Ben Pauling strikes while the iron is hot at Yorton Sale

Ben Pauling made his latest statement of intent with a collection of signings at Thursday's Goffs UK Yorton Sale including the second highest-priced lot in the event's four renewals to date.

The Cheltenham Festival winner has made such a fine start to the jumps season through the summer that he sits in the top ten of British trainers, and his new yard on unused land at Naunton Downs golf club was completed in April.

In alliance with Highflyer Bloodstock, he was the most prolific buyer of the two-year-old National Hunt future talent by taking five of the 41 lots offered for an aggregate of £271,000.

A filly by former Yorton resident Blue Bresil, sire of the exciting Constitution Hill, took leading honours at £90,000. She is out of a sibling to smart bumper and hurdle performers Bitofapuzzle and Golden Gael, from the family of the bold front-running chaser Indian Tonic.

"I'm thrilled," said Pauling. "Some of them really shone to us, we wanted to grab hold of them and we're delighted to get them. We go home with some very nice horses, hopefully."

Highflyer's David Minton added of the top-priced lot: "I saw her last Friday afternoon, she was my star filly of the whole lot, so I sent my list off off to Anthony [Bromley] and Tess [Greatrex], they cut it down with Ben yesterday and she still ended up on the top, which was nice."

Among the combination's other purchases were a strapping son of Gestut Rottgen’s Melbourne Cup-winning sire Protectionist who would command £55,000, a few lots before a Masterstroke at £38,000, who is out of the useful French jumping mare and daughter of Saint Des Saints, Santa Diana.

Ben Pauling, with Highflyer's Tessa Greatrex, was the busiest buyer on the dayCredit: Sarah Farnsworth/Yorton

"The Masterstroke was bought for the same client who bought the big Protectionist, he’s a bit smaller and looked like he’d come to hand earlier," said Bromley.

"I liked that the Saint Des Saints mare was a good runner in France, Graded-placed; he looked like a come-to-hand horse if they had to wait a bit longer with the Protectionist."

Bromley, who had been busy with other sales, was encouraged about the shortlist compiled by his colleagues.

"It was a better quality bunch that pulled through," he said. "I was very impressed with the shortlist, there were very athletic, scopey horses. I think this is the best renewal of the sale."

A range of buyers made their way to the Welsh borders, with the likes of young French trainer Hugo Merienne and a few Irish point-to-pointing names in action.

The second top-priced lot of the day, at £68,000, is bound for a return to the ring. Another Blue Bresil, he is a fine-looking gelding from one of the most recognisable families around, being out of the unraced Stowaway mare Potters Den, a daughter of a half-sister to the great Denman.

Tom Malone, who struck the successful final bid, said: "He’s for Frannie Woods for Abbeylands to be returned [for sale] as a three-year-old. He’s a lovely animal, big pedigree, we liked him. David [Futter of Yorton] put a lot of faith in Blue Bresil and he’s starting to reap the rewards now."

Under Webb Hill Farm, Malone also signed for a £55,000 Blue Bresil, a filly out of a winning half-sister to Madison Du Berlais, the fine family produced by Jean-Marc Lucas.

From his time with David Pipe, Malone actually rode the future Aintree Bowl winner to finish third at Warwick on his second start in Britain.

Visitors were in praise of the selection compiled by Yorton Farm's management teamCredit: Sarah Farnsworth/Yorton

"I often say to myself when you start seeing horses you've ridden in the pedigree, you're in trouble, but we've been around a long time now," he said. "She's a lovely filly who could make a proper store as a three-year-old."

Joey Logan, who has been a significant buyer for owners Andrew and Gemma Brown in recent times as well as of his own stock, made three signings for £128,000. Two were by Blue Bresil and the other was the sole offering by Haras de Jalogny's Italian Group 1 winner Estejo.

Logan said: "We bought a three-year-old by the same sire this year, he’s a nice horse and I was looking at him, he’s a nice, good-moving horse.

"We’ve bought some two-year-olds in France and it worked out; we’re going to try to continue to improve our programme so we’ll see what happens."

All told, 36 of the catalogue sold at a clearance rate of 88 per cent, and there were new records at the sale for aggregate (£1,147,000), average (£31,861) and median (£30,000).

Yorton Farm owner David Futter concluded: "Today has been a very good day for Yorton and we are delighted with the results achieved.

"The turnout has been fantastic, we welcomed a big crowd which created a great atmosphere and it’s fantastic to sell horses to a wide variety of buyers from throughout Europe.

"The Yorton team have done a fantastic job once again to produce another very memorable year and we have been rewarded with a record sale which makes all the hard work worth it."

Goffs UK managing director Tim Kent added: "This has been another big year for this sale which continues to make positive strides. The quality of horse being offered took a step up once again this year and for a sale that’s only offered four catalogues, it has created a superb following and some outstanding results."

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