Sir Alex Ferguson smashes his own world-record with £660,000 purchase of superstar horse Regent’s Stroll

SIR Alex Ferguson has smashed his own world-record – with the eye-popping £660,000 purchase of an unbeaten horse who could be racing’s next superstar.

The Manchester United legend and a group of close pals were the bidders for Regent’s Stroll at the Goffs sale in Doncaster today.

The Times

Sir Alex, middle, and friends Ged Mason, left, and John Hales, right, won the world-record bidding war[/caption]

Sir Alex and Co had previously set the record for the most expensive jumps horse ever sold at public auction when buying Caldwell Potter for £633,000 in February.

But he and friends have gone even higher this time to buy the unbeaten five-year-old, who is 2-2 in bumpers.

Regent’s Stroll now holds the record as the most expensive jumps horse ever sold at public auction – despite never jumping an obstacle in public!

The five-year-old gelding, who is related to former Gold Cup winner Denman, won at Ascot bumper last November before thrashing rivals in a Newbury bumper when last seen in March.

After that most recent victory, Nicholls’ assistant Charlie Davies purred: “You couldn’t be more impressed with that.”

Bloodstock agent Tom Malone and legendary trainer Paul Nicholls were doing the bidding on behalf of Sir Alex and his mates.

Sir Alex has struck up a close friendship with multi-millionaire businessman Ged Mason and fluffy toy entrepreneur John Hales.

They joined Sir Alex in stumping up the cash – as did new co-owners Neil and Alfie Smith.

Nicholls said the fierce bidding war – which started at £400,000 and was going up in increments of £20,000 at points – was the most nervous he had ever been.

Regent’s Stroll – who is now 40-1 with Coral to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup by 2028 – had previously been owned by Chris Giles.

But he shocked the sport by saying he was quitting and putting 11 of his horses in training up for sale.

Among them is former Cheltenham Festival winner Stay Away Fay, who was also sold to Malone and Nicholls for £325,000.

Nicholls, one of the stars of new ITV docu-series Champions: Full Gallop, and his buying partner Malone spent a combined £1.5million on just six horses at the auction.

That also included splashing £200,000 on former Scottish Champion Hurdle winner Rubaud.

Sir Alex certainly has some money to throw around given the success of his horses in recent months.

He and two other mates pocketed £1.5m thanks to the victories of Flat horse Spirit Dancer in November last year and February this year.

The Richard Fahey-trained runner was even entered in the world’s richest race – the Saudi Cup worth £2.7m to the winner – but finished 11th of 12.

And he had a day to remember at Cheltenham Festival back in March with Monmiral and Protektorat winning successive races on the third day.

Victories in the Pertemps and Ryanair were worth a combined £275,000 – and sparked brilliant scenes of celebration in the winner’s enclosure.

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