COOLMORE Stud showed its belief in stallion Wootton Bassett at Tattersalls on Tuesday evening when paying a total of 3.8 million guineas for two mares who will be covered by the stallion next spring.

On a mesmerising day of trade in Newmarket, when almost 42 million guineas changed hands, Coolmore's M.V. Magnier paid 1.8 million for Sunday Times, the 12-year-old dam of American champion juvenile filly Newspaperofrecord.

An hour later, it was Tom Magnier's turn to catch the auctioneer's eye when securing the four-year-old filly Cayenne Pepper for two million guineas

Trained by Jessica Harrington for the late Jon Kelly, Cayenne Pepper (by Australia) won the Group 2 Blandford Stakes and was placed three Group 1 races.

"She is a lovely mare. We knew what she could do on the racetrack,"said Tom Magnier. "Jessica Harrington held her in high regard, owner Jon Kelly was a very close friend of our family. We've had some Jon Kelly blood in Australia it is nice to have some here, too. She was just a lovely physical, she will go to Wootton Bassett, hopefully we will have a bit of luck with her. All the top people have been talking about her all week, we are fortunate to have got her. It is a page we know well, and when you have a page like that and the physical, and the ability, we are delighted to have her."

M.V. Magnier had to outbid David Redvers to secure Sunday Times (by Holy Roman Emperor) for 1.8 million guineas. Bids came from all around the sale ring after the bidding opened up at 400,000gns. US breeder Greg Goodman was involved in the early action, but the battled narrowed to a head to head between Magnier, who was outside, and Redvers, who was sat with owner breeder David Howden in the Gods. They had joined the proceedings at 1.4 million guineas. Eventually Magnier had too much firepower for them.

"She is an absolute cracker," he said. "She has bred a champion and hopefully she is carrying a full-sister to her [she is in foal to Lope De Vega]. She is a very nice mare, she has done it before and Newspaperofrecord was incredible what she did in the Breeders' Cup that day. She will be for Wootton Bassett."

He continued: "There is plenty going on in the page all the way down. It is a lot of money for her, but let's hope it is worth it!"

Top lot

Incredibly, another mare through the ring on Tuesday fetched an even higher price than the Coolmore purchases. The honour went to Waldlied, the New Approach half-sister to the Group 1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Waldgeist.Offered in partnership between Newsells Park Stud and Gestut Ammerland, she was sold for 2,200,000gns to Newsells Park Stud who bought out the partnership. Newsells Park is now owned by IT entrepreneur Kevin Smith-Bernal.

"She is coming back home, where she belongs," said Smith-Bernal. "She is a beautiful mare, in terms of her demeanour and attitude. She is a very special horse from a very special family. It was breaking one partnership and forming a new partnership. We also own 100% Waldlerche now, as well as her number one daughter so far. She was a great racehorse, I think she was rated as high in training as Waldgeist by Andre Fabre. She is very special horse and we are absolutely delighted to have her back with us."

Japanese investor

Having bought the 450,000gns top lot here on Monday, the Japanese breeder Katsumi Yoshida of Northern Farm made another four six-figure purchases on Tuesday, headed by the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes runner-up Flotus for one million guineas. No decision has been made on whether to leave Flotus in training in Britain or take her to Japan.

Yoshida also bought Group 2 winner Dandalla (pictured) for 750,000gns, Ten Sovereign's full-sister Eden Quay for 350,000gns, and Arabian Queen's full-sister Cosmopolitan Queen for 320,000gns.

The day's turnover of 41,912,000gns is the third highest for any day in European auction history, with only the corresponding sessions in 2017 and 2018 bettering it. In total 17 lots sold for 500,000gns or more.

The sale continues on Wednesday.

DAY TWO STATISTICS (last year in brackets)

Catalogued: 320 (295)

Offered: 265 (235)

Sold: 224 (186)

Aggregate: 41,912,000gns (+68%)

Median: 105,000gns (+75%)

Average: 187,107gns (+39%)

% sold: 85% (90%

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