EUROPE’S biggest sale of horses in training got off to the perfect start on Monday when Elizabeth Browning set a new sale record, selling for 700,000gns. Winner of the Group 2 Kilboy Estate Stakes at the Curragh this year on what was her last start, this Galileo three-year-old full-sister to Group 1 winning juvenile Johannes Vermeer will now head to the breeding shed after her purchase by Alex Elliott.

Elizabeth Browning was sold from Ballydoyle Racing having run in the colours of China Horse Club International and Sue Magnier. A granddaughter of Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes winner Miletrian, and from the family of classic winners Shirley Heights and Divine Proportions, she was acquired by Elliott for an undisclosed European-based client after the agent and Hubie de Burgh went head to head from half a million guineas.

“What is not to like about her?” Elliott commented afterwards, adding: “She is by Galileo, is a Group 2 winner, won as a juvenile, and is an own-sister to a Group 1 winner in Johannes Vermeer. We are delighted to have bought her. She will not run again; she has done her job.”

The Ian Williams-trained The Statesman was a late entry to the sale and the decision to offer him was rewarded when BBA Ireland’s Michael Donohue, acting for his Chinese client Zhang Yueshang of Yulong Investments, paid 310,000gns to secure the three-year-old gelded son of Zoffany. A three-time flat winner this year, and a winner on his hurdling debut, his trainer was sad to lose him. His new owners will not pursue a jumping career for him, rather seeing him as a likely cup horse next season.

Dermot Farrington combined with Australian agent Chris McNulty to secure Winning Ways for a Hong Kong client. The three-year-old son of Lope De Vega won twice this year, including over seven furlongs at Ascot, and is rated 102. He cost the agents 250,000gns. Jeremy Noseda trained Winning Ways and another star in his draft was Me Too Nagasaki who preceded Winning Ways into the ring. Another dual winner, this three-year-old son of Iffraaj was purchased by Tom Morley for 125,000gns and will join trainer Stuart Williams in Newmarket.

Willie Mullins and Harold Kirk were busy and made two six-figure purchases on the day. The more expensive of the pair was a three-year-old gelded son of Kendargent from The Castlebridge Consignment at 150,000gns. A winner in France for trainer Eoghan O’Neill, Fast Buck boosted his sale prospects with a follow-up victory over a mile and a half. Kirk saw off fellow National Hunt enthusiasts Tom Malone, Eddie O’Leary and Tessa Greatrex for the best jumping prospect on the day.

Another to join Mullins at Closutton will be Mister Blue Sky, a three-year-old gelding by Royal Applause. He won four times for Sylvester Kirk from six to 10 furlongs and Harold Kirk revealed that the relation to Bahri could fulfil a dual-purpose role, even mentioning the possibility of being a Royal Ascot contender someday. Mister Blue Sky realised 130,000gns.

The three-year-old Henrythenavigator gelding Hugin won twice for David Simcock this year and is one of nine winners, from 10 runners, for his stakes-placed Zafonic dam Silver Star, herself an own-sister to Xaar. He cost Kam Sum Ho from Hong Kong 130,000gns.

The Queen’s Musical Terms, bred by Darley, won twice this year from William Haggas’ yard and will now continue his racing career in Qatar following his sale for 120,000gns. He will be handled there by champion trainer Jassim Ghazali. Haggas also consigned Zwayyan, a now four-time winning son of Pivotal and he cost Alistair Donald 100,000gns. Adding a win over a mile at Ascot and seeing his rating go to 96 was enough to attract the agent who revealed that the gelding would remain in England.

David Griffiths, signing as D C G Racing, paid 110,000gns for Cheveley Park’s Ornate, a stakes-placed winner of three races for both William Haggas’ and Robert Cowell’s yards, and his new trainer has high hopes for the four-year-old Bahamian Bounty gelding.