A Fastnet Rock colt topped Day 2 of the Inglis Easter yearling sale in Sydney when selling for $4 million to Emirates Park Stud.

Offered by Cressfield Stud, the colt is from G1 Oakleigh Plate winner River Dove and was the subject of an intense bidding battle before Emirates Park had the final say over Coolmore Stud.  “I just loved the athleticism of him, the way he walked, he’s got the best temperament nothing upsets him,” Emirates Park CEO Trevor Lobb said.  “To us, he was the best colt in the sale and, if he can gallop, he’s a headline stallion.”

John Hawkes, who had tremendous success training for Woodlands Stud when Lobb was General Manager of the Ingham owned operation, will train the colt.  “It’s good to get the team going again,” Lobb said.  “Hopefully, we can have the success we used to have.”

The son of Fastnet Rock will be raced in partnership between Emirates Park owner Nasser Lootah and Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa.  The colt’s $4 million tag is the second-highest price paid for a yearling in Australia, only eclipsed by Black Caviar’s half-brother by Redoute’s Choice that sold on Tuesday for $5 million.

“To eclipse the old record twice in two days in a great thrill, but we are also stoked with the depth across all buying levels at the sale,” Inglis managing director Mark Webster said.  “That’s evidenced by the 18% increase in the median from last year.”

A total of 249 lots have been sold for gross receipts of $75.31 million during the first two days of the 2013 Inglis Easter Yearling.  The average price is up 36% to $302,450 and median up 18% to $200,000 at a clearance rate of 75%.

Coolmore Stud champion Fastnet Rock fronts the sires list by aggregate with 33 of his progeny changing hands for $21.24 million.  They’ve averaged $643,636 off a $137,500 (inc gst) service fee in 2010.

Fastnet Rock had three lots make six figures on Wednesday.  Besides the River Dove colt, Kia-Ora Stud’s filly from Mani Bhavan (Lot 194) sold to James Bester Bloodstock for $1,550,000 and Cressfield’s filly from Park Esteem (Lot 249) was bought by Peter Moody for $1,000,000.

Redoute’s Choice provided the other two top lots on Day 2.  Eliza Park’s colt from Black Caviar’s grand-dam Scandinavia (Lot 319) sold to James Bester for $1,200,000 and Cressfield’s filly from Star Satire (Lot 346) was bought by John Warren for $1,000,000.

Redoute’s Choice has sold 20 yearlings over the past two days for $13.10 million at an average of $655,250.

The third and final day of Session 1 at the 2013 Easter Sale continues on Thursday morning with Lots 381 to 422.  Later on Thursday, Session 2 will continue with Lots 423 to 569.