Cavern Club Tops Tattersalls March Sale

Lot 58: Cavern Club (IRE)
Lot 58: Cavern Club (IRE)

The four-year-old CAVERN CLUB was the top price at 32,000 guineas at the Tattersalls March Sale which saw 47 lots sell for 389,000 guineas, an average price of 8,277 guineas and a median price of 4,500 guineas.

Dual Purpose Prospect Cavern Club to Owen for 32,000 Guineas

The top lot at the Tattersalls March Sale was the four-year-old CAVERN CLUB with Newmarket-based trainer James Owen going to 32,000 guineas to secure the gelding from Marco Botti's Prestige Place draft. The two-time winner was offered with an official rating of 80 following his third last week at Southwell over 1m3f, with his last victory coming in a 1m4f handicap at Newmarket in August.  

The son of RIBCHESTER is out of a half-sister to the Listed winner TWIST ‘N’ SHAKE from the excellent Meon Valley Stud family of FRANCE, SHIROCCO STAR, AL SUHAIL and TELECASTER.  

"He can take us to a lot of places, he will go hurdling and has been bought as a nice dual-purpose horse," revealed Owen. "Ribchester is getting a few jumpers now, this horse won't be long in running and has been bought on spec." 

Lot 67: Eastern Whisper (GB)

Cantillon Strikes for Godolphin’s Eastern Whisper at 28,000 Guineas  

The second highest priced lot of the day was the Godolphin consigned three-year-old EASTERN WHISPER who was knocked down for 28,000 guineas to Jack Cantillon. The unraced daughter of SEA THE STARS is out of the Listed placed JOLLIFY, a daughter of the dual Group 3 winner JOMANA. From the family of 2000 Guineas winner MARK OF ESTEEM, JOMANA is the dam of six winners and two blacktype performers.  

"I am delighted to buy Eastern Whisper, a daughter of Sea The Stars," said Cantillon. "My theory was I would have to pay triple for a filly of this quality in a few months at store sales so I thought I would get in early as she’s unraced and eligible for bumpers.  

"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 and she will be available for syndication to our owners – I think she’ll be very popular.  

"I couldn’t make it in person so I was bidding from my kitchen table dreaming of Cheltenham at every click of the bid button! Thanks to Patrick Diamond who helped with inspection."