A cracking colt by red hot Coolmore Stud sire Fastnet Rock stole the show during a great day’s selling at today’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

After a few tense minutes it was renowned bloodstock agents James Bester and Demi O’Byrne who held the bid when auctioneer Steve Davis dropped his gavel at $960,000.

Competition for the colt, catalogued as lot 265, was strong with no fewer than three parties bidding $900,000 or more.

O’Byrne has already tasted great success with progeny of their red hot young stallion – having purchased Australia’s best filly Atlantic Jewel for $320,000 from the 2010 auction.

Coolmore’s Tom Magnier said he was delighted to be able to stunning colt, offered at the auction by Ian Smith’s Edinburgh Park.

“He is on fire at the moment,” Magnier said of Fastnet Rock.

“James (Bester) and Demi (O’Byrne) absolutely loved the horse and they were raving about him all week.”

“We are really trying to get the good Fastnet Rock colts. He has plenty of quality and we really wanted to buy him.”

“We knew there were plenty of people interested in him and we would have to do a bit of fighting to get him,” Magnier added.

The colt is from the lightly raced but exceptionally related Bite the Bullet mare Rose of Cimmaron.

Another highlight of the session was the sale of Strawberry Hill Stud’s More Than Ready filly from Sugar Babe for $600,000.

Gai Waterhouse and James Harron outlasted the Segenhoe Stud team to secure the star filly.

Some 11 yearlings sold for prices of $350,000 or more during today’s session where the yearlings averaged over $140,000.

Today’s healthy figures helped boost the sale gross to over $33.5 million for 262 lots sold at an average price of $127,977.

The current average price is up marginally on the figure after two sessions last year.

The clearance rate of 75 per cent yesterday has now soared to over 81 per cent for the sale.

“We couldn’t be much happier with today’s proceedings,” Magic Millions Managing Director Vin Cox said this evening.

“Competition was strong throughout the day and it was great to see some outstanding results for vendors from around the country.”

“To see the clearance rate at 81 per cent for the sale is terrific considering at the same stage of the sale last year we were hovering around 77 per cent.”

“We still have some terrific prospects to go under the hammer tomorrow and Saturday night so we’re hoping the good momentum will continue.”

A number of vendors reported great success stories today – with vendors from many states in the thick of the action.

Queensland’s Rosari Farm were delighted when their lovely Fastnet Rock filly from Quack was purchased by Bahen Bloodstock and Malua Racing for $460,000.

Widden Stud’s Antony Thompson was all smiles when that stud’s Sebring half brother to Absolut Glam sold to Gai Waterhouse and James Harron for $360,000.

And South Australia’s Mill Park was celebrating after three strong sales – their Choisir half sister to Captain Sonador ($350,000 to Belmont Bloodstock Agency), the Bernardini-Rock on Madonna colt ($360,000 to Hong Kong Jockey Club) and the New Approach-Sizzie ’em colt ($250,000 to Darley Australia).

The third session of the sale will be held from 11am (Qld time) tomorrow.

To view the current online results click here.

SESSION TWO TOP SELLERS

$960,000 – Fastnet Rock-Rose of Cimmaron colt
Vendor: Edinburgh Park / Buyer: Demi O’Byrne & James Bester B’stock (NSW)

$600,000 – More Than Ready-Sugar Babe filly
Strawberry Hill Stud / Gai Waterhouse & James Harron B’stock (NSW)

$470,000 – More Than Ready-Presenting colt
Baramul Stud / Segenhoe Stud (NSW)

$460,000 – Fastnet Rock-Quack filly
Rosari Farm / Bahen Bloodstock & Malua Racing (Vic)

$450,000 – Fastnet Rock-Satin Robes filly
Widden Stud (As Agent for MJ & SC Murdoch) / Boomer B’stock (Qld)

$420,000 – Shamardal-Starfish filly
Amarina Farm (As Agent) / Segenhoe Stud (NSW)

$420,000 – Northern Meteor-Tactfully colt
Attunga Stud (As Agent) / George Moore B’stock (HK)

$380,000 – Fastnet Rock-Sweet Ransom colt
Newhaven Park (As Agent) / Magic Millions as agent (Qld)

$360,000 – Bernardini-Rock on Madonna colt
Mill Park (As Agent) / Hong Kong Jockey Club (HK)

$360,000 – Sebring-Pine Away colt
Widden Stud (As Agent) / Gai Waterhouse & James Harron B’stock (NSW)

$350,000 – Choisir-Pushing Daisies filly
Mill Park (As Agent) / Belmont B’stock Agency (Vic)

SALE STATISTICS
(2011 S1-2 in brackets)

Lots Catalogued: 360 (385)
Sale Gross: $33,530,000 ($34,980,500)
Average Price: $127,977 ($127,202)
Median Price: $100,000 ($90,000)
Top Price: $960,000 ($850,000)
Lots Sold: 262 (275)
Lots Withdrawn: 35 (29)
Lots Passed In: 63 (81)
Sold %: 81 (77)

LEADING BUYERS
(ranked by total spend)

$3,222,500 – Gai Waterhouse & James Harron B’stock – 13 lots
$1,925,000 – Hong Kong Jockey Club – 7 lots
$1,540,000 – Segenhoe Stud – 4 lots
$1,530,000 – Star Thoroughbreds – 11 lots
$960,000 – James Bester B’stock & Demi O’Byrne – 1 lot

LEADING SIRES
(ranked by average – 3 or more sold)

$330,000 – Redoute’s Choice – 5 sold
$255,357 – Fastnet Rock – 14 sold
$200,909 – More Than Ready – 11 sold
$172,917 – Encosta de Lago – 12 sold
$166,250 – Shamardal – 4 sold