WHEN there’s a foal selling for an eyewatering sum, chances are that Philipp Stauffenberg will be found in the fray, and it was he who prevailed in a prolonged bidding war for Mount Coote Stud’s half-brother to Dreamloper at Goffs on Wednesday.

Rob Speers and Ibrahim Araci were among those who drove the price towards €500,000, but it was Ed Sackville, bidding on the phone, who eventually filled the role of underbidder to Stauffenberg’s bid of €650,000 - the current top price on Day 3 of the Goffs November Foal Sale.