A half-sister to Black Caviar has stolen the show at the second session of the Australian Easter Yearling Sale in Sydney, selling for $2.6 million.
The daughter of Redoute’s Choice was knocked down to BC3 Thoroughbreds and will be trained in Melbourne by Danny O’Brien.
Bidding on the filly was spirited, opening at $1 million and jumping to $1.5 million before increasing in $100,000 increments.
Bill Vlahos, chief executive of BC3, admitted to a few nerves during the auction but said the price was what he expected.
“At two-and-a-half million I got a little bit wobbly,” Vlahos said.
“We pretty much stuck to our price. We think she’s worth exactly what we paid for her. Too much more and it might not be us owning her.”
O’Brien was delighted to secure her, describing the chance to be involved with such a family as unique.
“It’s very rare a horse like this is offered for auction,” O’Brien said.
“Fillies like this would generally be retained by breeders, anyone lucky enough to breed a filly like this would be very loath to sell it.
“It was really a once in a generation chance to buy a filly like this. Not only obviously the pedigree but she was an outstanding individual herself.”
The $2.6 million yearling is out of Helsinge who has already produced champion Black Caviar and exciting colt All Too Hard, who will chase a Group One win in the Sires’ Produce Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.
The price smashed the top seller on day one, a Fastnet Rock colt sold to bloodstock agent James Bester on behalf of Coolmore Stud for $1 million.
