THE Group 3 Lingfield Derby Trial winner, and a supplementary entry for the sale, English King set a new record for a colt sold at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale when he realised 925,000gns on Wednesday. Widely anticipated to be the star attraction, bidding opened at 400,000gns for the son of Camelot who cost €210,000 as a yearling and ran fifth in this year’s Epsom Derby.

The ultimate bidding war was waged by Ted Voute, to the right of auctioneer John O’Kelly, and Armando Duarte who was outside and bidding to Richard Botterill. Both bidders were on telephones to the Middle East and Australia. Voute appeared beaten when he chanced what he believed would be a clinching bid of 900,000gns, but Duarte swiftly retorted with the winning nod on behalf of Ballymore Stables Australia and Paul Moroney Bloodstock.