WEDNESDAY saw a new one-day record set for the annual horses-in-training sale at Tattersalls, and more than 10 million guineas changed hands at the marathon 12 hour session. Plenty of choice may have resulted in a reduced clearance rate, but the average and median increases showed that there was plenty of appetite for the right article.

Roger Varian sent Solomon’s Bay out to win three times, including the Listed Surrey Stakes at Epsom, and the three-year-old son of Exceed And Excel found plenty of admirers from around the world. The final battle for him was won by Rupert Pritchard-Gordon at 390,000gns and the colt will head to Hong Kong to continue his career.

Afterwards the agent commented: “He has form from six furlongs to a mile and has plenty of speed - he has a profile which should suit the race programme in Hong Kong very well. He is a very consistent horse who has done very little wrong. He has not been over-raced and he came here looking in great shape. He has been in good recent form, and his last win came on the all-weather which opens up options for both surfaces in Hong Kong.”

On a stellar day of trade four lots sold for in excess of 300,000gns and yet another of that quartet was signed for by Pritchard-Gordon. He paid 310,000gns for the best of the annual Juddmonte draft, always a highlight of the sale. This was the three-year-old Cacique colt Melting Dew, twice a winner at up to a mile and a half for Sir Michael Stoute. The half-brother to Winsili will not be travelling far and stays in training in England.

Ralph Beckett saddled the Fastnet Rock three-year-old Brimham Rocks to win four times this season and the gelding now heads to Australia. Bloodstock agent Guy Mulcaster was acting for Chris Waller when he gave 340,000gns for the multiple winner and this was one of a number of significant buys on the day made by the duo. They paid 160,000gns for Qatar Racing’s Born To Sea three-year-old Naval Warfare, and this half-brother to Gregorian won three times for Andrew Balding. Waller will also train the winning Shamardal two-year-old Tansheet, part of the large Shadwell draft at the sale. He made 110,000gns, while for 100,000gns Waller secured the Ed Dunlop-trained, Highclere Thoroughbred-owned Opposition, a three-time winning four-year-old son of Dalakhani.

The Tom Dascombe-trained Frozen Angel won over five furlongs this year and then placed in a number of smart contests, including being runner-up to Unfortunately in the Group 2 Prix Robert Papin. He sold to Sean Woods for 335,000gns. The colt is from the family of speedster and European champion Pipalong.

Roger Varian supplied the sale topper but a number of others in his string also sold for large sums. The four-year-old Morando is a listed wining son of Kendargent and in addition to being successful four times he has been group-placed. Alastair Donald suggested an international career for the gelding after paying 290,000gns for him. The Carlburg Stables draft included the most expensive filly on the day. This was Great Court, a dual winner and half-sister to Kalahari Gold and to the dam of Easton Angel. David Redvers Bloodstock bought the daughter of Mastercraftsman for 200,000gns.

Completing the list of six-figure sales from Varian’s yard were King Bolette and Jumira Bridge. The former is a stakes-placed winner of five races for Godolphin and the son of Cape Cross sold to Richard Frisby for 130,000gns on behalf of the Al Khalifa family in Bahrain. Tom Morley made yet another big purchase when he gave 100,000gns for Jumira Bridge, another stakes-placed winner for Godolphin. The three-year-old son of Invincible Spirit is rated 97.

Ted Voute was to the fore again when paying 260,000gns for the Dubawi three-year-old Alwahsh on behalf of Prince Faisal of Saudi Arabia. He will be aimed at the King Abulaziz Cup. A career in the same country beckons for Voute’s 230,000gns purchase Pharaonic, the Andre Fabre-trained two-time winning half-brother to French Derby winner New Bay. The son of Dansili has potential sire appeal after his racing career is over.

Another highlight of the Juddmonte draft was Hyde Park, a gelded three-year-old son of Oasis Dream and a half-brother to recent Grade 2 winner Projected. His dam is a half-sister to Flintshire. Anthony Stroud signed for this 98-rated dual winner over seven furlongs at 210,000gns. Another dual winner by Oasis Dream from Juddmonte was the 91-rated Silent Echo and he cost trainer Peter Hedger 120,000gns.

Winner on his debut for owner Ross Harmon and trainer John Quinn, the two-year-old Most Improved colt Lisheen Castle was then runner-up in a listed race at Pontefract. He was bought by David Redvers for 185,000gns. Another juvenile winner this year was Clive Cox’s Blue Laureat and this son of Poet’s Voice was knocked down to Stephen Hillen for 150,000gns.

The Swiss-foaled Rigoletto won three times this year for Luca Cumani and the three-year-old Zoffany colt found favour with Jamie Lloyd and David Meah when he sold for 140,000gns. His stablemate Banksea cost Anthony Stroud 130,000gns and fitted the agent’s criteria for Dubai, being a 104-rated son of Lawman.

The stakes-placed juvenile winner Fierce Impact was born in Japan and the son of Deep Impact was offered by Jamie Railton. He cost Australian trainer Matthew Smith 120,000gns, the same price paid by Gaelic Bloodstock for the Marco Botti-trained Moolazim, a three-time winner this year. The son of Tamayuz scored most recently over a mile at Kempton.

A sire career in Spain is on the cards for Kool Kompany, the Group 2 Railway Stakes and Prix Robert Papin winner, after he cost Loughtown Stud, bidding through Dominick Mahony, 100,000gns. Another to sell for this amount was the Society Rock filly Yolo Star, a recent winner at Naas for trainer Johnny Murtagh. She heads now to Dean Ivory who bought Group 1 winner Librisa Breeze at a previous edition of this sale.