IT is hard to say that the sale of a filly for £5 million was something of an anti-climax but, for a few minutes, Goffs Group CEO Henry Beeby believed that the company had set an incredible record, having knocked down the Group 1 Prix de Diane-French Oak winner Sparkling Plenty for £8.1 million.

Grins turned to grimaces when Beeby handed over the gavel to Nick Nugent, and the realisation dawned that Goffs French representative Amanda Zetterholm’s winning bid had been on behalf of the filly’s owner and breeder, Jean-Pierre Joseph Dubois. Between Amo Racing’s Kia Joorabchian who was present, and Narvick International’s Emmanuel de Seroux taking instructions on the telephone, live bids of £7.8 and £8 million were made on the lawns of the Orangery in Kensington Palace, but the classic winner’s owner had other ideas.

With both underbidders declining to purchase Sparkling Plenty 26 hours after her classic victory for less than the ring price, a deal was negotiated with Sheikh Joann Bin Hamad Al Thani, Al Shaqab Racing, who took on 50% ownership of the three-year-old for £5 million. Good news for trainer Patrice Cottier is that Sparkling Plenty remains with him for the season.

Nicolas de Watrigant represented Al Shaqab Racing, and confirmed the sale and the training plans. “The trainer will target the Nassau Stakes, the Prix de l’Opera and maybe the Arc. We’ve been following the filly for a long time. We like her physically, she keeps improving, and she’s got a beautiful page. She’s got everything going for her.

“Sheikh Joann is delighted to have her. He’s been patient and we negotiated afterwards.” Al Shaqab has previously partnered on other high-profile horses, including Brametot and Place Du Carrousel. The sale mark of £5 million easily sets a new benchmark for the Goffs London Sale, and this year’s staging was the 10th in its history. Prior highs of £1.3 million were achieved by Cappella Sansevero and Jet Setting.

Beeby admitted to a rollercoaster of emotions after the sale was concluded for the Kingman half-sister to the Royal Ascot winner Noble Truth. “As I said to someone earlier, I’ve auctioneered for 39 years and worked for an auction house for 42 years, and I’ve never seen anything quite so complicated as this has turned out to be. It’s certainly a day I won’t forget.

“I was bid £8 million by a live bidder. I was bid £7.8 by another live bidder, but it’s the owner’s prerogative, it’s his horse. If her chooses to buy it back, he’s entitled to do that. The conditions of sale allow somebody to appoint one person to bid for them, and that’s what he did.”

Amo Racing

Hamis Macauley combined with Amo Racing to purchase the next two highest lots, another daughter of Kingman for £650,000, and the Dermot Weld-trained Taraj for £480,000. The Kingman filly is a two-year-old daughter of the six-time Group 1 winner Laurens, and was bred by John Dance at his Cloverdale Stud. The filly will go into training with Ralph Beckett. Macauley said: “She’s bred in the purple and has a massive pedigree. She came highly recommended by Mark Dwyer, who pre-trained her, and she’s a collector’s item at the end of the day.”

Taraj was bred by Dermot Weld and won at the third time of asking last year at two. A son of Churchill and out of an Oasis Dream mare, Taraj was third to Los Angeles on his only start this year in a Group 3 Derby Trial at Leopardstown. He will remain with Weld at Rosewell House Stud after his purchase and will be the first horse that Amo Racing will have with the Curragh handler.

Richard Ryan and Ciaran Maher Bloodstock took ownership of the two-year-old New Bay colt Pentle Bay for £400,000. Trained by George Boughey, he won his only start at Leicester at the beginning of the month.

Thirteen of the 23 lots on offer traded, and while the median dropped, thanks to the big sale all other metrics improved. Boutique sales, and especially one as specialised as the London Sale, do not fall into the normal measures, such as strong clearance rates. With most of the entries holding engagements at the Royal Ascot meeting, many vendors are unwilling to sell unless they receive a premium. The owners of the unbeaten Lazzat (unsold at £2,250,000) and the listed juvenile winner Francisco’s Piece (retained at £500,000) were among those who fitted into that category.