Doncaster Bloodstock Sales Company’s Breeze-Up began in spectacular style
with a new sale record on Wednesday when Hip No. 73 was knocked down to John
O’Byrne for 245,000 guineas. The agent, accompanied by Paul Shanahan and Tim
Hyde, had to shake off interest from dual-purpose trainer Howard Johnson to
secure the Danzig colt, who was consigned by Sheila and Bobby O’Ryan’s
Kirriemuir Stud on behalf of Valentine Feerick.
The winning bid easily outstripped the previous record of 150,000gns realized
for a Sadler’s Wells colt two years ago and returned a handsome profit on the
$180,000 shelled out for the full brother to dual stakes winner Wasseema at last
year’s Keeneland September sale. O’Byrne indicated the colt will join Newmarket
handler Jeremy Noseda.
Next place on the podium went to Hip 91, a filly from the first crop of
Mineshaft offered by Tally-Ho Stud and another to come via the Keeneland
September sale. The second foal out of the Nureyev mare Carinae, whose first
produce is already a winner, was knocked down to trainer Bryan Smart for
80,000gns, an improvement on last year’s 50,000 price tag.
Impressive trade throughout saw the session aggregate advance more than 19
percent to 2,547,000gns, while the average and median also saw significant
increases. The former was up almost 38 percent to 33,078gns while the latter
jumped one-fifth to 24,000gns.
“We are indebted to Mr. Feerick for, once again, showing supreme confidence
in DBS and sending us this spectacular colt,” DBS Managing Director Henry Beeby
said reflecting on the day’s trade. “The horse breezed exceptionally well and we
look forward to following his progress. His price proves yet again that DBS
achieves the very best prices when we have the ammunition and the overall
figures illustrate that the DBS Breeze-Up has again taken a significant step
forward.”
Selling concludes Thursday and full results, which also features the breezes
in video, may be viewed at www.dbsauctions.com.