Flaming Spear heading back to Kevin Ryan

The opening day of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale got off to a positive start on Monday with a wide representation of international buyers.

Seven lots topped six-figures and the top lot made 240,000 guineas that horse being the Aidan O'Brien-trained Prospector, a winner of two races from three starts and a half-brother to Mastercraftsman.

He was secured with a single bid by Grant Pritchard-Gordon of Badgers Bloodstock, who said:"He has been bought for an Australian client and it is a successful tactic that they have used and were keen to use again. Prospector is beautifully bred and is a half-brother to a much under-rated stallion.

"He has a good profile and will improve with time. He is unlikely to run in Europe again and will ship when ready."

Red Galileo, from Ed Dunlop's draft, was the second-highest lot of the day when selling to Stroud Coleman Bloodstock for 155,000 guineas, Anthony Stroud fending off competition from eventual underbidders Guy Mulcaster and Jassim Ghazali.

Fifth in Australia in last year's Investec Derby, the gelding is now bound for the Dubai Carnival.

Stroud said of his purchase: "He is a good horse and one with a rating good enough for Dubai. He is by an outstanding stallion in Dubawi and has the right profile for the Carnival."

Flaming Spear is set to remain in training with Kevin Ryan despite changing hands for six figures. The horse was sold to Stephen Hillen, standing with Ryan, for 125,000 guineas. Ryan knows the three-year-old well, having trained him for his entire career was evidently keen to keep him when buying from original owners Qatar Racing & Essafinaat.

Hillen, who saw off competition from underbidder Jeremy Brummitt, as well as David Simcock, said: "Flaming Spear has been unlucky and things just have not gone the horse's way. He needs a bit of dig in the ground, but, when he was due to run, it kept staying fast - he often ended up a non-runner. He'll go home, be gelded and he'll be back on track next year."