Tattersalls’ December Mare sale was witness to a record-breaking sale this week.

Marsha became the highest-priced horse ever sold at a European auction when she was bought by MV Magnier for a whopping six million guineas - or £6.3 million - yesterday (December 5).

The Prix de l’Abbaye and Nunthorpe winner was bought the son of Coolmore Stud’s John Magnier, for a new partnership.

Ed Dunlop and David Redvers were involved in the early exchanges, but they gave way when MV Magnier and John Gosden turned up the heat. It developed into a head to head battle between the two powerhouses of Coolmore and Godolphin after Gosden took a bid at 4 million guineas.

The pair duelled through to 4.7 million, until Magnier upped his bid to five million. Gosden came back again until Magnier sealed the deal with his record-breaking bid.

Magnier said: “She really is something special. Sir Mark has done a great job with her, she was very fast and the lads were very keen to have her. She is the best sprinter of the year and she will go to Galileo.”