him doing well here for trainer Charlie Fellowes and then going to the States. He’s a full-brother to a good horse and he looks like a racehorse."

Geraldine Hegarty said: "He has been very straightforward, he has never given us a problem. He came into prep and just blossomed. My husband David chose him, he loves a really good-walking horse and his walk just said it all."

The Hegartys are based just outside Newmarket, and Geraldine explained that they both work full-time too.

She said: "We enjoy what we are doing and we just have the pinhooks, David works full-time at Genesis Green and I work in a school. We live at Genesis, at the moment this is just a hobby but it is something that we eventually want to take further."

CLIPPER COLT

The second lot to realise 100,000gns during the opening session was the New Bay colt consigned by David Cox’s Baroda Stud on behalf of breeder China Horse Club.

The colt was knocked down to Joe Foley who was stood with agent Federico Barberini after they withstood a persistent underbidder in Blandford Bloodstock’s Richard Brown.

Joe Foley said: "Federico and myself have loved him all day. I saw him yesterday evening, he was the first horse I saw in Book 3. I went, 'Jesus he is a good one.' We went back to see him this morning the two of us, we loved him. In the outside ring he was just like a cat, I would say that our underbidder thought the same.

"There has been huge trade all season. It has been so heartening to see people making money, and it bodes well for the mare and foal sales. It is fantastic to see. This sale has been the cherry on the top, it has just been great trade all the way through, the best trade I have seen, all the way through, in years."

David Cox of Baroda Stud said: "It has been some trade all day. He is a lovely horse, well prepared by the lads at Coolmore. He showed really well, I showed him to Clive Cox earlier and he loved him, and Marcus Tregoning and Halycon Thoroughbreds and they bought Perotto, also by New Bay, off us. The stallion is doing very well, it is great.

"It was all about this horse as an individual, he looked a real two-year-old. He has not put a foot a wrong all day, it's a great way to end the day.”

Book 3 continues at 10am on Friday.

DAY ONE OF BOOK 3 STATISTICS

Current Year Previous Year Change %

Catalogued 306 306 0%

Withdrawn 26 36 -28%

Offered 280 270 +4%

Unsold 21 33 -36%

Sold 259 237 +9%

Aggregate 7,268,800gns 5,092,700gns +43%

Median 26,000gns 16,000gns +63%

Average 28,065gns 21,488gns +31%

% sold 93% 88% +6%