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DBS Silver Yearling Sale
Guy O’Callaghan’s Grangemore Stud enjoyed a successful debut at DBS
Then there were the six-figure lots, which have risen steadily in the past three years, from 16 in 2013, to 21 the following year, and to 31 in total at the 2015 rendition. And, while the following stat might prove a blip, the number of £200,000-plus horses shot up from one in 2014 to eight this time. That helped turnover rise by 14%, while increases in the average and median marks of 15% and 11%, and a clearance rate of 86%, were happy figures for most breeders and pinhookers. Angus Gold of Shadwell Estates was the leading buyer, gaining 20 yearlings for £2,204,000, while Peter and Ross Doyle – for whom this two-day sale has been such a fertile source of material – were the most prolific. Their 31 purchases added £2,127,000 to takings. Dark Angel was but one sire whose progeny were warmly received by buyers, and two of his offspring made the top four, including one who lured Sheikh Mohammed’s emissary, John Ferguson, back to Doncaster after a year’s break. Yet it was a daughter of Paco Boy who topped the bill. She came to the ring with more updates than a newspaper, for her full-brother, Galileo Gold, had landed Goodwood’s Group 2 Vintage Stakes four weeks earlier, while June’s Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes winner Goldream featured as a half-brother to the yearling’s dam, Galicuix. She was offered by breeder Colin Murfitt of Pantile Stud, via the consigning service offered by Robin Sharp’s Houghton Bloodstock, and was knocked down to Blue Diamond Stud’s owners, Saleh Al Homaizi and Imad Al Sagar. They were hunting for high-quality breeding prospects through their representative Tony Nerses.
DBS Silver Yearling Sale After the euphoria and vibrant atmosphere of a heady Premier Sale, this lower-tier, singlesession yearling auction held the following day THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER
Vendor
C Zoffany – Playful Promises (Elnadim)
Cooneen Stud
Price (£) Buyer
C Yorgunnabelucky – Reset City (Reset)
Throckmorton Court Stud
40,000 Mark Johnston
F Showcasing – Grandmas Dream (Kyllachy)
Trickledown Stud
38,000 Willie Browne
C Zebedee – Gone Sailing (Mizzen Mast)
Wells Stud
37,000 Hillen & Ryan
C Power – Jacaranda Ridge (Indian Ridge)
Oak Hill Stud/Acorn Stud
36,000 Alex Elliott
F Harbour Watch – Dee Dee Girl (Primo Dominie)
Fifehead Farms/Trickledown Stud 34,000 David Redvers
40,000 Harrowgate Bloodstock
C Equiano – George’s Gift (Haafhd)
Redgate Bloodstock
C Tagula – Gimli´s Treasure (King´s Best)
Pat Martin/Ballynaslaney Stud 32,000 Hillen & Ryan
C Royal Applause – Giusina Mia (Diesis)
Houghton Bloodstock
C Major Cadeaux – Mancunian Way (Green Desert) Bearstone Stud
33,000 Hillen & Ryan 30,000 Hillen & Ryan 30,000 Bobby O’Ryan/Brian Ellison
Five-year tale Year
Sold
Agg (£)
Avg (£)
Mdn (£)
2015
99
1,350,500
13,641
10,000
Top Price (£) 40,000
2014
105
1,252,500
12,160
10,000,
55,000
2013
56
499,800
8,925
8,000
38,000
2012
91
832,200
9,046
7,000
34,000
2011
76
757,400
9,965
8,000
35,000
SARAH FARNSWORTH/DBS
SARAH FARNSWORTH/DBS
Top lots Sex/Breeding
Breeder Colin Murfitt of Pantile Stud thanks Tony Nerses after his filly topped DBS
was subdued, but not submerged. In fact there was a spirited sense of the opportunities it offered to trade on a yearling (83% found new homes), and, in some cases, turn a profit. A top price of £40,000 conveys the drop in standard from Premier to Silver, but in terms of maintaining its place in its second year, this sale fulfilled its remit. It had previously been called the St Leger Festival Sale and had taken place during Doncaster’s St Leger race meeting, but a steady decline had led, in 2014, to a new name and a new date. Twelve months later, an 8% increase in turnover and 12% rise in average were further signs that the sales company had made the right call. Zoffany, who is blazing a trail in the GB and Ireland first-crop sires’ list, was responsible for one half of the top-lot double act, a colt
consigned by Gerry and Maura O’Sullevan’s Cooneen Stud and who will race for a client of trainer David Barron. The other top lot was sired by Yorgunnabelucky, a name many will have forgotten unless they pay close attention to Mark Johnston’s handicappers or Alan King’s jumpers – he ran three times over hurdles without winning, but subsequently won a Newmarket handicap for King. However, being a full-brother to no less a stallion than Shamardal – and having an enthusiastic owner in Roger Brookhouse – Yorgunnabelucky was lucky enough to gain a place at stud, and it was a member of his first crop who added another £40,000 sale to turnover. The buyer, a man who trained both the sire and his illustrious full-brother – and the yearling’s dam for good measure – was
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