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Royal Diamond brings 400,000 guineas at Tattersalls There was a furious trade at Tattersalls Tuesday at the second session of the Autumn Horses in Training Sale with the highlight being a draft from Sir Mark Prescott's Newmarket stable. Three-year-old ROYAL DIAMOND (King's Best) had won his last four starts, including a Wolverhampton handicap by 10 lengths October 10. Alastair Donald of Kern Lillingston tried for the gelding, offered as Hip No. 734, as did National Hunt agent Aiden Murphy and Anthony Stroud, who has been shopping for the Dubai Carnival, but the final exchanges were fought out between two trainers based in the north of England. It was Michael Dods, based near Darlington in County Durham, who got the upper hand at 400,000 guineas, with the more frequent big spender Howard Johnson coming off second best. Dods was buying for Andrew Tinkler, who just got into the business two years ago. Tinkler is a part-owner of the Eddie Stobart haulage company. "We went to Sir Mark's yard and I fell in love with him," said Tinkler, who is advised by former jockey Dale Gibson. "I don't think he's fully matured yet. I've got about a dozen horses with Michael including Barney McGrew (Mark of Esteem [Ire]), who will go to Dubai, and I only got my first horse in 2007 through my partner Alison." Royal Diamond is set to be targeted at the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle in June, a valuable staying handicap. "He's a proper horse and has done everything right and will be put away now until next season," Dods added. "We thought he was good enough to pay a proper price for, and Andrew had said to go to 350,000 guineas, but we had to go a bit further." Australian buyers have been stronger than ever at this year's sale ahead of next week's 150th Melbourne Cup (Aus-G1), and agent Geoffrey Faber paid 230,000 guineas for MARTIAL LAW (Galileo [Ire]), selling as Hip 613, for an undisclosed client based in Victoria. "He'll hopefully become a nice staying horse," said Faber, a one-time Racing Post journalist who spent seven years in Dubai as a steward before moving to Australia. "We were keen to get a three-year-old colt, and hope he can improve. There are not many like him at this sale." Agent Grant Pritchard-Gordon was also shopping for Australia, and he paid 210,000 guineas for FANJURA (Marju), who will join Lee Freedman and race for the Ball and Chain syndicate. The four-year-old went through the ring as Hip 492. "He'll head out in January and then have a couple of outings in the autumn and, hopefully, could be running at the Spring Carnival this time next year," Pritchard-Gordon said. The sale continues Wednesday. Complete results are available at tattersalls.com.
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