TRADE at Ascot returned today with the successful renewal of the Ascot March Sale resulting in considerable gains across all the key indicators.

The aggregate concluded with an increase of 1% to £978,300, the median grew by 13% to £5,100 and the average rose 20% to £9,783. The clearance finished on 70%.

There was an abundance of trainers present to avail of the quality catalogue, which offered winning and placed point-to-pointers, bumper performers, form horses and sought-after dispersals from Michael Buckley and Melbourne 10.

Among these, trainer Evan Williams made his presence felt.

Treasure Dillon made a massive impression on his debut when taking the four-year-old maiden at Durrow. The eye-catching winner provided a first four-year-old winner for the exciting sire San Frontieres and was secured to join William's stables for £70,000 from Pierce Power's Galtystown Stables (Lot 120).

Lots 121, 122 and 123 will all head to Pembrokeshire, Wales and join Rebecca Curtis after the trainer purchased the three lots in a row.

Ruthless Article (lot 121), offered by Sarah Dawson's Tanvalley Stud, was placed second in a competitive bumper at Downpatrick and was knocked down for £40,000.

Financial Outcome (lot 122) gathered a wealth of experience from his five point-to-point starts and recorded his second career win at Ballyragget when taking the 'winners of one' by an impressive 10 lengths. Consigned by JP Brennan's Monasootha Stables, the son of Financial Reward was knocked down for £50,000.

Wayfinder (lot 123), the most expensive of the Curtis purchases, was bought for £60,000. He made an exciting debut at Bellharbour and improved on this when finishing runner-up at Durrow behind top lot of the day, Treasure Dillon. By leading sire Shantou, the four-year-old was consigned by point-to-point handler Warren Ewing's Bernice Stables.

WELL SUPPORTED

Commenting of the sale, Director of Horses in Training Sales at Tattersalls Ireland Richard Pugh said: "Tattersalls Ireland Ascot March Sale has been very well supported by vendors, both UK and Irish-based and has provided us with the opportunity to again showcase Ascot as a viable alternative for all categories of bloodstock.

"We welcomed a broad bench of trainers and agents to Ascot today and this has resulted in gains in the figures, matching last year's top price of £70,000 with the sale of the four-year-old maiden point-to-point winner Treasure Dillon and an increase in the number of horses making £20,000 or more (14).

"Next week will see the first European breeze-up being held here at Ascot and we look forward to welcoming clients to the Tattersalls Ireland sales arena."

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Click here for the full results of the Tattersalls Ireland Ascot March Sale