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The top lot on the third day of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale was the progressive handicapper Salute The Soldier, a son of the Australian sire Sepoy.
He was knocked down to Oliver St Lawrence for 380,000 guineas, having won two of his last three starts for trainer Clive Cox and offered with a Timeform rating of 112.
St Lawrence secured the four-year-old on behalf of owner-trainer Fawzi Nass after seeing off Saudi Arabian owner Khalid bin Mishref.
"He goes on fast ground and should suit racing in the Middle East," said St Lawrence. "Fawzi will train, but I am not sure yet whether the horse will go to Bahrain or Dubai."
Despite being denied on the top lot, Khalid bin Mishref was the dominant buyer on the third day, buying two of the top four lots and finalising a private sale for Mekong.
With agent Paul Harley assisting him, he secured the Ed Vaughan trained Rock The Cradle for 200,000 guineas before he struck again two lots later for Dramatic Device from Chris Wall's Induna Stables for 220,000 guineas.
"They will both go well in Saudi," said Mishref. "I like both as individuals and I think they will go on the dirt surface in Saudi.
"I hope Rock The Cradle will run in the King's Cup and then go onto the Saudi Cup. My son will train."
The three-year-old Rock The Cradle (Dubawi) was purchased at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale for 25,000 guineas by agent Paul Moroney and was offered with a Timeform rating of 97 following on from his easy victory on his most recent start at Yarmouth.
Dramatic Verse also saw a dramatic increase in his price at Tattersalls, having been bought at the Tattersalls February Sale for just 20,000 guineas earlier this year by Durcan Bloodstock. Three consecutive victories on his most recent starts earned him a Timeform rating of 101 and a significant rise in his sale ring price.
Dual-purpose trainer Jedd O'Keeffe had to go to 210,000 guineas to secure the three-year-old colt Kiefer at the expense of underbidder Paul Moroney.
The winning son of Pour Moi and half-brother to G1 Melbourne Cup runner-up Bauer was consigned from Eve Johnson-Houghton's Woodway Stables on behalf of owners Aston House Stud. The colt, who is rated 97 by 'Timeform', was purchased on behalf Quantum.
"This is a lovely horse and came highly recommended," said O'Keeffe. "I am very lucky that Quantum are working with me, putting its trust in me and sending some lovely horses for me to train.
"Jonathan Ramsden is the brains behind the group - he finds the horses with the profiles that he is looking for and I check out the physicals here."
Mekong, the son of Frankel who was unsold in the ring on Day 2, has been sold to Khalid bin Mishref and Paul Harley Bloodstock after a private deal for 400,000 guineas.
The four-year-old was a winner on three occasions for trainer Sir Michael Stoute and owner/breeder Philip Newton and was offered with a 'Timeform' rating of 117.
