WHEN Karl Burke’s two-year-old filly Half Sovereign gained her fifth win from seven starts in the Group 3 Prix Miesque in late October, connections must have wondered how high their £12,000 bargain buy could go. Was she a Group 1 filly in the making?

Henry Lascelles evidently thinks she can reach the highest level, as he shelled out €2,600,000 on behalf of an unnamed client for the daughter of Ten Sovereigns on Saturday evening. David Redvers, acting on behalf of US owner John Stewart, filled the role of underbidder.