Record-breaking £52,000 purchase Indianapolis set for dual-purpose career

The Goffs UK's December HIT Sale began with a bang on Friday when the Mount House Stables-consigned Indianapolis sold to Richard Ryan and trainer Ian Williams for £52,000, breaking the Doncaster December Sale record in the process.

From 127 lots offered at the one-day auction, 104 sold for a clearance rate of 82 per cent and an aggregate of £694,500 (up 78 per cent on last year's £389,800 for 60 lots sold from a smaller offering of 77), an average of £6,678 (up three per cent) and a median of £4,000 (up seven per cent).

Indianapolis, a son of Galileo who began his career in the hands of Aidan O'Brien, is impeccably bred, being out of Breeders' Cup Distaff heroine Adoration, a multiple stakes winner for David Hofmans. He is a brother to dual all-weather winner Vantage Point.

Indianapolis: a dual-purpose prospect for Ian WilliamsCredit: Alan Crowhurst / Getty Images

The five-year-old has proven a consistent performer in handicaps this term for trainer James Given, including when third in a Class 2 contest at Glorious Goodwood this summer, and Williams confirmed the three-time winner would continue his career as a dual-purpose prospect.

He said: "I bought him on spec as I thought he was a horse who could continue to be a decent stayer next season. Gelding him, we could potentially go hurdling as well. He's been purchased as a dual-purpose horse.

"He's a good, solid sort who's been consistent. Potentially gelding him could help as well."

Locker Room Talk was a notable supplementary entry for the sale but the progressive seven-year-old son of Beneficial, a three-time chase winner for Nigel Twiston-Davies, was led out of the ring unsold at £50,000.

Dash adds spice to proceedings

High-class handicapper and Royal Ascot winner Dash Of Spice added further lustre to the sale when selling to the Ontoawinner Syndicate for £29,000.

Trained and consigned by David Elsworth's Egerton House Stables, the son of Teofilo struck in the Duke of Edinburgh Handicap in June 2018, adding to a valuable win gained at Epsom on Derby day earlier that month.

The now-former Jeff Smith-owned six-year-old, who missed the whole of last year, was second in a Doncaster handicap on his penultimate start before finishing midfield in the November Handicap back at the same track.

Dash Of Spice: winner of the Duke of Edinburgh in 2018Credit: Edward Whitaker

The three-time winner is a relation to five winners, including Lancashire Oaks scorer Barshiba, the dam of Juddmonte International victress Arabian Queen, and Dashing Star, a dual winner and stakes-placed for Elsworth.

Royal Ascot form was also to the fore when Coventry Stakes third Saeiqa, an Al Shaqab-owned son of first-season sire Shalaa, sold to Denis Hogan for £29,000.

The juvenile, one of two lots consigned by Clarehaven Stables, was a 50,000gns purchase from the Tattersalls December Foal Sale and a £130,000 buy from Goffs UK's Premier Yearling Sale. He is out of the winning Cadeaux Genereux mare Present Danger.

Godolphin's Civil Law top of the draft

Godolphin's ten-strong draft proved popular and the Dark Angel gelding Civil Law topped the consignment when selling to Guy Stephenson for £24,000.

The three-year-old, who raced in the colours of Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, is related to the Group-placed Buthela and Listed winner Deemster, and was a €450,000 purchase from Arqana's August Yearling Sale. He has been placed twice from five starts for Henri Devin.

Goffs UK's December Point-to-Point Sale concludes the company's 2020 calendar, and takes place at Yorton Farm on December 17.

Director's statement

Goffs UK's managing director Tim Kent said: “While we're not going to pretend today’s sale is the highlight of our year, we're very proud of the trade that's been achieved throughout the day and we'd like to thank all vendors and purchasers for their participation.

"We saw some spirited bidding throughout the day, with those present competing with a strong online buying bench, and this has helped to produce a very satisfactory end to the sales in Doncaster for 2020."

He added: “The December Sale is normally the last fixture in the Goffs UK calendar, but we have an additional date in 2020, which will see us return to Yorton Farm Stud for the new December P2P Sale on Thursday, December 17.

"We've already announced some very smart pointers for this sale, and will be adding to the catalogue in the coming weeks to ensure the Goffs UK year finishes in style at Yorton Farm."

Goffs December Horses in Training Sale results

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