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 [1] - 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 [2] (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 [3], 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 [4], 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 [5], 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 [6] 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 [7] at £85,000 who won both his bumper starts. He will now more than likely be trained in Ireland. 
 
- Tom Foley bought Alfa Beat [8] 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.