Across Tattersalls’ sales ground on Wednesday, the Frankel half-brother to Golden Horn was one of the most talked about lots on offer at Book 1 of the October Yearling Sale. When he entered the ring, the colt did not disappoint, selling for a cool 3.1 million guineas to Anthony Stroud on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed.

It was a familiar story to Tuesday’s top lot, the 3.6 million guineas Dubawi half-brother to Barney Roy, as Coolmore and Godolphin went toe to toe for one of the best-bred yearlings on offer. Godolphin had prevailed in that tussle and did so again after a protracted round of bidding.

The appeal of the Frankel colt to Sheikh Mohammed’s operation is obvious. Golden Horn retired to Darley’s Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket having carried the colours of his breeder, Anthony Oppenheimer, to victory in the Derby, Coral-Eclipse, Irish Champion Stakes and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Golden Horn’s first crop of two-year-olds hit the racetrack this season and they include the Group 3-winning West End Girl and Listed scorer Festive Star.

Stroud said: “He has an outstanding pedigree and is a very good individual by a wonderful horse.

“Obviously we stand Golden Horn and he looks a promising young stallion. It’s not often you get the opportunity to buy a half-brother to a Derby winner by such a good stallion. So he met all the right credentials.”

The sale capped a fabulous day for Harry McCalmont’s Norelands Stud, who had earlier sold the Siyouni three-parts brother to 2,000 Guineas winner Magna Grecia for 1.3 million guineas to MV Magnier.

McCalmont said: “I am not often lost for words, but I think I am now! This is easily the best price we have had in the sales ring – the second-best we achieved this morning! My team have done a fabulous job, this colt walked around like a king today.

“There was a lot of interest in him, some serious people who liked him, however you never know what is going to happen until you get to the ring.”

There was plenty of activity throughout Wednesday’s session and the headlining Frankel colt was one of four lots to make seven figures.

Overall, 132 lots (from 157 offered) sold for 31,958,000gns – down 22% on the corresponding figure of 40,944,000gns in 2018. The average fell 24% from 317,395gns to 242,106gns while the median suffered a dip of 21% from 190,000gns to 150,000gns.