Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
At A Glance
Coolmore's Tom Magnier paid the top price of $1.5 million for a colt by Not A Single Doubt.
Spendthrift Australia struck late on to secure a quality colt by Written Tycoon for $1.2 million.
Newhaven Park celebrated a $1.05 million result with a grey son of Snitzel purchased by Kitchwin Hills.
The Sale continued to perform above market expectation, with the average at $255,142, up from $250,221 at the same stage last year.
The clearance rate has sat at 88 per cent for most of the week and remains at that mark.
The median is steady at $180,000, the same level it was at in 2020.
Magnier beats Fung/Phoenix partnership to quality colt
Coolmore's Tom Magnier beat the Tony Fung Investments/Phoenix Thoroughbreds partnership in a spirited bidding war to secure Lot 811, the colt by Not A Single Doubt offered by Sledmere Stud for $1.5 million.
The Fung/Phoenix partnership has made no secret of their desire for colts by the now pensioned Arrowfield Stud stallion this week, buying seven of his sons this week, but Coolmore won the day on this occasion, with Magnier getting the last bid in.
The colt, which was bred by Rifa Mustang, is out of Soleil Brulant (I Am Invincible), the unraced half-sister to Harlem River (Fastnet Rock), who won a Listed 2-year-old race in the Coolmore colours.
“It’s a great family, he’s a great individual and he comes from one of the top farms in Sledmere. Their yearlings just look incredible and Royston and Treen (Murphy) are great breeders and we’ve bought horses there before with a deal of success, so we will go back to the well again and hopefully we get a bit of luck" Magnier said.
"We’ve bought horses there (Sledmere) before with a deal of success, so we will go back to the well again and hopefully we get a bit of luck." - Tom Magnier
“James Bester, I and the whole team really liked this colt, so he will go to Chris (Waller) and hopefully we will have a runner here in the race next year."
The second dam is a half-sister to three stakes winners, as well as the dams of The Everest winner Yes Yes Yes, now a Coolmore stallion, and multiple Group 1 winner In Her Time (Time Thief).
“It is a family we know very well. Yes Yes Yes got great support this season and a lot is going to happen in that family, it’s getting bigger and bigger. We’re fortunate that we’ve got a really great bunch of investors, and great friends in this horse," Magnier said.
“We are in the game of trying to make stallions and they (Coolmore-bought lots) were popular horses, so as I say, we’re racing him with a great bunch of people trying to find the next stallion."
Lot 811 - Not A Single Doubt x Soleil Brulant (colt)
Soleil Brulant was purchased by Rifa Mustang for $180,000 as a yearling at the 2016 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, and while she never raced, she was added to their broodmare band with this her first foal. She has since missed to Rubick and went to Yes Yes Yes last year.
"It's always nerve wracking when you get a good colt like that. We have loved him from day one. He is by far the best horse I have ever brought to this Sale," Sledmere Stud's Royston Murphy said.
"You have good expectations of horses but it has been a hard sale to read. Some horses you think you might get a little overs and you don’t. Others, you think they are about the price and you get overs.
"He was a horse that everyone loved. You could not help but love him. He was just one of those horses. But to have an auction like that, with a bit of theatre. It was exciting and people were on and they were off."
Royston and Jack Murphy, with Tom Magnier and Catriona Murphy
It was the second time in 12 months Sledmere Stud has sold a seven-figure lot to Coolmore, having fetched $1.8 million for a Snitzel colt at the Easter Sale last year.
"It's a great result for Rifa Mustang, who have been with us for a good few years now. They have about 20 mares. It's great for them to entrust us with these horses and to get a result like that is great," Murphy said.
"You know that when Coolmore get a horse they are going to get absolutely every chance. They take time with their horses and they do the right thing with their horses. For us that is important. We love to see these horses come to the right place. It gives those mares chances going forward.
"I'm delighted Tom and the team were able to get him. They got a good one off us last year and it was great to see them get another one."
Demand for Not A Single Doubt continues
Not A Single Doubt remains the leading sire on average for the Sale, on $619,375 across 16 lots, clear of I Am Invincible on $535,122 (41). I Am Invincible is the highest-grossing stallion of the Sale to date on $21.94 million, clear of Snitzel on $18.17 million (39 sales).
The colt takes Magnier's spend for the week to $4.905 million across five lots, including three of the top four sold.
While the Fung/Phoenix partnership was thwarted on this occasion, they are still the leading buyers of the Sale, having purchased 15 horses for a total of $10.375 million, including Lot 768, another Not A Single Doubt colt for $340,000, and Lot 828, a colt by Fastnet Rock, for $650,000.
Lot 866 - I Am Invicible x Tahni Dancer (colt)
Ciaron Maher Bloodstock, whose top lot on Friday was the $800,000 it paid for Lot 866, a colt by I Am Invincible out of Tahni Dancer (Sebring) from Rosemont Stud, remain the most prolific buyer having built their numbers to 32 for the Sale, spending a combined $9.495 million. Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, in conjunction with Bruce Slade’s Kestrel Thoroughbreds, have picked up 23 for a total of $7.39 million.
Colt's destiny Written for Spendthrift
Spendthrift Australia has enjoyed considerable recent success with recent G2 Schillaci S. winner Dirty Work, a son of Written Tycoon, and is looking to repeat the dose with Lot 869, a colt offered by Emirates Park from the Medaglia D'Oro (USA) mare Taqaseem, the half-sister to Group 1 winner Sense Of Occasion (Street Sense {USA}).
Having paid $1.2 million for the penultimate lot of the fourth day, Spendthrift Australia Garry Cuddy was rapt to have secured the colt.
Dr Shalabh Sahu (Managing Director at Emirates Park) shakes hands with Garry Cuddy
"I think we have had a very high opinion of this horse since the first time we laid eyes in him. As Emirates will tell you, we’ve been back every day to look at him. He's really well presented by them and we are really happy to have him join the team," he said.
"When a stallion works for you, with the success we have had with Dirty Work, and a horse walks out and he has similar attributes to that horse, you have to take him seriously. In this market he has obviously made his money, but we are very happy to have him.
"The Written Tycoons aren’t your typical jump-and-run early 2-year-old types. We will slot him into the system, take our time with him and as they always do, the horse will tell us what he wants to do and we will go along with him for the ride."
Lot 869 - Written Tycoon x Taqaseem (colt)
It was the second seven-figure lot of the week for Emirates Park, who sold Lot 612, a colt by Not A Single Doubt, for $1.8 million on Thursday.
"He was a very popular colt from Not A Single Doubt’s family. He’s an exceptional-moving colt. We came into the Sale thinking he was going to sell well, but to get another million-dollar colt and be on top of averages was just outstanding," Emirates Park General Manager, Bryan Carlson, said.
“You couldn’t ask for a better international farm than Spendthrift, so for Emirates to work with Spendthrift and we have just asked if we can stay in. We look forward to the future with him.”
The dam, Taqaseem, since missed to Rubick and last year visited Pride Of Dubai.
Emirates Park leads all vendors on average on $596,667 with five yearlings sold, while Silverdale has also had an excellent Sale, averaging $535,000. Arrowfield Stud retains its lead as leading vendor on aggregate with $13.42 million for 42 sold, ahead of Coolmore Stud, with 41 sold to date for $11.435 million.
Hawkes get their fill of Tycoons
Hawkes Racing was underbidder on the Written Tycoon colt, but will most likely end up training him. It had already secured another of the now Arrowfield Stud-based stallion's sons, paying $750,000 for Lot 739 from the draft of Woodside Stud, out of the imported mare Salamati (Dubawi {Ire}).
"We had a little bloke called Ole Kirk have a little trial this morning and I think we all know he's the best colt in the country thus far as far as the spring goes, there's a little bit to go in the autumn. He wasn't exactly like Ole Kirk this bloke, but he wasn't dissimilar either," Wayne Hawkes said.
Wayne Hawkes
"We have had a good run, with Dirty Work, and a nice filly that won on Oaks Day called Written Beauty. He's flying at the moment, Written Tycoon, and I'm very lucky with my family to have three quality horses in the Sydney stable at the moment.
"This colt looks like a 2-year-old that will probably furnish into a 3-year-old. We all want him to do what Ole Kirk did, winning a stakes race at two and go on at three."
"We all want him (Lot 739) to do what Ole Kirk did, winning a stakes race at two and go on at three." - Wayne Hawkes
It was a record result for Written Tycoon's former base at Woodside Park, with CEO James Price pleased with the outcome.
"We saved the best until last. We’ve been here for two weeks and brought four lovely horses up here," Price said.
"We thought that he was a beautiful physical that they look for in the Sale. Sharp, balanced, obviously by one of the best stallions in the country. He had a reserve of below 500 and to make 750, we’re absolutely delighted. It's a record for Woodside Park Stud. The whole team are very excited, us here and those back on the farm as well."
Grey Snitzel snapped up by Kitchwin Hills
The third million-dollar lot of the day, Lot 852, a Snitzel colt out of stakes-placed Supara (Domesday), from the draft of Newhaven Park, went to a partnership led by Kitchwin Hills for $1.05 million.
The spectacular grey handled the moment perfectly, demonstrating his impeccable temperament in the ring as several bidders fought for the right to take him home.
Kitchwin Hills' Stud Manager Mick Malone said the Snitzel colt had long been admired by his syndicate of buyers.
“He is a beautiful horse. He’s a lovely, lovely colt and he is going to (be raced) by a group of guys to spread a bit of risk, so to speak. The minute I saw him, I loved him and we’ve had a bit of luck with the Snitzels. He just had that shape and that look and that Domesday cross, we know it works. He is from a really good farm," he said.
Lot 852 - Snitzel x Supara (colt)
Gerald Ryan, who trained the sire as well as his multiple Group-winning sire son Trapeze Artist and many other successful progeny of Snitzel, will assume training duties with the colt.
“Gerald will be training and he was part of the whole things and he was on the team and there’s no better man than Gerald when he picks up a Snitzel," Malone said.
"There’s no better man than Gerald (Ryan) when he picks up a Snitzel." - Mick Malone
Malone said the colt's laconic demeanour was a significant part of his appeal.
“Temperament is so important, so if they can keep walking around here (the parade ring) like they did the first time, it’s a big tick. He just rolled out every time. I don’t know if you saw him out the back here but nothing fazed it. With that sort of money, you’ve just got to hope you’re on the right one," he said.
Mick Malone
Newhaven Park's John Kelly said it was a massive result for the farm, which had bred the dam from stakes-placed Unabated (Encosta De Lago).
"It’s really thrilling for our farm and everything. We bred and raced the mother and then to breed him and come here and get that money for a horse is always very exciting," he said.
"I don't think when you put a horse in the ring, you think they are going to break the million. You think they are going to sell well. You just hope they are going to sell really well and he did that. We are thrilled that he is going to Gerald Ryan, and it’s just a great result.
"It’s just such a great reward for all the people at Newhaven that put in so much. We have sold a few. We have had a bit of luck up here, selling the odd horse for a bit of money. It’s a difficult thing to do."
Supara produced a Written Tycoon filly last year before visiting Capitalist.
Strong finish sets scene for final day of Book 1
Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch was delighted with how the day ended up, with a series of strong sales inside the final hour.
"It was great end to the day, wasn't it? From my perspective, I thought it would be an achievement to hold average and hold clearance rate today, and we've done that." he said.
"We raised the bar higher at the start of the week and it’s continued all the way through. To have the depth in the market late today and eclipse last year's Book 1 gross by a significant margin so far is a thrill, when you consider we have got tomorrow night to go.
"I'm really thrilled for Emirates Park, they have bought two outstanding colts to the Sale, and for them to not only sell them, but lead the averages as vendors is a fantastic result, given the fact they haven't sold under their own name for quite a while."
Harron continues to spend
James Harron continued to add to his collection for the Sale, picking up Lot 772, a colt by Snitzel out of Sewreel (NZ) (Savabeel) from the Arrowfield Stud draft for $800,000, taking his spending to $5.275 million across seven lots.
Lot 772 - Snitzel x Sewreel (NZ) (colt)
"I saw him back at the farm in on-farm inspections and I really loved the colt the whole way since. He had great shape, really good depth of girth, lovely and wide through his hind legs. He had a lovely big hip on him. I'm really pleased to get him. Given the market conditions, I thought he was a fair price," Harron said.
The colt's dam was a Listed winner in New Zealand and is a half-sister to stakes-placed Fabric (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}), from the family of Group 1 winner Lachlan River (NZ) (Desert King {Ire}).
Gai gets top filly
The top-priced filly of the day went to Waterhouse, Bott and Kestrel Thoroughbreds, who paid $750,000 for Lot 705, for a filly by Not A Single Doubt out of Rhodamine (Success Express {USA}) from the draft of Silverdale Farm.
"At the moment I think she’s the Golden Slipper-Magic Millions winner. She just took our attention from the moment we saw her on the farm up in the Highlands of New South Wales," Waterhouse said.
“She’s been on elevated ground, she’s got lovely scope and size and she’s just gone ahead since we saw her. We kept finding we were going back to her. A group of guys have come together on her. They want to race her, they want to have fun and they certainly have it with her."
The filly was initially purchased by Suman Hedge Bloodstock and Grand Bloodstock for $230,000 at the 2020 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale last July.
Day 5 of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, the final session of Book 1, begins at 6pm (AEST) on Saturday.
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 |
| 612 | Not A Single Doubt | One More Honey | C | Emirates Park Pty Ltd, Murrurundi, NSW | Tony Fung Investments/Phoenix Thoroughbreds | QLD | $1,800,000 |
| 811 | Not A Single Doubt | Soleil Brulant | C | Sledmere Stud, Scone, NSW (As Agent) | Coolmore Australia | NSW | $1,500,000 |
| 500 | I Am Invincible | Maastricht | F | Kia Ora Stud, Scone, NSW | Ciaron Maher Bloodstock/Nxt Level Syndication | VIC | $1,200,000 |
| 869 | Written Tycoon | Taqaseem | C | Emirates Park Pty Ltd, Murrurundi, NSW | Spendthrift Australia Pty Ltd | VIC | $1,200,000 |
| 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 |
| 852 | Snitzel | Supara | C | Newhaven Park, Boorowa, NSW (As Agent) | Kitchwin Hills | NSW | $1,050,000 |
| 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 |
Top buyers
| Tony Fung Investments/Phoenix Thoroughbreds | 15 | $10,375,000 | $691,667 | $1,800,000 |
| Ciaron Maher Bloodstock | 32 | $9,495,000 | $296,719 | $800,000 |
| Gai Waterhouse/Adrian Bott/Kestrel Thoroughbreds | 23 | $7,390,000 | $321,304 | $750,000 |
| James Harron Bloodstock | 7 | $5,275,000 | $753,571 | $1,150,000 |
| Tom Magnier | 5 | $4,905,000 | $981,000 | $1,900,000 |
| Hawkes Racing | 13 | $3,900,000 | $300,000 | $750,000 |
| Victorian Alliance/Suman Hedge B'Stock (FBAA)/David Redvers Bloodstock | 6 | $3,600,000 | $600,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Waller Racing/Mulcaster Bloodstock | 9 | $3,415,000 | $379,444 | $800,000 |
| Kelly Schweida Racing | 10 | $3,070,000 | $307,000 | $725,000 |
| Spendthrift Australia Pty Ltd | 5 | $3,050,000 | $610,000 | $1,200,000 |
Top vendors by aggregate
| Arrowfield Stud, Scone, NSW | 42 | $13,420,000 | $319,524 | $1,150,000 |
| Coolmore Stud, Jerry's Plains, NSW | 41 | $11,435,000 | $278,902 | $950,000 |
| Widden Stud, Widden Valley, NSW | 35 | $11,270,000 | $322,000 | $1,900,000 |
| Baramul Stud, Widden Valley, NSW | 27 | $8,955,000 | $331,667 | $1,000,000 |
| Yarraman Park Stud, Scone, NSW | 27 | $8,570,000 | $317,407 | $800,000 |
| Newgate Farm, Aberdeen, NSW | 32 | $8,165,000 | $255,156 | $975,000 |
| Segenhoe Stud, Scone, NSW | 19 | $7,945,000 | $418,158 | $1,800,000 |
| Sledmere Stud, Scone, NSW | 24 | $6,315,000 | $263,125 | $1,500,000 |
| Bhima Thoroughbreds, Scone, NSW | 18 | $5,910,000 | $328,333 | $800,000 |
| Vinery Stud, Scone, NSW | 17 | $4,940,000 | $290,588 | $700,000 |
Top vendors by average (3 or more sold)
| Emirates Park Pty Ltd, Murrurundi, NSW | 6 | $596,667 | $3,580,000 | $1,800,000 |
| Silverdale Farm, Avoca, NSW | 5 | $535,000 | $2,675,000 | $750,000 |
| Strawberry Hill Stud, Mt White, NSW | 8 | $434,375 | $3,475,000 | $800,000 |
| Segenhoe Stud, Scone, NSW | 19 | $418,158 | $7,945,000 | $1,800,000 |
| Tyreel Stud, Agnes Banks, NSW | 9 | $406,667 | $3,660,000 | $650,000 |
| Woodside Park Stud, Nagambie, Vic | 4 | $395,000 | $1,580,000 | $750,000 |
| Three Bridges Thoroughbreds, Eddington, Vic | 7 | $379,286 | $2,655,000 | $700,000 |
| Kia Ora Stud, Scone, NSW | 10 | $362,000 | $3,620,000 | $1,200,000 |
| Baramul Stud, Widden Valley, NSW | 27 | $331,667 | $8,955,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Bhima Thoroughbreds, Scone, NSW | 18 | $328,333 | $5,910,000 | $800,000 |
Top sires by aggregate
| I Am Invincible | 41 | $21,940,000 | $535,122 | $1,200,000 |
| Snitzel | 39 | $18,170,000 | $465,897 | $1,900,000 |
| Zoustar | 47 | $13,295,000 | $282,872 | $1,000,000 |
| Written Tycoon | 30 | $10,075,000 | $335,833 | $1,200,000 |
| Not A Single Doubt | 16 | $9,910,000 | $619,375 | $1,800,000 |
| Capitalist | 32 | $8,150,000 | $254,688 | $975,000 |
| Pierro | 28 | $7,590,000 | $271,071 | $550,000 |
| Fastnet Rock | 17 | $6,815,000 | $400,882 | $825,000 |
| Deep Field | 33 | $6,565,000 | $198,939 | $700,000 |
| Sebring | 24 | $5,075,000 | $211,458 | $500,000 |
Top sires by average (3 or more sold)
| Not A Single Doubt | 16 | $619,375 | $9,910,000 | $1,800,000 |
| I Am Invincible | 41 | $535,122 | $21,940,000 | $1,200,000 |
| Almanzor | 3 | $506,667 | $1,520,000 | $800,000 |
| Redoute's Choice | 8 | $473,750 | $3,790,000 | $750,000 |
| Snitzel | 39 | $465,897 | $18,170,000 | $1,900,000 |
| Fastnet Rock | 17 | $400,882 | $6,815,000 | $825,000 |
| Written Tycoon | 30 | $335,833 | $10,075,000 | $1,200,000 |
| Zoustar | 47 | $282,872 | $13,295,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Pierro | 28 | $271,071 | $7,590,000 | $550,000 |
| Invader | 7 | $257,143 | $1,800,000 | $550,000 |
