A full brother to Secret Gesture has set a new European record for a yearling sold at auction with John Magnier paying 3.6 million guineas ($A6.49 million) at the Tattersalls sale.

The colt attracted an opening bid of 1 million guineas but it was Magnier who emerged on top after first David Redvers, then owner Sheikh Fahad Al Thani, tried to secure the son of Galileo.

"He has the pedigree, he ticks all the right boxes, he is by Galileo out of a Danehill mare - let's hope he has an engine," said MV Magnier, the Coolmore supremo's son.

"Galileo, of course, speaks for himself, but you'd never think you'd have to go that far."

River Dancer held the previous yearling record when he changed hands for 3.4 million guineas at Tattersalls in 2000.