The second staging of the Tattersalls Ireland Flat Foal and Breeding Stock Sale got off to a relatively quiet start. An enlarged catalogue saw the turnover rise by 5% to €759,200 but the average of €5,978 and the €3,500 median fell by 26% and 20% respectively.

The clearance rate for the day came in at 58% which was a six point improvement on last year.

Once again this sale demonstrated the muted level of demand that exists at the over supplied lower end of the market.

Unsurprisingly, demand has been unable to keep pace with a sharp rise in numbers over the last few years and this remains a critical issue for the industry for the foreseeable future.

In terms of last Friday’s auction the star turn was a filly hailing from the first crop of the Yeomanstown Stud resident Gutaifan who made €58,000. A high-class juvenile, Gutaifan is a son of Yeomanstown’s elite sire Dark Angel and the latter’s truly remarkable stallion career looks set to ensure that the progeny of his dual Group 2-winning son will be in some demand over the next few weeks.