The last Easter Yearling Sale to be held at the historic Newmarket complex in Sydney has ended with a record number of million-dollar lots topped by A$2.5 million for a Redoute's Choice colt on the final day.
The half-brother to Blue Diamond Stakes runner-up Pariah was knocked down to Tim Stakemire on behalf of Dubai's Sheikh Khalifa.
A day after buying back into Pariah as a racing and breeding prospect, Arrowfield Stud sold the colt with chairman John Messara thrilled for his durable star stallion.
"I'm very pleased that Sheikh Khalifa has got this colt as he's been a great supporter of the stallion all the way through and let's hope he follows in the footsteps of his brother," Messara said.
"I was expecting a big price but didn't know what it would be. There were a lot of people interested in him and it's fitting, I think, that Redoute's should top the sale.
"I think this colt is a bit more mature, more forward at this stage than Pariah was."
The colt out of Secluded is the 73rd yearling by Redoute's Choice to sell for A$1 million or more at public auction. Arrowfield was the leading vendor at the sale, realising A$18.6 million from its draft.
The sale average of A$356,755 is the second-highest ever and a 25 per cent increase on last year.
"Easter has always been one of the world's top sales and it's never been more evident than this year," William Inglis and Son managing director Mark Webster said.
"With buyers from all around the world including Japan, North America, Hong Kong, China, New Zealand, South Africa, the Middle East and of course Australia, it's created an unbelievably strong marketplace and the results have been evident."
From next year, the Inglis sale will be conducted at the new state-of-the-art complex at Warwick Farm in Sydney's south-west.
KEY STATISTICS:
* 13 buying groups spent A$2 million or more at this year's sale
* Average of A$356,755 is second-highest Easter average ever.
* 17 yearlings sold for A$1 million or more, the third highest behind 2008 Easter (28) and 2007 Easter (23).
* Record prices have been set for the progeny of Medaglia d'Oro ($2.4m), I Am Invincible (A$1.6m), Sebring (A$1.4m), Not A Single Doubt (A$1.25m), Exceed And Excel (A$1.2m), Written Tycoon (A$1m), Zoustar (A$1m).
