Unbeaten mare Feathard Lady, who was trained by Champion Hurdle-winning trainer Colm Murphy in Co Wexford, fetched 270,000 guineas at the Doncaster August Sales yesterday.
Bought by Howard Johnson for the Graham Wylie-owned Chesters Stud at Humshaugh, Hexham, the daughter of Accordion won seven successive starts before injury curtailed a highly-promising career.
Wylie said: "I bought her as a broodmare and, as horses like this don't come around very often, we're happy to get her.
"She'll be under Chester Stud and will be back home tonight and will hopefully have a nice life with us."
The seven-year-old signed off with a 12-length romp in the Grade One Christmas Hurdle at Sandown in December 2005.
Trainer Murphy had hoped to keep her in training for this year's Cheltenham Festival but a recurrence of a ligament injury led to her retirement in February.
Feathard Lady is in foal to Presenting, whose progeny include Cheltenham Gold Cup winner War Of Attrition, last season's leading staying novice chaser Denman and Grade One-winning hurdler Silverburn.
She also earned previous connections £112,697 in prize-money with two victories in bumpers and five triumphs over timber.
John Murphy expects a big run from Tuscan Evening in the Debutante Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday. "The plan is to run her on Sunday and the seven furlongs will be no problem," said the Co Cork handler.
