ELECTRIC TRADE ON DAY ONE OF THE 2014 DERBY SALE

The biggest increase was seen in the middle market in which an amazing 57 lots made €50,000 and over compared with 41 on this day last year. thirteen lots made over €100,000, up from nine in 2013.

The top spot was shared by two horses, who each made €160,000. Lot 55 is by multiple champion sire Presenting and was bought by Harold Kirk for Willie Mullins, while MV Magnier bought Lot 83, a son of the Sadler’s Wells stallion Yeats, whose first crop are three-year-olds of this year.

"He’s been bought for my mother and Diane Nagle, they raced Yeats together and are keen to buy some of his progeny. Yeats was a very good and tough racehorse," said Magnier.

The three-year-old gelding, already named Utility, hails from the predominately German-based family of the Group 1 winner and sire Ungaro. He was sold by Ballincurrig House Stud, the day’s leading consignor.

Harold Kirk was delighted to have bought the Presenting gelding out of Supreme Serenade, offered by Peter Nolan Bloodstock. "I thought he was one of the nicest horses here today," said Kirk.

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"He is by a sire I have been lucky with and is out of a good racemare - if he can gallop the way he looks, he'll be ok. He's been bought for a client."

The March-born three-year-old gelding is out of the five-time and Grade 3 winner Supreme Serenade, sister to the Persian War (G2) winner and Grade 1-placed Supreme Prince. She has had one runner to date, a winner of a bumper and over hurdles.

MV Magnier also went to €140,000 for the Yeats half-brother to the Champion Hurdle winner Rock On Ruby. "He is closely related to a very good racehorse. We'll take him home and decide on plans then," he said.

British trainers and agents were busy throughout the day with regular Derby Sale purchasers such as Colin Tizzard, John Ferguson, Tom Lacey, Nick Gifford, Paul Webber all adding to their strings. Bloodstock agent David Redvers and assistant Hannah Wall signed for one lot apiece 

Highflyer Bloodstock, always a strong supporter of the Derby Sale, went home with nine store horse lots and was the busiest numerical purchaser of the day ahead of Kieran McManus who bought six. 

The concluding horses-in-training section was topped by How About It, winner of his only point-to-point start. The five-year-old is a son of Kayf Tara, was sold by Howardstown Stables and bought by Gearoid Costello FOR €130,000.