Bidders led by Connolly

TAIPA trainer Kevin Connolly paid top price at last week's Doncaster sales with other Macau personalities also active in a busy market.

Connolly, on hand at the two-day sale with Taipa colleague Keith Stone, paid 40,000 guineas for a dark grey son of Siberian Express and that was the highest price fetched.

Said Connolly: ''We went there to buy a couple of good ones and I was very pleased with the Siberian Express. We are very hopeful.'' Connolly, who is in his second season at Taipa, said: ''Things have been going quite well this season but I have always believed that it would be my third season here that would really matter. I have been getting some quality stock and they will really becoming good then.'' The former Curragh-based trainer also bought a Be My Native colt for 38,000 guineas. The sire of Hongkong champion River Verdon will always influence Hongkong buyers.

The colt is out of the Nishapour mare, Nishapour's Baby, and looked the part at the sales.

Connolly was also pleased with a Persian Heights colt which went for 22,000 guineas, confirming the former champion sprinter's status in both Britain and Australia where his progeny at the forthcoming Sydney sales are expected to sell well.

Stone was also pleased with Pennine Walk bought for 15,000 guineas, saying: ''I am confident he will make up into a very good racehorse. He looks really good material for Macau.'' And Macau Canidrome chief official Danny Osmund was switching sports as he bought a good-looking son of Nashamaa for 14,000 guineas.

''He came highly recommended and I was looking for an interest in horses over there,'' he said.