Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
At A Glance
Coolmore's Tom Magnier would not be denied, paying $1.8 million for a colt by Kingman (GB) offered by Segenhoe Stud.
Breeder Michael Christian enjoyed a marquee day, selling two lots he co-bred for a combined $1.9 million, a colt by Zoustar and a filly by I Am Invincible.
Persistence paid off for James Harron, who swooped late to pay $2.125 million for colts by young stallions Shalaa (Ire) and Capitalist.
The partnership of Tony Fung Investments and Phoenix Thoroughbreds are the Sale's leading buyer, spending $5.235 million.
The Sale average is up when compared to the end of the second session last year, $258,773 to $249,632.
The clearance rate has also lifted year-on-year from 86 per cent to 88 per cent.
The median remains at $180,000.
Segenhoe colt fit for a Kingman for Magnier
For the second consecutive day, it was Magnier who got the bragging rights on the buyers' bench, landing the Kingman colt, Lot 322, for a session topping $1.8 million.
The colt from Segenhoe and bred by John Camilleri, the breeder of the great Winx (Street Cry {Ire}), proved a very rare article as one of only two lots for the Juddmonte stallion and was actually foaled in England at Hazelwood Stud on Southern Hemisphere time, arriving in Australia with his dam, Florentina (Redoute's Choice), in November 2019.
Magnier saw off bloodstock agent James Harron to secure the colt, who is headed to the Chris Waller stable.
"Segenhoe always have incredible horses at this Sale, and we know what John Camilleri can breed. You know when you see that Fairway Thoroughbreds brand on the horse, you have to take it pretty seriously. He was a lovely individual," he said.
"You know when you see that Fairway Thoroughbreds brand on the horse, you have to take it pretty seriously. He was a lovely individual." - Tom Magnier
"We know everything about how well Kingman is going at the moment. We have got Calyx at the farm by Kingman, who is going well. All the boxes were ticked for us.
"This horse was born up in the Northern Hemisphere, foaled up there and brought down here. They are a clever operation, great breeders. We think a lot of Kingman. We are just delighted to be involved with this colt. We have got a great team of investors in this syndicate. He looks pretty sharp and pretty precocious."
Florentina, a Group 3 winner, has already produced two stakes performers in Fasano (Lonhro) and Villa Carlotta (Street Cry {Ire}). She is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Gathering (Tale Of The Cat {USA}) and Listed winner California Turbo (Fastnet Rock).
Segenhoe General Manager Peter O'Brien was understandably chuffed with the result.
"We knew he was going to sell well. We knew every one of the big buyers liked him but you never expect them to sell that well. He was a beautiful colt by one of the best sires in the world from a very good racemare. I'm delighted he is going to Coolmore, because he’ll get every chance," O'Brien said.
"I'm delighted he is going to Coolmore, because he’ll get every chance." - Peter O'Brien
“All credit to John Camilleri - it’s a big swing to send a mare up there (to the Northern Hemisphere). She went to Dubawi first and that filly sold at Tattersalls, then she went to Kingman and came back pregnant to Kingman and he was at foot. He was born in England and came here to Australia about 12 months ago. John Camilleri is a global thinker and he’s got paid for it.
"The colt is bombproof. Coolmore looked at him plenty of times and they complimented him this morning about his temperament. He is absolutely bombproof. He has a great mind and I can’t wait to see him at the racetrack.”
Having produced the Kingman filly, Florentina visited Yes Yes Yes last spring.
Sale's stellar start
It was the highlight lot of another stellar day of trade for Magic Millions, with all key metrics either on par or improved on last year, despite pre-Sale prognostications that the global COVID-19 crisis would impact investor confidence.
"If it was solid yesterday. It was extremely solid today. The clearance rate is edging towards 88 per cent. The average hit $260,000 and is holding just underneath that. There is buoyancy at all ends, there are buyers that are walking away thrilled with their purchases," Managing Director, Barry Bowditch, said.
"Vendors are putting them on the market and once you get to the better end of the market, the colt funds and even those here to buy fillies are pinning their ears back and having a proper go."
Barry Bowditch
While the market may be white hot through the first two days, Bowditch is confident everyone will get their chance in what is an extended catalogue in 2021.
"Everyone will get a turn here. It’s a huge catalogue and that's the beauty of this Sale, and the beauty of Magic Millions. We have a catalogue full of quality horses that the vendors decide to send here. If you keep your lists long, and you do your work, then you are going to be rewarded in the long run. Book 1 having a catalogue of 960-odd horses will do that, and then following into Book 2," he said.
"We're really pleased with where the Sale is at right now. We want to continue to keep the market intensity up. We want to continue to do the job, which gives the vendors the deserved results that they are coming here to achieve. Thus far we are thrilled with how it is going."
Harron steps in for Shalaa colt
Harron may have missed out on the day's top lot, but his determination to buy the top-end colts won out late in the day, when he was able to secure a colt by Arrowfield shuttle stallion Shalaa (Ire) for the day's second top price of $1.15 million.
Catalogued as Lot 382 as part of the Arrowfield draft, he is out of Honesty Prevails (Redoute's Choice), who was a Group 3-winning 2-year-old.
The colt attracted a wide range of bidders, but it was Harron, sitting with the yearling's future trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman, who was able to get the job done.
"He oozed quality. I saw him at the farm and I went home that night thinking about him, and that’s usually a good sign," he said.
"It’s a fantastic family and Honesty Prevails was a real star mare. Redoute's needs no introduction as a sire or a broodmare sire. It was a super result."
Lot 382 - Shalaa (Ire) x Honesty Prevails (colt)
It is the first million-dollar lot by Shalaa, whose first crop have already made an impact on the track, with Shaquero, who contests Saturday's R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic, winning the G3 Breeders' Plate in October.
"Having a Breeders' Plate winner early in his career is very impressive. He's a very special colt, lots of quality and comes off a great farm in Arrowfield. He was one of our must-have colts and we delighted to get him," Harron said.
"I think he is probably not a super early horse. He has got a bit of size about him. He's got a lot of quality and a lot of class. We'll just put him through the system and he’ll tell us."
Honesty Prevails had a Dundeel (NZ) colt in 2020, before heading to Written Tycoon.
A Capitalist for Harron and Freedmans
Harron's other purchase for the day was Lot 349, a colt by Capitalist, a stallion he knows so well having raced him with such success, out of juvenile Listed winner Golconda (Snitzel) from the draft of Newgate Farm. He will also go to the Freedmans.
"He was very much like his father. Very sharp, very precocious. I loved the way he handled the Sale. He had a very good attitude towards everything, His brother, Marine One, has got some ability. We’ve got a nice Capitalist already on the team in Forbes. That made us comfortable to have a shot in this guy," he said.
"He was very much like his father. Very sharp, very precocious." - James Harron
"He's well-balanced, medium-sized, lovely depth of girth, but just a really good, sharp, alert head. A very nice colt, and hopefully he can go nice and early."
Harron was happy with his shopping in what has been a very competitive market.
"We are very selective with what we are looking for. We have been waiting for the ones we really want. It’s great to see a good, healthy market. Magic Millions has done a great job. It’s a real credit to them that we are heaving a really good, vibrant and buoyant Sale," he said.
Lot 349 - Capitalist x Golconda (colt)
Patience pays for new Alliance
Like Harron, the Victorian Alliance, spearheaded by Rosemont Stud, had been heavily involved in bidding for top colts, and in partnership with Suman Hedge Bloodstock and David Redvers Bloodstock, finally landed a target in Lot 332, by Zoustar out of Fuddle Dee Duddle (Red Ransom {USA}), offered by Widden Stud.
They paid $1 million for the colt, whose dam was Group 3 winner in Western Australia and who is a half-sister to Group 2 winner Hallowell Belle (Starcraft {NZ}) as well as the dam of recent stakes winner Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai).
“It feels like it’s been a long wait and we are rapt to be able to purchase this colt. He was probably number one on the radar after being in the Hunter Valley in mid-December," Rosemont Stud's General Manager of Bloodstock, Ryan McEvoy, said.
"He is as nice a yearling colt that we have been able to inspect this week. Obviously I have a real affinity with Zoustar and I’ve seen a lot of Zoustars in my time, so I would like to think that he is what, for mine, a good Zoustar should look like.
"He is bred the right way and is bred on a similar cross to Sunlight. He looks like a horse who will cope with the work and it is a credit to Widden. At the farm I noted what a great attitude he had and all week I saw him every day and he didn’t turn a hair and I think that is important for a Zoustar.
“We had to stretch as is clearly evident in this Sale. It is strong and there’s no hiding. The philosophy was that we are here to buy some proper colts.”
It was another terrific result for Widden Stud, who sold the existing Sale-topping colt, by Snitzel for $1.9 million. Widden remains the Sale's leading vendor, with $6.83 million in total sales across 16 lots, leading Coolmore ($5.22 million) and Segenhoe ($5.19 million).
Christian's big day out
The sale of Lot 332 was also a great result for co-breeder Michael Christian, who bred Fuddle Dee Duddle, sold her as a yearling and then bought her back in partnership with Widden Stud, breeding this colt.
She was sold once again to a client of Christian's Longwood Thoroughbred Farm for $230,000 at last year's Inglis Chairman's Sale and has since produced a Trapeze Artist colt on the Victorian property before going back to Zoustar.
Christian had a day to remember when another yearling he co-bred, Lot 257, a filly by I Am Invincible out of Group 3 winner Eloping (Choisir), was sold by Segenhoe Stud for $900,000 to Godolphin.
"You are never quite sure are you? You have all the x-rays hits and all the scope views, and you think that the horse will be well supported. There have been so many people wiith positive comments about the quality of the filly, but you never really know until you are in the ring and people are putting their hands up," Christian said.
"I'm absolutely thrilled. I think she made her mark. I thought she was worth that sort of money. Godolphin recognised that and I'm just so thrilled Godolphin will be training her. They'll give her every possible chance. So thanks to Vin Cox."
Vin Cox
The filly has been Godolphin's lone purchase of the Sale to date, with Managing Director Vin Cox saying she very much hit the mark for them.
"We were running on empty, so if they had have gone again, I'm not sure what we would have done. We're delighted to be getting an I Am Invincible filly out of a very, very good racemare, off an outstanding farm. We think we have bought a good horse, now we have to knock it into shape," he said.
"She's just very athletic, a precocious type. She's got the pedigree. She's one of those fillies which is a rare commodity. Let’s hope she ends up being a very good racehorse.
"She has a pedigree that we can add to our bloodstock portfolio and they are the ones that we want to chase, those that improve our bloodstock profile."
Searching for another Slipper winner
The fourth million-dollar lot of the day went early on to Tony Fung Investments and Phoenix Thoroughbreds. Lot 221 cost $1.1 million and was a colt by Not A Single Doubt out of stakes-placed mare Denmagic (Denman), offered by Torryburn Stud. He will head to the stables of Annabel Neasham.
Aquis Managing Director Shane McGrath, doing the bidding on behalf of the Fung family and Phoenix, who enjoyed G1 Golden Slipper success with Farnan (Not A Single Doubt) last year, said the colt very much fit the bill.
Lot 221 - Not A Single Doubt x Denmagic (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
"We are obviously unabashed fans of the sire. We were fortunate enough to secure Farnan from the same sales ring, and he was able to win the Golden Slipper. At the end of the day, that's the dream, to get him back for these big races," he said.
"He's a straightforward colt. We liked everything about him and every time we looked at him he never turned a hair. He looks like he’ll be early and hopefully lightning can strike twice for us.
"Most of these world-class sires they tend to throw a type, and he was very much in that mould. He looks sharp and early. He's come off a great farm and he was extremely well presented. There is plenty of competition there, which you’d expect from a quality colt. Hopefully he goes on to make the mare for the breeder."
Torryburn Stud manager, Mel Copelin, was delighted with getting into the seven-figure range with the colt, with Denmagic having been purchased off the track for $350,000 in 2018.
“I always thought, from the moment he was born, that he could make a million dollars but everything has to work out. He has come here and it has worked out and I am absolutely stoked," she said.
“Once I saw all the vetting come through and he’d certainly had enough inspections to be a million-dollar horse. He definitely has the best temperament and everyone can see that. He hasn’t turned a hair.”
Shane McGrath
The Fung/Phoenix partnership are the leading buyers at the Sale to date, spending $5.235 million across nine lots, ahead of Ciaron Maher Bloodstock with $4.46 million and Magnier on $4.38 million.
The Sale continues to buck expectations of a sluggish market, posting year-on-year gains in both average and clearance rate. After the second session last year, the average was $249,032 and that has lifted to $258,773, while the clearance rate has improved from 86 per cent to 88 per cent. The median remains the same.
Yarraman Park's I Am Invincible may not have yet to have a million-dollar lot at the Sale, but he leads all sires on both average ($533,095) and aggregate ($11.195 million). Not A Single Doubt is second on averages, just ahead of Snitzel ($486,471) and their own sire Redoute's Choice ($468,750).
Day 3 of the Sale starts at 10am (AEST) on Thursday.
Top lots
| 115 | Snitzel | Bonny O'Reilly | C | Widden Stud, Widden Valley, NSW (As Agent) | Tom Magnier | NSW | $1,900,000 |
| 322 | Kingman | Florentina | C | Segenhoe Stud, Scone, NSW (As Agent for Fairway Thoroughbreds) | Tom Magnier | NSW | $1,800,000 |
| 382 | Shalaa | Honesty Prevails | C | Arrowfield Stud, Scone, NSW (As Agent) | James Harron Bloodstock | NSW | $1,150,000 |
| 221 | Not A Single Doubt | Denmagic | C | Torryburn Stud, Torryburn, NSW | Tony Fung Investments/Phoenix Thoroughbreds | QLD | $1,100,000 |
| 332 | Zoustar | Fuddle Dee Duddle | C | Widden Stud, Widden Valley, NSW (As Agent) | Victorian Alliance/Suman Hedge B'Stock (FBAA)/David Redvers Bloodstock | VIC | $1,000,000 |
| 113 | I Am Invincible | Bonaria | F | Widden Stud, Widden Valley, NSW (As Agent) | Busuttin Racing | VIC | $975,000 |
| 349 | Capitalist | Golconda | C | Newgate Farm, Aberdeen, NSW (As Agent) | James Harron Bloodstock | NSW | $975,000 |
| 257 | I Am Invincible | Eloping | F | Segenhoe Stud, Scone, NSW (As Agent) | Godolphin Australia Pty Ltd | NSW | $900,000 |
| 325 | I Am Invincible | Flying Snitzel | F | Widden Stud, Widden Valley, NSW (As Agent) | Willinga Park Operations Pty Ltd | NSW | $850,000 |
| 163 | Fastnet Rock | Ciarlet | C | Coolmore Stud, Jerry's Plains, NSW (As Agent) | David Ellis/Andrew Williams Bloodstock | NEW ZEALAND | $825,000 |
Top buyers
| Tony Fung Investments/Phoenix Thoroughbreds | 9 | $5,235,000 | $581,667 | $1,100,000 |
| Ciaron Maher Bloodstock | 15 | $4,460,000 | $297,333 | $800,000 |
| Tom Magnier | 4 | $4,380,000 | $1,095,000 | $1,900,000 |
| Waller Racing/Mulcaster Bloodstock | 8 | $3,035,000 | $379,375 | $800,000 |
| Gai Waterhouse/Adrian Bott/Kestrel Thoroughbreds | 9 | $2,470,000 | $274,444 | $450,000 |
| James Harron Bloodstock | 2 | $2,125,000 | $1,062,500 | $1,150,000 |
| Mick Price Racing | 8 | $2,110,000 | $263,750 | $550,000 |
| Busuttin Racing | 4 | $2,055,000 | $513,750 | $975,000 |
| David Ellis/Andrew Williams Bloodstock | 4 | $1,995,000 | $498,750 | $825,000 |
| Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) | 3 | $1,875,000 | $625,000 | $750,000 |
Top vendors by aggregate
| Widden Stud, Widden Valley, NSW | 16 | $6,830,000 | $426,875 | $1,900,000 |
| Coolmore Stud, Jerry's Plains, NSW | 19 | $5,220,000 | $274,737 | $825,000 |
| Segenhoe Stud, Scone, NSW | 9 | $5,190,000 | $576,667 | $1,800,000 |
| Arrowfield Stud, Scone, NSW | 16 | $4,690,000 | $293,125 | $1,150,000 |
| Yarraman Park Stud, Scone, NSW | 13 | $4,170,000 | $320,769 | $800,000 |
| Newgate Farm, Aberdeen, NSW | 13 | $3,710,000 | $285,385 | $975,000 |
| Baramul Stud, Widden Valley, NSW | 11 | $3,655,000 | $332,273 | $600,000 |
| Bhima Thoroughbreds, Scone, NSW | 11 | $3,230,000 | $293,636 | $550,000 |
| Yulong Investments, Nagambie, Vic | 11 | $3,145,000 | $285,909 | $600,000 |
| Sledmere Stud, Scone, NSW | 11 | $2,610,000 | $237,273 | $600,000 |
Top vendors by average (3 or more sold)
| Segenhoe Stud, Scone, NSW | 9 | $576,667 | $5,190,000 | $1,800,000 |
| Silverdale Farm, Avoca, NSW | 4 | $481,250 | $1,925,000 | $700,000 |
| Tyreel Stud, Agnes Banks, NSW | 4 | $445,000 | $1,780,000 | $650,000 |
| Widden Stud, Widden Valley, NSW | 16 | $426,875 | $6,830,000 | $1,900,000 |
| Strawberry Hill Stud, Mt White, NSW | 4 | $420,000 | $1,680,000 | $800,000 |
| Torryburn Stud, Torryburn, NSW | 5 | $416,000 | $2,080,000 | $1,100,000 |
| Milburn Creek, Wildes Meadow, NSW | 5 | $368,000 | $1,840,000 | $550,000 |
| Attunga Stud, Scone, NSW | 3 | $356,667 | $1,070,000 | $800,000 |
| Three Bridges Thoroughbreds, Eddington, Vic | 5 | $347,000 | $1,735,000 | $500,000 |
| Mill Park Stud, Meningie, SA | 4 | $342,500 | $1,370,000 | $500,000 |
Top sires by aggregate
| I Am Invincible | 21 | $11,195,000 | $533,095 | $975,000 |
| Snitzel | 17 | $8,270,000 | $486,471 | $1,900,000 |
| Zoustar | 19 | $5,205,000 | $273,947 | $1,000,000 |
| Fastnet Rock | 11 | $4,585,000 | $416,818 | $825,000 |
| Written Tycoon | 12 | $4,340,000 | $361,667 | $650,000 |
| Capitalist | 14 | $4,090,000 | $292,143 | $975,000 |
| Pierro | 15 | $3,595,000 | $239,667 | $550,000 |
| Hellbent | 16 | $2,730,000 | $170,625 | $360,000 |
| Shalaa | 11 | $2,635,000 | $239,545 | $1,150,000 |
| Not A Single Doubt | 5 | $2,500,000 | $500,000 | $1,100,000 |
Top sires by average (3 or more sold)
| I Am Invincible | 21 | $533,095 | $11,195,000 | $975,000 |
| Not A Single Doubt | 5 | $500,000 | $2,500,000 | $1,100,000 |
| Snitzel | 17 | $486,471 | $8,270,000 | $1,900,000 |
| Redoute's Choice | 4 | $468,750 | $1,875,000 | $600,000 |
| Fastnet Rock | 11 | $416,818 | $4,585,000 | $825,000 |
| Written Tycoon | 12 | $361,667 | $4,340,000 | $650,000 |
| More Than Ready | 3 | $293,333 | $880,000 | $380,000 |
| Capitalist | 14 | $292,143 | $4,090,000 | $975,000 |
| Zoustar | 19 | $273,947 | $5,205,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Merchant Navy | 7 | $272,143 | $1,905,000 | $500,000 |
