(Edited Doncaster Bloodstock Sales press release)
A Dansili colt commanded the sale-topping price of £200,000 ($327,740 in U.S. funds) as the Doncaster Bloodstock Sales St. Leger yearling auction ended Aug. 26 with downturns of more than 20% in its gross revenue, average price, and median price.
“The DBS St. Leger yearling sale has enjoyed a meteoric rise over the last decade from quite humble beginnings to its current standing as a ‘Premier League Sale’ that is attended by every major buyer and regularly sends out winners of the highest quality,” said DBS managing director Henry Beeby “However, it seems nothing is immune from the current financial climate, and we have taken a hit over the last two days in terms of statistics although the most pleasing aspect of the sale has been the very respectable 79% clearance rate that reflects a pragmatic approach by our vendors and the hard work of the DBS auctioneers. It is simply a harsh fact that people do not currently have as much money to spend on racehorses, and there was a strong element of selectivity in the trade. Whether that trend will be replicated throughout the autumn remains to be seen, but last year's sale, which seemed slightly disappointing at the time, looked pretty respectable at the end of the season and that may be the case again this year.”
M.V. Magnier purchased the Dansili colt from his breeder, Newsells Park Stud. Produced from the 12-year-old Night Shiftmare Cayman Sunset, who was a champion in England, the bay yearling is a half-brother to the winner Zaharath Al Bustan (by Gulch).
The final results for the auction included a gross of £9,609,500 ($15,747,088) for the 369 horses that sold. The average was £26,042 ($42,675), and the median was £20,000 ($32,774). Compared to 2008, when 401 yearlings were sold, the gross declined 28.8% from £13,493,500. The average dropped 22.6% from £33,649, and the median fell 23.1% from £26,000. Last year’s clearance rate was 85%.
