The number of horses sold was down but the average price was up after the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sales kicked off at Newmarket.

Almost $32 million was spent across 128 horses on Tuesday with 76 percent of horses sold.

That is down from the 2010 clearance rate of 83 percent however the average sale of $248,906 is significantly above the $220,686 from last year.

The most expensive horse went to Rosehill trainer Gerald Ryan who shelled out $1 million for the three-quarter sister to his former top horse Rothesay.

Agents working for Chantilly Bloodstock in France picked up a Redoute’s Choice filly out of Group 1 winner Special Harmony for $850,000.

The yearling is a half sister to stakes winner Little Surfer Girl which is trained by Chris Waller.

A colt by High Chaparral went for $750,000 to international Bloodstock agent Anton Koolan , the same sire of Dual Cox Plate winner and current top rated horse So You Think.

Belmont Bloodstock based in Victoria also spent three-quarters of a million for a daughter of More Than Ready out of True Blonde.

Shadwell Stud owned by Sheik Hamdan spent $700,000 for the brother of Light Brigade, a very expensive purchase but one yet to make any real impact.

The next chance for Light Brigade isn’t far off though with a start in the Group 1 AJC Australian Derby this Saturday at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney.