History was made at Tattersalls October 6 as a striking son of Night of Thunder rewrote the European sales record books.
Old rivals Coolmore and Godolphin had the Norelands-consigned youngster in their crosshairs, and at points during an epic bidding duel it seemed as though neither would back down.
The price rocketed into seven-figure territory and continued on its steep upward trajectory in increments of 200,000 guineas. At 3,600,000 guineas, Coolmore's M.V. Magnier gestured that he wanted to up the ante by a full 400,000 guineas. However, the Godolphin camp, with Sheikh Mohammed at the center of the huddle, continued to return fire with metronomic regularity.
Eventually, the decisive increase came from Godolphin's Anthony Stroud, who signaled a bid of 4,600,000 guineas (US$6,384,197, 1 guinea=US$1.39) in the direction of the spotter outside by the parade ring. After a brief pause for thought, Magnier turned on his heel and conceded defeat.
The colt was bred by the Tsui family's Sunderland Holding Inc. from My Astra. The daughter of Lope de Vega won the listed Rothesay Stakes during her time in training with William Haggas, and was also beaten just half a length in the Pretty Polly Stakes (G1) won by La Petite Coco.
In turn, My Astra is out of the group 3-winner My Titania, making her a half-sister to the group 2 scorers My Prospero and My Oberon.
The youngster surpassed the previous high mark for a colt sold at a European public auction. The title had belonged to Poker, a son of Wootton Bassett who remains winless after selling to Amo Racing for 4,300,000 guineas at Book 1 in 2024.
The Night of Thunder colt was one of six millionaires to change hands on Day 1. All bar one of those went the way of Godolphin. The operation was a mile clear at the head of the leading buyers' chart, with 11 recruits secured for an outlay of 15,730,000 guineas. That spend means Godolphin accounted for just shy of 10% of sold lots and 34% of turnover.
On the headline purchase, Stroud said: "He's a beautiful colt. He's from a very good family and was a particularly taking individual. He has the pedigree, the looks, the stallion potential. He's an extremely nice horse and comes from a very good stud. Mrs. Tsui is an excellent breeder. We're so lucky to have bought him. That was definitely at the top end of our valuation, for sure."
Coolmore also filled the role of underbidder when Godolphin secured a son of the much-missed Wootton Bassett at 3,800,000 guineas earlier in the day. The colt spent a brief spell as the most expensive yearling to change hands anywhere in the world in 2026.
The sought-after youngster was sold by Croom House Stud, which topped the 2024 Goffs Orby Sale with this colt's half-brother Treanmor. That €2 million son of Frankel also went the way of Godolphin.
The 3,800,000 guineas youngster surpassed another son of Wootton Bassett at the head of the global yearling market. That colt fetched €4.6 million after another clash between Coolmore and Godolphin during the Arqana August Sale. On that occasion, the Irish firm won out.
