The DBS Spring Sale Highlights

The DBS Spring Sale at Doncaster Highlights
 
Catch up on the highlights of the Horses In Training and Stores Spring Sale at DBS. 

 

Day 1 Horses-In-Training
 
- Enda Bolger bought the top lot on day 1 - Alaivan - who was a very good horse on the flat and over jumps (Grade 2 winner) for E J O'Grady. He paid £150,000 for the 5yo gelding. 
 
- Enda Bolger also bought Osana (placed in Grade 1 Arkle Chase at Cheltenham) from the Million In Mind Partnership Dispersal for £46,000 from the same connections as Alaivan.
 
- Bolger was again the highest bidder for another Million In Mind Partnership horse, spending £70,000 for the Nicky Henderson trained Nadiya De La Vega, who will likely stay in training with Henderson. Bolger did not reveal who he was buying for but there are no prizes for guessing who it is!
 
- Roberto Goldback, who was unlucky not to win the Grade 1 Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup Chase when a length in front until he unseated his rider at the last, was bought back for his owner for £140,000 by Dessie Hughes. 
 
- Shirley Casper, a 10yo Presenting mare was also bought back by Dessie Hughes. She is a valuable black type mare after winning a Grade 2 bumper, placing in Grade 1 bumper and a Grade 3 winner over hurdles.
 
- The average price per horse increased by 5% from last year to be £13,741.
 
 
Day 2 Horses-In-Training
 
- Anthony Stroud bought the top lot Pere Blanc by going to £100,000 to get him from the George Ward dispersal sale. The progressive hurdler was trained by David Arbuthnot. 
 
- Agent Mags O'Toole was the highest bidder for the 5yo Make A Track at £85,000 who won both his bumper starts. He will now more than likely be trained in Ireland. 
 
- Tom Foley bought Alfa Beat for £75,000, with the aim of winning Aintree's Grand National next year. He was bought on behalf of Irvin Naylor who is a big jump horse owner in America. He could be leaving Charles Byrnes and going to Nicky Henderson. The 7yo won the Grade 1 Kerry National last year and was 4th in the National Hunt Chase Challenge at this years Cheltenham Festival.
 
-  The average price was down from £19,760 last year to £12,691.
 
 
Day 3 Store Horses 
 
- Agent Harold Kirk paid £80,000 for Shirocco, a half-brother to Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner Arcalis. The 3yo will be heading to the Willie Mullins stable. 
 
- Agent Mags O'Toole bought a King's Theatre gelding from the family of Captain Chris for £75,000. 
 
- The average price increased 15% from £13,097 to £15,092 for day 3.
 
- Over the 3 days the average price dropped 8% from £14,972 to £13,817.