SUMMER Sands, one of a handful of wildcard entries for the Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training, was the outstanding lot during four days of trade at Newmarket this week. The two-year-old son of Coach House, winner of a five-furlong listed race at Redcar and placed in the Group 1 Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes behind the unbeaten Earthlight and the smart Golden Horse, set a new sale record for a colt when the hammer fell at 625,000gns.

An opening bid of 100,000gns led to a flurry of activity until 500,000gns, at which point it became a head-to-head between Alastair Donald and Bill Dwan. The latter won out and revealed that he was acting for the Breeders’ Cup-bound Joseph O’Brien. “He is a gorgeous horse, scopey, and I think he has some improvement to come next year,” said Dwan. “He has been very well campaigned by Richard Fahey.”