Sir Alex Ferguson breaks his own world record with £660,000 purchase of unbeaten horse Regent's Stroll

Former Man United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has broken his own world record with his involvement in the £660,000 purchase of an unbeaten horse that is being tipped to be racing's next big star.

The Old Trafford icon and some of his close friends bid on Regent's Stroll at the Goffs Sale in Doncaster on Monday.

Sir Alex previously helped set the record for the most expensive jumps horse ever sold at public auction when Caldwell Potter was bought for £633,000 in February. 

And he and his friends went one further as they splashed out on Regent's Stroll, who is 2-2 in bumpers.

The horse, who is a relative of former Gold Cup winner Denman, has never actually jumped an obstacle in public.

He won at Ascot bumper last November before dominating  in a Newbury bumper in his last outing back in March.

Pauk Nicholls' assistant Charlie Davies said after that race that 'you couldn't be more impressed with that.'

Bloodstock agent Tom Malone and legendary trainer Nicholls were the men placing the bids on behalf of Sir Alex and co at the auction.

Multi-millionaire businessman Ged Mason and toy entrepreneur John Hales were also involved financially, as were 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.