Racehorse sculpture could fetch £300k at auction

The sculpture was designed for tabletop display

An auctioneer said a sculpture of "one of the most iconic racehorses in British sporting history" was expected to fetch up to £300,000.

Thoroughbred Brown Jack had six consecutive victories at Ascot between 1929 and 1934.

The tabletop bronze model is one of just five horse sculptures created by Suffolk-born artist Sir Alfred Munnings, who trained at the Norwich School of Art.

The 54cm-high (21in) item was brought to auctioneer Christie's by the Munnings Art Museum in Dedham, Essex and is due to go under the hammer in London on 2 July.

Sir Alfred was born at Mendham Mill in Suffolk in 1878 and became known as one of Britain's greatest equestrian painters.

Sir Alfred Munnings was knighted by George VI in 1944

Scarlett Walsh, a sculpture specialist at Christie's, said the art was a rare collectors' piece.

"Executed with anatomical precision and deep personal affection, the work stands as a powerful tribute to one of the most iconic racehorses in British sporting history," she said.

"It is a masterpiece of equine portraiture and a lasting testament to the artist's lifelong devotion to the subject he loved most."

The upcoming auction would not be the first time a piece by Sir Alfred sold for big money.

The Red Prince Mare, a painting of a 1921 racing scene, sold in New York in 2004 for almost $8m (£5m at the time).

A painting of a day at Newmarket races fetched £482,500 in May 2013.

The following year, a painting of a horse fair sold for £182,500.