BOOK 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale kicked off on Tuesday and it saw four yearlings sell for more than one million guineas on a day when the median price of 120,000gns was 33% down on the corresponding day last year. The day's clearance rate was 78%, down from 83% last year.

Once again Middle Eastern buyers were to the fore, with Bahrain accounting for the top lot and Dubai-based Godolphin purchasing the other three seven-figure yearlings.

The day’s top lot came just five lots from the end of the session when a Kingman colt out of Galicuix, the dam of the St James's Palace and 2000 Guineas winner Galileo Gold, fetched 2.7 million guineas.

The colt was bought by agent Oliver St Lawrence – the underbidder was Ross Doyle standing next to M.V. Magnier – and he is the highest-priced yearling by Kingman. The colt was bred by Colin Murfitt at Pantile Stud and was sold by Houghton Bloodstock.

St Lawrence said: "He has been bought for Fawzi Nass and Bahrain interests. He is a gorgeous horse, he has a stallion's pedigree. He will be trained by Roger Varian."

The colt is the highest-priced yearling sold in Europe or North America in 2020.

NORELANDS SALE

A little earlier in the evening, a filly by Frankel consigned by Norelands Stud in Co Kilkenny was bought by Godolphin for two million guineas. She is a half-sister to Derby and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Golden Horn.

Last year a Frankel colt out of the same mare, Fleche D’Or, sold for 3.1 million guineas at this sale and, named Dhahabi, he has already won this season.

Godolphin also paid 1.1 million guineas for a Frankel colt out of Irish 1000 Guineas winner Attraction, and 2.1 million guineas for a Dubawi colt out of Attraction’s daughter Cushion. Both colts were consigned by Floors Stud, owned by the Duchess of Roxburghe whose late husband bred and raced Attraction.

The bidding battle for today's Dubawi colt developed into a head to head between M.V. Magnier and Godolphin, both standing outside and placing bids with the spotters. The two battled all the way through the ranks until Anthony Stroud secured the colt for Godolphin.

"This is a lovely horse, obviously by Dubawi," said Stroud. "He moves incredibly well, he is from a very good stud, and we collectively all really liked him. It just shows that when a very nice horse comes up to the ring, there are lots of good people there for them, they are collectors' items."

It is the best-ever price achieved by Floors in the sale ring, topping the 1.6 million guineas sale of the 2015 Frankel colt out of Attraction. He was bought at this sale by Shadwell and was subsequently named Elarqam.

At the end of the session, Godolphin had spent a total of 7.2 million guineas on eight yearlings. Agent Oliver St Lawrence spent three million on four yearlings, and Jamie McCalmont paid 1.3 million for three horses. M.V. Magnier came away with five yearlings for a total outlay of just over one million guineas.

The Book 1 sale continues on Wednesday and concludes on Thursday.

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