Sunday Silence Colt Sets Easter Sale Record In Australia

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A Sunday Silence colt set the Australian Easter yearling alight during the the second session Wednesday, fetching a sale record price of Aus$1.7 million ($1,056,414).

Shigeyuki Okada, owner of Japan's Big Red Farm, outlasted two other major bidders to win the colt.

The colt's dam is Phantom Creek, an English-bred daughter of Mr. Prospector from the Northern Dancer mare Danseur Fabuleux and bred by Sheikh Mohammed. She didn't quite match her siblings, Arazi and Noverre. After two unplaced attempts in her homeland, she won over 1,200 meters at Nad Al Sheba.

Phantom Creek was part of a small Arrowfield group mated with Sunday Silence on Southern Hemisphere time at Shadai. The colt was consigned by Arrowfield in partnership with the Australian division of the Gainsborough Farms of Sheikh Maktoum al Maktoum.

The colt is going to Japan to race.

Shigeyuki Okada is a well-known buyer at Keeneland, going to $500,000 for a Skip Away colt two years ago. In 2001, he also paid $500,000 for a son of Marscay at the Easter sale. Named Cosmo Marscay, he has won once from 14 starts in Japan to date.

Okada headed the group to buy Kotashaan for a Japan Cup (Jpn-I) tilt 10 years ago, but the son of Darshaan was beaten by Legacy World in Tokyo.

The previous record was Aus$1.5 million.

In all, 67 yearlings were sold Tuesday for a gross of Aus$9,885,000 ($6,142,737) and an average of Aus$147,537 ($91,682). The results for first two sessions combined were 216 sold for a gross of Aus$29,023,000 ($18,035,473) and an average of Aus$134,366 ($83,498).

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