A Redoute's Choice colt, who is a half brother to three-time group I winner More Joyous (by More Than Ready), became the top-priced horse sold so far during the Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling sale when he brought Aust$1.15 million during the auction’s third session Jan. 14 in Australia.
Trainer Peter Moody purchased the bay yearling from Strawberry Hill Stud. On the sale’s opening day, Moody bought an Aust$850,000 Redoute’s Choice colt that topped the session. The colt is a full brother to group I winner Stratum, and is the second-highest-priced yearling sold so far during the auction.
"I've been able to buy the two nicest colts of the sale, so I'm very happy," Moody said. "I probably spent a fraction more than I wanted for them, but that's what you have to do to buy the nicest horses."
Moody said a group of stable clients would own the Aust$1.15-million yearling.
"He's a really lovely colt, this bloke,” Moody said. “He's got a top pedigree and I was impressed when I first saw him."
“He is a big, strong, running sort of horse and I would be surprised if he didn't run as a 2-year-old."
The yearling is out of the Sunday Silence mare Sunday Joy, who captured the 2003 AJC Oaks (Aust-I).
The results for the sale’s first three sessions combined included a gross of Aust$52,551,000 ($52,372,900) for the 420 yearlings that have been sold. The average is Aust$125,621 ($125,195), and the median is Aust$90,000 ($89,695). The clearance rate is 80%.
"The strong selling continued in good style again today," Magic Millions managing director Stephen Silk said. "One of the most pleasing things is to see the overall clearance rate pass 80%; this is most pleasing for our vendors and also our buyers.
"It was also great to see the million-dollar barrier broken today with the sale of the Redoute's Choice-- Sunday Joy colt. Peter Moody is one of the country's leading trainers and we look forward to following his (the colt’s) progress when he hits the track."