(Edited Magic Millions press release)
A Redoute's Choice colt that is a half-brother to Australian champion Hasna sold for Aust$925,000 ($848,937) during the Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling auction Jan. 9, becoming the most expensive horse offered during the sale’s first four sessions. His price topped the Aust$700,000 ($640,241) brought by an Encosta de Lago – Ha Ha filly in the Australian auction’s second session.
Lindsay Park bloodstock agent Mark Pilkington and Bill Vlahos of BC3 Australia purchased the bay colt from his breeder, Strawberry Hill Stud. The yearling is out of the 16-year-old winning Thirty Six Red mare They Say.
"I think most people on the grounds thought he was the best colt," Pilkingon said. "He has all the necessary athletic qualities and clearly the best pedigree in the book.”
The colt will be prepared for racing by the BC3 team prior to being sent to Lindsay Park trainer David Hayes.
"I wanted to become involved in a top juvenile prospect and have who I think is the country's best 2-year-old trainer to prepare him," Vlahos said. "I'm thrilled to be going into a joint partnership with such a great racing stable."
The gross for the first four sessions of the auction combined was Aust$66,640,500 ($61,160,700). The 515 yearlings that sold averaged Aust$129,399 ($118,759) and their median was Aust$95,000 ($87,188). The clearance rate was 81.6%.
"It's been a very successful sale," Magic Millions managing director David Chester. "The sale gross is up on last year with a stronger clearance rate. and the average is only a tick under last year's figure. All in all we're very pleased and I've spoken to many vendors and they seem pleased with their results."