Kentucky-based Hill 'n' Dale Farms and Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings were active in Australia May 28 at the select session of the Magic Millions National broodmare sale, where 10 horses sold for seven figures.
All 10 were offered as part of the Muzaffar Yaseen's Teeley Assets Reduction, handled by John Messara's Arrowfield Stud, and included Coolmore's purchase of the day's highest-price mare, Monsoon Wedding. The full sister to Arrowfield elite sire Redoute's Choice was bought for $2.3 million ($2,121,818 in United States dollars).
Through bloodstock agent James Harron, John Sikura's Hill 'n' Dale bought two of the seven-figure horses, both close relatives of Redoute's Choice.
Yaseen bred Redoute's Choice, a multiple group I-winning son of Danehill who led Australia's general sire list in 2006 and 2010. Redoute's Choice is the sire of 115 stakes winners, and shuttles to France for the Northern Hemisphere season.
Yaseen's dispersal represented an opportunity to buy into that family and others rarely offered at public auction. A total of 57 fillies and mares offered in the dispersal grossed more than $23 million ($21,219,668) and averaged a stunning $404,000 ($372,708).
"It's an incredibly unique situation," Harron said of the dispersal. "One which may not come up again for decades to come.
"It can take breeders and investors a long, long time, a lifetime to find a family that actually works. So to be able to come here and buy the best ready-made family in Australia that keeps on producing year after year is extremely unique."
Hill 'n' Dale secured Taste of Heaven, the highest price of the pair at $1.5 million ($1,383,116) and the co-second highest price of the day. She is a half sister to Redoute's Choice.
By Encosta de Lago—Shantha's Choice, by Canny Lad, Taste of Heaven, who broke her maiden in January in her only win from three starts, is also a full sister to group I winner Manhattan Rain and a half sibling to group I winner Platinum Scissors. Shantha's Choice is a half sister to group I winners and sires Hurricane Sky and Umatilla.
Just three hip numbers earlier through the ring, Harron also signed the ticket for Drifting Cube, a $1.1 million ($1,014,745) acquisition for Hill 'n' Dale.
Placed twice in seven career starts, Drifting Cube is a full sister to 2014 Blue Diamond Prelude (Aus-III) winner Rubick. She is out of the Rock of Gibraltar mare Sliding Cube, a three-quarter sister to Redoute's Choice.
Barbara Banke's Kentucky-based Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings went to $900,000 ($830,318 in United States funds) to buy Australian group I winner Miracles Of Life, who will stay in training.
The daughter of Not A Single Doubt, who is a son of Redoute's Choice, won last year's Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes (Aus-I) as a 2-year-old and the Sportingbet Stakes (Aus-II) May 3 at Morphettville for Teeley Assets.
Andrew Bensley of Sky Racing said on Twitter that Miracles Of Life will be sent to trainer Peter Snowden, who will prepare her to race in Australia for her new owner.
Miracles Of Life has a 5-3-0 record from 12 career starts that also include a stakes victory in the Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Preview and a runner-up finish in the Champagne Stakes (Aus-III) last September at Moonee Valley. In two starts prior to winning the Sportingbet in May, she was twice placed in stakes, both at Morphettville, in March and April.
Miracles Of Life is only foal out of the unraced More Than Ready mare Dazzling Gazelle, who also was bought by Stonestreet for $400,000 ($368,716). The 8-year-old mare was offered in foal to Not A Single Doubt.
Coolmore's Tom Magnier signed the ticket on session topper Monsoon Wedding, one of two high profile mares he purchased on the day. He went to $1.4 million ($1,291,795) for the Stravinsky mare Estelle Collection, carrying a full sibling to Australian champion Lankan Rupee, a son Redoute's Choice. Lankan Rupee is currently the world's top-ranked sprinter.
"Both mares are outstanding prospects," Magnier said. "Both are proven producers and we look forward to them joining the Coolmore team."
"Monsoon Wedding is from that incredible family, while Estelle Collection is the dam of a champion and we hope she can produce another."
Monsoon Wedding is the dam of six winners from as many starters, including group III winner Precious Lorraine.
New Zealand-based bloodstock agent Dean Hawthorne went to the day's second highest price of $1.9 million ($1,752,774) to secure The Broken Shore, one of five daughters of Shantha's Choice offered. She was offered in foal to champion Pierro.
New South Wales-based Newgate Farm purchased three of the top 10 horses: Quench the Thirst (Aus$1,500,000), Precious Lorraine (Aus$1,500,000) as well as Your Life Style for $1,200,000 ($1,107,056).
Two others sold for Aus$1. 1 million: Unspoken Choice, a Giant's Causeway half sister to Redoute's Choice, bought by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum; and Rex is a Star, by Encosta de Lago--Sliding Cube, bought by Murray Anderson.
Overall, the select session saw $35.8 million ($33,020,649) change hands for 174 horses sold at a record average price of $205,810 ($189,831). The clearance rate was an exceptional 92%, up on last year's 85% at the corresponding session.
The Teeley dispersal help drive up total sales 111% on last year's opening day. The average soared 143% to $205,810 ($189,884).
"The story is in the numbers," Magic Millions managing director Vin Cox said at the end of the session. "From the moment you walked onto the grounds this morning you could sense we were in for something special and we weren't let down."
The Magic Millions National broodmare sale continues May 29 with the second session.
