A Deep Impact colt out of the 2011 champion New Zealand three-year-old filly King's Rose topped the yearling session of the JRHA Select Sale in Hokkaido, Japan.
Consigned by Northern Farm, the brother to group three Epson Cup (1800m) winner and multiple Group placed Satono Arthur was bought by Masahiro Noda's Danox Ltd for ¥250 million ($3.37m) on Monday.
"He is a very nice individual," Noda said. "I thought he would be less than US$2m, but today's market is very strong, and I was determined to go for more."
King's Rose won six races in New Zealand, including the group one New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) for Jason Bridgman, before transferring to Peter Moody in Melbourne.
Bred and raced by Hong Kong-based Gene Tsoi, King's Rose is a daughter of Redoute's Choice.