Akshar, a winner of five races and third in the Gr.3 Strensall Stakes, was eventually knocked down to Bobby O’Ryan after some fierce bidding. The four-year-old colt by Danehill, out of the Kahyasi mare Akilara, will now be trained by Dermot Weld with a future hurdling career in mind.

The remainder of the Aga Khan draft also attracted plenty of attention, with Timmy Hyde paying 150,000 guineas for dual winner Hasanpour, and Mark Johnston going to 140,000 guineas for Rayshan, a Stakes placed son of Darshaan and Rayseka. Akhtari, a recent winner of his only start, was sold to Margaret O’Toole for 120,000 guineas.

Masani, last year’s sale topper at 250,000 guineas, subsequently finished third in the Hong Kong Derby in March.