Crocodile Dundee, the horse who put Lewes trainer Jamie Poulton on the map, has left Sussex to join trainer Luca Cumani in Newmarket.

The horse had Group Two success at Klampenborg in Denmark, was placed in the Goodwood Derby Trial and ran second to Moscow Ballet at Royal Ascot.

Poulton said: "During the past six months his owner, Ron Huggins, has had increasing offers.

"The horse was going to Hong Kong in May but the deal fell through and, as he continued to improve and perform well, so the price went up.

"Finally an offer came in that was too good to refuse from Richard Thompson and the owner was right to take it."

Thompson is from the family which races under the Cheveley Park Stud banner, and has been highly successful in the last few weeks.

Poulton said: "On a personal level, of course I'm disappointed to lose Crocodile Dundee. But on a business level I had to advise the owner to sell.

"The horse helped to put me on the map and, as a result, I am able to afford to build another ten boxes at my yard and Mr Huggins remains one of my loyal owners."

Top trainer Cumani paid Poulton a compliment when he said: "The horse arrived in smashing condition and I'm looking forward to training him."

Huggins, whose red and green colours have been carried to success at Royal Ascot and most of the top courses, said: "I kept turning down offers because I thought I would be lucky to find another one as good as Crocodile Dundee.

"But after he won in Denmark, Thompson came back again and, as we had run our group race and had so much fun, I said yes."

My guess is that the sum involved is not far short of seven figures, which for a horse that cost around £20,000, is good business. Huggins is planning to fill the empty box at Poulton's yard with another horse, perhaps a two-year-old from the Breeze-Up sales, or a yearling.

Huggins said: "Jamie has taken it very well and he will go on from this because he has confidence which has come from his successes this year with Crocodile Dundee and winning at Royal Ascot with Corrib Eclipse."

Huggins went on to praise the staff and facilities at White Cottage Stud. "The standard of care is second to none and it is no surprise that the horse brought praise from his new trainer for his condition."

Huggins has interests in several horses still at White Cottage Stables, although he sold Corrib Eclipse prior to the horse winning the Queen Alexandra stakes at Ascot.

Poulton said: "Since Crocodile has done so well I have had so many inquiries from potential owners. I'm putting up ten new boxes and I think they may be full by the winter.

"Corrib Eclipse runs in the Doncaster Cup next week and, if the going is good, he has a very good chance of winning. Johnny Egan will ride him as usual."

Corrib Eclipse has schooled so well over hurdles that a tilt at the Cheltenham Stayers Hurdle in March is on the programme.

Polton said: "He'll have just the one race over timber and then go to Cheltenham."

But while the national hunt meeting is a serious target, Poulton admits that his ambition is to win the Melbourne Cup in Australia.

"That is the dream. More than any other race in the world I would love to win the Melbourne Cup."

It would be ironic if Crocodile Dundee does just that next year, but that would only spur Poulton on to find a horse to win it for Ron Huggins.