Doncaster Bloodstock’s HIT Sale concluded with a pleasing final session on Friday that helped increase its overall average by 27%.

Earl Wind (Kodiac) topped the final session with Linda Tate bidding 60,000 pounds for the two year-old gelding who has won at Carlisle and Musselburgh.  He was offered by Howard Johnson’s White Lea Stables and will head to Hong Kong.

Johnson sold Algol at the 2006 Doncaster Sale and that gelding was subsequently shipped to Hong Kong and won the G1 Chairman’s Sprint as Dim Sum.

Earl Wind was offered for sale following the death of Mark Black.  The Perth-based owner had had horses at Johnson’s Durham based stables since the 1980s.  “There’s quite a lot of improvement in Earl Wind,” Tate predicted.  “I’ve had a lot of success sending horse like him out there.”

The November HIT Sale results reflected the strength of the recent Goffs – Doncaster Bloodstock merger.  “The marriage allowed us to attract a number of significant Irish entries that may have gone elsewhere,” Doncaster managing director Henry Beeby said.  “We are delighted that their support has been rewarded in the sales ring.”

1,000 pounds = AUD 1,599