With yearlings by Sea The Stars having topped sales in France and Italy and Mastercraftsman leading the way at DBS, it was the turn of another freshman, Tally Ho Stud resident Bushranger, to come out on top at Tattersalls Ireland’s two-day September Yearling Sale, which concluded on Wednesday.

Endo Botti, left, with cousin Marco, was active at Fairyhouse

The Torard Stud-consigned colt out of the unraced Action This Day mare Clever Day was knocked down for €75,000 – a decent improvement on his €12,000 foal price – to Emerald Bloodstock acting on behalf of Chantilly trainer Urs Suter.

With 114 two-year-old winners having emanated from last year’s edition of the sale, the team at Fairyhouse was hopeful of a solid performamce from its flagship Flat auction and will have been encouraged to be able to report improvements in aggregate (€4,819,700, +4%), average (€11,670, +7%), and median (€9,500, +19%). Most encouraging of all, however, was a clearance rate of 87%, with 413 of the 477 yearlings offered having found a buyer.

A colt by the National Stud’s Pastoral Pursuits out of black-type producer Right After Moyne had topped the first day of trade when selling for €64,000 to agent Bertie Butler for an undisclosed client from the Middle East.

The September Yearling Sale has been a happy hunting ground for Peter and Ross Doyle in the past, with horses such as Dick Turpin and Trumpet Major having been selected there in recent years, and the father/son team signed for five this time around, including a €57,000 Dutch Art colt already named Lindart and a Grove Stud-consigned daughter of Rock Of Gibraltar, for whom they gave €38,000.

Champion Italian trainer Alduino Botti is another regular at Fairyhouse and, fresh from the SGA sale in Milan last Friday, he made the most of his Irish shopping trip, signing for 10 yearlings, including giving €44,000 for the sole offering by Exceed And Excel in the catalogue, a colt out of Emirates Hills from the fast family of Goodricke and Pastoral Pursuits. Botti’s nephew and fellow Milan-based trainer Endo was also at the sale and bought three colts.