by Pete Denk

Two colts by Redoute’s Choice sold for a record $2,024,440 ($2.2-million Australian) on Thursday, the fourth day of the Conrad Jupiters Magic Millions yearling sale in Queensland, Australia.

Patinack Farm bought both of the Redoute’s Choice colts. Through four days of the eight-session sale, Patinack had purchased 59 horses for a sale record $17,802,000 ($18,855,000 Australian).

The auction’s previous record for an individual horse was $1,564,602 ($2-million Australian) for a Sadler’s Wells colt out of Australian Jockey Club Oaks (Aus-G1) winner Sunday Joy. Australian bookmaker Robbie Waterhouse purchased the colt at the 2007 Conrad Jupiters sale on behalf of his wife, trainer Gai Waterhouse, and a syndicate.

The first colt to breach the $2-million level this year was out of the Dance Floor mare Gypsy Dancer, dam of Australia’s champion two-year-old colt of 2004 Dance Hero.

“He's from a mare who's produced one of the best juveniles of modern time,” said Patinack’s Managing Director Roger Langley. “This colt is a cracking individual and has a real stallion's pedigree.”

Coolmore Stud consigned the colt, as agent.

“It's a great result,” said Coolmore Stud's Tom Magnier. “Deep down I was hoping for $2-million, but at a sale you never know. This is the first colt we've pin-hooked and it's been a great success.”

The second Redoute’s Choice colt was out of the stakes placed Last Tycoon (Ire) mare Lady Capel, dam of Australian Group 1 winner Casino Prince. Baramul Stud consigned.

Through four days, Magic Millions reported 686 horses sold for $99,310,309. Average price was $144,766, and the buy-back rate was 17.5%.

The sale resumes on Sunday, March 30, and runs through Tuesday, April 2. Magic Millions Managing Director David Chester said he was pleased with the first half of the sale.

“The quality yearlings were the subject of immense interest and sold accordingly,” Chester said. “We had a very strong local, interstate, and international buying bench on hand, and there was strong competition on a good majority of the offering.”

American pinhooker John Brocklebank bought five horses for a total of $957,000, including a Fastnet Rock colt out of Street Mate for $460,000. Brocklebank plans to resell the horses at the Australian two-year-old sales.

Pete Denk is sales editor of Thoroughbred Times