Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
At A Glance
The Godolphin-offered Phaistos headlines the final day of the National Sale series with his $165,000 sale to Hoss and Gillian Heinrich.
Jeronimos (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) will join him at the Henrich’s Gold Coast stable after his $90,000 purchase by the couple under their Winners Bloodstock banner.
Book 2 ended the yearling action with 315 lots grossing $16,017,000 over the three days at an average of $45,632, the median sat at $25,000 and a clearance rate of 71.34 per cent.
Twelve months ago, 314 lots traded for $11,325,500 at an average of $36,068, the median was $20,000 and the clearance rate was 81.77 per cent.
The top lot of the Book 2 catalogue on Thursday was a Pride Of Dubai filly, who realised $95,000 presented by Roona Lodge.
Group 1-winning trainer Cliff Brown added to his new Mornington stable after returning from Singapore with his $40,000 purchase of a Swear filly out of Lucas Bloodstock’s draft.
The former James Cummings-trained Phaistos was offered during Thursday’s National Racehorse Sale as part of the Godolphin consignment, which dominated the session with eight of the 11 total thoroughbreds sold.
The 5-year-old was popular in the ring and was finally knocked down for $165,000 to Hoss and Gillian Heinrich, who train at the Gold Coast but weren't on site, under their Winners Bloodstock banner and they also went to $90,000 for Jeronimos.
“We kept creeping above the budget, but he was the highlight of the day and the one they wanted,” said Magic Millions Consultant Clint Donovan, who took bidding instructions on the phone.
“We kept creeping above the budget, but he (Phaistos) was the highlight of the day and the one they (Hoss and Gillian Heinrich) wanted.” – Clint Donovan
“They will have a lot of fun with him. He’ll just walk across the road now and into the very capable hands of Gillian.”
Phaistos has already banked nearly $460,000 from his six wins and 11 placings from his 24 appearances and has finished runner-up at Listed level in both the Scone Cup and Weekend Hussler H.
“He probably won’t be that easy to place, but if they find the right races for him he’ll be competitive,” Donovan said.
A half-brother to the G2 Sandown Guineas winner Paximadia (Commands), Phaistos is out of Latona (GB) (Fantastic Light {USA}) and she is a half-sister to the G3 Prix de Barbeville winner Magna Graecia (Ire). In the immediate family is Darley stallion G1 Prix Jean Prat winner Territories (Ire).
Winner a grinner
Sold as Lot 2111, Jeronimos collected a win and four placings during his time with Cummings and is out of Viana (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}), the Listed winner of the Spring Classic and a grand-daughter of the G2 Hollindale Cup winner Melora (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}).
Godolphin also received $80,000 for the two-time winner Fatigues (Hallowed Crown), who was purchased by Cranbourne trainer Richard Laming with Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch bidding on his behalf.
The other major Godolphin sale was Beau Ideal (GB) (Exceed And Excel) who, via Magic Millions Bloodstock Consultant Ben Culham, was purchased by Big Seal Racing for $70,000.
“We thought we would have to pay a bit more so it was good value at the price and David Vandyke will train him,” Culham said.
Beau Ideal was a Listed winner and Group performer in France before relocating to Australia where he doubled his winning tally and was third at Doomben in his most recent appearance last month.
Filly bought with Pride
Earlier in the day, during the Book 2 yearling session, $95,000 was paid for Lot 1955, a daughter of Pride Of Dubai with Scott Bancroft signing the docket to dissolve a partnership.
Offered by Roona Lodge, the filly is out of Bevico Girl (Easy Rocking) and is a half-sister to the Listed Bright Shadow S. winner Jami Lady (Spirit Of Boom).
Book 2 ended the yearling action with 315 lots grossing $16,017,000 over the three days at an average of $45,632, the median sat at $25,000 and a clearance rate of 71.34 per cent.
Twelve months ago, 314 lots traded for $11,325,500 at an average of $36,068, the median was $20,000 and the clearance rate was 81.77 per cent.
Lot 1955 - Pride Of Dubai x Bevico Girl (filly)
During a Book 2 session when a number of lots at the top of the market were bought back by connections, Group 1-winning trainer Cliff Brown, who returned to Australia earlier this year after a highly successful 12 year stint in Singapore, added to his new Mornington operation.
Brown was taken by a daughter of the Group 3 winner Swear and outlaid $40,000 for the filly, Lot 1914, who was offered by Lucas Bloodstock.
The bidding was successfully carried out by Magic Millions’ Victoria and Tasmanian Bloodstock Consultant Tim Brown.
“She’s a nice filly, good-looking and athletic. I liaised with Cliff and we both liked her and we got her within budget,” he said. “Cliff’s stocking the stable and hopefully this filly will do well for him.”
Lot 1914 - Swear x Shake It Up (USA) (filly)
She is out of the imported mare Shake It Up (USA) (Red Bullet {USA}), who has produced the G3 Gulfstream Park Orchid S. winner Regalo Mia (USA) (Sligo Bay {Ire}), who was also successful at Listed level and the dam of the stakes performer Luigi Pirandello (USA) (The Factor {USA}).
Shake It Up is also a half-sister to the North American black-type winner Hot Talent (USA) (Alphabet Soup {USA}) and she is the dam of Listed success stories Big Game Baby (USA) (Gold Tribute {USA}) and Hot Zapper (USA) (Ghostzapper {USA}).
Brown trained successfully in Victoria before moving to Singapore, having prepared 13 Group 1 and Group 2 winners in Australia including the 1997 Rosehill Guineas, 2002 Adelaide Cup and the South Australian Derby in 1996, 1997 and 2000.
*Magic Millions National Racehorse Sale results
Top lots
| 2103 | Phaistos | G | Helmet | Latona | Godolphin, Hunter Valley, NSW | Winners Bloodstock | QLD | $165,000 |
| 2111 | Jeronimos | G | Contributer | Viana | Godolphin, Hunter Valley, NSW | Winners Bloodstock | QLD | $90,000 |
| 2109 | Fatigues | G | Hallowed Crown | Clothing | Godolphin, Hunter Valley, NSW | Laming Racing | QLD | $80,000 |
| 2107 | Beau Ideal | G | Exceed And Excel | Lay Time | Godolphin, Hunter Valley, NSW | Big Seal Racing | NSW | $70,000 |
| 2102 | Nerone | G | Hallowed Crown | Rosa Raisa | Godolphin, Hunter Valley, NSW | Laming Racing | QLD | $42,500 |
| 2101 | Namazu | G | Medaglia D’Oro | Earthquake | Godolphin, Hunter Valley, NSW | Pavel Cheimardinov | QLD | $40,000 |
| 2105 | Winston Blue | G | Sebring | Diamond Glow | Godolphin, Hunter Valley, NSW | Shummis Rane | QLD | $22,500 |
| 2104 | Plague Stone | G | Lonhro | Giggleswick | David Pfieffer Racing Stables, Sydney, NSW (As Agent) | Roy Sergi | NSW | $7500 |
| 2108 | Choir | G | Teofilo | Sung | Godolphin, Hunter Valley, NSW | Katina Cotsiopoulos | QLD | $7500 |
| 2106 | Awesome Power | M | Hidden Dragon | Nano | E J, M A & G E Nolan, Palm Beach, Qld | Whyte Racing | QLD | $7000 |
| 2110 | I'm Magical | F | Better Than Ready | Hanaan | Mrs C Holmes, Brisbane, Qld | Amy Taylor | QLD | $2000 |
Top buyers
| Winners Bloodstock | 2 | $255,000 | $127,500 | $165,000 |
| Laming Racing | 2 | $122,500 | $61,250 | $80,000 |
| Big Seal Racing | 1 | $70,000 | $70,000 | $70,000 |
| Pavel Cheimardinov | 1 | $40,000 | $40,000 | $40,000 |
| Shummis Rane | 1 | $22,500 | $22,500 | $22,500 |
| Katina Cotsiopoulos | 1 | $7500 | $7500 | $7500 |
| Roy Sergi | 1 | $7500 | $7500 | $7500 |
| Whyte Racing | 1 | $7000 | $7000 | $7000 |
| Amy Taylor | 1 | $2000 | $2000 | $2000 |
Top vendors by aggregate
| Godolphin, Hunter Valley, NSW | 8 | $517,500 | $64,688 | $165,000 |
| David Pfieffer Racing Stables, Sydney, NSW | 1 | $7500 | $7500 | $7500 |
| E J, M A & G E Nolan, Palm Beach, Qld | 1 | $7000 | $7000 | $7000 |
| Mrs C Holmes, Brisbane, Qld | 1 | $2000 | $2000 | $2000 |
Top sires by aggregate
| Helmet | 1 | $165,000 | $165,000 | $165,000 |
| Hallowed Crown | 2 | $122,500 | $61,250 | $80,000 |
| Contributer | 1 | $90,000 | $90,000 | $90,000 |
| Exceed And Excel | 1 | $70,000 | $70,000 | $70,000 |
| Medaglia D’Oro | 1 | $40,000 | $40,000 | $40,000 |
| Sebring | 1 | $22,500 | $22,500 | $22,500 |
| Lonhro | 1 | $7500 | $7500 | $7500 |
| Teofilo | 1 | $7500 | $7500 | $7500 |
| Hidden Dragon | 1 | $7000 | $7000 | $7000 |
| Better Than Ready | 1 | $2000 | $2000 | $2000 |
