Iffraaj, Deep Field colts star on Magics final day

9 min read
A record-breaking Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale has come to an end, with colts by Iffraaj (GB) and Deep Field topping Book 2 at $310,000 apiece.

Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions

At A Glance

The Deep Field half-brother to star 2-year-old Alpine Edge (Better Than Ready) sold to Gold Coast trainer John Morrisey for $310,000.

A quality colt by Iffraaj from Bhima Thoroughbreds is headed to Hong Kong after agent Denys Chan paid $310,000.

Hoss and Gillian Heinrich were the biggest buyers in Book 2 and stuck around to buy four lots from the Gold Coast Summer Racehorse Sale, spending $515,000 on four ex-Godolphin horses.

The Book 2 grossed $13.733 million, up over $3.6 million, but with 96 additional lots sold.

The Book 2 average was $60,498, down from last year's smaller offering which averaged $77,943.

The Book 2 clearance rate was a healthy 82.55 per cent up from 79 per cent last year.

The Book 2 median was $50,000, slightly down from 2020 where it was $55,000.

The Sale grossed over $211 million across all three books.

Morrisey secures colt with extra Edge

Timing proved crucial for the half-brother to R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic runner-up Alpine Edge, with the Deep Field colt to be a Gold Coast neighbour after John Morrisey paid $310,000 for him from the draft of his breeders at Yarramalong Park.

The chestnut was always destined to be a standout of the final day of the Sale, after his half-brother kicked off his career with back-to-back stakes successes in the Listed Phelan Ready S. and G3 BJ McLachlan S. in December.

The Toby and Trent Edmonds-trained Alpine Edge then ran an excellent race when beaten just 1.25l by Shaquero (Shalaa {Ire}) in Saturday's $2 million race, further boosting the profile of Lot 1244 for Yarramalong,

"We sold his half-brother by Better Than Ready last year for $160,000 and we kept 25 per cent of him. He's gone on and won nearly $600,000 in three starts and there looks a lot more to come hopefully," Yarramalong's Richard Foster said. "With this colt, we thought we better sell him and take some money off the table.

"He was always a very nice colt, right from birth, as they all are out of that particular mare. I'm so happy John Morrisey has got him. We’ve raced plenty of horses with Johnny over the years, off and on, and he's a great mate of ours and a great friend. We hope he has bought himself a champion."

Lot 1244 - Deep Field x Freezethemillions (colt)

Morrisey played a typically close hand through the bidding process, prevailing in a dual with agent Denys Chan to buy the colt on behalf of his biggest stable supporters, Gundaroo Stud.

"He's a lovely horse this one, a different type of horse to his half-brother, but a very nice horse," he said.

"He's a little neat, compact horse, the owner liked him more than me, but I thought he was a nice little horse.

"He's (Lot 1244) a little neat, compact horse, the owner liked him more than me, but I thought he was a nice little horse." - John Morrisey

"I have had Gundaroo Stud as a supporter for 30 something years, so it's good to continue that."

The dam, Freezethemillions (Freeze), was stakes-placed herself as a 2-year-old, and Morrisey feels the precocity looks to have flowed through to the son of Newgate Stud's Deep Field.

"I feel he will make a 2-year-old. We will try to see if he can be a horse that might make the race next year. We can only try," he said.

Foster, who bred Freezethemillions, and bought her back after selling her as a yearling, will not be surprised to see the Deep Field colt in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic in 2022.

"I think he's a genuine 2-year-old type and chance. He is built that way. He's a solid horse, well-made, and well-balanced. For a 2-year-old, balance is everything. John will find that out with him as he goes, he's a good trainer," he said.

Freezethemillions foaled a Better Than Ready colt last year and visited the Lyndhurst Stud Farm stallion again in 2020.

Iffraaj colt headed to Hong Kong

While he may have been underbidder on Lot 1244, Chan did not miss out when it came to securing Lot 1186, a colt by Iffraaj out of the draft of Bhima Thoroughbreds for $310,000.

It was the second year in a row a yearling by former Haunui Farm shuttler Iffraaj topped Book 2 and Chan snapped him up on behalf of Hong Kong-based Golden River Investments.

Lot 1186 x Iffraaj (GB) x Busted Love (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions

“I like him a lot. He’s obviously a nice, big horse who is a type. He is a good walker and he vetted all clean," Chan said.

“He is for a Hong Kong client but he could race here in Australia before going back to Hong Kong on a PP or something like that."

Chan said the colt would likely be broken in in Australia to begin his career.

“I haven’t made up my mind yet but maybe he will go to Bjorn Baker or Greg Eurell in Melbourne. The Iffraajs run well in Hong Kong and I think they bought the mare in foal to him."

Lot 1186 befitted from a nice recent pedigree update with half-sister, Cool Change (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}), recently stakes-placed in New Zealand. His dam is a half-sister to the Listed winner Be Bee (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}) and stakes-placed Platinum Express (Showcasing {GB}). The third dam is the Triple Crown winning 2-year-old filly Burst (Marauding {NZ}).

Lot 1186 x Iffraaj (GB) x Busted Love (colt)

The result was an outstanding one for both Bhima, and the colt's breeders.

"I think the owner will be ecstatic. He's a lovely horse, obviously a Classic horse, and he got a good update at the right time. He paraded well all week, showed himself off well and his sire is doing a great job. I couldn't be happier," Bhima's Mike Fleming said.

"He's owned by Shannon Taylor that does the marketing and everything for Haunui, her and her father-in-law. He came over and was prepped here. She targeted him into here for Book 2. They can take all the credit, we just prepped him and put him through."

"He's (Lot 1186) owned by Shannon Taylor that does the marketing and everything for Haunui... She targeted him into here for Book 2. They can take all the credit, we just prepped him and put him through." - Mike Fleming

It ends another successful week for Bhima, which has sold 25 horses for just shy of $7 million this week, including another New Zealand colt, by first-season sire Almanzor (Fr), for $800,000.

"I just think the Aussies know those Classic horses those mile/mile and a-quarter horses. They are well-reared and well sought out of New Zealand. To bring them to the Australian market has worked very well. We might be looking a few coming across the Tasman in the near future," he said.

Fogden's Extreme option

The third highest price of the day was the $220,000 Kacy Fogden paid for Lot 1157, a colt by Extreme Choice.

Offered by Lyndhurst Stud Farm, he is out of Anabarbie (Anabaa {USA}), making him a half-brother to recent winners Tabatha Miss (Magic Albert) and Real Ana (Real Saga), while Group 1 winner Racing To Win (Encosta De Lago) and star sprinters Classique Legend (Not A Single Doubt) and Aethero (Sebring) also feature on the page.

Lot 1157 - Extreme Choice x Anabarbie (colt)

“We went back and saw him a couple of times. He’s just a belter - the more you looked at him, the more you liked him. He’s got a really powerful walk, a good hindquarter and a good action and he’s really strong, too," Fogden said.

“He’s the first Extreme Choice one we’ve had, so we are really excited about that. Being in Book 2, we had him valued just under that, so we had to go an extra bid just to secure him but we are certainly rapt."

Lot 1110, the half-sister to Group 1 winner Lasqueti Spirit (Beneteau) was sold by Alexia Fraser bloodstock for $180,000 to Mystery Downs and John Foote.

Lot 1110 - Spirit Of Boom x Lasqueti Spirit (filly)

Better Than Ready had the highest aggregate of all stallions in Book 2, with $920,000 in sales across 12 lots, while Deep Field had the highest average (more than 3 lots) at $135,883 across his six sales.

Arrowfield was the leading vendor in both Book 1 and Book 2, with $1.3 million gross in Book 2 to add to the $14.655 million they sold earlier in the week.

Heinrich Bloodstock ended Book 2 as the biggest buyers, spending $560,000 across five lots, while Fogden purchased four lots, spending $540,000.

Heinrichs secure four from Godolphin

Hoss and Gillian Heinrich then stepped up during the 14-lot Gold Coast Summer Racehorse Sale, buying the top three lots.

They purchased Hilo (Lonhro), the stakes-placed gelding from the family of Group 1 winners Fiumicino (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), Brew (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}), Sacred Elixir (NZ) (Pour Moi {Ire}) and Mr Quickie (Shamus Award) for $220,000.

They also purchased Deference (Exceed And Excel) for $150,000, Chilliwack (Exceed And Excel) for $100,000 and Whispered (Lonhro) for $45,000.

Lot 1314 - Hilo

The 10-lot Book 3 grossed $43,000, with Lot 1084, by Sheer Talent, the top lot at $14,000.

Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch praised everyone who made the Sale such a success over the past seven days, which has seen record amounts of horses sold and money change hands.

"Whether it be the vendors, the buyers, the truck drivers, the catering, the security, or whoever, over the last month, there has been a lot of sacrifices made by a lot of different people, my team especially," he said.

"I'm so thankful and congratulate them for working with us and ensuring that we've created a memorable result which will go down in the history of Magic Millions as something very special."

Top lots

1186Iffraaj Busted Love CBhima Thoroughbreds, Scone, NSW (As Agent)Golden River InvestmentsHONG KONG$310,000
1244Deep Field Freezethemillions CYarramalong Park, Kalbar, QldJohn MorriseyQLD$310,000
1010Scissor Kick Moonlight Hussey FArrowfield Stud, Scone, NSW (As Agent)All Winners ThoroughbredsQLD$300,000
1157Extreme Choice Anabarbie CLyndhurst Stud Farm, Warwick, Qld (As Agent)Kacy Fogden RacingQLD$220,000
1043All Too Hard Poppet's Treasure CVinery Stud, Scone, NSW (As Agent)Kacy Fogden RacingQLD$200,000
1110Spirit Of Boom Supriym Story FAlexia Fraser Bloodstock, Warwick, Qld (As Agent)Mystery Downs/John Foote BloodstockNSW$180,000
1120Better Than Ready Testy CYarramalong Park, Kalbar, QldChris Anderson Racing/Steve Morley BloodstockQLD$175,000
1018All Too Hard Nikkirina CCressfield, Scone, NSW (As Agent)DGR Thoroughbred Services Pty Ltd (FBAA)/Chris Anderson RacingQLD$170,000
987Spill The Beans Love Of Liberty CKBL Thoroughbreds, Beaudesert, Qld (As Agent)Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA)/Gerald Ryan RacingNSW$160,000
1090Winning Rupert Smart Amelia CWidden Stud, Widden Valley, NSW (As Agent)Heinrich BloodstockQLD$160,000

Top buyers

Heinrich Bloodstock5$560,000$112,000$160,000
Kacy Fogden Racing4$540,000$135,000$220,000
John Morrisey3$505,000$168,333$310,000
All Winners Thoroughbreds5$460,000$92,000$300,000
Golden River Investments2$365,000$182,500$310,000
Gollan Racing/John Foote Bloodstock3$330,000$110,000$150,000
Michael Costa Racing/Bevan Smith Bloodstock4$275,000$68,750$110,000
Archer Park Racing Pty Ltd4$262,500$65,625$90,000
Les Kelly4$251,000$62,750$125,000
Matthew Smith Racing/John Foote Bloodstock2$250,000$125,000$140,000

Vendors by aggregate

Arrowfield Stud, Scone, NSW16$1,307,000$81,688$300,000
Yarramalong Park, Kalbar, Qld10$1,055,000$105,500$310,000
KBL Thoroughbreds, Beaudesert, Qld16$904,000$56,500$160,000
Murrulla Stud, Wingen, NSW12$631,000$52,583$110,000
Eureka Stud, Cambooya, Qld9$612,500$68,056$150,000
Lyndhurst Stud Farm, Warwick, Qld5$554,000$110,800$220,000
Alexia Fraser Bloodstock, Warwick, Qld8$530,000$66,250$180,000
Baramul Stud, Widden Valley, NSW16$507,000$31,688$60,000
Bowness Stud, Young, NSW12$493,500$41,125$130,000
Bhima Thoroughbreds, Scone, NSW5$482,500$96,500$310,000

Vendors by average (3 or more sold)

Lyndhurst Stud Farm, Warwick, Qld5$110,800$554,000$220,000
Vinery Stud, Scone, NSW3$106,667$320,000$200,000
Yarramalong Park, Kalbar, Qld10$105,500$1,055,000$310,000
Raheen Stud, Darling Downs, Qld4$102,500$410,000$150,000
Gainsborough Lodge, Toowoomba, Qld3$99,167$297,500$120,000
Bhima Thoroughbreds, Scone, NSW5$96,500$482,500$310,000
Cressfield, Scone, NSW3$93,333$280,000$170,000
Arrowfield Stud, Scone, NSW16$81,688$1,307,000$300,000
Kenmore Lodge, Wyreema, Qld5$72,000$360,000$150,000
Edinglassie Thoroughbreds, Muswellbrook, NSW4$70,000$280,000$85,000

Top sires by aggregate

Better Than Ready12$920,000$76,667$175,000
Deep Field6$815,000$135,833$310,000
Winning Rupert13$712,500$54,808$160,000
Spirit Of Boom 8$670,000$83,750$180,000
All Too Hard9$610,000$67,778$200,000
Epaulette 7$512,500$73,214$140,000
Pariah 7$417,000$59,571$105,000
Heroic Valour 4$410,000$102,500$150,000
Capitalist 6$405,000$67,500$100,000
Scissor Kick2$337,500$168,750$300,000

Top sires by average (3 or more sold)

Deep Field 6$135,833$310,000$815,000
Heroic Valour 4$102,500$150,000$410,000
Headwater 3$88,333$110,000$265,000
Maurice 3$85,000$100,000$255,000
Spirit Of Boom 8$83,750$180,000$670,000
Nicconi 4$77,500$110,000$310,000
Better Than Ready 12$76,667$175,000$920,000
Mikki Isle 3$75,667$125,000$227,000
Epaulette 7$73,214$140,000$512,500
Hellbent 4$68,750$100,000$275,000