Cavern Club (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}) (lot 58), a two-time winner for Marco Botti, brought a sale-topping price of 32,000gns at the Tattersalls March Sale on Wednesday.
Consigned by Botti's Prestige Place, Cavern Club was in competitive action at Southwell last week when he finished third in an 11-furlong handicap from a BHA mark of 80. He is the first foal out of the unraced New Approach (Ire) mare Merseybeat (GB), a half-sister to the Listed winner and Group 3-placed Twist 'N' Shake (GB) (Kingman {GB}).
The four-year-old Cavern Club was sold to trainer James Owen, who said, “He can take us to a lot of places. He will go hurdling and has been bought as a nice dual-purpose horse. Ribchester is getting a few jumpers now. This horse won't be long in running and has been bought on spec.”
A National Hunt career also beckons for the Godolphin-consigned Eastern Whisper (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) (lot 67) after she sold to Jack Cantillon for 28,000gns.
The unraced three-year-old filly is out of the Group 3-placed Jollify (Ire) (Manduro {Ger}), who is herself a half-sister to the Ebor H. and November H. winner Litigant (GB) (Sinndar {Ire}). Their dam is the dual Group 3 winner Jomana (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}), who was bought by the Cantillon family under the banner of their Tinnakill House for just €7,500 at the 2013 Goffs November Breeding Stock Sale.
“My theory was I would have to pay triple for a filly of this quality in a few months at the store sales, so I thought I would get in early as she's unraced and eligible for bumpers,” Cantillon said of Eastern Whisper.
“It's a family I know well and love–our family own the granddam and we also have Ellen Kelly in the second dam who is in training with Willie Mullins. I haven't decided on a trainer yet, but it will be one of our leading National Hunt trainers at Syndicates.Racing.”
A total of seven lots sold for at least 20,000gns, with the three-year-old Perfect View (GB) (Outstrip {GB}) (lot 75) standing out as the pick of the rest having been bought by J. D. Moore–on behalf of client Hussain Al Dossary–for 27,000gns.
Consigned by George Scott's Eve Lodge Stables, Perfect View finished first or second in each of his three starts for his previous connections, including a debut victory in a six-furlong maiden at Windsor last May.
“The horse goes to the Middle East,” said Moore. “He has shown form on the all-weather, has been consistent and has been well handled by George Scott, who recommended him. Hussain has been lucky with his purchases at Tattersalls.”
Of the 60 lots offered, 47 sold (78%) for a gross of 389,000gns. The average was 8,277gns and the median was 4,500gns.
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