HALFWAY Line (Zoffany), a three-time winning three-year-old from the Juddmonte draft, was bought online by BBA Ireland and Stakes Horses. He was the most expensive of the 14 lots they sold, and they averaged just a shade under 100,000gns.

Michael Donohoe of BBA Ireland said by telephone: “The horse has been bought in conjunction with Niall Dalton of Stakes Horses to go to California, and is for a new client with trainer Phil D’Amato, who has had a good bit of success training European horses.

“Halfway Line was recommended by his former trainer Francois-Henri Graffard, as well as Barry Mahon of Juddmonte. He should suit California as he is progressive, goes on firm, and has a turn of foot, all the attributes you need.” The gelding showed that he has stakes race ability when finishing third in the Listed Prix Matchem at Saint-Cloud.

Peter Trainor and Ciaron Maher Racing spent 240,000gns on Ziryab (Kingman), another highlight of the Juddmonte draft, and the three-year-old gelding was trained by John and Thady Gosden. Unraced at two, he was successful on his third start and his placed efforts include finishing second two weeks ago.

Trainor said: “Last year we bought Future History here from Juddmonte and this is the same type of horse, with the same profile. Hopefully, he will follow the same path. We were quite taken with his last run.” Future History was successful in Flemington’s Group 3 Lexus Bart Cummings at the start of this month.