A pair of fillies by elite sire Redoute’s Choice, including one that sold for $1,672,924 ($1.8-million Australian), brought the two highest prices on Sunday during the first of four select sessions at the William Inglis and Son Australian Easter yearling sale at Newmarket.

The sales company reported 94 of 111 horses offered as sold for total receipts of $30,024,350 ($32,305,000 Australian). The average price of $319,407 ($343,670) represented a 3.5% increase compared with last year’s overall average. The buy-back rate was 14.4%

Inglis Managing Director Mark Webster was pleased with the economic indicators on opening day.

“The diversity in the buying bench was one of the most pleasing aspects of the session,” Webster said. “We have worked very hard to attract both domestic and international buyers to the sale, and I think this is reflected in the clearance rate being almost 85%.

“It’s been a great start to the sale, and I’m looking forward to it continuing over the next three sessions with a great number of outstanding yearlings still to come.”

Newcastle trainer Kris Lees signed the ticket for the highest-priced filly on behalf of owner Ron Croghan.

Consigned by Reavill Farm, the athletic-looking bay filly is the second foal out of the Woodman mare Coliape, a half sister to multiple Group 1 winner Lotteria and Group 1-placed winner Rose of Sharon. 

The other Redoute’s Choice filly sold for the day’s second-highest price of $1,022,342 ($1.1-million Australian) to New South Wales owner David Fuller. Consigned by Arrowfield Stud, the bay filly is the second foal out of the unraced Zabeel mare Castellina, a half sister to Group 1 winner Dantelah and three stakes-placed winners.

Trainer John Hawkes paid $743,522 ($800,000 Australian) for a bay Fastnet Rock colt, the session’s highest-priced colt.

Offered by Highgrove Stud, the colt is the second foal out of Group 3-placed stakes winner Fragmentation, by Snippets, and hails from the family of multiple group winner De Lago Mist.

The second session begins Monday at 11 a.m.

For hip-by-hip results, click here.