WHAT is he or she by? The importance of the stallion, with help from the dam, is a key factor when it comes to the top of the market in Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Sale. A dozen sires in total were responsible for the 31 lots that sold for 500,000gns or more this week. Half of the stallions accounted for 25 of the lots.

At the highest level, those who made a million guineas or more, the list is more select still. Just Galileo, Dubawi, Kingman and Frankel made it to this level. Seven of the nine in that cohort sold to either Coolmore or Godolphin.