Second Session of National Broodmare Sale Reveals Depth of Market

by Rob Burnet, Thoroughbrednews.com.au

The second day of the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale in Bundell Thursday saw solid results posted. After two days of selling, 350 horses have found new homes from 432 lots through the ring for an overall clearance rate of 81%. The gross stands at A$42,173,000, with an average of A$120,494–well above the last comparable sale average of A$71,749 in 2013. The 2014 sale figures were aided by the Teeley Assets dispersal. Thursday’s session also saw two seven-figure lots through the ring including the session-topping Newgate Farm-consigned Response (Aus) (Charge Forward {Aus}), who sold to representatives of Katsumi Yoshida of Northern Farm for A$1.5 million as lot 867. 
Vin Cox, Magic Millions managing director, was understandably pleased with the result of the session, as well as the overall strength of the sale. 

“It has been spectacular, the depth of the market is the most revealing thing to us,” Cox commented. “We were nervous about that lower and middle end area of the market and it has come out powering. The buying bench has been strong right through and to sit at a clearance of 81% we are delighted with the result.” 

Cox added, “Our prize money in jurisdictions like Queensland and NSW is on the up. The yearling sales all year starting with our January sales were up about 20% and that is what is driving this sale for obvious reasons. There is confidence going forward. We are breeding good horses, people can sell them for good money and that creates confidence in the market. If you can go into any market and you get what you hope for, or a bit more, then there is confidence and that is what this is driven by.” 

A Positive Response… 
The highlight of the session was the multiple Group-1 winning mare Response (lot 867), who was knocked down for A$1.5 million by representatives of Katsumi Yoshida, when joint venture partners Coolmore and China Horse Club declined to counter the bid. Response is by Arrowfield Stud’s sire Charge Forward out of the Match Winner (Fr) mare Live it Up, and she was presented in foal to another Arrowfield sire, Snitzel (Aus). With Arrowfield’s Jon Freyer bidding on behalf of Yoshida from the rear of the sale ring, and bloodstock agent Michael Wallace bidding on behalf of Coolmore/China Horse Club from the left of the rostrum, the stage was set for battle for this coveted lot. 

Bidding swiftly rose past the $1-million mark with bids coming from a number of areas of the ring and then Wallace bid $1.1 million. At $1.3 million the bid was with Arrowfield and then Wallace countered at $1.4 million. The sale ring was quiet as the parties considered their positions and after a lengthy period, the call came for $1.5 million from the rear of the ring. Immediately Wallace conferred with his associates and after a discussion he gave a quiet shake of the head. 

“She is a glorious mare,” said Arrowfield Stud’s Jon Freyer. “We thought she was an absolute queen. She’s in foal to Snitzel and she’s left a couple beautiful types already. She was exactly what we were after.” 

Freyer continued, “We bought her on behalf of Mr Yoshida of Northern Farm and he sells commercially. She is a magnificent individual and she has left good sorts so that is what it is all about. It has been a wonderful catalogue put together by Magic Millions and he [Yoshida] is normally very active at the sales down here. With some excellent lots on offer it has been very attractive and we have been working hard and not always getting what we wanted, but we have a couple of very nice ones so far.” 

Freyer said that they would see what Response’s Snitzel foal was like before making a 2015 mating recommendation, but it was likely she would go either back to Snitzel or to Redoute’s Choice (Aus). 

The first foal by Response, a colt by Fastnet Rock (Aus), was purchased by the China Horse Club for $1.05 million at the 2015 Magic Millions Yearling Sale in January. Her second foal is a colt by Exceed And Excel (Aus). 

Earlier on the day, the China Horse Club signed for lot 740, Lovetorn (Aus), by Giant’s Causeway out of the My Livermore mare Love All consigned by Glastonbury Farms. A six-time winner in America, Lovetorn was presented in foal to Frankel (GB) on Southern Hemisphere time. Initially passed in at A$550,000 she was signed for by Wallace after the mare left the ring. 

Commercial Flavor to Snitzel Mare… 
The second session of the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale was characterised by strong competition for the quality lots. A mare with a large amount of comercial backing was Vinery Stud’s Miss Fearless (Aus) (lot 777), who sold to Mystery Downs for A$290,000. The daughter of Snitzel (Aus) was out of the Zabeel mare Uneasy (NZ) and went through the ring in foal to young sire All Too Hard (Aus). 

Wandjina’s Book Taking Shape… 
The Gai Waterhouse-trained Group 1 hero Wandjina (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}) might be on his way to race at Royal Ascot, but his next career path is well mapped out and he will stand at Newgate Farm in the Hunter Valley upon retirement. Owners Dr. Edmund and Belinda Bateman have been staying busy acquiring mares for their stallion’s first book. One of those mares, from the consignment of Willow Park Stud, was secured during Thursday’s session, with bloodstock agent James Harron buying Nutkin (lot 816), by Candy Ride (Arg) out of the Devil’s Bag mare Enchanted Spell, for A$325,000 on their behalf. 

Nutkin did not race, but her siblings certainly did, with Enchanted Spell producing 10 foals with nine to race and eight winners. They include the Grade 1 winner El Brujo (Candy Ride {Arg}) and the stakes winner Galadriel (Ascot Knight), herself dam of Grade 2 winner and GISP Concave (Colonel John) and stakes winner Peisinoe (Yes It’s True). She was presented in foal to Snitzel and Harron had no hesitation in staying on the front foot to sign for her. 

“We are looking for some nice quality mares to suit him,” said Harron. “She is from a really good family, a speed family, she is a good looking mare and she already carries an early service to Snitzel, so very happy to get her. I think the American mares have proven themselves here, the Bateman’s sire Foxwedge (Aus) was out of an American mare. They have been so influential and a great speed influence which seems to cross really well and that is something we are keen to do.” 

Frankel a Factor for Sheikh Kalifa… 
The Frankel (GB) factor was in play when Rostova (Aus) (lot 882), entered the ring. The G1 SAJC Robert Sangster S. winning daughter of Testa Rossa (Aus), consigned by Newgate Farm, was carrying a service to the champion racehorse on Southern Hemisphere time. Out of Space Talk (Aus) (Anabaa), Rostova’s first foal, a filly by More Than Ready, is in training with Gai Waterhouse. Bidding commenced at A$300,000 and at A$850,000 it was Tim Stakemire, Australian Bloodstock Manager for Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa bin Saeed Al Maktoum, on the phone signing for her. 

“A quality mare and she proved it on the race track and I think she will prove it in the broodmare barn too,” said Stakemire. “She has a very nice More Than Ready with Gai [Waterhouse] at the moment who goes very well, so she is a lovely mare and we wanted her.” 

Added Stakemire, “A Frankel to come is a little jewel on top. She was a Group 1 winner and they do not come along every day and she has left some good progeny and she is in foal to Frankel, so very happy to have her.” 

Stakemire confirmed that Rostova will stay in Australia and join Sheikh Khalifa’s breeding program, which produced this season’s G1 Blue Diamond S. hero Pride Of Dubai (Street Cry {Ire}). 

Kia Ora Stud Plays for an ‘Angel’… 
Bloodstock agent James Bester waited awhile to bid for lot 909, Sistine Angel (Aus) (Testa Rossa {Aus}), but he silenced all comers with a single bid, securing the chestnut mare for A$700,000 on behalf of Kia Ora Stud. Presented by Newhaven Park in foal to Snitzel (Aus), the Group 2 winner earned a Group 1-placing in the wake of champion Black Caviar (Aus) (Bel Esprit {Aus}) in the G1 SAJC Robert Sangster S. during her racing career. 

Saving One of the Best For Last… 
The session was one lot from the end when Emirates Park Stud outbid China Horse Club for Newgate Farm’s Varenna Miss (Aus) (lot 966). By Redoute’s Choice (Aus), the G2 QTC Cup heroine, is out of Group 2 winner Mica’s Pride (Aus) (Bite the Bullet). Bidding commenced at $500,000 and quickly went upwards in $100,000 increments to $900,000, with Wallace for China Horse Club holding the bid. There was a pause but eventually another bid arrived to the tune of $1 million from Trevor Lobb, CEO of Emirates Park Stud, and Wallace walked away. 

Varenna Miss is a half-sister to the multiple Group 1 winner Criterion (NZ) (Sebring {Aus}), who is currently in England preparing for an assault on the 2400-meter G1 Prince Of Wales S. at Royal Ascot in June. Already the dam of two foals–a filly by Bernardini and a colt by Sebring (Aus), she is carrying to Pierro (Aus). 

“I think she was one of the nicest mares that we have seen for ages, she is just a lovely mare in foal to the right horse and we could not be more pleased to get her,” said Lobb. “She had enormous ability, a great family and a progressive family, and she is a half-sister to a champion and that is what it is all about.” 

When asked about plans for Criterion, Lobb replied, “We now want him [Criterion] to continue to go on overseas.” 

The third session of the select broodmare sale begins at 10 a.m. local time Friday and is followed by two supplementary sessions. For more information and full results go to www.magicmillions.com.au.