THE four-year-old Cavern Club was the top price at 32,000gns at a low-key Tattersalls March Sale on Wednesday. The small catalogue saw just 47 of the 60 lots on offer sell for 389,000gns, an average price of 8,277gns and a median price of 4,500gns.

Newmarket-based trainer James Owen secured the top-priced gelding from Marco Botti’s Prestige Place draft. The dual winner was offered with an official rating of 80 following his third placed finish last week at Southwell over 11 furlongs, with his most recent victory coming in a mile and a half handicap at Newmarket in August. The son of Ribchester is out of a half-sister to the stakes winner Twist ‘N’ Shake, and from the excellent Meon Valley Stud family of France, Shirocco Star, Al Suhail and Telecaster.

“He can take us to a lot of places; he will go hurdling and has been bought as a nice dual-purpose horse,” revealed Owen. “Ribchester is getting a few jumpers now. This horse won’t be long in running and has been bought on spec.”

Cantillon strikes

The second highest-priced lot of the day was the Godolphin consigned three-year-old Eastern Whisper who was knocked down for 28,000gns to Jack Cantillon. The unraced daughter of Sea The Stars is out of the stakes-placed Jollify, a daughter of the dual Group 3 winner Jomana. From the family of 2000 Guineas winner Mark Of Esteem, Jomana is the dam of six winners and two blacktype performers.

“I am delighted to buy Eastern Whisper, a daughter of Sea The Stars,” said Cantillon. “My theory was I would have to pay triple for a filly of this quality in a few months at the store sales, so I thought I would get in early as she’s unraced and eligible for bumpers. It’s a family I know well and love - our family own the grandam and we also have Ellen Kelly in the second dam who is in training with Willie Mullins.

“I haven’t decided on a trainer yet, but it will be one of our leading National Hunt trainers and she will be available for syndication to our owners. I think she’ll be very popular. I couldn’t make it in person so I was bidding from my kitchen table, dreaming of Cheltenham at every click of the bid button! Thanks to Patrick Diamond who helped with inspection.”

J D Moore buys

Bloodstock agent J D Moore spent 27,000gns on Perfect View, a son of Outstrip, for his client Hussain Al Dossary.

“The horse goes to the Middle East,” reported Moore. “He has shown form on the all-weather, he has been consistent, and has been well handled by trainer George Scott, who recommended him. Hussain has been lucky with his purchases at Tattersalls.”

The three-year-old gelding won on his debut at Windsor last May and has been finished second in his two subsequent starts.