Dubai: The Emirates Racing Authority (ERA) Horses in Training Sale attracted solid interest from buyers around the Middle East, who spent over Dh2 million on the 55 horses which went under the hammer on the second and final day on Wednesday.
The sale attracted purchasers from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, with the top lot being Red Duster, who was bought by Suliman Bhana for Dh225,000.
However, the overall sale topper was New Freedom, who went for Dh2.3 million on the first day of the auction. The sprinter has run six times in the UAE, easily winning a handicap by six and a quarter lengths on his last start at the Dubai International Racing Carnival meeting on January 31.
Listed race
The six-year-old gelding, who was bred in Brazil, where he also picked up a Listed race, was knocked down to Ali Saeed Belhab, who used to own the top-class Red Bishop, winner of the 1994 Hong Kong Vase.
Belhab also bought Kayak, the second top lot on day one for Dh460,000. The six-year-old won the Winter Racing Challenge Final for trainer Mike De Kock (2,000m) on January 3.
The Dubai Racing Club's Martin Talty was happy with how the two-day sale went, saying: "The idea of moving the sale to the week of the Super Thursday meeting certainly worked and this sale is certainly something we can build on for future years.
"I think next year, the Dubai International Racing Carnival Sale in particular, will be pretty strong and we could have around 70 horses go under the hammer."
The sale was run by the ERA and Europe's leading auction house Tattersalls.
