'I can't believe anyone foresaw what we've seen over the last three days'

As has so often been the case in recent years, the support of Hamdan Al Maktoum's Shadwell operation proved pivotal at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. Over the three days, Shadwell signed for 36 lots, six per cent of the 637 sold, for a total outlay of 5,327,000gns, which equates to 11 per cent of the 48,362,500gns aggregate.

Leading their haul was a 300,000gns Kodiac colt out of Nations Alexander from Mountarmstrong Stud, followed closely by a 290,000gns son of Bated Breath from Mountain View Stud and another Kodiac colt picked up for 280,000gns from Chasemore Farm.

This year was the first time since 2013 that Shadwell did not top the Book 2 buyers' chart, having given best to Stroud Coleman Bloodstock, whose 5,420,000gns spend included a number of notable acquisitions for Godolphin, including a 400,000gns New Bay colt and the 360,000gns son of Starspangledbanner who topped day three.