Click here for Lincoln Sales Results

Rises across the board at DBS Lincoln Handicap Sales

A fantastic trade at the DBS Lincoln Handicap Sales was topped by Billyford, who sold to David Sheriff for £92,000. The son of Lil's Boy was consigned by Churn Stables and had won on four occasions and was placed third in the Group 3 Killavulan Stakes before coming under the hammer. He attracted plenty of interest from around the ring but it was former jump jockey Derek Byrne who outbid agent Robin O'Ryan to get the four-year-old for £92,000 on behalf of owner David Sherriff. He will go in to training with Liam Roche.

Billyford was sold to David Sheriff for £92,000

It was at this sale two years ago that Daytona was sold by Darley from Mark Johnston's stable and went on to Grade 1success across the Atlantic, and top US handler Niall O'Callaghan was hoping he could repeat those exploits when making his first trip to DBS.

Irish-born O'Callaghan, who has been based in Kentucky for around 30 years, picked up two lots consigned by Darley from Johnston's Kingsley House Stables.
Badge Of Honour, a dual all-weather winner this year, cost O'Callaghan £55,000, while three-time winner Takeover Bid, who finished second at Lingfield on Monday, realised £30,000. Owner Marwan Koukash, standing with Richard Fahey, was underbidder on both colts.

'We've a farm in Ireland and I was back there when I saw the catalogue for this sale,' said O'Callaghan, who signed for his purchases in the name of his brother John.

'They have been bought for people who haven't been in racing before and they could come back to Ireland now although probably will go into training in Kentucky and could even run in a month or so, the horses looked very healthy. They have both been running on the all-weather here and it sometimes works that they can improve when returning to the turf in America. Takeover Bid is by Empire Maker, a sire I love, and I know his dam Seba because she finished third in the Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont when I trained the runner-up Chamrousse.'

Ashburon Lad came to the sale having won two Point to Points and a Maiden Hurdle on his most recent starts for trainer Debbie Hartnett and he was bought by Neil King for £34,000. The seven year old will now embark in a career under National Hunt rule.

These prices helped to buck the recent trends and produced an average of £7,567 that showed an 80% increasefrom 2008. This was coupled by an increase inturnover and a 36% rise in Median that prompted Managing Director, Henry Beeby to say after the sale:

'We are obviously thrilled with today's trade which has bucked recent trends and is a real result in the current climate. Despite the fact that we had a significantly smaller catalogue we attracted a large crowd who fought keenly for the lots on offer allowing us to record an improved turnover, a staggering 80% rise in average and a remarkable 36% leap in median. The clearance rate of 80% was also significant given some sales' results recently and if one of our higher profile entries had not been withdrawn at the last moment those figures would have been even better. This represents a real achievement given what is going on in the World at the moment.

Today was a most positive day and we look forward to next week's Breeze-Up Sales in eager anticipation.'