ON the day that Roger Varian announced the retirement through injury of his stable star Postponed, the Carlburg Stables’ master sold the best lot in the horses-in-training section of the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze Up & Horses In Training Sale at Newmarket.

The lot in question was the last in that part of the catalogue and at 105,000gns the six-year-old Steve Rogers achieved the third-highest priced in the sale for a horse-in-training. Michael Bell signed the purchase docket. “He is for Ed Ware of 32Red,” said Bell. “Ed found him in the catalogue and was looking for a good Saturday horse and a horse to run at Ascot.

“This horse is very consistent, he has been in good hands and all the lads in Roger’s yard liked him - which is always a good sign! He should be a lot of fun and has relatively low mileage for a six-year-old. At Ascot he could be one for the Queen Alexandra Stakes and then further down the line for the Ebor.” Ware previously raced the Group 2 winner Allied Powers in partnership.

Steve Rogers is a six-time winner and the son of Montjeu is a half-brother to the Group 1 sprint winner The Right Man. His third dam was the multiple champion, classic and Arc winner Three Troikas.

This price was some way ahead of the 36,000gns given earlier in the session for Dutch Uncle, a five-year-old son of Dutch Art. A three-time winner, including this year, this 91-rated gelding was bought by Paul Harley Bloodstock on behalf of a European client. “He’s a nice sort, with a decent rating and a consistent type,” said Harley.

Harley has recently returned to Britain after being based in Germany as a racing manager to Baron Von Ullmann and then as a trainer. He has recently set up Paul Harley Bloodstock.

Linda Watson, with trainer Jimmy Frost, paid 31,000gns for the five-year-old Dark Angel gelding Silver Quay, sold by Nick Bradley from Jamie Osborne’s yard. With three wins under his belt from a mile to 12 furlongs, the gelding looks a likely dual purpose type.

Two other lots sold for 31,000gns each. Michael Halford’s Copper Beech Stables consigned the three-year-old Time Constraints, a winner for Wendy O’Leary over a mile at Dundalk in January. He will race for owner Colin Davey, who said “I have bought from the same connections before and been lucky - let’s hope it continues. I have watched this horse run and like what I’ve seen.”

Time Constraints is a son of Gio Ponti and a half-brother to the Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye winner Benbaun.

The three-year-old Mayson filly Mums The Word won from Richard Fahey’s yard at Wolverhampton and she sold for 31,000gns to Blandford Bloodstock. Her dam is a Marju half-sister to the Horris Hill Stakes winner Tell Dad.