BLOODSTOCK DESK: Diversity is the key as revamped auction kicks off European sales year; Amy Bennett previews the first European auction of the year, the new-look DBS January Sale, which commences on Monday.

Byline: Rachel Pagones & Amy Bennett

THE first European sale of 2006 kicks off at Doncaster on Monday with a new format to usher in the new sales year. With the sale of jumping stock moved from its usual position during the November auction, the revamped January auction has been extended to four days from the usual two, running until Thursday, February 2.

The move has been brought about to stop the sale of jumping stock clashing with other sales during the busy November sales period, and now aims to attract buyers and consignors who may previously have had to be elsewhere. The team at DBS is hoping to attract buyers refreshed by the Christmas break, rather than adding yet more horses towards the end of a long sales season.

The catalogue is effectively split into three sections, beginning with National Hunt mares and yearlings on Monday, continuing with jumps-bred foals on Tuesday, and then moving into the sale of Flat-bred stock and horses in and out of training which usually comprises Doncaster's January Sale.

As usual, the TBA Kenneth Oliver Memorial Foal Show Championships and the stallion parade are scheduled to take place during the sales week. The foal show, judged this year by Bobby O'Ryan, John Francome and Di Turner, will be held on Monday at 11am, with prize-money totalling pounds 10,000.

Wednesday's stallion parade, beginning at 11am, is always a popular feature, and this year will herald the start of the Flat section of the sale. Twenty stallions from around Britain will parade, including new recruits Avonbridge, Danbird, Danroad, Firebreak, Pastoral Pursuits, Trade Fair and Zafeen.

Selling begins at 3pm on Monday, with 80 jumps-bred 'yearlings' - actually two-year-olds, due to the sale's change of date - and mares catalogued to come under the hammer. Plenty of the mares are in foal to notable jumps stallions, including Definite Article, Karinga Bay, Silver Patriarch, Central Park, Grape Tree Road, Alderbrook, Fair Mix and Presenting.

NOTEWORTHY lots during this section of the sale include a Kayf Tara gelding (lot 9) out of a half-sister to high-class novice hurdler Bosuns Mate, from the family of Young Hustler, while Tweenhills Farm & Stud consigns a Soviet Star filly (25) out of a daughter of Prix Marcel Boussac winner Tropicaro.

Mill House Stud offers a draft of 19 lots throughout the sale, including multiple jumps winner Lady Zephyr (32), an eight-year-old daughter of Toulon.

Woodstock Bower Farm also offers an interesting consignment, including a half-sister to Dancing Bay (35), a high-class stayer who was also very successful over hurdles. The daughter of Charnwood Forest is offered in foal to Definite Article. Following her into the ring is a five-year-old unraced half-sister to Racing Post Chase winner Gunther McBride (36).

It is eight years since Miss Orchestra (37) was a seven-length winner of the Midlands Grand National. Since then she has produced four living foals, none of whom has run, and is now offered in foal to Generous.

Towards the end of the session, Tiercel Stud offers Myrrh (72), a half-sister to Ascot Gold Cup winner Celeric and high-class middle-distance performer Sesame. Already the dam of two winners on the Flat and one over fences, Myrrh is offered in foal to Silver Patriarch.

Tuesday's session, beginning at 10am, is dedicated to jumps-bred foals and features numerous lots related to smart jumps performers. Among them is a Classic Clich half-brother to the outstanding two-mile chaser Ashley Brook (204) - who was sold for just 3,000gns here in January 1999 - offered by Southwood Stud. Other notable lots include a gelding (159) and filly (214) out of half-sisters to the brilliant but ill-fated French chaser Jair du Cochet, and a filly by Alflora (160) out of a half-sister to former Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Azertyuiop.

THE progeny of two smart hurdling mares are offered - the fourth foal of triple Cleeve Hurdle winner Lady Rebecca, a Hernando colt (210), is consigned by Tweenhills, while Shade Oak Stud sends up an Alflora colt out of Maid Equal (223), winner of the then Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle at Ascot.

Goldford Stud, perennially among the leading vendors here, offers a Hernando colt out of a winning half-sister to top chaser Celibate (212), immediately followed by a King's Theatre colt out of a half-sister to top hurdler Geos (213).

The page of lot 251, a colt by Emperor Fountain, was given a boost on Saturday when his three-parts brother Trafalgar Night finished third on his first bumper run. The colt is also very closely related to Frenchman's Creek, winner of the William Hill National Hunt Handicap Chase at the Festival in 2002.

On Wednesday, starting at 1pm, the focus shifts to the Flat with more than 120 Flat-bred foals and mares. The executors of Melbourne Hall Stud, the property of the late Cherry Tagart, who was a regular DBS consignor, offers lot 318, the Clantime mare Clancassie. The mare is carrying a full sibling to the useful sprinter Mecca's Mate, by Paris House.

The January sale has proved a happy hunting ground for pinhookers over the years, and this year's auction is sure to be no exception. The sole offerings by Kyllachy and Montjeu are sure to attract plenty of attention, as well as foals by Act One, Diktat, Bertolini, Choisir, Lujain, Mark Of Esteem, Tobougg and Val Royal.

The final day is devoted to horses in and out of trading. Among the notable lots on paper is Funfair Wane (496), winner of the Listed Washington Singer Stakes at two. He is part of the draft from the yard of David Nicholls. Also of interest is Sardinia (562), an unraced three-year-old brother to top-class juvenile Alberto Giacometti.

Two lots omitted from the catalogue, both consigned by New Hall Stud, will be offered on Wednesday. Howards Heroine, a winning Danehill Dancer mare now in foal to Lucky Story, will be offered as lot 435A, while lot 435B is Moneymore, a daughter of Bigstone offered in foal to Monsieur Bond.

CAPTION(S):

Lot 251 is a close relation to Cheltenham Festival winner Frenchman's Creek and to Trafalgar Night, who was third on his bumper debut