Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed paid almost £3million for a 'lookalike' to wonder horse Frankel.
The billionaire was involved in a frantic bidding war at the Tattersalls sales to acquire the yearling for his thoroughbred operation.
Big names in the racing industry were impressed by the youngster, due to his resemblance to his sire Frankel. One of the greatest horses of all time, he won all 14 of his races and has excelled as a stallion, commanding a fee of £200,000 each time.
The Sheikh made a rare public appearance this week to spend big on potential new stars for his Godolphin stable. Frankel's son cost him £2.94 million, a record price for a yearling sold in the world in 2022. His dam is Group 3 winner So Mi Dar and the newcomer was bred by Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Watership Down Stud.
Anthony Stroud, buying on behalf of Godolphin, was delighted to put in the huge winning bid.
"Obviously he has got a stallion's pedigree, by Frankel out of a very good mare by Dubawi from Watership Down's best family. He was the jewel in the crown and is an extremely nice horse," he said.
Lady Madeleine Lloyd Webber said it was a "shame" she could not keep the yearling, from a family of thoroughbreds she knows particularly well.
So Mi Dar was the first foal of a mating between Dubawi and Dar Re Mi mating that has led to excellent results on the track.
"This one was a particularly beautiful colt," said Lady Lloyd Webber about Frankel's son.
"All the bloodstock agents I spoke to, they couldn't really fault him. He looked so like his father Frankel and yet he had the Dar Re Mi line, the lovely head and he walked beautifully. His conformation was perfect.
"We obviously loved him and we are delighted Godolphin (bought him). He's going to stay here and be trained brilliantly, so we couldn't hope for any better really."
The new purchase came just a day after Sheikh Mohammed paid over six million guineas for eight more horses from the sales ring. Stallion Dubawi, who raced for Godolphin, costs breeders £250,000 for a cover of a mare at Dalham Hall Stud.
His top-earning son of all time, Benbatl, scooped almost £6million of prize money in their famous blue silks. The team's Dubai World Cup winners Monterosso and Prince Bishop are also high up on the list.
Sheikh Mohammed came away with three of Dubawi's offspring from the October Yearling Sale Book 1 sale. Heading the trio was a £1.5million colt bred by Ring The Bell, a daughter of Galileo, who was worth £1billion at the time of his death last year.
Buyers are willing to pay big money to get their hands on his final stock, in the hope they will unearth a new star. One Godolphin have high hopes for is Naval Power, who lines up in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket this weekend.
Trainer Charlie Appleby is expecting a big run from the two-year-old, as he bids to gallop into the reckoning for next season's 2,000 Guineas – a race the stable took this year.
“He has got a great profile going into the race and I feel he won’t look out of place that is for sure and is one of the horses they are going to have to beat," Appleby said.
