Rain Doesn't Spoil Magic Parade

Rain showers descended on Australia's Gold Coast early Tuesday, but that didn't stop shoppers from coming out in full force to inspect the more than 1000 yearlings on offer at this week's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. The Southern Hemisphere's curtain-opening auction kicks off Wednesday and runs through Tuesday with a dark day Monday.

Magic Millions Managing Director Vin Cox described the Gold Coast catalogue as “the best catalogue we've ever had,” last month, and Cox said yesterday feedback from potential buyers has mirrored that statement.

“We thought we had a very good catalogue coming in, both from a pedigree point of view and a physical point of view, and the buyers are telling us that, so we're very happy with what they're saying,” he said. “There is a good vibe around the grounds, so hopefully that translates into a nice sale.”

Bloodstock agent James Harron echoed that sentiment, and said there appeared a horse for every shoppers on the grounds.

“It's a really good group of horses,” he said. “There is a lot of variety; there is probably a horse here for everybody at all different levels.”

“The catalogue certainly reads better on paper [than in previous years] and there's a lot of good types here also,” Harron added. “There's good consistency throughout the catalogue and a good representation of stallions.”

The Gold Coast sale offers annually the first look at the stock of the country's first-season sires. Last year freshman Sepoy (Aus) (Elusive Quality) caused waves when represented by the sale-topping A$1.2 million colt as well as an A$850,000 filly, and other first-season sires last year to enjoy strong results included Smart Missile (Aus) and So You Think (NZ). This year's first-season sire crop includes highly anticipated racetrack rivals Pierro (Aus) (Lonhro {Aus}) and All Too Hard (Aus) (Casino Prince {Aus}), as well as GI Kentucky Derby and G1 Dubai World Cup winner Animal Kingdom (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}), and Harron said the first-crop sires were well represented at Magic Millions.

“I think the farms have done a good job in getting a nice bunch here, so you're getting a good handle on them as types,” he noted. “There are good numbers here of Pierros and All Too Hards; I think they've all got some nice horses. They've covered big books of mares, so you'd expect that.”

Sellers also expressed satisfaction with the action on the grounds this week. Widden Stud owner Antony Thompson said this week he's had the busiest inspections days he's ever seen.

“Monday and Saturday were I think the busiest days I've had at a sale,” he said. “We started parading at eight o'clock and didn't finish until after five, and we were flat out all day. They were very successful days so hopefully they all buy.”

“The horses arrived here on New Year's Eve and we started parading New Year's Day,” Thompson added. “We've been very busy right through; some of our best horses have had over 150 inspections now, so we're incredibly busy but it's great to see, and buyers from all around the world here, so we're excited.”

Widden offers 37 yearlings this week, and Thompson offered lot 216, the final lot through the ring Wednesday, as a highlight. A son of Widden's resident sire Sebring, who is represented by the likes of Australian Horse of the Year Dissident (Aus) and globetrotter Criterion (NZ), the bay is the second foal of the stakes-placed Fast Talker (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), whose Northern Meteor (Aus) colt sold to the China Horse Club for A$300,000 at Inglis Easter last year.

Chris Watson of Mill Park Stud, whose consignment last year included the aforementioned A$850,000 Sepoy filly and a A$575,000 Redoute's Choice colt of Danes On Waves (Aus) (Anabaa), said he expects a strong top end of the market.

“I think we'll have a much larger buying bench in the top end here; we have a lot more new people turning up, so hopefully there will be a good flow effect all the way through the sale,” he said. “I think it's pretty well on par with inspections from last year, but there's probably much more interest so we're very happy.”

Watson pointed to lot 139, a Street Cry (Ire) colt out of Dances On Waves, and lot 189, a Snitzel (Aus) filly out of Elusive Wonder (Aus) (Elusive Quality) as the likely highlights of his draft.

“We commenced inspections five days ago and there's been really good, steady interest in all our horses,” he noted. “We have a lovely bunch of horses here that will suit a wide range of people so we're very happy with what we have.”

Newgate Farm's Henry Field said he's expecting a “selective” market.

“I think the market will be relatively selective but the quality should sell very well,” he said. “Magic Millions have done a wonderful job bringing a lot of international buyers into town, so full credit to them–they've done a great job putting together a great catalogue of horses and a great catalogue of [buyers] as well.”

Field, whose sellers last year included the sale's A$1.05 million top-priced filly, said his draft this year is one of his best ever.

“Inspections have been up on the last couple years, but we also have what we think is our best draft, so we hope that would correlate,” he explained.

The first session of the Gold Coast yearling sale begins Wednesday at 10 a.m. local time.

First Gold Coast Visit For WinStar…

The U.S. has been well represented at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in recent years, and Americans have bought the top lots at this sale the last two years; Jon Kelly spent A$1 million on a Redoute's Choice colt in 2014, and Spendthrift bought a Sepoy colt for A$1.2 million last year. Another American superpower could join the buying ranks this year, with WinStar Farm's Elliott Walden in attendance at Magic Millions for the first time.

Walden noted the visit is a continuation of WinStar's forays into foreign markets, which also includes yearlings bought at last year's JRHA sale in Japan.

“A lot of good horses come out of this sale,” Walden explained of his reason for making the journey. “Over the past year we've entered into some global-type situations, with going to Japan and buying some yearlings, and we're just looking to see what we can come up with.”

WinStar already owns a piece of one horse in training Down Under. Taj Mahal (Aus), a 2-year-old colt by WinStar's resident sire and successful shuttler More Than Ready, was placed on debut Nov. 28 for trainers Peter and Paul Snowden, and is owned in partnership with the likes of Newgate Farm, Stonestreet and the China Horse Club. WinStar is also a part owner of 3-year-old colt Super One (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}), who has won his last three starts in Singapore including the Listed Gold Horseshoe in May.

Another high-profile visitor making a return to Magic Millions is Shadwell's Angus Gold, and Magic Millions Managing Director Vin Cox said the presence of such shoppers is a tribute to the catalogue.

“We're thrilled to bits to have people of that caliber on our grounds,” he said. “It shows they respect our catalogue to be here. Whether they find the horse they want to buy remains to be seen, but it's great having them here nonetheless. We're looking forward to hosting everyone here for the next few days; it's going to be a fun week and the million dollar raceday on Saturday will be extra special.”

Walden said he thinks there is a lot to like about the Australian industry.

“It's a very healthy market,” he said. “It ties in well with what we do, and I love the fact that there's a lot of people that enjoy racing in the country. There's a focus on it here in the mainstream media so that's very intriguing.”

And could we see the WinStar silks on Australia's racetracks in the future?

“We'll see,” Walden said. “We're here to have a look around.”