Gold Coast Gears Up For National Sale

Magic Millions's marathon National Sale Series kicks off on the Gold Coast on Sunday, with 10 days of selling scheduled at the Bundall complex. The two-day weanling sale gets the ball rolling Sunday, with 400 youngsters slated to go under the hammer through the end of trade Monday.

Last year's Gold Coast weanling sale saw vibrant trade, with the A$60,038 average up 38% from 2014, and the broodmare sale performed admirably coming off the Teeley dispersal the year before. This year's catalogue boasts the pages to match any, highlighted by siblings to five Group 1 winners in the weanling catalogue; seven Group 1-winning mares in the broodmare catalogue and 37 total group winners.

Speaking from Magic Millions's Gold Coast base Friday, Magic Millions Managing Director Vin Cox said action on the grounds was beginning to build two days before the sale's start.

“It's quite early days, we don't start until Sunday and its Friday morning here now, but having said that all the weanlings are here and a very good percentage of the mares have arrived,” he noted. “The people that are looking are the serious participants, and there are a lot more people coming in today, so it'll just keep ramping up from here.”

The weanling sale should start with a bang, with the first youngster through the ring (lot 1), a Sebring (Aus) colt from the Bell View Park dispersal, expected to draw plenty of attention. The colt's page highlights the growing international nature of the Australian market; he is out of Ma Famille (Maria's Mon), a U.S.-bred unraced daughter of Family (Danzig), herself a full-sister to Danehill and the dam of Dundonnell (First Defence), a stakes winner in the UK and Hong Kong.

Cox identified the increased internationalization of the National Sale as “the most pleasing aspect” of this sale in recent years.

“We have players coming in from all sections of the world,” he said. “We have two days of weanlings and three days of select mares and another two days of select yearlings. It's been a phenomenal rise of this sale. It wasn't that long ago that it was grossing around A$30 million, and last year we grossed something like A$70 or A$80 million. So its been a big rise and it's fantastic that its on the international radar as one of the top breeding stock sales in the world.”

Those five siblings to Group 1 winners catalogued for the weanling sale include a Smart Missile (Aus) half-brother to this year's G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Extreme Choice (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}) (lot 288), who is part of the dispersal of Bell River Thoroughbreds. His dam, Extremely (Aus) (Hussonet), was sold by the same dispersal for A$735,000 at the Inglis Broodmare Sale earlier this month. Smart Missile is also represented by lot 37, a half-brother to three stakes winners including G1 Queen of the Turf S. scorer Amanpour (Aus) (Northern Meteor {Aus}).

Snitzel (Aus) enjoyed a stellar year at the yearling sales, and he is represented by a select group of nine here, including lot 282, a filly out of Emilydelago (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}) and therefore a half-sister to listed-placed Zellindi (Aus) (Bel Esprit {Aus}). The ever-popular Fastnet Rock (Aus) has 10 catalogued, including lot 230, a filly who is the second foal out of South African Group 1 winner Chocolicious (SAf) (Kahal {GB}), whose first foal, a filly by Frankel (GB), cost Shadwell A$610,000 at Inglis Easter.

The weanling sale includes the progeny of 16 first-season sires, including Camelot (GB), Dawn Approach (Ire), Declaration Of War, Dundeel (NZ), Fiorente (Ire), Shamus Award (Aus), Sizzling (Aus), The Factor, Zoustar (Aus) and Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Unencumbered (Aus). The latter is represented by lot 144, a half-brother to G1 Tattersalls Tiara winner Pear Tart (Aus) (Dehere). Six-time Group 1 winner Dundeel's first crop includes lot 213, a half-brother to G3 CS Hayes S. winner Tivaci (Aus) (High Chaparral {Ire}), whose dam is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Allez Wonder (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}). American shuttler The Factor is represented by some standout pedigrees, including lot 289, a filly out of a half-sister to Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Mirror Mirror (Aus) (Dehere), who produced this year's Gold Coast yearling sale-topping A$1.6-million Snitzel colt. Cox Plate/Australian Guineas winner Shamus Award (Aus) has eight catalogued including lot 342, a colt out of winning half-sister to Grade I winner Kicken Kris (Kris S).

The Magic Millions National Weanling Sale has also become a proven source for pinhooking prospects, with purchases from last year's sale realizing an average 89% increase in sale price at this year's Gold Coast yearling sale.

“Unlike the North American market or the European market, our weanling markets have been in relative infancy,” Cox explained. “It has become more sophisticated over recent years, where breeders see it as a viable option to sell entire drafts or their better stock. It is developing year-on-year and as a result the good stock that comes through these days, people are realizing good profits. It's a great opportunity for breeders to sell early, and for [pinhookers] to get in and test their skill.”

The weanling sale is followed by four days of broodmare sales: Book 1 June 1 to 3, and Book 2 June 5. There are seven Group 1 winners catalogued, including maiden mares Bounding (Aus) (Lonhro {Aus}) (lot 611) and May's Dream (Aus) (New Approach {Ire}) (lot 505), while last year's G1 Champagne S. winner Peggy Jean (Aus) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) is offered in foal to former champion first-season sire I Am Invincible (Aus) (lot 756). Ten Group 2 winners are also on offer, including the maidens Bring Me The Maid (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}) (lot 612), Fontiton (Aus) (Turffontein {Aus}) (lot 643) and Perignon (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}) (lot 525), as well as the likes of Chinchilla Rose (Aus) (Lion Hunter {Aus}) in foal to Pierro (Aus) (lot 1027). There are many siblings to Group 1 winners catalogued as well as two proven Group 1 producers, including Grand Strategy (Aus) (Strategic {Aus}), the dam of this year's G1 Galaxy H. winner Griante (Aus) (Good Journey {Aus}). Grand Strategy is offered in foal to the first crop of Brazen Beau (Aus).

The Australian yearling sale market enjoyed strength this year that was unprecedented anywhere on the global stage, and Cox expressed confidence that strength would trickle down to the National Sale.

“It has to, really,” he said. “The obvious horses at any sale will sell extremely well. Our job is to make sure the rest of the horses sell very well, and that's that middle to lower part of the market that we want to solidify, and ensure everyone has a good experience and a good sale here at Magic Millions.”

The Magic Millions National weanling and broodmare sales are followed by the two-day National Yearling Sale June 7 and 8, and the series concludes with the National Racehorse Sale June 9.