WHEN it comes to bloodstock sales, record prices seem to have lost their meaning lately. With the strength at the top of the market, be it a foal, yearling, breeze-up or horses in training sale, records are almost expected to be broken, and thankfully for Tattersalls, this week’s July Sale continued the trend.

On Wednesday, Juddmonte blueblood Orchid Bouquet became the highest-priced horse in the sale’s history at 550,000gns, but she only lasted approximately 24 hours in the record books, as Wathnan Racing’s talent scout Richard Brown gave 775,000gns for Royal Ascot winner Quai De Bethune the following day.