A $6 million day for Redoute’s Choice & son

The Inglis Australian Easter Sale began today with new milestones for champion sire Redoute’s Choice and his son Snitzel.

Pictured: The record-breaking $5 million Redoute’s Choice colt from Helsinge parades before the crowd in Sydney today. (PHOTO: Sportpix)

Thirty lots after Black Caviar’s half-brother by Redoute’s Choice was sold for a new Australasian record yearling price of $5 million, Snitzel posted his first million-dollar yearling.

The large crowd attracted to the Newmarket sale-ring by the Redoute’s Choice-Helsinge colt was not disappointed as bidding began at $2 million and progressed steadily towards the final price, paid by BC3 Thoroughbreds, which also purchased the full sister last year for $2.6 million. The vendor was Three Bridges Thoroughbreds as agent for the colt’s breeder Gilgai Farm.

This was the 61st seven-figure yearling by Redoute’s Choice since 2004, and gave him an early lead on the Sale’s leading sires table with 8 lots sold for an average of $995,000.

Arrowfield was the vendor of the striking son of Snitzel from the wonderful broodmare La Bamba (by Last Tycoon), dam of Group 1 winner Inspiration and stakeswinners Lucky Unicorn and Provence. The $1 million bidder was agent James Harron acting on behalf of owners Dr Edmund and Belinda Bateman. La Bamba, who has a weanling colt by Flying Spur, is a half-sister to Group 1 winners Festal and Masked Party.

Snitzel’s average for the Sale’s opening day was $351,667 for six lots sold, and Arrowfield ended the session with an average of $500,000 for 6 lots.

In all, there were four seven-figure sales on a day that showed marked improvement on the first day of the 2012 Easter Sale with an average of $305,945 ($212,605 last year).

Selling continues tomorrow and Thursday – view the Arrowfield and Bellerive drafts here .