January Sales Results

Old Complex goes out in style

The last Sale held in the Carr House Road Sales complex in Doncaster was topped by BLUE ROCKET when she was sold to Michael Owen Enterprises for 150,000 guineas. The three year old daughter of ROCK OF GIBRALTAR had won two races and was third in the Group 3 Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket last year and comes from a black type family, being a half sister to HALMAHERA, winner of the Group 3 Cornwallis Stakes at Ascot. The filly raced was consigned by Martin Grange Stables, were she was trained for a partnership and she will now enter the breeding operation that is run by the England football star.

Manton House Stud consigned LODI, who recorded the second highest price in the horse in training section when selling to John Akehurst for 32,000 guineas. The BERTOLINI gelding had won over six furlongs at Kempton as a two year old and looks the type who will have an exciting racing career ahead of him.

The Listed placed SWAYTHE was the highest priced National Hunt Mare when selling to Richard Aston for 55,000 guineas. The seven year old Mare is a half sister to the Grade 1 winning STROMNESS and comes from the family of RIGMAROLE and FIRE DRAGON and will be a valuable addition to the broodmare band at the purchasers Goldford Stud.

FANTASTIC FLEUR was the second highesty priced National Hunt Mare when she was knocked down to John O'Bryne for 40,000 guineas. The Listed placed half sister to FOREMAN, winner of the Grade 1 AIG Champion Hurdle and the Grade 1 Maghull Novices' Chase has been bought for a private client and is sure recoup her value in the breeding sheds in future years.

The winner of the Colts class at the TBA Kenneth Oliver Memorial Foal Show Championships topped the National Hunt Foal section when selling to John O'Bryne for 35,000 guineas. The February born son of KAYF TARA is the first foal out of a nine time winning mare and was consigned by Trickledown Stud for Mr. P. Brewer. After attracting bids from many separate parties, it was Mick Easterby who was left to make the running before being beaten by a final bid from O'Bryne.

Another son of KAYF TARA shared top honours for the National Hunt Foals and Yearling of 2007 when being knocked down to Frannie Woods from Rathbarry Bloodstock Services for 35,000 guineas. The March born gelding was consigned by Mill House Stud and was one of 15 yearlings that were catalogued for day two of the Sale. He attracted plenty of bids from around the pavilion but it was the Rathbarry team, who consigned the Grade 1 winning hurdler FRANCHOEK to DBS in 2005, that lasted longest to secure the strong Colt.

David Redvers was extremely active buying National Hunt foals, with his spending topped by a son of Gold Cup winning sire, PRESENTING. The April born Colt is out of a half sister to RED MARAUDER, sold as a foal at DBS before winning the Aintree Grand National and is likely to reappear for resale as a Three or Four Year Old.

Goldford Stud was responsible for a son of OLD VIC that was sold for Mr. W. B. Mactaggart to John O'Bryne for 32,000 guineas. The April born Colt is out of a six time winning mare, who is a half sister to BETTY'S BOY and is likely to be reoffered as a three year old Store.

DBS managing director, Henry Beeby commented after the sale:

'What a wonderful way to end 45 extremely happy and successful years of trading from the Sales Paddocks, Carr House Road, Doncaster. A top price of 150,000 guineas was, I think it is fair to say, beyond the wildest dreams of the founder members of DBS, Willie Stephenson and Ken Oliver when they launched DBS with a combined kitty of £150 in May 1962. Indeed, at that first sale 83 lots were sold for 34,695 guineas which produced an average of 418 guineas and a top price of 2500 guineas.

We have had a long and successful journey since that fateful day and no-one could have envisaged the progress that has been made in that time. We are proud that DBS is now an International player on the World stage but maintains its very welcoming, personal approach that has been the hallmark of our success. We cannot wait to move to our new custom built Sales Complex but guarantee our many clients that the DBS personal service will remain undimmed.

Trade this week has plainly reflected the state of the market but, before the gloom and doom merchants get carried away, it should be noted that our NH Foal Sale returned record figures yesterday combined with a highly respectable clearance rate. Yes, the Industry faces many challenges but we think it is vitally important that we retain as much positivity as possible. The bloodstock market relies on such an approach and it is vitally important things are kept in perspective.

Finally, on behalf of all the team at DBS - past and present - I would like to thank every single visitor to the DBS Sales Paddocks since May 1962 for their patronage, support, business, encouragement and friendship. It has always been fun to do business here but no-one can stand still. We look forward to the next chapter with huge anticipation.'