Magnus, who brought a record final bid of $470,235 at the Goffs France mixed sale on Thursday in Saint-Cloud will continue his career for David Johnson. Martin Pipe purchased Magnus, who is the most expensive steeplechaser ever sold at public auction, but declined to reveal for whom he was bidding at the sale. Consigned by Naji Pharaon, Magnus is out of the Neustrien mare Volcania.

The five-year-old gelding by Italian Group 1 winner Roakarad has won his last three starts.

"They tell me he's one of the best jumpers to come out of France for years," Johnson told the English Press Association. "He was expensive but that's the way it goes."

Magnus is a half brother to stakes winner Cosmographe, who finished third in the 1999 Gran Criterium de Saint-Cloud (Fr-G1). He has won ten of 28 career starts, including a pair of steeplechase stakes, for $339,053 in earnings.

Goffs reported sales on 102 horses during the session for a total of $2,096,847, an average of $20,557.