$1 million colt leads Tattersalls

A full brother to Italian champion Central Park had brought the top price at the Tattersalls Houghton yearling sale in Newmarket, England, by late afternoon on Wednesday, first day of the two-day sale.

The colt, by In the Wings out of the Relkino mare Park Special, was purchased for $1,032,750 by Demi O'Byrne, the veterinarian who represents Coolmore Stud. The colt is a full brother to another stakes winner and a half-brother to stakes winner Velvet Moon.

Through the first 76 hips in the sale, the average price was $278,958, with 43 horses sold, according to Tattersalls's website. Last year, the average on the first day of the sale was $390,055.

Early in the session, a Sadler's Wells colt out of the Groom Dancer mare Groom Order sold for $918,000. The colt was purchased by John Ferguson, from the consignment of Ballygallon Stud in Ireland. Ferguson normally represents the Maktoum family's Godolphin Racing.