Deep bench drives more records

4 min read

A deep and diverse buying bench, in-demand young sires and a Redoute's Choice revival continued to drive Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale to record levels on day two as another five lots made one million dollars.

Nine yearlings have now reached the magical seven-figure mark, matching the total number from last year's sale, as year-on-year comparisons for the average price of a yearling made a marked increase.

Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch said day two totals of $251,578, up nearly ten per cent, and a total spend of $103,650,000, up more than 13 per cent, "steadied the ship" after a record-breaking day one.

"The most pleasing thing is the amount of bidders on these horses," he said. "They are not going in with one or two bidders on them. A lot of these horses are having four or five people bid on them, and that's driving them to a high level, especially when you get north of $300,000.

"The most pleasing thing is the amount of bidders on these horses." - Barry Bowditch

The leading buyers after day two were China Horse Club (12 lots at an average of $443,333), Guy Mulcaster and Chris Waller (11 at $410,909) and Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott (12 at $295,833) but nine buyers have spent more than $2m.

There is huge depth to the market. There are a lot of people trying to participate and I would like to think there is a lot of money still out there," Bowditch said. "The colt fund money is significant, people looking to buy colts that they hope can go to the racetrack and become their next stallion."

"The colt fund money is significant, people looking to buy colts that they hope can go to the racetrack and become their next stallion." - Barry Bowditch

Bowditch was not surprised to see sires like Snitzel (21 lots at $399,048), I Am Invincible (37 at $424,730), Zoustar (21 at $373,810) and Written Tycoon (26 at $259,615) in demand.

"These are the horses that are hitting the board on the racetrack and the market is responding, accepting these sires and paying premium money for these horses. Due to the fact we have big numbers from those right horses, I think the appeal and the hunger for those sires is feeding off each other in the market. One makes money, and they move on to the next one and have a go at that. There is a huge appetite for these horses."

The surprise for many though is the late-career rally of a stallion Bowditch called "the king", Redoute's Choice.

The three-time champion sire produced the highest priced lot of the second straight day when James Harron Bloodstock paid $1.4m for a colt out of Breakfast In Bed (Hussonet {USA}).

Lot 417 Redoute's Choice x Breakfast In Bed

That was the second seven-figure lot for Redoute's Choice on day two, coming after James Moore and Summit Racing Australia went to $1,075.000 for a colt out of Aware (Tale Of The Cat {USA}).

Redoute's Choice had the $1.6m sales topper on day one and now has averaged $674,500 for his ten lots.

"He has come right back to the fore this year. There are some quality, blue chip colts on offer," Bowditch said. "He is having a great year on the racetrack and he probably has the best colt in Australia in The Autumn Sun. He is the king, he is a champion sire's son, and then you have the likes of his sons like Sntizel. He has a lot of appeal in the market."

"He is the king, he is a champion sire's son, and then you have the likes of his sons like Sntizel. He has a lot of appeal in the market." - Barry Bowditch

Even with the top end of the market so strong, a slightly softer median meant there is value to be had at the lower end of the market.

"There are a few cracks in the market and the guys that are out there doing the work and buying very well," Bowditch said. "There are people coming up to me and saying, "I can't believe I was able to buy this."

"People who do the work are able to buy a horse for the right money and the vendors are willing to meet the market. From the auctioneers perspective there is good bidding on all of these horses which is pleasing."

Highlights after Day 2

Top 20 Lots

34Redoutes Choice (AUS)Purely Spectacular (NZ)C$1,600,000Phoenix TBreds (II) Ltd/Aquis Farms Pty LtdQLDBhima Thoroughbreds, Scone, NSW
417Redoutes Choice (AUS)Breakfast in Bed (AUS)C$1,400,000James Harron BloodstockNSWSegenhoe Stud Australia Pty Ltd, Scone, NSW
204I Am Invincible (AUS)Tai Tai Tess (AUS)C$1,300,000Waller Racing/Mulcaster BloodstockNSWYarraman Park Stud, Scone, NSW
446I Am Invincible (AUS)Champagne Cath (AUS)C$1,100,000Waller Racing/Mulcaster BloodstockNSWNewgate Farm, Scone, NSW
379Fastnet Rock (AUS)Ballet Suite (AUS)C$1,100,000Jon Kelly/Reg Inglis/Jamie McCalmontUSACoolmore Stud, Jerrys Plains, NSW
374Redoutes Choice (AUS)Aware (AUS)C$1,075,000James Moore/Summit Racing AustraliaNSWNewhaven Park, Boorowa, NSW
320Zoustar (AUS)Acouplamas (AUS)C$1,075,000Yu Long Investments Pty Ltd/RIFA MustangCHINAKBL Thoroughbreds, Beaudesert, Qld
72I Am Invincible (AUS)Rose of Choice (AUS)F$1,000,000Yu Long Investments Pty LtdCHINAYarraman Park Stud, Scone, NSW
10Medaglia dOro (USA)Peggy Jean (AUS)C$1,000,000Asian Bloodstock Services LtdHONG KONGWidden Stud, Widden Valley, NSW
117Zoustar (AUS)Shakeira (USA)C$900,000Spendthrift Australia Pty LtdVICWidden Stud, Widden Valley, NSW
518I Am Invincible (AUS)Devoirs (AUS)C$900,000China Horse Club/Newgate Bstock/StonestreetNSWYarraman Park Stud, Scone, NSW
388Savabeel (AUS)Bayrock (AUS)F$825,000Shadwell Stud Australasia LtdVICKitchwin Hills, Scone, NSW
215Hinchinbrook (AUS)Tetsuko (AUS)F$800,000Jon Kelly/Reg Inglis/Jamie McCalmontUSAYarraman Park Stud, Scone, NSW
447Redoutes Choice (AUS)Champagne Run (USA)F$800,000Paul Moroney Bstock/Go Bloodstock AustraliaNSWArrowfield Stud, Scone, NSW
67Sebring (AUS)Risk Aversion (AUS)C$800,000China Horse Club/Newgate Bstock/StonestreetNSWElement Hill, Innisplain, Qld
530Written Tycoon (AUS)Doubtfilly (AUS)C$750,000Jadeskye Racing/Brad Widdup RacingNSWNewhaven Park, Boorowa, NSW
290Fastnet Rock (AUS)Wiener (AUS)C$725,000Aquis Farms Pty LtdQLDKitchwin Hills, Scone, NSW
440Zoustar (AUS)Canyonville (NZ)C$700,000China Horse Club/Newgate BloodstockNSWCoolmore Stud, Jerrys Plains, NSW
20Snitzel (AUS)Politeness (AUS)C$700,000Katsumi YoshidaJAPANArrowfield Stud, Scone, NSW
143Fastnet Rock (AUS)Smokin Alice (USA)C$680,000China Horse Club/Newgate BloodstockNSWEdinburgh Park, Wingham, NSW

Top 20 Buyers by Total

China Horse Club/Newgate Bloodstock12$443,333$5,320,000
Waller Racing/Mulcaster Bloodstock11$410,909$4,520,000
Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Racing12$295,833$3,550,000
James Harron Bloodstock5$700,000$3,500,000
Jon Kelly/Reg Inglis/Jamie McCalmont5$616,000$3,080,000
Aquis Farms Pty Ltd6$504,167$3,025,000
Ciaron Maher Bloodstock Pty Ltd12$251,667$3,020,000
Phoenix T'Breds (II) Ltd/Aquis Farms Pty Ltd2$1,075,000$2,150,000
Shadwell Stud Australasia Ltd5$401,000$2,005,000
Star Thoroughbreds9$189,444$1,705,000
Jadeskye Racing/Brad Widdup Racing3$566,667$1,700,000
China Horse Club/Newgate Bstock/Stonestreet2$850,000$1,700,000
Lindsay Park Racing/Andrew Williams Bstock8$207,500$1,660,000
McEvoy Mitchell Racing Pty Ltd7$227,143$1,590,000
Godolphin3$525,000$1,575,000
James Moore/Summit Racing Australia2$697,500$1,395,000
Mystery Downs6$219,167$1,315,000
Darby Racing/De Burgh Equine5$260,000$1,300,000
Spendthrift Australia Pty Ltd2$637,500$1,275,000
Katsumi Yoshida3$400,000$1,200,000

Top 20 Vendors by Total (3 or more sold)

Yarraman Park Stud18194.74$430,278$7,745,000
Coolmore Stud310100$229,032$7,100,000
Widden Stud23195.83$288,261$6,630,000
Newgate Farm250100$259,200$6,480,000
Arrowfield Stud28196.55$226,250$6,335,000
Newhaven Park12380$371,250$4,455,000
Bhima Thoroughbreds14382.35$276,786$3,875,000
Segenhoe Stud Australia Pty Ltd7277.78$471,429$3,300,000
Kitchwin Hills9469.23$350,000$3,150,000
Baramul Stud141058.33$188,929$2,645,000
Amarina Farm8188.89$319,375$2,555,000
Rosemont Stud9190$270,556$2,435,000
Edinburgh Park9190$267,222$2,405,000
Aquis Farm Operations90100$236,667$2,130,000
Kia Ora Stud7277.78$278,571$1,950,000
Element Hill8188.89$241,250$1,930,000
Vinery Stud7463.64$272,857$1,910,000
Eureka Stud9281.82$208,889$1,880,000
Sledmere Stud100100$180,500$1,805,000
Milburn Creek60100$289,167$1,735,000

Top 20 Vendors by Average (3 or more sold)

Segenhoe Stud Australia Pty Ltd7277.78$471,429$3,300,000
Yarraman Park Stud18194.74$430,278$7,745,000
Newhaven Park12380$371,250$4,455,000
Kitchwin Hills9469.23$350,000$3,150,000
Luskin Park40100$322,500$1,290,000
Amarina Farm8188.89$319,375$2,555,000
Milburn Creek60100$289,167$1,735,000
Widden Stud23195.83$288,261$6,630,000
Fernrigg Farm4180$282,500$1,130,000
Kia Ora Stud7277.78$278,571$1,950,000
Ashleigh Thoroughbreds40100$277,500$1,110,000
Bhima Thoroughbreds14382.35$276,786$3,875,000
Vinery Stud7463.64$272,857$1,910,000
Rosemont Studc9190$270,556$2,435,000
Edinburgh Park9190$267,222$2,405,000
Yulong, Nagambie3175$263,333$790,000
Newgate Farm250100$259,200$6,480,000
Attunga Stud30100$256,667$770,000
Kulani Park3260$245,000$735,000
Element Hill8188.89$241,250$1,930,000

Top 20 Sires by Total (3 or more sold)

I Am Invincible (AUS)372$1,300,00094.87$424,730$15,715,000
Snitzel (AUS)217$700,00075$399,048$8,380,000
Zoustar (AUS)213$1,075,00087.5$373,810$7,850,000
Written Tycoon (AUS)261$750,00096.3$259,615$6,750,000
Redoute's Choice (AUS)102$1,600,00083.33$674,500$6,745,000
Sebring (AUS)194$800,00082.61$287,895$5,470,000
Hinchinbrook (AUS)121$800,00092.31$292,083$3,505,000
Fastnet Rock (AUS)82$1,100,00080$431,875$3,455,000
Not a Single Doubt (AUS)110$550,000100$274,091$3,015,000
Exceed and Excel (AUS)112$550,00084.62$253,182$2,785,000
Vancouver (AUS)161$400,00094.12$171,875$2,750,000
Deep Field (AUS)110$400,000100$226,818$2,495,000
Pierro (AUS)104$600,00071.43$229,000$2,290,000
More Than Ready (USA)97$600,00056.25$246,667$2,220,000
Pride of Dubai (AUS)141$260,00093.33$148,214$2,075,000
Rubick (AUS)101$360,00090.91$202,000$2,020,000
Dissident (AUS)131$200,00092.86$120,769$1,570,000
Medaglia d'Oro (USA)31$1,000,00075$511,667$1,535,000
Smart Missile (AUS)91$360,00090$160,556$1,445,000
Star Witness (AUS)73$300,00070$197,143$1,380,000

Top 20 Sires by Average (3 or more sold)

Redoute's Choice (AUS)102$1,600,00083.33$674,500$6,745,000
Medaglia d'Oro (USA)31$1,000,00075$511,667$1,535,000
Fastnet Rock (AUS)82$1,100,00080$431,875$3,455,000
I Am Invincible (AUS)372$1,300,00094.87$424,730$15,715,000
Snitzel (AUS)217$700,00075$399,048$8,380,000
Savabeel (AUS)31$825,000.0075$381,667$1,145,000
Zoustar (AUS)213$1,075,00087.5$373,810$7,850,000
Brazen Beau (AUS)42$625,000.0066.67$303,750$1,215,000
Hinchinbrook (AUS)121$800,00092.31$292,083$3,505,000
Sebring (AUS)194$800,00082.61$287,895$5,470,000
Not a Single Doubt (AUS)110$550,000100$274,091$3,015,000
Written Tycoon (AUS)261$750,00096.3$259,615$6,750,000
Exceed and Excel (AUS)112$550,00084.62$253,182$2,785,000
More Than Ready (USA)97$600,00056.25$246,667$2,220,000
Pierro (AUS)104$600,00071.43$229,000$2,290,000
Deep Field (AUS)110$400,000100$226,818$2,495,000
Rubick (AUS)101$360,00090.91$202,000$2,020,000
Star Witness (AUS)73$300,00070$197,143$1,380,000
Rich Enuff (AUS)40$300,000100$195,000$780,000
Nicconi (AUS)52$420,00071.43$191,000$955,000