Howard Johnson added another high-profile horse to his Crook string yesterday when leaving the Doncaster November Sales with Vodafone Derby fourth Percussionist.

The son of Sadler's Wells had been expected to top a quiet week at the sale, and the three-year-old did not disappoint, with auctioneer Henry Beeby bringing the hammer down at 340,000 guineas.

Bidding for the John Gosden-trained Lingfield Derby Trial winner got under way at 50,000gns, with Johnson stepping in at the 200,000gns mark and ending up in a head-to-head with a telephone client bidding via Harry Beeby.

Formerly owned by the Sangster family, Percussionist will now race in the colours of Graham Wylie, who already owns the likes of proven performers Inglis Drever and Royal Rosa.

''I looked at 1,000 horses at Newmarket Sales and none looked as good as this. He is lovely and has got everything,'' said Johnson.

''He was bought for Graham, but he couldn't make it here today. He told me to do what I needed to get him and left it to me.

''I will probably geld him and he will have a couple of hurdle races, although I won't overdo it with him this winter.

''He was bought mainly for the Flat and it would be lovely to run him at 'Royal' York next year. I have heard that Frankie Dettori thinks he could be a Cup horse, so the Gold Cup at York could be the big race for him.''

Meanwhile, connections of Lord Transcend are on the lookout for a jockey for the grey should he make his seasonal debut in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup on November 27.

Johnson is hoping to unleash his potential star, who won his only start over fences last term, in the Grade Three handicap, but needs a rider with stable jockey Graham Lee set to head to Newcastle the same day.

Lee will be aboard Inglis Drever, who will be having his first try over two miles in the Pertemps 'Fighting Fifth' Hurdle, leaving a plum spare ride on the Newbury challenger.

''''If I had six runners around the county with good chances, Graham would still ride 'The Drever'," said Johnson. "I don't know who will ride Lord Transcend.