JOHNNY Collins’s Brown Island Stables stole the show at the much delayed Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale on Thursday. After a titanic battle, Tom Biggs of Blandford Bloodstock fended off Mark McStay and David Redvers to secure an April 28th-foaled Night Of Thunder colt for 575,000gns, the top price on the day.

Collins paid £72,000 at the Goffs UK Premier Sale for the colt, purchasing him from Selwood Bloodstock. “He will stay in Newmarket,” said Biggs. “It was a little more than we had wanted to spend, but you have to pay for this sort of horse. He is a lovely horse, he did a very nice breeze and is sire is doing so well.”