It is not often that a single horse sends a hush over the famous Newmarket sale-ring but it happened this afternoon when lot 277, the Casino Prince half-brother to world champion sprinter Black Caviar entered the ring for his breeder Ric Jamieson.

Much admired in the pre-sale inspections, the colt is a typical example of his sire. Good bodied, athletic and with a real touch of class about him so it came as no surprise to see the bay become the tussle between two champion trainers.

Consigned by Makybe on behalf of his breeder Ric Jamieson, the colt is from the first-crop of Group 1 winner Casino prince, whose offspring have created quite a stir at yearling sales this year.

Peter Moody, the man that puts the polish on Black Caviar, was obviously keen to secure the colt but even he had to give way to Team Hawkes, the hammer falling in favour of the Rosehill and Flemington-based training partnership comprising John Hawkes and sons Wayne and Michael at $1,025,000.

Team Hawkes train Black Caviar’s younger sibling Moshe and were clearly in awe of their new purchase. “He’s an outstanding colt, even without Black Caviar on the page,” Wayne Hawkes said on TVN. “We spell quite a few horses at Makybe and when we were down there about six weeks ago we saw the Easter yearlings and in the time since then this colt has jumped out of the ground and improved and improved. We are very happy though that we secured the best colt in the sale.””

“For Patinack Farm to play a part in the first yearling in Australian history, by a first-crop sire, to have made over $1million is a tremendous achievement,” said Patinack Farm’s Chairman Nathan Tinkler. “It really does speak volumes for the quality of mares Casino Prince has seen visit him in his first three seasons at stud. We are absolutely delighted with the result for both the owners and Makybe for presenting him so well.”

A Group 1 winning son of champion sire Flying Spur, Casino Prince has enjoyed a sensational start in the sale-ring with his first-crop yearlings. So far at major sales in Australia and New Zealand Casino Prince has now had offspring sell for $1.025 million, $340,000, $155,000, 105,000 and $90,000 twice and his 18 lots sold prior to the Easter sale were already averaging $74,278, an exceptional return on conception fee of $38,500 there seems little doubt that Casino Prince will find further favour with breeders.