Sangster horses boost auction

The continuing dispersal of the late Robert Sangster's Swettenham Stud provided Tuesday's highlight at the Magic Millions National weanling auction on Australia's Gold Coast.

Swettenham's colt by Redoute's Choice out of the Dayjur mare Twist My Heart brought the day's highest price of about $671,229.

Blue Sky Thoroughbreds of Queensland purchased the colt, who is a three-quarter- brother to two-time Australia Group 1 winner and champion juvenile filly Fashions Afield.

Swettenham Stud sold 39 horses at Tuesday's first of three weanling sessions, for an average price of about $152,120. Overall, the session sold 150 weanlings for about $9,911,075, resulting in an average price of approximately $66,073.

Compared year to year in Australian currency, the gross was down 7 percent from the 2007 session when 215 horses sold. But the average price climbed 34 percent. The buy-back rate was 16 percent, up from 10 percent.