"He is obviously a very late foal [June 2], very immature, but he is a very racy and athletic, and the pedigree makes sense," said Rau. "He is a lovely horse and with Zelzal as a brother it makes sense for him to go to France.

"He is going to Nicolas Clement, and he trained the half-sister Ibiza for the breeders so there is already a relationship in place."

Rau continued: "Zelzal and Zarak are the two most exciting young sires in France at the moment, so I am quite chuffed with this."

Zelzal, a son of Sea The Stars bred by Timoshenko and Milovanov, won the Prix Jean Prat (G1), the Prix Paul de Moussac (G3), was second in the Prix Bertrand du Breuil (G3), third in the Prix du Moulin and fourth in the Sussex Stakes (G1).

He stands at Al Shaqab's Haras de Bouquetot and is the first-crop sire of 10 winners, including Zelda, winner of the Listed Prix Saraca.

Ibiza (Redoute's Choice) won the Prix Chloe (G3) for Timoshenko and Milovanov. (14:25)

The colt by Kodi Bear, sire of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G2) runner-up Go Bears Go, stands at Rathbarry Stud, and the farm sold this homebred colt out of Manaahil (Dubawi) for 55,000gns.

Manaahil was bought from Aislabie Stud (Agent) by Howson & Houldsworth Bloodstock at the 2018 July Sale for 50,000gns. (14:04)

"He is a lovely horse, we really liked him, he is a very late [June 8] foal, but Sea Of Class was a very late May foal, so we hope we can do the same again," said Clarke. "Time will tell!"

Of plans for the colt, Clarke outlined: "He will eventually go to William Haggas [trainer of Sea Of Class], but it is far too early to think of that now – he will probably go back to Ireland and be given some time to develop and we will take it from there. Ling Tsui is absolutely thrilled, she had so much success with Sea Of Class! There is a lot of the sire in him – he is an athletic horse but a baby, we will just have to wait."

Of the reasoning to come to the December Sale with the colt, who was bred by Razza Del Velino on a foal share, Clarke said: "This sale was always the plan because he was immature, he was reared in Velino, the Botti farm in Italy, and he has come here looking the part."

Sea Of Class was a European joint champion three-year-old of 2018 having won the Irish Oaks, the Yorkshire Oaks and finished second in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe to Enable.

In all, dam Holy Moon (Hernando) has had five black-type winners and two black-type placed horses, in addition to Sea of Class headed by Charity Lane (Manduro) and Final Score (Dyan Thomas) both winners of the Premio Lydia Tesio (G1) and the Oaks d'Italia (G2).

Underbidders included Jane Chapple-Hyam, who was standing on the stairs. (12:38)

The colt is a half-brother to the Group 2 Premio Gran Criterium placed Cima Emergency (Canford Cliffs) and a grandson of Prmier prize (selkirk), the Upavon Stakes (L) winner and placed third in the Sandown Mile (GG2), the Select Stakes (G3) and the Winter Hill Stakes (G3). She is dam of Cocktail Queen, a multiple Group placed runner and winner of the Group 2 Grand Prix de Deauville and the Group 3 Prix Gontaut-Biron. (12:30)

"She is a beautiful filly, probably should have bought her when she was in Book 1," reported McStay. "Hugo [Palmer] trains her sibling Nova Legend by Galileo and he thinks a lot of her, so we were keen to follow her through.

"She comes from a great nursery, she has a beautiful pedigree, she is by Invincible Spirit who is one of the best sires in Europe and she is a full-sister to a very very good horse in Shalaa. She has been purchased on spec, so shares or all of her will be available and she is for sale! If anyone out there wants to get in touch, will be very gratefully received!"

McStay added: "She stood out here today and with that pedigree and the way she looks the trainer was salivating when he saw her yesterday. I really liked her too and was kicking myself that I had not bought her earlier. She had made our list then, but for whatever reason did not pull the trigger.

"When we saw her out the back today she looked a real superstar, was very professional and on residual value alone she is a free swing of the bat for anyone who wants to buy her."

She was bred and sold by Castlefarm, also breeder of Shalaa, and dam, the Grade 3 placed Ghurra (War Chant), was bought by BBA Ireland at the December Mares Sale for 320,000gns. Not only has she succeeded on the racecourse with her progeny, but in the sale ring, too – her 2019 filly by Dubawi named Peace Arch fetched 700,000gns, while Nova Legend was a 550,000gns. (12:28)

"He is going to Flemington for Nick Ryan, a small trainer and a boutique yard," said Ryan. "Nick has an huge strike rate and is was looking for an exceptional colt from this sale. In my opinion this is the best article here –athletic, clean, and with a great step to him. The mother has done it before. He is probably as good an article out of the mare having seen some of the others. I am very pleased to get him, H=he is a very fine specimen."

Ryan added: "Muhaarar has taken a bit of time to get going but he looks like he is established here now. The Invincible Spirit male line works hugely well in Australia, so there is some confidence on the male side as well as on the female side; the pedigree ticks a lot of boxes."

Adding why his client is interested particularly in buying a yearling in Europe and shipping to Australia, Ryan continued: "Our pedigrees and the better of our European stock continues to prove dominant down there, this horse will get a mile I am sure and there still isn't a huge pot in Australia for this type of horse.

"He will be fine there and 75,000gns isn't a lot of money in Australia, it is bizarre to say it, but it is still great value."

Bred by Denis and Joan Brosnan's Epona Bloodstock, the colt was sold by the family's Croom House Stud. He is a half-brother to Barbill, a son of Zebedee who won the Prix Yacowlef (L) and was placed third in the Cornwallis Stakes (G3) alongside five more placed efforts at Listed class.

He is out of the Montjeu mare Fiuise, and she had a colt foal by Ten Sovereigns last spring.

Nick Ryan was a champion apprentice in Australia in 2004/5, and after a stint working with Ciaron Maher, has been training since 2014. Initially based at Caulfield, he relocated to Flemington this spring. his best horse so far is Dice Roll, a son of Showcasing, runner-up in the 7f Neds Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (G1) in September. (12:02)

The filly was initially bought as a foal for 35,000gns by Whatton Manor Stud at the 2020 Tattersalls December Foal Sale by Richard Knight Bloodstock from Altenbach Bloodstock having been bred by Powerstown Stud and Pat Byrne. (11:18)

It is a little chilly here this morning at Park Paddocks, but it is a lovely and clear day with bright sunshine. (09:27)

Lots catalogued: 1,588

Lots offered: 1,095

Lots sold: 1,003

Aggregate: 31,471,300gns (+45%)

Median: 16,000gns (+78%)

Average: 31,377gns (+40%)

Lots 100,000gns+ (cumulative): 63

Lots 200,000gns + (cumulative): 22

% sold: 92% (88%)

Leading consignors (cumulative, by agg): 1. Shadwell Estate Company Ltd, 2. The Castlebridge Consignment, 3. Barton Sales

Leading purchasers (cumulative, by agg): 1. Najd Stud / Peter & Ross Doyle Bloodstock, 2. BBA Ireland, 3. Blandford Bloodstock

Leading sire (cumulative, by agg): 1. Dubawi, 2. Oasis Dream, 3. Dark Angel

Top five lots

1. Lot 738: Grocer Jack (GER) 2017 b,c. >> Ronald Rauscher (Agent) >> Najd Stud / Peter & Ross Doyle Bloodstock >> 700,000gns

2. Lot 577: Hannibal Barca (IRE) 2019 b,c. >> Manton Lodge Stables (B. Meehan) >> BBA Ireland >> 500,000gns

3. Lot 1114: Boltaway (GB) 2018 ch,c. >> Juddmonte Farms >> Najd Stud / Peter & Ross Doyle Bloodstock >> 400,000gns

4. Lot 778: Dancing King (IRE) 2018 b,g. >> Kingsley Park >> Blandford Bloodstock >> 380,000gns

5. Lot 721: Makram (IRE) 2017 b,g. >> Barton Sales >> Blandford Bloodstock / Lindsay Park >> 340,000gns ()

“An extraordinary renewal of a unique sale. There is no sale in the world quite like the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale and there has never been one quite like the sale that has just taken place.

“Records for turnover, average and median are always notable landmarks for any sale, but when the record margins are so large it suggests that maybe new factors have come into play and to an extent that may have been the case this week. There is no doubt that the major consignment from the late Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum’s Shadwell Estates has introduced a new dynamic. A consignment of that size and quality does not go unnoticed and the buyers have seized the rare opportunity to source horses from one of the finest owner/breeder operations in the world.

“Additionally, the numerous racing carnivals that now take place during the autumn and winter months throughout the Gulf region have had a huge impact on the sale. Buyers from the Gulf have been major contributors to Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sales for many years, but new racing opportunities have brought buyers from the region in even greater numbers than before and crucially, they have been active at all levels of the market.

“Equally important has been the sustained success-driven demand throughout the sale from Australian connections and this has been despite continued difficulties surrounding travel. There will be around 40 horses heading to Australia from this week’s sale and that is in addition to the 30 or so yearlings which were purchased at the recent Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

"The Australian buyers deserve huge praise for their collective commitment using every means possible to continue buying here despite being unable to travel and we look forward to them being rewarded with more success along the lines of recent Tattersalls Australian superstars ZAAKI and RUSSIAN CAMELOT.

“The strong domestic demand we saw at our yearling sales has also been replicated and we can not only look back on a successful month at Tattersalls, but also take encouragement as we look forward to the Tattersalls December Foal and Mares Sale which, similar to this week, features outstanding consignments from Godolphin, Juddmonte Farms and Shadwell Estates." ()

Lots catalogued: 334

Lots offered: 222

Lots sold: 205

Aggregate: 2,421,800gns (+94%)

Median: 5,500gns (+38%)

Average: 11,814gns (+94%)

% sold: 92% (90%)

Top five lots

1. Lot 1447 Laatansa (FR) 2019 ch,c. >> Shadwell Estate Company Ltd. >> Najd Stud / Peter & Ross Doyle Bloodstock >> 250,000gns

2. Lot 1445 Janoobi (IRE) 2019 ch,c.>> Shadwell Estate Company Ltd. >> Gaelic Bloodstock >> 85,000gns

3. Lot 1446 Kitaab (GB) 2019 b,c. >> Shadwell Estate Company Ltd. >> Richard Ryan / Ian Williams >> 80,000gns

4. Lot 1284 Ebtihaaj (FR) 2019 b,c. >> Shadwell Estate Company Ltd. >> Sam Sangster Bloodstock >> 80,000gns

5. Lot 1362 Maksud (GB) 2019b,g. >> Shadwell Estate Company Ltd. >> Highflyer Bloodstock / Thurloe Thoroughbreds >> 65,000gns (17:21)

"It has been a very good week in terms of the market, I think the horses have sold very well. They were incredibly well presented by the team at Shadwell,so it is a big credit to them, and all the trainers who have sent them to us in good order.

"It is obviously sad, but it had to come and it is on to the next chapter. As we have said over the last couple of months we will be smaller in number, but there will be plenty of quality on offer.

"I'd like to thank all the purchasers, and wish them all the best. There was a huge selection to chose from, obviously so many of our horses were untried and were in the catalogue due to exceptional circumstances. A lot of people wanted to get stuck in and it was reflected in the figures.

"We've had a great year on the track this season, and, of course, we are not going to have the same sort of number of results, but if we can keep to quality, cutting down to the main quality mares and breeding them as well as we can, all being well, I am sure we will have some decent horses.

"I'd like to thank everyone at Shadwell who has worked so hard, it is the first time we have ever sold anything like this number of horses, they have really jumped to the fore, done incredibly well, well done to all."

Of today's sale of Laatansa (Lot 1447), who was the top-priced horse from the draft, Gold said: "There has been huge interest in him all week, I even had three trainers from Australia on this morning asking about him. He is potentially a nice middle-distance horse for next year, he has run well on his last two starts and just did not stay the other day in the soft ground. I would have been disappointed if he had not made 200,000gns."

Gold also gave an update on Shadwell's unbeaten and two-time Group 1 winner Baaeed: "I saw him two days ago, he looks very happy. Obviously he will have a break now and we have lots to look forward to with him." (16:51)

A busy sale ring greeted Laatansa, by New Bay, and the bidding action was brisk. Ronald Rauscher gave the buyer most cause for concern, but in the end this week's leading purchaser was successful at 250,000gns, a second-best price ever for the fourth session of the Autumn HIT Sale.

Saad bin Mishraf has left Park Paddocks bound for Saudi Arabia, leaving Saudi-based trainer and consultant Saud Al Qahtari in charge of bidding and taking instructions over the telephone.

"Saad called me and told me not to leave here without this horse. He is a beautiful horse and lovely physical. He is by a very promising stallion, whose progeny are booming. He has a very good family and we hope he will be a very good horse next year," said Al Qahtari.

Al Qahtari laughed: "I am the youngest consultant! We have bought 13 horses here this week, and they are of great quality. We will have a great race in Saudi Arabia at the end of February, our race will be the destination for all the very best horses from Europe and America, and our Jockey Club racing manager is doing a great job."

The colt is out of the Listed runner-up Louve Rare (Rock Of Gibraltar) and is a half-brother to a Listed placed horse and two further winners. His second dam Louvre (Irish River) was Group 3 winner and dam of Loupe Breton, winner of the Prix d'Harcourt (G2) and three times Group 1 placed.

He has finished third twice at Newmarket from three starts and is rated 83.

Najd Stud / Peter & Ross Doyle Bloodstock bought 14 horses for an average price of 199,357gns and a spend of 2,791,000gns. (14:58)

Gaelic Bloodstock, buying online, goes to 85,000gns for Janoobi (Lot 1445), a Night Of Thunder colt who finished second at Nottingham on his only start, while Richard Ryan / Ian Williams spend 80,000gns on Kitaab (Lot 1447) a colt by Showcasing out of the Sea The Stars mare Life Of Pi. He has run once since the catalogue was published and was in training with Marcus Tregoning. (14:50)

It is a fourth purchase this week, the only two-year-old and the only filly, for Steve Thorne's Shamrock Thoroughbred syndicate, the horses all to be trained by this autumn's Group 1-winning trainer Ado McGuinness.

Geri Hatrick has run once when second at Newbury over a mile, the Racing Post analysis wrote: "Geri Hatrick, a half-sister to three winners, the best of them being Merricourt (1m; RPR 79), proved no match for the easy winner, but she showed more than enough to suggest she'll win races. Green when initially coming under pressure, she stuck well to her task and will be sharper next time." (13:57)

"He has been bought for Thurloe Thoroughbreds and we have been trying to buy an older stayer all week and failed," said Bromley. "Angus Gold recommended this horse to both James Stafford of Thurloe and myself, and we are of the understanding that John Gosden, his trainer, likes the horse.

"He is a lovely stamp of a horse, and I like the sire particularly. I have bought a few yearlings by him, he has a very high strike-rate of runners rated over 80, I think around 50 per cent. He is a good strong sire, an underrated sire."

Bromley explained how he came to decide on the amount he was to offer for the horse.

"When I came to value this horse... I thought what what would I have given for him as a yearling a couple weeks ago? So I thought well, he is a good-looking, easy moving horse who has gone through his paces, and is ready for next year.

"He'd have been a 50 grand yearling for sure, but we know that he has done a bit, shown a bit so he has got to be worth touch more, so that is how we came up with the figure," he explained, adding: "He is a horse we have been looking for all week, but that was our last bid.

"They are going to take him back, give him a few months because he is still quite immature, then have a think about training plans."

Of the Shadwell lots, he said: "I bought an unraced two-year-old in the first 30 lots from Shadwell, but the rest of the Shadwell consignment has been very hard. These sort of sales do generate good trade, there are genuine reasons for the sale.

"It has been a well-presented draft, some nice horses and great to see such international trade going in for them. It is sad to see it, but we have not lost the colours to racing, it is not the end of an era, though it does feel like it slightly. "

And of trade this week?

"I think it is wonderful, we have just come out of record-breaking yearling sales, a lot of the English and Irish trainers have had to pay good money for their yearlings so it is good to see a good second-hand trade. It is very important to the whole industry that there is a good second-hand market. It might frustrate us as agents, but we can't really argue with that as we are spending a lot of our clients' money on yearlings. People have got to be able to sell them on.

"It is great that the global market still respects our racing so highly. The two-year-olds have sold well this week, but there were not that many good two-year-olds offered. The three-year-old and four-year-olds have been in the system, so the British system is still going, we are not losing Classic horses.I think the industry is still ok here are alright and you need to see a bit of trade." (13:13)

"My client is looking for a filly for a breeding operation, that is what she is eventually be for. She will come into training with me, we will try and get a win into her, she is a really well-bred filly," said Hodgson, who was sat under the windows in the sale ring and on the telephone through the bidding.

The two-year-old filly's second dam is Roo, dam of the black-type runners Gallagher, Quick Wit and Roodeye, and grand-dam of the Sussex Stakes (G1) winner Mohaather and the US Grade 2 winner Prize Exhibit.

It is the further family of Accidental Agent, winner of the Queen Anne Stakes (G1). (12:10)

"I could not go racing due to COVID so I took a break for a couple of years, but I am keen to get going again and I hope to buy a couple here," said Stocker.

The horse will be trained by Joseph Parr, who was with Stocker on the acorn, and he added: "He is a big strong colt, he has come recommended and we will crack on with him over the winter."

Al Wujud is out of the Sleeping Indian mare Lydia Becker, a half-sister to Richard Pankhurst, winner of the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes and Chesham Stakes (L), and Crazy Horse, winner of the Horris Hill Stakes (G3). (10:44)

"He is for existing owners of Brian's, we have liked the horse all along, Brian suggested the horse to them and they were keen to buy," said Sangster. "He is a Night Of Thunder, we have a little bit of an interesting angle for next year – Brian is hopefully going to shuttle a few horses over to France, we are going to take yard over there. This horse has the premiums, we bought four yearlings in France last week and we have got another four in the yard already, so we are going to send ten horses out there. We are just trying to piece together how it is all going to work."

The two-year-old colt, a son of the Listed placed mare Gold Sands (Cape Cross), has run once to date when ninth of 12 at Yarmouth in October. (10:37)

"The plan is to put him away for the winter and get him ready for Chester next year. He is gelded, too, so that saves some money!"

Ciotog is a three-year-old gelding by Dandy Man. He has run three times, and has finished second the last twice – at Wolverhampton last time out and previously at Chester, the new connections can have some confidence that he handles the tight Cheshire track.

He has been given an initial rating of 75. (10:12)

Lots catalogued: 439

Lots offered: 299

Lots sold: 279

Aggregate: 10,661,000gns (+9%)

(Whole sale turnover so far = 29,049,500gns, a record for the Autumn HIT Sale)

Median: 21,000gns (+31%)

Average: 38,211gns (+10%)

Lots 100,000gns+ (cumulative): 62

Lots 200,000gns + (cumulative): 21

% sold: 93% (82%)

Leading consignors (cumulative, by agg): 1. Shadwell Estate Company Ltd, 2. The Castlebridge Consignment, 3. Barton Sale

Leading purchasers (cumulative, by agg): 1. Najd Stud / Peter & Ross Doyle Bloodstock, 2. BBA Ireland, 3. Blandford Bloodstock

Leading sire (cumulative, by agg): 1. Dubawi, 2. Oasis Dream, 3. Dark Angel

Top five lots

1. Lot 1114 Boltaway (GB) 2018 ch,c. >> Juddmonte Farms >> Najd Stud / Peter & Ross Doyle Bloodstock >> 400,000gns

2. Lot 1113 Old Flame (GB) 2018 b,c. >> Juddmonte Farms >> Snowden Racing / Will Johnson Bloodstock >> 250,000gns

3. Lot 1142 Fundamental (GB) 2018 gr/ro, c. >> The Castlebridge Consignment >> Najd Stud / Peter & Ross Doyle Bloodstock >> 240,000gns

4. Lot 1186A Youth Spirit (IRE) 2018 b,c. >> Park House Stables (A. Balding) >> McKeever Bloodstock / Waterhouse Bott >> 230,000gns

5. Lot 952 King of Clubs (GB) 2018 b,c. >> Summerdown Stables (H. Morrison) >> McKeever Bloodstock / Waterhouse Bott >> 230,000gns (21:52)

"He's a horse that is going to California to trainer Philip D'Amato for Tony Fanticola, who was one of the owners of Obviously. He was purchased at this sale and we had a lot of success with," said Craig Rounsefell of Boomer Bloodstock.

"This horse reminded us of Obviously – he has a great turn of foot, he is lightly raced and he looks like he is going to really enjoy the firm Turf in California, he has all his conditions to race out there so hopefully he will be a high class miler for us."

Obviously (Choisir) was bought by Jamie Lloyd & Boomer Bloodstock for 130,000gns here in 2011. Trained by D'Amato, Obviously went on to win three Grade1s in the US, including the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. He won a further six Grade 2 and Grade 3 races, and was placed six times in graded stakes races, including in the Woodbine Mile (G1) and the Breeders' Cup Mile.

Motorious has won twice from seven starts, his wins coming on the All-Weather at Kempton. His has also finished second twice on Turf at Leicester and Beverley, both times the going was reported to be good to firm. He finished down the field the twice he encountered a slower surface. (21:14)

"I am extremely excited about that... I have been trying to buy the horse all year," added McKeever. "There has been a lot of activity from Australia to buy this horse privately, for various reasons the sale did not quite happen.

"His level of form is outstanding, he is by Camelot, he is such a beautiful looking horse, he has absolutely everything going for him. I am surprised and delighted, thrilled, I am very satisfied that is my buy of the year."

Youth Spirit is BHA rated 110, won over 7f as a juvenile last July and won the 1m4f Chester Vase Stakes (G3) this May. He finished eighth in the Epsom Derby (G1), 20l behind Adayar, fourth in the Gordon Stakes (G3), third in the Great Voltigeur (G2) and last time out he was fifth in the St Leger (G1), 7l behind Hurricane Lane.

McKeever was buying for regular client Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, a second horse purchased for the Australian-based training team.

Another combination who will be delighted to see Youth Spirit heading to Australia, is the buying team of Australian trainer Matt Cumani, Bill Jackson-Stops and Sam Haggas – they bought Hanaady (Lot 1000), also due to travel to Australia.

Hanaady is a Night Of Thunder filly out of Harlequin, a half-sister to Rocana (Fastnet Rock), the dam of Youth Spirit. The pair of sisters are also half-siblings to the good sprinters Blaine and Bogart . (20:55)

The four-year-old gelding is out of the winning jumps mare Classic Diva (Sholokhov), has won four races from 11 starts, over trips from a mile to 1m6f. He was in training with Andrew Balding, owned by the Park House Partnership. (20:15)

Fundamental has run almost exclusively over 7f and has won twice picking up over £60,000 in prize-money. He is BHA rated 103. (19:32)

"Pied Piper has been bought by Andrew and Gemma Brown, who have a string of horses with Gordon," said Irish-based agent Logan on the telephone.

"The horse will go juvenile hurdling this winter, and will run back on Flat next summer – and will be a dual purpose type. I saw some videos of him, but Gordon saw him at Tattersalls and really loved him. Pied Piper won well last time on softer ground and looks to have a good profile to go hurdling." (19:12)

Najd Stud is Prince Faisal, the son of King Khalid and grandson of Saudi ruler King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

Representative Saad bin Mishraf said: "We tried to buy this horse privately, but that wasn't possible and so we waited for this sale. It's proved to be one of the toughest markets I have ever seen for horses in training.

"He's by Dubawi, whose offspring have succeeded in Saudi Arabia and out of a Dansili mare, and Dansilis have done well well in Saudi Arabia, so he had the right pedigree. He also had size and good feet for racing on dirt.

"He's not been over-raced and he vetted 100 per cent, which was one of the main reasons for trying to buy him.

"All the races in Saudi Arabia are on the up, with better prize money, sometimes increased by four or five times. There are races for locally-bred horses and imported horses, and while we don't have many imported horses the ones we have are very good." (19:02)

Colum McCullagh, Snowden Racing's racing and bloodstock manager, took time out from morning track work (at 4.15am) to discuss the horse's purchase. Formerly trained by Ralph Beckett, the three-year-old colt has run four times, with three outings over 7f for two race wins. He is BHA rated 87.

"He will be on the first shipment from Europe to Australia," said McCullagh. "He looks to have the right sort of profile for Australia and is by Invincible Spirit, who has such a huge influence here through his son I Am Invincible.

"He should suit a lot of races here over distances from 6f to a mile, he is a real-sprinter miler type – the prize-money here in Australia for this type of horse is so good. He has not been bought for a particular client and we will look to syndicate him."

McCullagh added: "He came highly recommended by his trainer, who loved him every morning and evening. I have to give special mention to Will Johnson, who spent time in Newmarket as assistant to trainer Roger Varian. Will has put a lot of work into the catalogue and it is great to have someone with his knowledge of racing in the region.

"To have a horse from such an organisation is Juddmonte Farms speaks for itself – Old Flame has just two dams on the page and has a stallion's pedigree." (18:42)

The colt by Havana Gold, bred by Theakston Stud, was bought as a yearling by trainer Eve Johnson-Houghton for 10,000gns at the Tattersalls Ascot Sale in September 2020.

Johnson-Houghton said: "I am a bit teary, because he has been amazing and for a 10 grand purchase to win the Brocklesby, win at Royal Ascot, at Redcar and then come here... And he is going to do a job for someone, he has grown again, he is tough, he is sound, he will get the 7f and I hope he does really well in Saudi, he has just been a great, great horse for us. I am thrilled with the price and good luck to the new owners."

Recalling the colt's yearling original purchase, Johnson-Houghton said: "I was a bit concerned last year with COVID that I was not going to have any horses, so I bought three yearlings – I bought him at the Tattersalls Ascot Sale, and Ant [Bromley] did a brilliant job. I set up the syndicate The Woodway 20 with the rules that we had to sell the horses at the end of their two-year-old careers. It is a hell of a result and I am just very proud of him."

When asked if she would have liked to have kept the horse, Johnson-Houghton replied: "Of course I would have, but it is really hard in England for that type of horse. If he isn't Group class, I am not saying he won't be Group class, but if he doesn't get to that as a three-year-old then you are hammered by the handicapper, it does make it so hard for them."

Chipotle was led up today, and frequently given reassuring pats while in the ring, by Nynke Schilder who has looked the colt throughout his time in training. "She does a lot of my travelling, and she is the luckiest – she always does the good ones!" smiled Johnson-Houghton.

Lockdown and COVID actually worked Johnson-Houghton's favour – a few the members in The Woodway 20 might not have been involved in the syndicate had it not been for the pandemic.

One of The Woodway 20 is Maurice Thomas, who has never been involved in a Flat horse before – as he says he is "a dyed in the wool point-to-point man".

But with point-to-pointing stopped for much of last winter, he swapped a number of his horses to run under Rules. With the gallop that he usually uses then swept away by heavy rain, his horses were using the all-weather at Woodway Stables.

"I was up watching the horses one day and three horses of Eve's went by and William [Reddy], Eve's head lad, said to me, 'You want to get involved in that syndicate!'

"I then saw the advert, and I thought if we win a few races with the three around the local tracks then we will be ok and that we'd have had a great time... we've really hit the jackpot here!"

Eve's sister-in-law Wendy Johnson-Houghton is also a member of the syndicate, but despite her family connections has not been involved in many of the horses trained at Woodway Stables. Again it was lockdown that led to her joining the syndicate.

"Gordon and I were involved in Tout Seul [trained by Eve's father to win the Dewhurst Stakes in 2002]," she said. "Due to lockdown we did not have holiday to go on, nothing to do, so that is why we joined, it really is a result of lockdown. What a horse he has been! He has taken us from the first day of the season to almost the last with Group 1 courses in the middle and Royal Ascot.

"I know how difficult it is to achieve, and to have spent just 10,000gns to have done it, is amazing," she added.

All the members have signed up to join the next Woodway 20... good luck to them, let's hope lightning strikes twice! (17:09)

Appropriately, the horse named after the adventurer is following in his namesake's footsteps – he has been bought from Ed Walker's yard by Stuart Boman for 230,000gns, and set to join the Warwick Farm-based stables of trainer Annabel Neasham.

Boman was accompanied at the sale today by Neasham's mother Patricia, who lives in Northamptonshire, and Annabel's godfather's wife, Margaret.

Boman reporting on the purchase of Matthew Flinders, said: "This is my second purchase for Annabel at this sale, the first one obviously very successful!

"It is going to be a hard act to follow, but we wanted to target what we felt could be one of the nicest horses for Australia.

"His ability is far better than what the form book shows. He is a horse who constantly travels best of all, in any field he is in. I spoke with Ed Walker and I think he has probably felt he has had a Group horse on his hands for a long time – he wanted him to win his big handicap but he never had his day.

"The handicapper then forced his hands by raising the horse's mark so high. He ran so well at Chester [July 10] leading into the Balmoral Handicap in October and put in another good run there.

"He is thoroughly consistent, runs to a very high Timeform rating all the time, always runs a 105, he is a strong travelling horse and should really suit Australia with the firm ground and there are a lot of races for him in his distance range."

Boman added: "I am delighted for Annabel, she is flying along, she has two runners in the Golden Eagle on Saturday, which is worth A$7.5 million race, things are healthy in Australia."

Of last year's purchase Boman smiled: "Zaaki has been phenomenal, it is fantastic. It is remarkable what one horse can do for people's lives and careers."

Zaaki, sold as Lot 706 at this sale last year and consigned by Sir Michael Stoute's Freemason Lodge Stables, was bought by Blandford Bloodstock and Annabel Neasham Racing for 150,000gns. The six-year-old son of Leroidesanimaux has since won two Group 1 races - the Underwood Stakes and the Doomben Cup – and a three Group 2s. (15:48)

She cost 120,000gns and the docket lists the buyers as "M Cumani Racing / JS Bloodstock / Hurworth Bloodstock"

"Myself and Sam Haggas have done some work together and we put her to Matt," said Billy Jackson-Stops. "Her sire Night Of Thunder has been going really well down there, and he was pretty keen to we try a filly down. there. We thought we'd see if it works, there are options for her.

"Matt and I have had a bit of success along the way, and he is a trainer going places. She is good looking, will have some residual value and has run to a reasonable level, she will be sellable and has got the form and ticks a lot of boxes." (15:19)

"He is going to Oliver Greenall, and is for a group of lads a couple are already owners and a couple are new," said Astbury. "It is good to have them in the yard, and the plan is to go juvenile hurdling. He has got the perfect profile – he stays, goes on soft ground." (14:48)

The colt has run five times since the beginning of August and, after a first-time out sixth, has collected form figures of 3,2,1,3. His win came at Leicester over7f on good to firm in September off a rating of 79.

Carbon is out of the Galileo mare Mzyoon, a half-sister to Society Rock, winner of the Golden Jubilee Stakes (G1) and Haydock Park Sprint Cup (G1). (14:42)

"It is the same formula we have always used – find the horse we like, with the right form, with the right rating, and hope he or she adapts to Australia. We think this is a horse who looks like he will make a nice stayer in Australia."

McKeever identified a little more closely what that "right" rating is: "We like to try and buy between 95 and 110, but they are hard to come by and there are only a few in this sale. We are all sharing them around, I think!"

This is the fist purchase for the team at the sale this year, and McKeever explained that the strong market has halted the purchasing plans.

"They have been making more than we have been prepared to spend so we've had two blank days – hopefully we got another couple of follow through today."

And explaining a little more as to how the teams find the "right" horses, he said: "Rob Waterhouse is a very clever man on form, he has been an integral part of all the good horses we have bought. He is a good spotting horses that he thinks, on form, will translate to Australia – that takes a bit of pressure off me as all I have to do is look at the horse and decide if physically he is the right sort of horse.

"We have identified some very good horses – Knights Order, who won the Queensland Derby this year, came out of this sale. We have a good record of spotting the ones to suit us."

King Of Clubs (Intello) has won two races from eight starts – his maiden in May over a mile and half a furlong at Nottingham and a handicap at Sandown over 1m2f off a mark of 82. He is now BAH rated 93, and most of his form has been produced on good and good to firm ground. His last start came when seventh of 12 in the Dubai Duty Free Handicap over 1m2f at Newbury.

Bred by Meon Valley Stud, and not sold as a yearling for 19,000gns, he is from the stud's leading family of Bella Colora, the dam of the champion older horse Stagecraft, and the pedigree of the recent good performers including Telecaster and Shirocco Star, both also trained by Morrison. (13:49)

Trained by Andrew Balding, the three-year-old finished a good second at Ascot on his sole racecourse start at the beginning of October.

"He is for John Galvin and Fortuna Syndicates, which is based in New Zealand – they had the good filly Melody Belle. We bought one here together a couple of years ago and he won four races for them, so they were very happy with that and wanted to come back and find another.

"This a big baby of a horse, he did not run at two and he has put in one very good run. He is very much a horse for next year."

De Burgh added: "We bought earlier for Sydney-based trainer Mark Newman [Lot 894, Taraashoq], and it is his first European purchase." (12:55)

Trained by Marcus Tregoning, the son of Oasis Dream is a three-time winner from nine races and is currently on a career high BHA mark of 89.

His last two race wins came in August and September at Newmarket and Bath over a mile on good to firm and firm ground.

The February-born colt was bred by Floors Farming & The Duke Of Devonshire and is out of Blinking, a full-sister to Viva Pataca (Marju), the two-time champion older horse in Hong Kong. (11:57)

The son of Ulysses has been placed twice from six starts, three runs over 7f and three over a mile. He is rated 78.

The first-crop son of Galileo has produced 13 winners to date, headed by the winning Piz Badile, who has also finished second in the Eyrefield Stakes (G3). (11:31)

The two-year-old filly, previously in-training with Ed Walker, was bred by Kildaragh Stud and was a vendor buy-in as a yearling.

Owned in training by Mrs A G Kavanagh & Partner 1, the filly has run twice, finishing third last time in a 7f novice at Chelmsford on October 14.

She is a half-sister to seven winners, including Rosay (Raven's Pass), a Listed winner and Group 2 placed. She is from the family of the Grade 1 winner and multiple graded and group race winner and performer Mauralakana (Muhtathir), and Jim And Tonic, winner of the Hong Kong Cup (G1) and also multiple group race winner and placed. (11:02)

"He will go juvenile hurdling," said Appleby, who was sat and bidding from the gods with the horse's new owner Jeremy Young. The pair had to go 80,000gns to buy the colt from the Baroda Stud-consigned draft.

"He will be gelded when we get him back and turned away for the winter. He have a few runs on the Turf next summer and then go hurdling. I have a handful of horses who might run in bumpers and then do the same, " added the Rutland-based predominantly Flat trainer.

The two-year-old has run four times, all his starts coming over 7f, and though yet to win, he has shown form when second on heavy ground at Limerick. He has a rating of 85. (10:17)

The three-year-old has yet to win in 11 starts, but has placed form over 1m2f and is rated 74. (10:07)

813,  816,  819,  821,  823,  824,  831,  834,  835,  837,  838,  842,  844,  849,  854,  855,  856,  861,  862,  864,  867,  873,  876,  880,  882,  883,  887,  889,  890,  891,  892,  898,  915,  920,  922,  926,  928,  931,  932,  935,  939,  944,  946,  951,  955,  959,  965,  971,  976,  977,  979,  982,  983,  984,  988,  999,  1001,  1006,  1011,  1012,  1013,  1015,  1017,  1018,  1023,  1027,  1029,  1034,  1036,  1040,  1042,  1049,  1060,  1065,  1066,  1067,  1068,  1069,  1070,  1072,  1073,  1074,  1079,  1080,  1088,  1091,  1093,  1094,  1095,  1096,  1098,  1099,  1101,  1102,  1108,  1115,  1121,  1124,  1126,  1127,  1132,  1138,  1141,  1143,  1148,  1152,  1153,  1155,  1169,  1173,  1179,  1180,  1182,  1183,  1185,  1186B,  1189,  1194,  1198,  1199,  1203,  1204,  1205,  1206,  1208,  1211,  1213,  1218,  1219,  1222,  1226,  1227,  1233,  1234,  1235,  1238,  1243 (08:50)