Kitchwin Hills hit the headlines again on Day 2 of the Inglis Easter yearling sale on Wednesday when its much-admired Redoute’s Choice – Asian Reef colt sold for $1.20 million.

Leading bloodstock agent James Bester secured colt who is a half-brother to G1 winner Bon Hoffa and G2 winner Before Too Long.  Bester remained tight-lipped as to the identity of his client shortly after signing the sale sheet.

“Kitchwin Hills are fabulous operators and the colt has had a great start in life,” Bester said.  “He has an incredible floating action in front and is as complete a colt as I have seen.”

The Redoute’s Choice colt was the first million-dollar yearling sold by Kitchwin Hills.  It was a role reversal for the Scone nursery after stud manager Mick Malone paid $1,875,000 for a Redoute’s Choice colt on Day 1 at the Easter yearling sale.

Kitchwin  Hills stands leading second-season sire Dane Shadow and has just announced the arrival of G1 winner Duporth (Red Ransom) for stud duty in 2010.

Turnover at the end of trade on Day 2 broke through the $60 million barrier.  The average of $222,408 was achieved on a 75% clearance rate.  Inglis Managing Director Mark Webster is hopeful of reaching the 80% mark when the sale concludes on Thursday.

“There’s a lot of buyers on the list that haven’t unloaded yet and I would like to think they will spend that money and not go home empty-handed,” Webster said.  “We are seeing a few studs buying and that’s a reflection that they see an opportunity to buy into these nice horses at a time when the market is a little soft.

“In saying that, the sale is still averaging beyond the $220,000 mark, which is very much the top of the tree for yearling sales in this part of the world.”