Racing's biggest transfers: the world-class racehorses who sold for millions

Lionel Messi confirmed his intentions to leave Barcelona earlier this week calling all the world's biggest football clubs to duty in a transfer war for one of the best of all time.

We look back at some of racing's big multi-million pound transfers between the powerhouses of the game.

Hurricane Run

Hurricane Run had always been held in high regard and quickly immersed himself at racing's elite level with a dominant win in Group 2 company on only his third start. But it was his neck second to Shamardal in the 2005 French Derby which had caught the eye of the Coolmore team.

It was reported he was valued at around £10 million when purchased from Gestut Ammerland and, almost a week after the transfer was confirmed in the press, he became a Classic winner, striking in the Irish Derby.

He was always kept in the care of Andre Fabre and continued to excel, recording a career-best to claim the Arc a few months later in impressive style. Hurricane Run continued to shine at Group 1 level the next year, with wins in the Tattersalls Gold Cup and the King George before retiring to stud at the end of the 2006 season.

Starspangledbanner

Starspangledbanner had emerged as one of Australia's leading sprinters after his win in the Oakleigh Plate and it is was reported Coolmore paid A$10 million – around £5.5 million at the time – for the son of Choisir.

Starspangledbanner: quality Australian import for the Coolmore teamCredit: Edward Whitaker

The expensive purchase was quickly rewarded with success in Group 1 sprints in the Golden Jubilee and July Cup and then a runner-up effort in the Nunthorpe.

He never quite reached that level in seven starts since but has enjoyed a successful career as a stallion producing classy sprinters The Wow Signal, Home Of The Brave and Anthem Alexander.

So You Think

Media in Australia reported that Coolmore paid in the region of A$60 million (£37.5 million) to purchase the electric five-time Group 1 winner So You Think, in a deal completed in November 2010.

He had already proved a sensation that season, winning the Cox Plate and Mackinnon Stakes before a fine third in the Melbourne Cup.

So You Think: at his best in the 2011 EclipseCredit: Caroline Norris

When he made his expensive switch to Ireland, he rewarded connections with five more top-level wins including dethroning Workforce in a memorable clash in the 2011 Eclipse.

He was retired to stud having won the Prince Of Wales's at the Royal meeting the following season.

Excelebration

Excelebration proved a horse of a lifetime for Marco Botti and Giuliano Manfredini, providing brilliant days with wins in the German 2,000 Guineas, Hungerford Stakes and Prix du Moulin in 2011.

But his big problem was Frankel, having finished second to him on three occasions and soon Coolmore swooped in to see whether Excelebration could dethrone the mighty miler. He had been bought for stallion rights in the summer before moving to Ballydoyle ahead of his four-year-old campaign in 2012.

Excelebration: a brilliant miler

Now with Aidan O'Brien, it remained the same with Excelebration finishing a five-length second in the Lockinge and then a runner-up once again in Frankel's famous Queen Anne demolition.

Bypassing Frankel, he went on to score at the top-level in the Prix Jacques le Marois and, with Frankel in the Champion Stakes, going one better in the QEII this time.

Dawn Approach

It was Dawn Approach's 2012 Coventry Stakes performance, beating subsequent Group 1 winner Olympic Glory, which propelled him into the top sphere and soon Godolphin stepped in to purchase him from trainer Jim Bolger.

Dawn Approach: a superb Guineas winnerCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

He would continue to shine in the Godolphin blue winning the National Stakes and the Dewhurst as a juvenile before a destructive five-length win in the 2,000 Guineas. He won the St James's Palace Stakes that season, holding off Toronado in a thrilling race.

That second Royal Ascot win would be Dawn Approach's last and he was retired at the end of the season, with his leading progeny Derby runner-up Madhmoon.

Treve

Treve established herself on the scene in explosive fashion in the 2013 Prix de Diane, storming to a four-length demolition in the French Oaks for trainer Criquette Head-Maarek.

It was a performance of a real superstar level and had attracted the attention of Sheikh Joaan Al Thani, who completed her purchase rumoured to be in the region of €8 million. She would later run under the Al Shaqab racing banner.

Treve: back-to-back winner of the ArcCredit: Edward Whitaker

That investment certainly paid off as Treve would go on to make history, becoming the first back-to-back Arc winner since Alleged in 1978.

She could only finish fourth to the brilliant Golden Horn in her attempt for the hat-trick in 2015 but had won five Group 1 races for her new owners and had put herself among France's most treasured racehorses.

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