The first filly out of champion mare Makybe Diva sold for $1.2 million on the first day of the Australian Easter Yearling Sales in Sydney on Tuesday but was surpassed as the day's top-lot by a Redoute's Choice colt.Last year's Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Mark Kavanagh purchased the Fusaichi Pegasus filly out of Makybe Diva before a Redoute's Choice colt out of Regrowth was knocked down to Kitchwin Hills Stud for $1.875 million later in the day.Mick Malone, stud manager for Kitchwin Hills, was

The first filly out of champion mare Makybe Diva sold for $1.2 million on the first day of the Australian Easter Yearling Sales in Sydney on Tuesday but was surpassed as the day's top-lot by a Redoute's Choice colt.

Last year's Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Mark Kavanagh purchased the Fusaichi Pegasus filly out of Makybe Diva before a Redoute's Choice colt out of Regrowth was knocked down to Kitchwin Hills Stud for $1.875 million later in the day.

Mick Malone, stud manager for Kitchwin Hills, was delighted they could secure him and said the price was getting close to their upper limits.

"I saw this colt not long after he was born and I've watched him develop throughout his life," Malone said.

"I must say for months now I've really been keen to put a team together and get him so we're very happy.

"I think if you want that type of colt with that type of pedigree you've got to pay for it."

Malone said Kitchwin Hills were putting together a team of clients to race the colt and expects him to be an early runner.

"He's just a star type," he said.

A trainer for the colt was yet to be decided.

Kavanagh, meanwhile, said Makybe Diva's daughter is a beautiful filly who he was determined to buy.

"At the end of the day she was as nice a filly as I have seen for a long time," Kavanagh said.

"I thought she was worth the risk."

Kavanagh said he bought the filly on behalf of some stable clients but said there were still shares available.

The filly is Makybe Diva's second foal.

A Galileo colt out of Makybe Diva sold for $1.5 million last year.

Inglis' managing director Mark Webster said it was fitting the filly was sold to Kavanagh, the most recent winning trainer of the Melbourne Cup.

Makybe Diva won three Melbourne Cups between 2003 and 2005.

"And it is fitting that she should be the first million dollar yearling of our 2010 sale," Webster said.