Swift Encounter tops DBS St Leger Horses in Training sale

The Goffs/DBS St Leger Carnival Sale of Horses in Training ended with a

selective trade that saw 13 horses sell for an average of £20,385, an aggregate

of £265,000 and a median of £16,000.

The top price of £50,000 was reached when Ann Duffield purchased Lot No. 152,

SWIFT ENCOUNTER (Antonius Pius), for a new ownership group from the consignment

of Sun Hill Racing Stables. The bay juvenile, who broke his maiden in his second

career try on August 10 at Beverley, counts as his third dam 1973 champion

two-year-old filly Talking Picture (Speak John).

The next highest price came when Lot 135, LOWTHER (Beat All), entered the

ring. Offered by Alan Bailey's Cavendish Stables having won five races, the

six-year-old bay gelding will now be trained by David Nichols, who made the

winning bid of £40,000.

Bringing that same price was Lot 151A, FINAL LIBERATION (Sinndar), who was

acquired Sir Mark Prescott. The three-year-old gelding has racked up four wins

from 10 starts thus far and came from the consignment of Heath House Stables.

The bay's black-type rich family includes Grade/Group 1 winners *Hurry Harriet (Yrrah

Jr.), Load the Cannons (Cannonade) and Point Ashley (Point Given), as well as

Group 2 vixens Halesia (Chief's Crown) and Raw Gold (Rahy), and Group 3 scorer

Hidalguia (Barathea [Ire]).

"There were positives and negatives to take away from tonight's sale," DBS

Managing Director Henry Beeby said. "There was good trade for horses at a level

and we received a fantastic response to the publication of the catalog but we

were disappointed by the number of withdrawals, especially some of the higher

profile horses, which meant that some of the international buyers decided not to

travel.

"We firmly believe that this sale has potential but we will review before

decided any plans for the future."

Full results may be viewed on

www.dbsauctions.com.