Global racing and breeding giant Coolmore has moved quickly to buy Golden Slipper favourite Storm Boy – the horse that was previously paraded in front of patrons at a pub – in a potential $50 million deal.

Magic Millions hero Storm Boy, which burst to victory in the Gold Coast sprint, had his stallion future secured when Coolmore announced the sale on Wednesday night.

The deal means Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott’s outstanding colt is the first of the two-year-old crop to be snapped up by the big breeders – still with more than six weeks until the $5 million Golden Slipper.

The final sale price could reach $50 million if Storm Boy triggers kickers by winning the two-year-old triple crown in Sydney.

“We are extremely excited to secure Storm Boy with a great group of clients and friends from all over the world,” Coolmore Australia boss Tom Magnier said.

“His performance in the Magic Millions had to be seen to be believed. He had to do the work at both ends and broke his opponents’ hearts in a similar way to what [his sire] Justify himself did in his own racing career.

“We have had a close eye on this colt since his first trial and he has raised the bar each time he has been seen in public.”

Storm Boy is a $3 Golden Slipper favourite and the pick of Waterhouse and Bott’s awesome two-year-old arsenal, which boasts four of the top six in Golden Slipper betting.

Waterhouse was so keen to entice owners into Storm Boy before he started racing, she paraded him in front of patrons in the beer garden at Penrith’s Log Cabin hotel last month.