For the first time this year, Sheikh Mohammed and Coolmore hooked up in a bidding battle for an outstanding looking son of Dynaformer at the 2007 Keeneland September yearling sale.
When the hammer fell, it was Sheikh Mohammed taking home the colt for $2.9 million.
Skeikh Mohammed and the team from Coolmore were both bidding from the back of the ring and were mere feet from each other as the price for the colt climbed.
"He comes from a proven sire and has a proven pedigree and was raised by one of the top farms (Claiborne) in this area," said John Ferguson, who signed the ticket on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed.
The buying team from Dubai is very familiar with this colt's pedigree. Ferguson went to $3-million to purchase this colt's half-brother by Storm Cat during the 2006 Keeneland September sale. 'We really liked the colt we bought last year and at the end of the day we are really pleased with the family," Ferguson said.
The dark bay or brown colt was bred in Kentucky by the Hancock family's Claiborne Farm and consigned to the sale by his breeders. Preach is the dam of grade I winner and Claiborne stallion Pulpit.
"He was just a really nice colt," said Claiborne's Dell Hancock of the $2.9 million colt. "He is a very good mover and he has a great head and he is from a wonderful pedigree."
Hancock said she did not know what price to expect entering the sale. "I really did not know what to think coming in because he is by Dynaformer and historically they do not sell great but (Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands, grade I) Barbaro proved he can get a great horse and he is the right type."
Earlier in the sale Ferguson went to $2.4 million for a son of A.P. Indy from the consignment of Lane's End, agent. The colt was produced from the French group I winning Storm Cat mare Denebola and was bred by Flaxman Holdings. He is from the family of French group I winner Coup De Genie and the late European group I winner and sire Machiavellian.
The son of A.P. Indy is expected to remain in the United States for his racing career.
Team Coolmore spent $2 million for a son of A. P. Indy from the consignment of Denali Stud, agent for Crystal Springs Farm.
The bay colt was produced from the grade I winning Blushing Groom mare Fire the Groom and is from the family of English group I winner and sire Stravinsky and European group winner Moscow Ballet.
O'Byrne, who signed the ticket for the boys from Ireland, said the colt is likely to remain in the United States for his racing career.
He was very good-looking and had a great pedigree," O'Byrne said while signing the sales ticket.
Coolmore also purchased a $1.6 million daughter of Seeking the Gold from the consignment of Eaton Sales, agent.
The filly, bred in Kentucky by Robert and Ben Sangster, is out of the Royal Academy mare Crystal Crossing and is a half-sister to English group I winner Rule of Law.
O'Byrne, who did his bidding from the back of the sales pavilion, said the filly is likely to race in Europe.
"She was a lovely looking filly who will have a lot of residual value as a broodmare," he said. "She has a great pedigree and was just outstanding looking."