Sales solid at Baden-Baden

With a vital international contingent in play, Monday's BBAG Spring Mixed

Sale reported a record aggregate of 1,155,700 alongside a steep drop in average

and median. Despite this, the sales company was in positive mood.

"The catalog sadly missed a real standout," Managing Director Verena Gang

commented. "However, the solid quality was very pleasing and led to a further

increase from the year before."

Buyers from the Czech Republic, Ireland and France graced the auction, which

featured a draft from Con Marnane's Bansha House Stables. It was that consignor

who sold the topper when Hip No. 20, a two-year-old Inchinor (GB) filly, reached

64,000. The granddaughter of the champion juvenile and champion producer Ma

Biche (Key to the Kingdom) was knocked down to the top German trainer Mario Hofer, acting on behalf

of an undisclosed owner. Marnane was again responsible for the highest-priced

colt when Hip 127, a juvenile by one of the sires of the moment Danehill Dancer,

was purchased by Litex Commerce AD for 49,000. His dam is a daughter of the

smart Kolner Sprint-Preis winner Mirage (Waidmannsheil) from the family of the

Queen Anne S. (Eng-G2) second-placer Swallow Flight. To compound a highly

successful evening for Bansha House, the sole Sadler's Wells offering in the

catalog made 46,000.

Hip 9, who was secured by the Czech trainer Zdeno Koplik, is a two-year-old

half-brother to the Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) runner-up Tamburlaine (Ire).

Of the horses in training, Hip 97, last year's Premio St Leger runner-up

SIMONE BOCCANEGRA (Perugino) achieved the highest price when going to the Irish

Callas Stables for 50,000. The four-year-old was from the large consignment of

opera director Alexander Pereira.

Full results can be viewed on www.bbag-sales.de.