IF anyone buying horses on a limited budget had become disheartened by the record-breaking trade over the last 12 or so months, results on the track have given plenty of reason to keep hope. You need only look as far as this week’s Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale, where the last two Group 1-winning graduates have cost a combined £78,000.

While many may have expected Amo Racing’s seven-figure purchases to fly their purple flag this year, it was £44,000 yearling Power Blue who put Kia Joorabchian in the limelight when winning the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes earlier this month. The first crop son of Space Blues was unearthed by Drumloose Stables from the Manister House Stud draft 12 months ago, and has more than justified his £44,000 price tag.