A Redoute’s Choice –Bal Des Sirenes colt was the top seller Jan. 8 during the second session of the Conrad Jupiters Magic Millions yearling auction on Australia’s Gold Coast. He brought Aust$620,000 (approximately $446,549 in U.S. funds) from trainer Kris Lees, who purchased the colt from Amarina Farm, which was the agent for his Victoria-based breeder, Wood Nook Farm.
"He's a very athletic colt," Lees said. "He's got a real chance. We had his three-quarter brother (Britt's Best), and he was a very underrated horse. I don't think it was a lot of money to buy him. He's an exciting prospect."
The cumulative figures for the sale through the first two sessions were 274 horses sold, a gross of Aust$37,716,000 ($27,164,572) and an average price of Aust$137,650 ($99,141). All were down from 2008’s first two sessions, which generated a gross of Aust$43,020,000 from the 286 yearlings that sold. The average was Aust$150,420.
This year’s clearance rate was 78%.