The idea of having a boutique horses-in-training sale to coincide with a high-profile meeting is not a new one but they got this one spot on. Holding the sale at The Orangery at Kensington Palace was sublime, as it was a perfect fit for the overall image and prestige associated with Royal Ascot.

Of course, what matters most at every sale is the quality of the horses on offer and that all-important ingredient was there in abundance. The unbeaten juvenile Cappella Sansevero was the pick of the horses in training and there was a strong selection of breeze-up horses too.

The biggest PR coup of all was the selling of the broodmare Crystal Gaze in foal to Frankel and with a Frankel colt foal at foot. While there will be dozens of Frankel foals sold later this year, this was the very first one to be seen in public and it generated all sorts of positive mainstream coverage.

As hoped, the sale attracted all of the big players in our sport and the prices generated varied from eye-catching to eye-watering. Some of the horses-in-training in particular almost certainly made much more than they would have had they been sold at a conventional horses-in-training sale and it goes to show that owners are willing to pay a premium for a guaranteed runner on the biggest stages.

Goffs have already committed to holding a boutique horses-in-training sale just before racing at Leopardstown during Irish Champions Weekend and one would hope that it proves even a fraction as successful as the London Sale, but of course much will depend on the quality of the lots offered for sale. Given the prices that were being paid this week, surely Irish trainers and owners will offer some high-profile lots at Leopardstown.