Record price for half-brother to Black Caviar

A new Australasian record price for a yearling was set in Sydney on Tuesday when Black Caviar’s half-brother was sold for $5 million at the 2013 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale .

Bidding on the star Redoute’s Choice colt opened at $2 million, before quickly jumping up in half-million increments to $4 million.  Three different parties then traded $100,000 bids up to the final price of $5 million.

Offered by Three Bridges Thoroughbreds on behalf of breeder Rick Jamieson’s Gilgai Farm, the colt was bought by BC3 Thoroughbreds, which had purchased his sister Belle Couture for $2.60 million at the Easter Sale twelve months ago.

“We think Belle Couture won’t let the family down so we decided to have a look at this colt,” said BC3 Chairman Bill Vlahos.  “We had a bit of inside knowledge when John Brockleback came back and said the colt is the best yearling he has ever seen.

The Helsinge colt will now go back to BC3’s property in Victoria, where he will be spelled before being put through the BC3 breaking and pre-training regime.  “He’s one of the most outstanding looking yearlings you are ever going to see,” said BC3’s Simon Marshall.  “He’s very typical of the family, in that he has plenty of growing to do.  He’s going to put his hand up when he’s fully matured.”

BC3 advised there will be an opportunity for people to get involved in the colt, with a few small 5% shares available to select clients.  “We still need to talk to (breeder) Rick Jamieson about retaining an interest,” Vlahos added.  “As a stallion prospect we’d like to keep it manageable to 10 or 12 owners.”