A son of More Than Ready was the prized lot of the first of three sessions of the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale on Tuesday, attracting a final bid of A$380,000 from Hong Kong-based agent George Moore. The Attunga Stud offering was the highlight of a session that saw an average (A$59,041, +30.6%) and median (A$37,500, +25%) well up on last year, while the clearance rated dropped to a disappointing 67% from 82% on the same day last year.
“The competition on the quality lots was outstanding and as a result a number of good prices were attained, which has given us a very healthy average,” Magic Millions Managing Director Vin Cox summarized. “The clearance rate is a very disappointing 67%, which we will hope to improve tomorrow with the vendors being more realistic for their less-admired stock. We have worked hard to attract a large buying bench and we anticipate they will step into the market as opportunities arise.”
George Moore described the More Than Ready colt (lot 1927) as “the standout yearling of the sale.” He is out of Xandretta (Aus) (Flying Spur {Aus}), a winning half-sister to G1 Champagne S. winner Carry On Cutie (Aus) (More Than Ready), whose son The Mission (Aus) (Choisir {Aus}) collected that same race this season.
“He's by More Than Ready who is the sire of Eagle Way, a recent Group 3 winner in Hong Kong for the stable,” Moore said, referring to the barn of his father, trainer John Moore. “He comes with an outstanding page with the recent Group 1 winner The Mission in the second dam. The colt ticked all the boxes for what I was looking for.”
The session's highest-priced filly, a daughter of Fastnet Rock (Aus) (lot 2032) from Coolmore Australia, also has a Group 1 winner featuring in her family, being a half-sister to G1 Victoria Derby and G1 The BMW winner Fiveandahalfstar (Aus) (Hotel Grand {Aus}). The filly, at A$350,000, was one of two bought on the day by David Lucas on behalf of Dubai-based investment company Phoenix Thoroughbreds, which was busy also at last week's National Broodmare Sale. Lucas also signed for a Hinchinbrook (Aus) colt (lot 1922) for A$280,000.
Magic Millions owner Gerry Harvey's Baramul Stud sold a pair of yearlings for A$250,000 on Tuesday: lot 2026, a filly by More Than Ready to Matthew Dunn and Neil Jenkinson; and lot 1834, a colt by All Too Hard (Aus) to trainer Danny O'Brien. Both of those boast strong pedigrees, the More Than Ready filly being a granddaughter of dual Group 1 winner Fashions Afield (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}), also the dam of G2 Todman S. winner and young Aquis Farm sire Kiss And Make Up (Aus) (More Than Ready), and the All Too Hard colt being a half-brother to G1 Cox Plate winner and sire Savabeel (Aus) (Zabeel {NZ}).
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