If you follow the US markets there were some interesting statistics mentioned in Wednesday's edition of Breeding & Racing's Daily News:

Quoting thoroughbredinternet.com, it was reported that almost 12,250 horses were catalogued at yearling auctions in the Northern Hemisphere this year. These included the major yearling sales by Agence Francaise, Baden-Baden, Doncaster Bloodstock, Fasig Tipton, Goffs, Keeneland, SGA & Tattersalls.

Of the horses offered more than 75% of the yearlings were sold, a percentage reported as "remarkable ... considering vendor buy-backs/purchases are not included in [the] statistics.”

The 8,328 yearlings who were sold represent a market worth in excess of €521 million (US$682 million) “reinforcing how valuable to the various economies the breeding & selling of yearling thoroughbreds has become”.

The average price of a yearling stood at almost €62,600 (US$82,000): with colts averaging just under €71,000 (US$93,000) & fillies €52,835 (US$69,000). Storm Cat was the leading sire by average - his 16 yearlings averaging US$2M (colts just under US$2.5 million & fillies US$917,000).