Resolute Racing's John Stewart, best-known in Australia for the horse he didn't buy, made a splash on the opening day of the Goffs Orby Sale in Ireland.
The big-spending American, who underbid Winx's $10 million daughter by Pierro at the 2024 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, was ringside when he paid €675,000 (A$1.2 million) for a Blue Point half-brother to Group 2 winner Bay City Roller.
The top-priced yearling on the opening day of the Book 1 session, the Stewart-purchased colt is from the same family as Coolmore's champion three-year-old Magical, fellow Group 1 winner Rhododendron and Auguste Rodin, who is shuttling to New Zealand's Windsor Park Stud this year.
“It’s a really good pedigree, the dam’s record is only going to improve,” said Stewart, whose four purchases on the opening day are likely to be trained by Francis Graffard in France.
“We’re really high on Blue Point as a sire, he rates very highly on our system. He was one of the top colts we had for today and so we’re excited to get him."
The second highest-priced yearling, a Wootton Bassett half-sister to Group winner Trinity College from the family of Whirl, sold for €625,000 (A$1.11 million) to the bid of David Redvers on behalf of a syndicate who will race the horse in France.
The session generated €26.218 million (A$46.63 million) in turnover, up 3 per cent on last year while the average (€131,752) and median (€100,000) were up 10 and 25 per cent respectively.