Increased Figures at August Sales

The August Sales finished with a lively trade over the two days that saw a clearance rate of 73% when 282 horses sold for a total of £2,183,200 and an average of £7,742, which was an increase of 3% from 2008. A top lot of £100,000 was matched with a lively atmosphere over the two days when a large crowd of purchasers travelled from many parts of the world to the DBS Sales Complex to bid for horses at all levels of the market.

Gemini Lucy was the star of the two day event when selling to Anthony Bromley from Highflyer Bloodstock for £100,000. The Grade 1 winning daughter of Glacial Storm came from the immediate family of Jodami and was offered in foal to Presenting. She attracted an opening bid of £100,000 that was enough to secure the nine year old, who raced in the colours of the Queens Prices Syndicate and has been bought for Brian Griffiths who operates a National Hunt breeding operation in Herefordshire.

Gemini Lucy attracted a single bid of £100,000 which was enough to secure the Grade 1 winner

National Hunt broodmares were in strong demand and Sean Gorman's Cleaboy Stud secured the second highest offering when buying Heltornic for £65,000. The Grade 2 winning daughter of Zaffaran was offered with a Kayf Tara foal at foot and was covered by the same sire this year.

Heltornic and Kayf Tara foal sold for £65,000

Horses in Training were in popular demand over the two days and R O'Sheen Bloodstock secured the highest priced offering when Capricorn Run was knocked down to him for £65,000. The Listed placed son of Elusive Quality is the winner of nine races and has been bought to further his racing career for new connections.

Sonny Mullen won a competitive Bumper at Market Rasen on his racecourse debut by 21 lengths and was extremely popular when he entered the DBS Sales Pavilion. The son of Bob's Return is out of an Old Vic own sister to the Listed winning Sullane River and comes from the immediate family of the Grade 1 winning Davenport Millennium. He attracted plenty of interest from around the ring but it was Kim Bailey who had the final say when buying the five year old for £52,000.

Former jump jockey Tony Dobbin and his wife Rose will begin their training career from a state of the art facility in Northumberland and they boosted their string when buying Jurisdiction for £45,000. The son of Goldmark came from the immediate family of Niniski and was the impressive three length winner of a Bumper at Newton Abbot in May in which the second placed horse has since won a similar contest. The five year old will join their expanding string and is an exciting horse for the future.

Don Cantillon's Hackness Villa Stables consigned two exciting horses to the sale including the well bred Line Tzigane who won a Bumper at Uttoxeter on her racecourse debut since publication of the catalogue. The four year old daughter of Bonnet Rouge is out of a half sister to the Grade 3 winning Or Jack and was bought by David Bridgewater for £30,000 whilst The Chazer had also won a Bumper since publication of the catalogue and sold to Richard Lee for £30,000.

The Darley draft is always popular at DBS and their consignment was topped by Pedrolino who was bought by S&B Bloodstock for £42,000. The three year old son of Distorted Humor had run twice at Saint-Cloud for Andre Fabre and was a close second on his most recent start. He has been bought to continue his racing career.Gigginstown House Stud was another with a popular draft and their consignment was topped by Whatever Next, who had won at the Galway Festival since publication of the catalogue. The seven year old son of Presenting was bought by Richard Venn bloodstock and will continue to race over fences for new connections this season.

Following the completion of the sale, DBS Managing Director Henry Beeby said:

'Any time a National Hunt horse makes a six figure sum it is a good sign and I think it is fair to say that the signs from the DBS August Sales have been largely positive with rises in average, median and the all important clearance rate to 73%. Indeed the only statistic that has fallen in any way is the turnover which is within 7% of last year from 110 less lots. This is an impressive result in itself especially in the current climate and certainly exceeds pre sale expectations.

We have welcomed a huge and diverse crowd of buyers from home and abroad over the two days who have been attracted by a catalogue of variety and quality and it has been heartening to see a lively trade as buyers battled for the better lots. However there has been real depth to the trade from start to finish which demonstrates the bloodstock industry is coping admirably with the challenges that have been foisted upon us over the last 12 months.

Let's hope that such positivity can translate to the forthcoming yearling sales but the reaction to our catalogues and the introduction of the Racing Post Yearling Bonus has been most favourable. We continue to urge domestic yearling buyers to stay on this side of the Atlantic in their search for next years winners as we will offer real value and real quality and need the support of the home market in this year of all years.'

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