The two-day Magic Millions National Yearling Sale got underway on the Gold Coast on Tuesday, with figures well-up on last year's renewal. The number of horses catalogued was up (230 versus 211), and so was the clearance rate, which finished at 82% compared to 69% last year, with 169 yearlings sold for A$7,638,000, more than double last year's session one gross of A$3,235,000 for 133 sold. The averaged soared 85.8% to A$45,195. A total of 21 yearlings sold for six-figures on the day.
“We have already sold more six-figure yearlings than we did for the whole sale in 2015,” Magic Millions Managing Director Vin Cox said. “Competition was very strong right throughout the day as evidenced with a clearance rate over 82%. If you cast your eyes through the results it is as diverse a buying bench as you would see.”
Taking top billing on Tuesday was lot 1522, a well-related daughter of Snitzel (Aus). Consigned by Cressfield Stud, the bay is out of the Group 3-winning Miss Judgement (Aus) (Strategic {Aus}), herself a half-sister to G1 Oakleigh Plate winner Mrs Onassis (Aus) (General Nediym {Aus}). Miss Judgement has produced four winners from four to race, including Missrock (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), the winner of the G3 Percy Sykes S. at Randwick Apr. 9. The filly's third dam, Lady Jakeo (Aus) (Last Tycoon {Ire}), won the G1 Australia S. and G1 Blue Diamond S. The successful bidder was Raheen Stud's Basil Nolan.
“She's a beautiful, loose-walking filly,” Nolan said. “And she's by one of the hottest sires in the land. Her half-sister [Cartier Rock] sold for A$440,000 at the Broodmare Sale last week so she looked pretty good value on the market. And Missrock is one of the highest-rated juveniles in the country as well.”
The first yearlings by All Too Hard (Aus) have found favour at the sales this year, and that trend continued on Tuesday when the Vinery resident was responsible for the second- and third-highest priced lots, both siblings to group winners.
Lot 1684, a colt consigned by New Zealand's Henley Park, will remain in Queensland after being bought by Helen Page for A$200,000. The bay is a half-brother to G2 Theo Marks S. winner Riva De Lago (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}), and his third dam produced the G1 VRC Sires' Produce S. winner Not Related (Aus) (Family Ties {Aus}). Page noted that she normally spreads her risk across a few yearlings, but she decided to go all in on the one she loved on Tuesday.
“He's just a beautiful type,” she said. “Usually I buy a few yearlings for cheaper amounts but I decided to really go for this bloke, who I loved. He's very strong and should be an early runner. He really caught my eye and was my pick of the sale.”
Lot 1541, another colt by All Too Hard, is bound for New Zealand after being bought by Joan Thoroughbreds from Vieira Group for A$180,000. His dam, Ocean Bridge, has produced two stakes winners from five to race: the G2 Tea Rose S. winner Longport (Aus) by All Too Hard's sire Casino Prince (Aus); and the Breeders' Plate winner Run For Wilson (Aus) (Shamardal).
A quartet of yearlings hit the A$150,000 mark on Tuesday. The first through the ring was lot 1555, a Fastnet Rock (Aus) filly who is the first foal out of G1 Tattersalls Tiara S. winner Pear Tart (Aus) (Dehere). She was purchased by Kendrick Racing. Lot 1615, a half-sister to a pair of stakes winners, is from the first crop of Pierro (Aus) and was bought by Blue Sky Bloodstock, while Singapore-based trainer Stephen Gray picked up a Sebring (Aus) colt (lot 1632). Finally, Portelli Racing went to A$150,000 for a colt by this year's leading active sire Not A Single Doubt (Aus) (lot 1717).
The final session of the National Yearling Sale takes place on Wednesday, followed by the National Racehorse Sale on Thursday.
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