THOUGH Sheikh Mohammed was not present, his buying team, headed by Anthony Stroud, David Loder and Charlie Appleby, was active throughout the two days.

Top of their list on day two was a €650,000 Kingman half-brother to champion two-year-old Skitter Scatter. The lot was consigned by pinhooker Philip Stauffenberg, offering his first draft at the Goffs Orby Sale, who bought the colt for €550,000 from breeders Airlie Stud at Goffs last November. David Redvers and Amo Racing were among the underbidders.

Stroud said of the colt: “He’s a lovely horse. We looked at him as a foal and decided not to buy him and to wait until he came back as a yearling. We liked what we saw and he’s been at a very good farm in the meantime. He’s progressed well since last year and is a colt with a lot of quality.”

On Tuesday Stroud paid €625,000 for a Frankel colt and €400,000 for a Dubawi colt. The Frankel was offered from Yeomanstown Stud and is a full-brother to Group 2-placed Fivethousandtoone. Stroud said: “He’s a very good-looking horse, very well balanced and easy-going, not overbig. He came from a farm with a huge reputation, and the sire speaks for himself. Charlie Appleby, David Loder and I all saw the horse and liked him.”

Paddy and Helena Burns sat with their three sons, James, Patrick and baby Robert, as they watched their Ghaiyyath filly sell to Godolphin for €400,000, the best price of the week for the Kildangan-based stallion who had 14 lots offered, and all sold. The filly was stabled at Goffs in the same box occupied by her Irish Oaks-winning grandam, Margarula, in 2000, and she is a half-sister to the stakes winner Martlet and the Group 2-placed Stowell.

A delighted Paddy Burns said: “We are over the moon with the result, and wish Godolphin the very best of luck with her. It’s such a big result for the farm, and it wouldn’t be possible without our team at home, Brian, Donagh and especially Helena.”