The Goffs London Sale was held overnight on the eve of Royal Ascot and while Starspangledbanner colt Rafale Design passed in shy of his £2million reserve, the same figure was paid for the top lot Ghostwriter and Aussie buyers were also active at the sale.
A four year-old stallion by Invincible Spirit, Ghostwriter is a well established G1 performer for the Clive Cox stable and was bought by Amo Racing.
The underbidder on Ghostwriter was American investor John Stewart of Resolute Racing and he bought the second highest priced horse Woodshauna for £625,000.
A Group III winner in France, he holds entries for G1 Prix Jean Prat (Deauville 6th July ) and G1 Prix Maurice De Gheest (Deauville 10th August).
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott were active at the sale purchasing with McKeever Bloodstock. They signed for three horses: Fantazy Man (£250,000), Solar Army (£200,000) and Mo Chroi (£160,000).
First Light Racing/Gollan Racing/ David Skelly were also on the buyer’s list securing Brindavan for £250,000.
A total of 19 lots sold from 28 offered for a clearance rate of 68 per cent. The aggregate of £7,720,000 was down 8% on last year, while the average was also down 27 per cent £406,315, although the median went markedly in the opposite direction at £300,000.
