Breeding & Racing Magazine

UK Tatts HIT Day-2: $760k Royal Diamond

In the UK overnight, trainer Michael Dods (acting for owner Andrew Tinkler) out-bid Howard Johnson & paid top price of 400,000 guineas (A$760,000) for 4-time-winning 3YO gelding Royal Diamond (King’s Best-Irresistible Jewel, by Danehill) during the 2nd session at the 4-day UK Tattersalls Autumn Horses-In-Training Sale in Newmarket. Royal Diamond (whose run of 4 consecutive victories culminated in a 10-lengths win at Wolverhampton 2 weeks ago & subsequently earned a Timeform rating of 105) is a brother to Gr1 Irish 1000 Guineas runner-up Mad About You & was consigned from Sir Mark Prescott's Heath House Stables. Tinkler (who co-owns the Eddie Stobart haulage firm & has only owned horses for 2 years) told racingpost.com his new purchase “is likely to be targetted at some top staying handicaps next season” adding: “We went to Sir Mark's yard & I fell in love with him. I don't think he's fully matured yet.” And Dods commented: “He's a proper horse & has done everything right & will be put away now. I know Andrew would like to go for the Northumberland Plate. He could also go for the Ebor. We thought he was good enough to pay a proper price for & Andrew had said to go to 350,000 guineas (A$665,000) but we had to go a bit further.”