SOUL OF SPORT: Inside the pageantry and parades at Newmarket’s famous Tattersalls auction as buyers eye up future champions. ANDY HOOPER captures the sales as the hammer comes down

The morning bell was rung at Newmarket, signalling the beginning of sales that enticed a who’s who of the racing world

Buyers carefully studied data on the horses before deciding whether to bid, their focus on snapping up future champions

A chestnut colt by Frankel, out of the mara Bahia Breeze, is adorned with the number 255 during the October Yearling Sale

Michael Owen, who owns his own stables, cast his eye over several horses before sales began, pondering over potential buys

Spectators took a break from proceedings with the business of bidding progressing at a rapid pace at the infamous auction

Trainer David O’Loughlin took a moment to study a horse alongside Lady Carolyn Warren from the Highclere Stud

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (right), Vice President of the United Arab Emirates, was present for the sale

Auctioneers brought the hammer down on numerous sales with countless ‘guineas’ splashed out by a host of bidders

Horses were led around a ring and showcased to potential buyers before the numbers began to turn over at a ferocious speed

Former jockey Willie Carson (second from left) watched on at the pre-parade ring as several horses were led past him

Some spectators opted to take a quiet moment to themselves outside the auction to escape the hustle, bustle and the noise

Buyer Paul Shanahan (centre) of Coolmore Stud, one of the world’s largest breeding operations, was present at the auction 

Buyers often took the chance to head outside and look at horses, taking note of the data before making their decisions

Sales were also held outside with the outside auctioneer often finding themselves at the heart of the real action

A horse is silhouetted in the sun in the parade ring as potential bidders watched on and pondered over putting down money

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, also Ruler of Dubai, was also spotted watching the horses in the pre-parade ring

Buyers studied the exact numbers of the horses up for auction, helping them to make informed choices during the sales

The numbers for lot 237 are displayed on a screen inside the auction ring with an auctioneer taking buyers through the drama

Alan Brazil, a renowned horse racing fanatic, also attended the sales and continues to keep a keen eye on the sport

Auctioneer John O’Kelly is pictured in the flow of the action on what ultimately proved to be a hectic day for all involved