Some good results for Hertfordshire trainer Bradley Gibbs continued when Tattersalls Ascot staged its March Sale yesterday.
Gibbs, who six days ago trained and rode Premier Magic to victory in Cheltenham’s St James’s Place Festival Hunters’ Chase, then followed up on Sunday with a win on Aintree hopeful Fier Jaguen at Ston Easton, consigned five-year-old Phantom Gold (pictured above), who last month won a 12-runner point-to-point Flat race at Larkhill in Wiltshire. Bought at Ascot’s May Sale last year for £3,200, the son of Champs Elysees was knocked down yesterday for £32,000 to Newmarket trainer Ben Brookhouse.
Phantom Gold won in the name of Purple Aki, but the owners were subsequently invited to come up with an alternative by the BHA.
Crookbarrow, who finished second, six lengths behind Phantom Gold in the Larkhill race, was also on offer at Ascot and sold for £13,000 to former point-to-point rider and now Sussex-based licensed trainer Cynthia Woods.
A maiden race at Charm Park in Yorkshire has thrown up a couple of good sales results. Touch Me Not, who looked sure to win until falling at the final fence, sold for £150,000 at Tattersalls Cheltenham last week, while Gwash, who was chasing in second and went on to land the spoils, made £31,000 yesterday when signed for by racehorse owners Craig and Laura Buckingham. Consigned by trainer Louise Bevin, the son of Ol' Man River had been bought for €4,000 at Tattersalls Ireland’s July Store Sale last year.
**Gwash, Charm Park winner who was sold to Craig and Laura Buckingham
Laura Buckingham said of Gwash: “He’s only a four-year-old and there is plenty of improvement to come. The horse who was in front of him until falling sold for £150,000 and must be well regarded. We’ll give this one some time off and then he’ll go into training with either Fergal [O’Brien], Dan [Skelton] or Donald [McCain].”
Oliver Brissenden’s ten-year-old Financial Outcome, who won point-to-points at Bonvilston and Llywn Ddu last season, was sold for £7,000 to Ben Brayfield.