Norman Williamson sold the top lot at Saturday's Arqana Breeze-Up Sale in Deauville when Godolphin paid €2.3 million for a colt by Justify consigned by the former top jump jockey.

Williamson bought the colt for $150,000 in Keeneland last September.

Godolphin, who outbid Coolmore for the Justify colt, will be hoping the horse turns out to be as good as Native Trail, the European champion two-year-old they bought from Williamson in 2021.

The Justify colt is out of the blacktype mare Inchargeofme and was bought by Godolphin via Anthony Stroud who was standing with Charlie Appleby and David Loder.

“He’s a colt that really stood out," said Stroud. “We really liked his breeze on Thursday and we really wanted to bring him back to Moulton Paddocks. His sire Justify has had very good results and he’s a remarkable stallion. We’re very happy.”

Norman Williamson said: "When he got to a million I was over the moon. Coolmore were underbidders, which was great, but Godolphin have been very good to me over the years, so big thank you to them."

Amo Racing

Earlier in the day, another son of the Triple Crown winner was knocked down for €1 million in favour of Alex Elliott, bidding on behalf of Amo Racing.

Consigned by Eddie O'Leary's Lynn Lodge Stud, the colt is out of a sister to Churchill and Clemmie.

“He’s a lovely colt that ticks all the boxes,” said Elliott. "His dam has a great pedigree and his sire Justify has exceptional results. We don’t have a trainer in mind for him yet. We’re very happy, and we hope he’ll be as good as he appears to be.”

Elliott also struck for a daughter of Justify out of Canadian International Stakes heroine Sarah Lynx from Lynn Lodge Stud.

Bidding on behalf of Coolmore this time, the agent went to €800,000 for the filly who hails from the family of stakes winners Steel Princess, Steel Prince, Sugar Party, Counterparty Risk and Fleur Royal.

“She’s a beautiful filly,” said Elliott. “She is by Justify out of a Group 1 winner. She breezed very well and showed a lot of speed and is well balanced. I think she has the potential to be an exceptional filly.”

A daughter of Too Darn Hot also sold for €800,000. Bidding on behalf of Amo Racing, Robson Aguiar signed the docket for the granddaughter of Matron Stakes winner Emulous, from the family of Mandaloun, consigned by Tom Whitehead's Powerstown Stud.

“She’s a lovely filly,” said Aguiar. “She moves very nicely and did a very good breeze on Thursday. I think she has all the qualities to run in the classics. She’ll be trained by Dominic Ffrench-Davis.”

Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock signed for 11 lots for a total of €2,775,000, including a son of Mckinzie from Malcolm Bastard, for which he went to €650,000.

The well-bred colt is a brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Up To The Mark and a grandson of Capote Belle.

The clearance rate came in at 76% and the average price was €165,428, an increase of almost 10% on 2023. Turnover for the session topped the €20 million mark, reaching €21,880,000 (+2.8%).

An end-of-sale statement from the Arqana management team said: "The day ended with good results, in line with last year’s very fine edition. The quality of the horses on show was outstanding, thanks to

the exceptional preparation work of our vendors combined with the bloodstock team’s selections.

"The market was very selective, following the trend of other sales in this segment. However, we did see some very fine pinhooks, led by the two sons of Justify, one of whom achieved an historic top price for a European breeze-up, confirming our ability to

value good profiles.

"Finally, as with every year, we would like to also thank France Galop, which enables us to welcome our buyers and vendors under the best possible conditions on the Deauville grass track."