Cavern Club Tops Tattersalls March Sale
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."
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."