THE sale began with a relatively short session devoted to yearlings that produced a top lot of €100,000 which was the highest price achieved by a yearling at this sale for 12 years.

However, the rest of the day illustrated quite starkly how the trade for yearlings has never recovered since the economic downturn took hold in 2008. Last year, there were 18 yearlings who made at least €20,000 and in 2017 there were 27 lots who managed this feat but last Sunday just four lots bettered this mark.