Son Of Yeats Tops Cheltenham Sale At £295,000

Less than a week after siring four point-to-point maiden winners, Yeats saw one of those winners top the Tattersalls Cheltenham December Sale at £295,000.

Chantry House (4g Yeats – The Last Bank, by Phardante) won the first division of the four-year-old geldings maiden at Tattersalls for Cian Hughes and the impressive nature of his performance saw Michael Hyde, standing with JP McManus, give top price for the brown gelding. Offered by CH Thoroughbreds as agent, Chantry House won his point-to-point for UK-based owner Eric Elliott.

A delighted Hughes commented after the sale, "He's gone to a great owner so they'll look after him. It was a good price but he has the engine to match. He's one to look forward to."

A daughter of Yeats became the highest-priced mare of the sale when selling to Frank Berry for £105,000. Take It Away (4m Yeats – Claudia’s Pearl, by Deploy) was offered by Dennis Murphy’s Ballyboy Stables after winning her sole start by all of 12 lengths at Dromahane.

Flemensfirth sired the second most expensive horse in the sale, as Dundrum Wood (4g Flemensfirth – Ruby Isabel, by Great Palm) brought a winning bid of £270,000 from Aiden and Olly Murphy. Offered by Camas Park Stud, the Sam Curling-trained bay had won a four-year-old maiden by three lengths at the end of November, having finished third on debut last season.

Aiden Murphy later spoke of his purchase; “He's just a lovely horse and has been bought for Barbara Hester for Olly [Murphy] to train. This is the one she's been waiting for all day."

Another son of the Beeches Stud resident to reach six figures was Overthetop (4g Flemensfirth – Dawn Bid, by Mazaad), selling to the same father and son team for £150,000. The Denis Murphy owned and trained gelding won his sole start at Ballindenisk earlier in the month and is a full-brother to Grade 2 performer On Raglan Road.

Grange Stud resident Getaway was another whose progeny was in demand, as Gerry Hogan stretched to £135,000 to Killer Clown (4g Getaway – Our Soiree, by Milan). The Colin Bowe-trained bay won at the first attempt earlier in the month, taking a four-year-old maiden at Corbeagh House.