From RP
INCLEMENT weather conditions may have put paid to racing at Newbury on Saturday, but the team at DBS put in some sterling work to ensure this year's instalment of their March boutique sale at the Berkshire venue took place.
Padge, the cosy winner of a Punchestown point-to-point last month for trainer Donnchadh Doyle, headed proceedings when making £160,000.
The four-year-old son of Flemensfirth, who is related to a number of crack chasers including the Gold Cup winner Fort Leney, was initially led out of the ring unsold at £180,000 but was later purchased privately by Evan Williams.
"He has been bought for William and Angela Rucker and will be turned out to grass," said Williams.
"We won't make any decisions on his future just yet."
The Glenview Stud-conisgned Hills Of Dubai, who landed a Tallow point-to-point last month for the Cashman family, was snapped up by Donald McCain for £100,000.
The Dubai Destination four-year-old is from a family brimming with classy Flat performers, including the Irish St Leger hero Ibn Bey.
"He's a horse I've had my eye on for sometime and I was very keen to have him," said McCain. "I'm not sure he will run again this year, but he should make up into a cracking chaser. He has been bought for Tim Leslie."
Anthony Bromley was busy and went to £75,000 for the Beneficial gelding Howlongisafoot, who was the easy winner of a Bennettsbridge point-to-point at the end of last month for Sean Doyle.
The four-year-old is related to the Listed bumper winner Den Of Iniquity.
Regal Diamond had shown a good level of form when finishing fourth behind Purple Bay - fifth in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham last week - on his debut at Doncaster in February for Peter Bowen and he will be returning to the trainer's Pembrokeshire base after being bought for £70,000.
However, the five-year-old son of Vinnie Roe, who had previously donned David Smith's silks, will now run in the colours of Bowen's long-standing owners Roddy Owen and Paul Fullagar.
"He is a smashing horse - very, very good," said Bowen. "He will probably be aimed at the Aintree bumper and although he will go through soft ground, I think he will be a much better horse on better ground."
Regal Diamond descends from a strong National Hunt family that includes Noel Meade's Deloitte Hurdle winner Aran Concerto.
Kian's Delight will also be running in the colours of Roddy Owen and Paul Fullagar after Bowen sealed the deal with a bid of £70,000.
The five-year-old son of Whipper will be heading back to familiar surroundings, having already won five races for Bowen and previous owners the Yeh Man Partnership.
The third lot to hit the £70,000 mark was A Hare Breath, the recent winner of a Bennettsbridge point-to-point, who will be trained by Nick Gifford.
The five-year-old son of Alkaadhem will carry the colours made famous by 1981 Grand National hero Aldaniti.
"He has been bought for my long-standing owners the Embiricoses," said Gifford. "We will get him home and see what we've got.
"If the ground ever dries out he may have a run this season, but there is no rush with him as I see him as a future three-mile chaser. He had a lazy, athletic walk and really caught my eye."
http://www.dbsauctions.com/catalogue.aspx?saleId=269&saletype=HIT