By Sam Turner

First-season sire Blue Point is enjoying a magnificent inaugural campaign and his reputation reverberated around Tattersalls on day two of the October Yearling Sale.

With a staggering 34 individual winners already on the board in Britain and Ireland, and a recent Group 1 success in France, his progeny were always likely to be keenly sought after at the marquee sale and none-more so than when a half-brother to the top-class sprinter Battaash graced the sales ring.

Given such a blue-blooded pedigree, it was little surprise that both Godolphin and Coolmore once again went head-to-head for such a fine prospect, although Saud Al Qahtani from Najd Stud thought a bid of 1,400,000 may have procured the colt offered by Paul and Marie McCartan’s Ballyphilip Stud.

However, Godolphin buyer Anthony Stroud had the last say, securing the much sought after colt for 1,500,000gns with a final winning bid.

"He was one that we wanted, he is the horse that we thought would enhance Godolphin,” enthused Stroud.

“He’s an outstanding horse by a stallion who’s done so well this year. 

“Blue Point has had so many winners, including the winner of the Lagardere just the other day. 

“He’s looking incredibly promising and coupled with the fact this colt is out of a mare who produced a horse like Battaash, he's a horse we thought would enhance our team.”

Referencing Paul and Marie McCartan’s successful Ballyphilip Stud, who offered the stunning colt, Stroud added: “Paul McCartan has had Tiggy Wiggy, Profitable, Harry Angel and so many more, it is a great nursery and they do a fantastic job. 

“I hope that we are standing here in two years' time and agreeing that this is one of the best that Paul has bred."

Sheikha Hissa bint Hamdan Al Maktoum’s Shadwell operation was also active on day two with three purchases, including a gorgeous daughter of Dubawi out of Cushion, herself a daughter of the legendary Galileo and Guineas winner Attraction.

Shadwell secured the filly, offered by Watership Down Stud for 450,000gns, before also procuring Barton Stud’s Teofilo filly (out of Dean Street Doll) for 400,000gns and outlaying 300,000gns for a daughter of Churchill out of multiple winner Emperors Pearl.

Unsurprisingly, Coolmore also exercised their buying power when the Irish operation fought off competition to land a Frankel colt out of Bizzarria for 2,000,000gns, offered by Hascombe & Valiant Stud.

Bred on the same lines as Group 1 winners Without Parole and Courage Mon Ami and featuring the likes of Grade 1 winner Cannock Chase and Irish Oaks heroine Star Catcher among his relatives, the colt became the most expensive yearling sold in Europe this year, narrowly eclipsing the €2.4 agent Oliver St Lawrence outlaid for Dubawi half-sister to Bucanero Fuerte at Arqana.