Pierre Royal is heading to Australia, having been sold for 375,000gns on Monday, day one of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale at Newmarket.
The transaction completed a remarkably shrewd bit of business by trainer Ado McGuinness and the A Twist Of Fate Syndicate, who bought the horse for 48,000gns at the same sale last year.
Since then the now four-year-old gelding has won the Newmarket Cambridgeshire and a premier handicap at the Curragh, as well as finishing second at the Galway Festival.
On Monday the son of Kingman was bought by Louis Le Metayer's Astute Bloodstock. The buyer commented: "We've had a lot of luck buying horses here. Harlem won two Group 1s for us and two years ago we bought Mr Monaco, who is one of the favourites for the Melbourne Cup."
Pierre Royal is also heading to Mr Monaco's trainer Ciaron Maher.
Recalling Pierre Royal's Cambridgeshire win, Le Metayer said: "It was a big field, a £200,000 race here at Newmarket, and he's a beautiful horse. He's got a good pedigree, he's fast, and he seemed to go on every ground. So I'm very happy to get him."
Of plans when Pierre Royal gets to Australia, Le Metayer outlined: "We like to give them a very easy first six months so they can acclimatise as there are many changes – new feed, new weather, new everything. We will probably focus on the next southern hemisphere spring, this time next year. He'll probably have a first run over a mile and then we will see where we progress."
He added: "I selected the horse and am syndicating him through Astute Bloodstock, and there is a lot of interest in him already."
McGuinness said: "He wasn’t a dear horse last year when we bought him. Adam [Potts] picked him out and he’s done very well for us. I don’t chase listed or group races with horses like him, I always go for the money. He’s won two premier handicaps, was second in one, third in one and fourth in another.
“He’s been a very easy horse to train and best of luck to the boys who bought him, I think he’ll do very well. He’s still lightly raced and I think he’s going places. I can see him winning plenty of races in Australia. It’ll suit him down there and he’ll love the fast ground.
"It’s great for the guys. He’s probably after turning over €600,000 in a year. He won over €200,000 in prize-money and when you convert his price back into euros, it’s a lot of money to turn for a fun horse.
"I think he’ll do it again next year. He would’ve been a real Royal Ascot type – a Royal Hunt Cup horse – if I’d have kept him. I’ll just have to go find another one now!"
Murtagh sale
Johnny Murtagh also sold one of Monday's top lots when Fixation fetched 220,000gns.
Rated 100, Fixation is a four-year-old gelding who has won or placed seven times in 13 career starts, including winning last time out.
"He is a thoroughly likeable horse, tough as nails," said purchaser Stuart Boman of Blandford Bloodstock.
"He loves firm ground, and I just love everything about him," added Boman. "He's shows up every week, loves his job and is a big, scopey horse. He will probably head to the Dubai Carnival, there is a great series of races for this sort of horse – plenty of options over 10 to 12 furlongs. He is a tough horse."
The sale continues until Thursday.