£350,000 Downtown lights up Cheltenham sale for Getaway

Less than a fortnight after easily winning a Fairyhouse bumper on his debut, Downtown Getaway (4g Getaway-Shang A Lang, by Commander Collins) changed hands for no less than £350,000 at Cheltenham’s post-racing sale on Friday night.

Auctioneer Richard Botterill described the Getaway gelding, who was previously jointly owned and bred by his trainer Mags Mullins, as ‘the next Champion Bumper winner’ and he caught the imagination of many buyers following his 12-length debut success.

Anthony Bromley, buying for a patron of Nicky Henderson’s Lambourn stable, had the successful bid and admitted he is an admirer of Getaway.

“He’s for a new owner with Nicky,” said Bromley. “I love Getaway - I bought four by him at the last sale here.

“Downtown Getaway was very impressive when winning at Fairyhouse, he attained a Racing Post Rating of 130 and is already high up in the betting for the Champion Bumper and that is the aim.

"Hopefully he might be able to have a prep in something like the Graded bumper at Newbury but it all depends on how he settles in with Nicky. He's already shown a high level of form and we know the family having bought Chomba Womba from Mags.”

There were three six-figure Getaways at the boutique sale on Friday night with Jessica Harrington taking charge of recent point-to-point winner Press Conference (4g Getaway-Beautiful Turn, by Green Tune), who sold for £160,000.

Meanwhile, Captain Drake (4g Getaway-Julika, by Nebos) is joining Harry Fry after making £115,000 on the back of an excellent point-to-point second on his only start.