Hot on the heels of Deauville, Doncaster Bloodstock Sales Company (DBS)
will launch its three-day St Leger Yearling Sale Monday at an earlier slot in the
calendar than usual. This shift, which has been necessitated by the current
development of the local track, ensures that there will be no clash with Keeneland September, a situation which has compromised the presence of major
buyers in the past.
While the auction is not wholly about precocity and speed, those attributes
have become its hallmark thanks to the exploits of notable graduates Somnus
(Pivotal), Airwave (GB) (Air Express), Kyllachy (Pivotal), Reel Buddy (Mr.
Greeley) and Fayr Jag (Fayruz). To underline that suggestion, this year’s Royal
Ascot meeting was peppered with DBS Leger success stories, as Hellvelyn (Ishiguru),
Gilded (Redback) and Dutch Art (Medicean) pulled off the treble of Coventry S.
(Eng-G2), Queen Mary S. (Eng-G2) and Norfolk S. (Eng-G2), respectively.
Dutch Art, who was purchased for a mere 16,000 guineas 12 months ago, has
since added the Prix Morny (Fr-G1) to his tally, while Hellvelyn proved he was
no flash in the pan by finishing runner-up to Holy Roman Emperor (Danehill) in the Phoenix
S. (Ire-G1). Last year’s graduates won 10 out of the first 16 stakes races run
in Britain and Ireland this year. The sale also boasts the
£300,000 St Leger Yearling S., making it the
most valuable British two-year-old race.
Among the established sires represented are Averti, Cape Cross (Ire), Compton
Place, Danehill Dancer, Fasliyev, Medicean, Namid, Night Shift, Pivotal and
Royal Applause (GB), while this year’s freshman sires gaining a quick reputation
include Invincible Spirit, Ishiguru, Johannesburg, Kyllachy, Noverre and Rock of
Gibraltar (Ire). This auction always has a focus on the first-crop sires and
those include Acclamation and Captain Rio — two of the best in the sale’s
alumni — Catcher in the Rye, Chevalier, Choisir, Hawk Wing, Hold That Tiger, No
Excuse Needed (GB), Oasis Dream (GB), Okawango, Reel Buddy, Statue of Liberty
and Where or When.
One of this year’s highlights is provided by leading Doncaster vendors
Catridge Farm Stud as Hip No. 259, a half-brother to the top-class Diadem S.
(Eng-G2) winner Acclamation, by Oasis Dream. Other siblings to proven performers
on the track include Lynn Lodge Stud’s Hip 295, a half-brother to Hellvelyn by
Fraam; Whitworth Stud’s Hip 418, a Kyllachy full-brother to this year’s listed
Woodcote S. scorer Sadeek, who was sold here in 2005; and Hip 159, a half-sister
to Kyllachy himself by Averti from the Catridge draft.
Danehill Dancer’s returns have rocketed in recent months and one of his most
notable entries is offered by Oakgrove Stud as Hip 485, a daughter of the smart
stakes-winning sprinter Palacegate Episode (Drumalis [Ire]). Her daughter
Halland Park Lass (Spectrum) is the dam of Dutch Art and this is a pedigree
packed with pace. Hall Farm Stud consigns an eye-catcher as Hip 87, a
half-sister by Okawango to this year’s Coventry S. (Eng-G2) third-placer Tariq (Kyllachy)
from the family of the Gimcrack S. (Eng-G2) runner-up Wi Dud (Elnadim). Top-class
sprinter Pivotal Point (Pivotal) was one of this sale’s bargain buys and his
half-sister by Compton Place is Hedsor Stud’s Hip 429, while Raffin Stud offers
another notable Compton Place as Hip 21. This colt is a half-brother to the smart
sprinter Boogie Street (Compton Place) and Assertive (Bold Edge), who was third
in the Lennox S. (Eng-G2) at Goodwood after the publication of the catalog.
Among the offerings by the freshmen, Jamie Railton’s draft features Hip 381, a
colt by the brilliant Lockinge S. (Eng-G1) scorer Hawk Wing from the family of
Pentire, while Glenvale Stud consigns Hip 433, a filly by Choisir from the
family of Pivotal Flame (Pivotal), who was third in last Thursday’s Nunthorpe S.
(Eng-G1) at York.
DBS Managing Director Henry Beeby is upbeat about the prospects of the 2006
renewal.
“We have consistently improved the quality of the yearlings on offer in
recent years and the racetrack performances of St Leger Yearling Sales graduates
prove the point,” Beeby commented. “I believe that this really is our best ever
catalog and that it offers not only quality, but unbeatable value. Royal Ascot
2006 drove the point home and this has been backed up by a steady flow of good
quality winners since the start of the season. The enforced new dates address an
ongoing frustration as the distraction of Keeneland’s massive September Sale was
hard for some people to ignore. This year we sell our yearlings in an
uninterrupted week and are hopeful that all the major players will be present
given our excellent track record and the new dates.”
The full catalog and updates can be found on www.dbsauctions.com.