They also show a different approach to breeding principles proferred by their respective purchasers, one from New Zealand and the other from the British Isles.

The saletopper the Danehill-Grand Echezeaux, by Zabeel colt, who cost New Zealand’s David Ellis group $1.1 milliion, is bred on an established Danehill—Zabeel stallion cross. He adheres to well defined and proven linebreeding patterns nowadays recognised in the southern hemisphere.

He’s bred in the typical Tesio linebreeding mould with key names duplicated through male and female strains in both parents.

The desirable forebears doubled up include Northern Dancer (twice) and the half sister Spring Adieu, the Hyperion clan, Cinna (three lines), the Goody Two Shoes (No 4 family) and Fair Trial. The pedigree appeals as being risk free.

A product from the Vella Brothers Pencarrow Stud, outside Hamilton, the Danehill colt hails from a wonderful female family, the dam winning the South Australian Oaks and was a half sister to Romanee Conti, who annexed the Hong Kong International before leaving the Caulfield and Melbourne cups’ winner Ethereal at stud.

The family was allied with and developed by the late Mr WR Stead from the Sasanof Stud at Hastings. The colt reads like an equine toff.

The second million dollar colt by Danehill-Push A Venture, by Shirley Heights, carries definitely contrasting bloodline patterns to the saletopper.

An Australian bred youngster, he was offered by the Curraghmore Stud from Hamilton and obviously attracted keen attention from the BBA Ireland representative Adrian Nicoll through his close relationship to the international star Rock Of Gibraltar.

On the track Rock Of Gibraltar (Danehill-Offshore Boom, by Be My Guest) won seven Group I events, his grandam Push A Button being a daughter of Push A Venture, who left the million dollar colt from Karaka.

Where linebreeding was concerned the Danehill—Push A Venture colt was rather lightly endowed in the first six removes. All he boasted were three Nearco all male presences.

When seven removes were called up five other doublings were seen. By then they were rather well back in the family tree.

The Nicoll choice had that wonderful Rock Of Gibraltar connection (with also a Riverman factor) in his dam but there was no complimentary matching presence in Danehill, who sired the colt.

Likewise the dam carried the great mare Lalun, but this wasn’t duplicated in Danehill. It may seem sacreligious but Danehill may not have been an ideal consort for Push A Venture.