A result like no other for Harry McCalmont's Norelands Stud

It was, as Harry McCalmont admitted in the moments after the 3,100,000 gns sale of his Frankel-sired half-brother to Derby winner Golden Horn, the sort of occasion when no explanation is needed.

Not only had the proprietor of Norelands Stud, the long-held County Kilkenny family concern, been allowed the luxury of watching the global bunfight for one particular colt rise to astonishing figures, he also knew he would be knocking another from his draft from the top spot in the session.

McCalmont had already been overjoyed to see the Siyouni half-brother to 2,000 Guineas winner Magna Grecia knocked down for 1,300,000 gns several hours earlier.

"I am not often lost for words, but I think I am now," he said.

"It’s something I’ve never seen anything like before. This is easily the best price we have had in the sales ring, the second-best we achieved this morning!

"I have to thank my team – they have done a fabulous job, this colt walked around like a king today."

Certainly lot 288 had all the right attributes, with memories of Golden Horn’s other victories in the Eclipse, Irish Champion Stakes and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe still fresh and the seven-year-old already a black type-earning sire at nearby Dalham Hall Stud.

The Frankel colt 'walked around like a king' according to Harry McCalmontCredit: Laura Green

"He was a lovely colt, a half-brother to a world champion and by a world-class sire," McCalmont added.

"We hoped he’d make a million. We knew some very serious people were interested, but when you come here in the cold light of day this can be a lonely place."

His stud manager, Matt Gilsenan, added: "He was a good foal all along, very easy to do anything with. Never got a bang or a scratch -mind-boggling. We don’t have a huge number of mares but we try to have a few good ones."

The acquisition of the colt’s dam, Fleche D’Or, from Anthony Oppenheimer’s Hascombe & Valiant Stud for 62,000gns at the December Sale here in 2012 now represents a masterstroke, with Oppenheimer’s ample consolation being that he did still have Golden Horn for himself.

"We bought the mare when Golden Horn was a foal and I like buying mares from good breeders like Mr Oppenheimer," McCalmont continued.

"You know the mares in the pedigree will always get the best covers and go to the best trainers. Occasionally you might get lucky with a mark-up. This was a bit more than we expected.

"We've got his full-sister at home, we’ll retain her, and the mare's in foal to Sea The Stars."

The Siyouni was a considerable price upgrade on his Classic-winning sibling, who reached 340,000gns as a foal, but it was always likely that Coolmore would again be interested and he represented an outstanding windfall for his breeder, the Australian Bob Scarborough.

"We hoped he’d make around the seven-figure make but it’s fantastic to get up there," said McCalmont. "It’s an emotional old thing. He’s exceptionally athletic, a very good mover, that’s what sold him."

Perhaps most impressively of all, the pair made up two-thirds of the Norelands consignment. The last, another Frankel out of a half-sister to French Derby winner Reliable Man, enters the stage as lot 416 on Thursday.

In the relatively calm words of McCalmont himself: "You don’t get many chances to do this".

More sales new:

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The Fugue's Dubawi colt heads two more millionaires at October Sale opener

American buyers out in force in search of other future stars