Breeding giant Coolmore showed its support of its stallion Fastnet Rock by securing the top lot on the opening day of the Australian Easter Yearling Sale in Sydney which got off to a slower than hoped start.A colt by Fastnet Rock out of Listed winner Catreign fetched $1 million on Tuesday when knocked down to bloodstock agent James Bester on behalf of Coolmore.Earlier in the day, Edmund Bateman secured the first foal out of former outstanding juvenile Amelia's Dream for $910,000.Bester said he h

Breeding giant Coolmore showed its support of its stallion Fastnet Rock by securing the top lot on the opening day of the Australian Easter Yearling Sale in Sydney which got off to a slower than hoped start.

A colt by Fastnet Rock out of Listed winner Catreign fetched $1 million on Tuesday when knocked down to bloodstock agent James Bester on behalf of Coolmore.

Earlier in the day, Edmund Bateman secured the first foal out of former outstanding juvenile Amelia's Dream for $910,000.

Bester said he had eyes for the Fastnet Rock-Catreign colt for some time.

"He's the best Fastnet Rock here by a long way," Bester said.

"When I saw him at the farm, I suppose six months ago, I said at the time to his breeder he is the nicest Fastnet Rock foal I've ever seen in my life.

"We bought the best at Magic Millions, we bought the best at Melbourne (Inglis Premier Sale) and we bought the best here now."

Bateman, who has enjoyed racetrack success with the likes of Foxwedge, Satin Shoes and Ashokan in recent seasons, said the Encosta De Lago filly out of Amelia's Dream was his top target.

"I think she's a great filly," Bateman said.

"I think she's probably the best filly as presented in the sale."

Amelia's Dream, trained by Gai Waterhouse, was unbeaten in her only two starts including a 6-1/4-length romp in the Group Two Silver Slipper before injury forced a premature end to her racing career.

"We raced against Amelia's Dream (with Glowlamp) so I've looked at that race (Silver Slipper) a few times," Bateman said.

There were nine lots sold for more than $500,000 on the first day, including the first foal from dual Group One winner Gold Edition, with William Inglis and Son managing director Mark Webster saying he was optimistic about the next two days despite a slightly sluggish start.

"We are about 10 per cent down on average," he said.

"I thought it would be a bit stronger on day one but it was solid.

"There is a good spread of buyers.

"It's good to see Coolmore supporting their own stallions.

"There are a lot of positives to come out of the day."

The sale had a pleasing 74 per cent clearance rate with just over $27 million worth of horseflesh sold.

Most interest on Wednesday will be in the half-sister to champion mare Black Caviar which will be sold shortly after 11am.