EMIRATES COLT TOPS SELECT SALE

APRIL’08: A yearling from the 2008 Inglis Select Sale draft of Emirates Park topped Australia’s premier bloodstock auction when fetching $2.7 million on Day Three of proceedings.

A son of Redoute’s Choice from the Emirates Park-bred and -raced AJC Fernhill Stakes (G3) winner Salameh, the youngster was secured by international bloodstock agent John Ferguson on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum’s Darley operation.

Darley’s $2.7 million acquisition is the third foal of a Group 3 winning daughter of Secret Savings (USA) and half-sister to the stud’s exciting young sire Al Maher. Third-dam of the colt is the outstanding producer Dancing Show (USA), dam of Group 1 winners and successful sires Umatilla (NZ) and Hurricane Sky, as well as Shantha’s Choice, herself the dam of Group 1 winner and champion sire Redoute’s Choice.

The 2008 Inglis Select Yearling Sale proved to be a resounding success for the Emirates Park draft. In addition to selling the highest priced lot in the sale, the stud also sold a son of Encosta de Lago from My Juliet for $1.9 million to world renowned bloodstock agent Demi O’Byrne. A full-brother to the dual Group 1 winning racemare Mnemosyne, the colt is set to race in the Coolmore colours of Mrs Susan Magnier.

Emirates Park stalwart Secret Savings (USA) was also responsible for a high-priced lot when a colt from Fatoon was sold for $425,000 to West Australian interests. The youngster is only the first foal of a home-bred Group 2 winning full-sister to the stakes winners Adeewin and Jivago, and half-sister to dual Group 2 winner Mutawaajid.

Emirates Park finished the sale with eight lots sold for an aggregate of $5,640,000 and an average of $705,000. Only Tyreel Stud and Reavill Farm finished the three-day selling session with a superior average.