The opening day of Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale saw remarkably strong trade with 20 lots selling for 200,000gns or more on a day that saw a record turnover, average and median for a session at this sale.

The average rose 27% and the median 35% to 89,318gns and 70,000gns respectively whilst the turnover was up 24% to 18,935,500gns.

RATHBARRY SALE

Rathbarry Stud sold the day's top lot in the shape of a Night Of Thunder colt.

Dwayne Woods, with his brothers, trainer Sean and Brook Stud's Wendyll, had to go to 375,000gns to outbid Ross Doyle and Richard Hannon, standing with Amo Racing's Kiavash Joorabchian.

"He is a stunning colt, for me the best colt in the sale," said Woods, adding: "He is very strong, and probably the cleanest Night Of Thunder I have ever seen – conformationally, strength, he has it all for me. Rathbarry is a wonderful producer of horse and he goes to Sean now."

Sean Woods said of the immediate plans for the colt: "He'll have a bit of time out, and he'll come to us in January at Shalfleet. He is for a client."

A March foal, the colt is out of Harlequin Girl (by Where Or When), the dam of two winners, including his two-year-old full-sister Hanaady, who won at Nottingham last week on her second career start.

Rathbarry Stud's Francis Woods bought the colt privately as a foal from Genesis Green Stud and he said: "He is a lovely colt, and a horse with a great mind. He is lovely to do anything with, just a pleasure. The sister won for Ed Dunlop, which just brought everything together – it has proved that the mare can get a winner by the full-sister, it gave some people some confidence. He looks fast, he vetted very well and everything went according to plan."

KINANE'S KINGMAN

The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Mick Kinane secured a son of Kingman, consigned by Ballyhimikin Stud, for 300,000gns.

Bred by Trevor Stewart, James Hanley and Anthony Stroud, the colt is the first foal out of the Group 3 winning Tamayuz mare Hunaina from a deep Aga Khan family represented in recent years by the dual classic winner Hurricane Lane and dual Derby winner Harzand.

Hunaina is also a half-sister to the Group 3 Derrinstown Stud 1000 Guineas Trial winner Hamariyna.

"He's by a great stallion and he's a lovely correct model for what I want," commented Kinane. "That's the first one I've tried on today, but good horses are hard to buy! I bought five last week."

"We bought the mare as a three-year-old in training and sent her to trainer Henri Devin, and she won a listed race and a Group 3," recalled joint-breeder Stewart.

"We are very happy with the result. He was a really nice first foal, good walking and a good strong individual. It is a nice start for the mare, who is at Ballyhimikin and had a colt by Sea The Stars this spring."

YULONG PURCHASE

Late in the evening a daughter of Galileo provided one of the highlights of the session when selling for 320,000gns to BBA Ireland’s Michael Donohoe, bidding online on behalf of Yulong Investments, who saw off a persistent challenge by US-based bloodstock agent Justin Casse.

The Manister House Stud consigned filly is out of the Group 3 Cornwallis Stakes and Listed St Hugh’s Stakes winner Mrs Danvers, who also claimed the Weatherbys Super Sprint when unbeaten in five starts at two.

The daughter of Hellvelyn, who was trained by Jonathan Portman, was bought back for just £1,000 when offered for sale as a yearling but gained a significant public following during her successful two-year-old season.

This filly, a May foal, was the first of her progeny to be offered at public auction and Manister House Stud’s Luke Barry commented: "She is an exemplary filly for her age. She is a good mix of her dam and her sire; she has great quality, looks sharp and Mrs Danvers has put a lot of strength into her. We brought her here to stand out."

The sale continues from 10am on Tuesday.

DAY ONE STATISTICS

Catalogued: 270

Offered: 247

Sold: 212

Lots 100,000gns+: 63

Aggregate: 18,935,500gns (+24%)*

Median: 70,000gns (+35%)*

Average: 89,318gns (+27%)*

% sold: 86% (85%)

*Record