A flashy colt by Stratum (Aus) out of Delaware stakes winner New Edition (Stormy Atlantic) (lot 1648) is set to join the training ranks in Hong Kong after being secured by agent George Moore for A$225,000 to top the opening session of the three-day Magic Millions National Yearling Sale Tuesday.
The session witnessed a very selective market, with 31% of the offerings failing to find homes. A total of 133 lots changed hands for A$3,235,000, compared to 132 sold for A$4,991,000 during this session a year ago. The average dropped 35.6% to A$24,323, and the median was A$15,000.
“As predicted being an end-of-season sale, the market is very selective,” Magic Millions Managing Director Vin Cox said. “As always quality is attracting strong interest with competitive bidding all around. We have two more days of yearlings and there's no better place to be now than in the glorious weather of the Gold Coast.”
The session-topping colt, consigned by Yarraman Park Stud, hails from the family of stakes winners Halory Hunter (Jade Hunter), Van Nistelrooy (Storm Cat) and Brushed Halory (Broad Brush), and this year's GII Risen Star S. and GII Louisiana Derby winner International Star (Fusaichi Pegasus). New Edition was purchased by Vin Cox Bloodstock for $140,000 at Keeneland January in 2011 and expatriated to Australia.
“We've had a lot of luck in the past with progeny by Stratum,” George Moore said. “He was the nicest type at the sale today. He's a cracking individual and we choose our horses completely on type. He moves so well and has great drive from behind. He is from a nice international listed-winning mare and I'm delighted to be able to buy the colt.”
I Am Invincible (Aus) was Australia's leading first-season sire last year, and currently sits second to Medaglia d'Oro on the country's second-crop sire list. His progeny proved popular yesterday, notching the second- and third-highest prices. First through the ring was lot 1699, a colt from the Heinrich Bloodstock dispersal through Eliza Park International. He was picked up by Laurel Oak Bloodstock for A$160,000. A colt out of Pure Pleasure (Aus) (Foreplay {Aus}) (lot 1702), a half-sister to two stakes winners, later fetched A$130,000 from Singapore's Nova Racing.
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