A pair of colts by champion Arrowfield Stud sire Redoute’s Choice starred on Day 1 of the Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling sale on Wednesday.

Strawberry Hill’s colt from former crack juvenile I Got Chills and Baramul Stud’s Miss Jakeo colt topped the leader board at $450,000.

Trainer Gai Waterhouse in partnership with bloodstock agent James Harron snapped up the Redoute’s Choice – I Got Chills colt.  The dam was a brilliant juvenile stakes winner for Lindsay Park trainer David Hayes.

“It is a most remarkable sale,” Waterhouse said moments after snapping up the star colt.  “The horses put themselves here – not the vendor.

“Every year I come here and look at the names on the barns and we have bought about a third of them.  There have been seven Flight Stakes fillies come out of this sale and the most we paid was $200,000.”

Later in the day the Redoute’s Choice – Miss Jakeo colt offered by Baramul Stud was purchased for Kevin Maloney’s Segenhoe Stud.  Originally passed in, the colt was sold not long after and he will carry the colours of recent Group winner Sister Madly.

All up on Day 1, $14.75 million changed hands on 124 yearlings who sold at an average price of almost $119,000 which was down slightly on last year’s figures.  The clearance rate of 75% was identical to the corresponding session last year.

“We’re pretty happy with how things are sitting after the first session,” Magic Millions Managing Director Vin Cox said.  “People have been telling us that many of the better horses are still to come over the next couple of days so the figures will hopefully rise.

“The average price is down about 5% but last year we had a top price on Day 1 of $850,000.”

“One of the pleasing aspects was seeing the opening session’s median price rise from $95,000 to $100,000.”

DAY 1 LEADER BOARD

$450,000 – Redoute’s Choice-I Got Chills colt
Vendor: Strawberry Hill Stud / Buyer: Gai Waterhouse & James Harron B’stock (NSW)

$450,000 – Redoute’s Choice-Miss Jakeo colt
Baramul Stud / Segenhoe Stud (NSW)

$350,000 – Exceed and Excel-Mirror Mirror colt
Strawberry Hill Stud / Hong Kong Jockey Club (HK)

$325,000 – Encosta de Lago-Maslins Beach colt
Glastonbury Farms (As Agent) / Hong Kong Jockey Club (HK)

$300,000 – Redoute’s Choice-Hustle Bustle colt
Arrowfield Stud (As Agent) / Gai Waterhouse & James Harron B’stock (NSW)

$300,000 – Redoute’s Choice-Inaflury colt
Baramul Stud / Paul McDonald (Qld)