Cheeky Choice, who is in foal to More Than Ready , brought Aust$1,025,000 ($868,103 in U.S. funds) to top the opening session of the Magic Millions national broodmare sale May 30 on Australia’s Gold Coast. Baramul Stud purchased the 7-year-old daughter of Redoute’s Choice from Bellagio Lodge, agent for Bellagio Lodge and Secret Hill Farms.
Cheeky Choice, whose dam is the Caerleon mare Christchurch, won the Equal Flight Stakes (Aust-I) and the Paul Newman’s Salad Dressings Tea Rose Stakes (Aust-II) in 2006.
The first session results included a gross of Aust$9,604,000 ($8,133,920) for the 184 horses that sold. The average price was Aust$52,196 ($44,206). Compared to last year, the gross was down 6.3% and the average declined 14.5%. The 2009 figures were boosted by the sale of Princess Coup for Aust$3 million.
The clearance rate was 85.6%, up from 77.1% last year.
"It was a solid day's selling at the Gold Coast," said Magic Millions managing director David Chester. "To have the clearance rate at (nearly) 86% is outstanding. A lot of other similar sales throughout Australasia this year have struggled with their clearance rates, so we're very happy so far.
"We've still got a long way to run yet over the next couple of days, but so far, so good. The quality fillies and mares offered today attracted strong interest, but across all levels there was some outstanding value on offer."