Billed as the star of the Book 1 show, the Dubawi full brother to Too Darn Hot lived up to his billing and became the world’s highest-priced yearling to sell in 2018 when making 3,500,000gns at Tattersalls on Wednesday, bought by David Redvers on behalf of Qatar Bloodstock.

Much of the buzz at Tattersalls centred around this colt, whose siblings also include high-class duo So Mi Dar and Lah Ti Dar, thanks to his pedigree being one of the most active in the bloodstock world.

Too Darn Hot puts his unbeaten record on the line in Saturday’s Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes and so it was with much anticipation that the Watership Down Stud-consigned yearling walked into the ring.

An opening bid of 500,000gns set proceedings off before the likes of Jamie McCalmont, Robert Nataf, agent Mike Ryan and Shadwell became involved.

From there, Redvers came into play and while Angus Gold of Shadwell pushed him further, Redvers would not be denied.

Redvers said: “I think he was the one we all wanted. The mare is quite extraordinary, the stallion is quite extraordinary, and Sheikh Fahad and his brothers want the very best and [to] compete with the very best.

“They’ve had a major taste of what it’s like having the very best with Roaring Lion this year, which has been wonderful to be part of.

“It’s a hell of an operation we’ve bought from and it’s a hell of an operation to be involved with and to be in a position to be in the top end to compete with horses like this.”

Asked whether the bidding could have gone higher, Redvers added: “These horses don’t come up very often. If he’s as good as his full brother he’s a very cheap horse today.

“We’re all trying to make stallions and that’s the future of our operation. The challenge is finding those horses to be good enough.

“To have possibly one of the best-bred Dubawis and a faultless individual, it’s very hard to put a value on.

“Equally, we all know the very best physical with the very best pedigree can fall over or get cast, so we have to keep everything crossed now that he gets to the racecourse and does what his genetics and his physical attributes suggest he should.”

For Lord and Lady Lloyd-Webber, this was a fantastic result for their Watership Down Stud and Lady Lloyd-Webber was on hand to witness the colt’s sale.

She said: “We’re just very lucky the mare is breeding these rather perfectly-formed offspring. He’s very similar to Too Darn Hot and maybe a little bit more mature, funnily enough. We absolutely loved him but our policy on the stud is to sell the colts and keep the fillies.

“Unfortunately we’ve got to carry on that policy. We kept Too Darn Hot as he had x-ray issues when he was a yearling and we couldn’t bring him to the sales – we’re absolutely thrilled we didn’t bring him to the sales, obviously.

“This was an amazing colt and he was perfect in every way. I wasn’t surprised the Qataris loved him and I wish them huge luck with him.

“Dar Re Mi really seems to be doing it and we’ve just got to hope over the next 18 months she can breed a Group 1 winner. We’ve got a big two weeks ahead of us.

“It’s like a theatrical experience. I can only compare it to an opening night when the curtain goes up and you have all the critics and my husband and I think ‘oh my god, this is it now’. The adrenaline was pumping.”

Fifth millionaire for broodmare Alluring Park

Coolmore continued their big spending on Wednesday when MV Magnier went to 1,300,000gns for Lodge Park Stud’s Galileo brother to Oaks heroine Was, who boasts five-time Group 1 winner New Approach as a close relation.

This colt becomes the fifth millionaire to sell out of the Listed-placed Green Desert mare Alluring Park. Was made 1.2 million guineas in 2010 and Douglas Macarthur sold at Newmarket for 1.25 million guineas in 2015.

The colt’s other brother Al Naamah sold for five million guineas in 2013, while Al Jassasiyah (unraced) made 1.5 million guineas when selling to the Mandore International Agency in 2012.

It was a magnificent result for Lodge Park Stud. Damian Burns of the operation was understandably delighted with Wednesday’s result.

Burns said: “My brother Jamie had the privilege of prepping him at the farm. We have two yards and it’s all down to him and the team at home, many who don’t get to come to the sales.

“We have a full sister out of Alluring Park who won this year and hopefully we’ll be breeding from her down the line.”

Later in the afternoon, Magnier was on the mark again when going to 1.2 million guineas for Barronstown Stud’s full sister to this year’s St Leger hero Kew Gardens. Out of the Moyglare Stud Stakes-winning Desert King mare Chelsea Rose, the filly is also a half-sister to Group 3 winner Thawaany.

Magnier said: “She’s an absolutely lovely filly. Kew Gardens had a great year and he looks like he could be a top horse.

“She comes from a great nursery and they’ve bred a lot of good horses in their time. They had a very high opinion of the filly, so let’s hope she’s as good as they think she is.”

Cheveley take home Galileo filly

A bold play from Cheveley Park Stud during the second session of Book 1 on Wednesday saw David and Patricia Thompson’s operation secure a Galileo filly out of Group 3 winner Wannabe Better for 1,200,000gns.

With the likes of Kerri Radcliffe and Sheila Rosenblaum making the early running, the pair were soon joined by Godolphin and Cheveley Park Stud in trying to secure the daughter of Coolmore’s perennial champion sire.

Ultimately it was Cheveley and Godolphin who were left to trade the final blows with the former coming out on top.

“I need to be a little bit daring once in my life” said Patricia Thompson. “I just loved everything about her.”

Chris Richardson said: “It’s a fantastic pedigree. It’s a wonderful family and that’s the sort of pedigree we’re looking for at the very top end.

“Galileo is a phenomenal sire and we don’t get many opportunities to have a daughter of his. We have Criteria who is a full sister to Alice Springs and Allegretto who won the Prix Royal-Oak from that wonderful Kirsten Rausing family on the farm.”

Godolphin snare Legatissimo’s half-brother

Newsells Park Stud’s glorious Book 1 continued when their Dubawi half-brother to 1,000 Guineas and Nassau Stakes heroine Legatissimo lit up the ring when selling to Stroud Coleman Bloodstock on behalf of Godolphin for 1.2 million guineas.

The colt becomes the most expensive progeny of his dam, the Montjeu mare Yummy Mummy, to sell at auction, eclipsing the 870,000gns made by the winning Shamardal mare Gumriyah when selling to Blandford Bloodstock two years ago.

There is further appeal to the Dubawi colt as Yummy Mummy is a full sister to the late five-time Group 1 scorer Fame And Glory.

Moments before the half-brother to Legatissimo sold, Newsells enjoyed another strong result in the ring when the Galileo half-sister to Florida Derby winner Materiality was snapped up by MV Magnier for 900,000gns.

The filly was consigned by the Hertfordshire nursery on behalf of her breeders John and Tanya Gunther, who had been on hand the previous day to witness their Galileo colt out of a sister to Midday sell to Stroud Coleman Bloodstock for 1.1 million guineas.

As well as being a half-sister to Materiality, the filly is a half-sister to the Grade 2-winning and Kentucky Oaks runner-up My Miss Sophia.

The trio are all out of the Grade 2 third Langfuhr mare Wildwood Flower, with Grade 1 winner Snow Ridge featuring further back on the page.