Eight millionaires power another record day on the Gold Coast

Vinnie colt heads Coolmore hat-trick

Coolmore Australia principal Tom Magnier struck with a hat-trick of seven-figure purchases on Day 3 of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, headlined by the $1.9 million paid for Lot 585, an I Am Invincible colt from the draft of Newgate.

Coolmore struck gold with a son of I Am Invincible last spring with the Chris Waller-trained Home Affairs booking his progress to the Jerrys Plains stud barn with a runaway success in the G1 Coolmore Stud S. in October.

Magnier is clearly keen to revisit that success with the same trainer after he prevailed in a tough bidding dual to go to the top-price of the Sale so far for the well-related colt.

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"He’s a lovely horse. To the team at Newgate, they don’t need any introductions as to how well they raise their horses. He was a lovely type. We know how good Dubious was," he said.

"We have a great team here at the Sale picking these horses. Everyone landed on this horse. They liked him a lot.

"He’s one of the lovely horses in the Sale. He was fast and has got the pedigree that everybody understands. Chris will have to work his magic now."

Gallery: The trio of million-dollar yearlings bought by Tom Magnier on Day 3, images courtesy of Magic Millions

The colt is out of Suspicieuse (Fr) (Elusive City {USA}), who has already produced the Group 2-winning son of Not A Single Doubt and young Aquis stallion Dubious. It is a family with rich international bloodlines, featuring stakes winners Sediciosa (Ire) (Rail Link {GB}) and San Huberto (Ire) (Speightstown {USA}).

Suspicieuse was originally a €55,000 (AU$86,000) Arqana purchase and is owned by Love Racing. Since foaling this colt, she has produced a filly by Pariah and visited King's Legacy (GB).

It was a marquee result for Newgate, which continued to reign supreme on top of the vendors' list at the end of the third day, with nearly $12 million in sales.

"He was born on the farm. James Harron purchased the mother and put a syndicate together to buy the mare and some great supporters of the farm are in the mare. We were really pleased when he was born because he’s been a star colt since day dot," Newgate Managing Director Henry Field said.

"The day he was born, I remember talking to James Harron and saying this horse will top a yearling sale one day and that’s exactly what he’s done.

"He’s the real deal and it’s great that Coolmore have bought it. There was hot competition for him but he was a rare jewel."

Field was particularly pleased to see the colt head to the Coolmore syndicate.

"I’m glad they got him. Tom Magnier and M.V. Magnier are really close friends of mine and it will be very special if the horse can run as good as he looks because, if he does, he’ll be a horse that will certainly take the market share away from our stallion barn in two years' time," he said.

"We feel great about the fact that he was so well admired by so many judges but I’m most happy for the clients of the farm that own the horse. Most the owners of that horse have been long time clients of Newgate and when he was born it was… we hit the jackpot."

Snitzel colt fits the bill

Earlier, Magnier had paid $1.1 million each for colts by Snitzel (Lot 428) and Not A Single Doubt (Lot 436).

The Snitzel colt, out of American mare Red Lodge (USA) (Midshipman {USA}), was purchased from Emirates Park, with Magnier saying Coolmore was keen to access a family which had global appeal.

"We liked this horse a lot but the thing that stood out for us was the Midshipman. Obviously we have Golden Pal, probably the fastest horse in America out of a Midshipman mare and Wesley Ward has been onto us all week because he trained the mother and it’s a very, very fast family," he said.

Golden Pal (USA), the winner of the G1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, could be headed to Australia this year to tackle some of the rich sprint races and Lot 428 is also from a family with plenty of speed with his dam a stakes winner over 1100 metres and a granddaughter of multiple Grade 1 winner Memories Of Silver (USA) (Silver Hawk {USA}).

"He’s a horse that we’re thinking about taking down here, Golden Pal, so it’s kind of a page that we know well, it’s got plenty of speed and it’s what we liked in Australia. They’re very fast, loves the speed and the proof has been in the pudding, so far," Magnier said.

The colt will join Waller's stable as well.

"We need a bit of luck now and there’s no better man than Chris (Waller) to get the job done."

For the second day in a row, Emirates Park managed to secure a seven-figure result, having sold an I Am Invincible filly (Lot 306) or $1.55 million on Wednesday.

"He was lovely colt and it’s a great result. We bought the mare in America a few years ago and it’s the first one we bred ourselves out of her. To get a result like that, it pays for her and it’s gone to a good stable. That's all you can hope for," Emirates Park General Manager Bryan Carlson said.

"From when he was born, he has always been a lovely colt. He was always aimed at Magic Millions so we couldn't ask for much more."

Red Lodge produced a Tassort filly last year while she is now in foal to I Am Invincible.

Emirates Park has sold eight lots across the first three days at an average price of $517,500 which Carlson said was a brailing outcome to this point.

"We’ve had a great sale. We are trying not to be at the top end for a boutique farm and get the results."

Million-dollar milestone for Lauriston

Also celebrating a marquee result was Lauriston Thoroughbred farm, which sold its first $1 million-plus lot when Magnier paid $1.1 million for its Not A Single Doubt colt, Lot 436.

Magnier was again effusive in his praise of the colt out of Rhodamine (Success Express {USA}), saying Coolmore was particularly keen to secure one of the final colts by now-pensioned Arrowfield Stud stallion Not A Single Doubt.

“It’s like certain types of property, they don’t make them anymore. He was just such a lovely horse. The strength and the power and the width. He looks like a real fast, early type. James O’Brien and all their staff did a great job with the horse," he said.

"There’s good horses here and there’s just such tough competition. You’ll have days when you get plenty and days when you won’t."

Rhodamine, who sadly died when foaling this colt, is the dam of two stakes performers by Not A Single Doubt, Legend Of Condor and Pantonario, the latter who finished third in the G3 Gimcrack S. for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott in October.

James O'Brien of Lauriston Thoroughbred Farm said it was a milestone moment for the Victorian Farm, whose previous best result was the $520,000 this colt's brother secured in 2017.

"He's a lovely colt, really strong, I think he will be really early. His sister ran third in the Gimcrack, and I think that he's given us every indication that he is as early, if not earlier than her," he said.

"To go into a Coolmore stallion syndicate as well as Chris Waller training him, that's a fantastic outcome."

That Pierro-Redoute's nick

Ciaron Maher Bloodstock continued to invest at will throughout the third day, and the Sale's biggest buyer made a considerable splash when paying $1.5 million for Lot 419, a colt by Pierro from Kia Ora Stud.

The colt, who is out of Kia Ora's multiple stakes-winning homebred Ravi (Redoute's Choice), became the equal highest-priced yearling of his Coolmore-based sire, but it was a price that Maher's Bloodstock Manager, Will Bourne, said they were prepared to pay.

“He’s got a lovely physical and going along with that, he’s a Pierro out of a Redoute’s mare who’s won herself," he said.

“Pierro-Redoute’s crosses have produced three Group 1 winners from a sample of sales of about 40 horses. So it’s a proven sire, the mare could run, it’s a proven cross so it was a real no brainer for us. We loved the colt and we thought we had a bit of profitability in our favour."

Bourne said the physical nature of the horse and his pedigree suggested he would be a horse that would be peaking in his 3-year-old season.

"He’ll be more of a 3-year-old but he’s that athletic, I wouldn’t put it past him to do something at two. Pierro sires more 3-year-olds but in saying that we saw Snowden’s horse (Paris Dior), a Pierro, really win dominantly at Canterbury (Friday) so he can still get a 2-year-old," he said.

“Going off the benchmark of yesterday at $1.7 million, he’s a quality colt, one of the proper colts in the Sale so that ($1.5 million) is what the market says.’’

Ravi won a G3 Sheraco S. and Listed How Now H. in the dual blue colours of Kia Ora and is a sister to Elzaam, who was a Listed winner and Group 1-producing stallion.

She has produced an unraced brother to this colt, Ravin, who cost Mick Price $200,000 through last year's Inglis Easter Sale, while she foaled an I Am Invincible colt last year before visiting that stallion again.

Kia Ora Bloodstock and Breeding Manager Shane Wright said the result meant a lot to the team.

"A phenomenal result, we love the colt and expected him to sell well but you can never foresee a result like that," he said.

"He's been very popular all week and has taken everything in his stride the whole way through the Sale and never put a foot out of place. This kind of temperament along with his physical attributes made him a very sought-after colt and one of the busiest horses I've ever had pleasure of selling at Magics."

Among the nine stakes winners by Pierro from Redoute's Choice mares are Group 1 winners Arcadia Queen, Regal Power and Levendi.

"We all know the Pierro x Redoute's cross works so well and when you can combine that with the type of horse he is a very exciting colt going forward, and the market reflected that," Wright said.

"Ciaron and David have bought a magnificent group of horses this week and we couldn't be happier that he joins their stable, he gets every chance and we wish them the best of luck with him."

Another record day

Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said the extraordinary success of the third day had been building over the first two sessions of the Sale.

"To be already at $154 million is a huge Sale. I think the momentum that we’d got over the first two days of the Sale was evident today. It was bullish bidding. There was from bottom to top, it was strong and I’m speechless to be honest. It’s an outstanding Sale," he said.

Again, despite the dizzying figures and host a $1 million-plus lots, it is the 94 per cent clearance rate which is most pleasing for Bowditch, with vendors getting rewarded for putting their horses on the market.

"If you had said we’d be sitting here at the end of Day 3 and we’d sold 516 horses and only passed 34 in, I would have told you to get your head read. But that’s exactly what we strive to do. To find buyers at all numbers for these horses," he said.

"It’s not about us just finding people to buy the big horses, there’s work in them but there’s just as much work in the lower end of the market and that’s just as vital for our vendors who support the Sale at all levels.

“It’s going to be a record-breaking Magic Millions Yearling Sale. We’re super proud of what we’ve put together.”

Silverdale celebrates after Snitzel sale

The top-price filly on the day was Lot 590, the daughter Of Snitzel and Sweet Sherry (Bel Esprit) offered by Silverdale Farm and sold for $1.35 million to Badgers Bloodstock and Glentree Thoroughbreds.

The filly is the first living foal out of Sweet Sherry, who was a Group 2 winner on the track and is a half-sister to multiple Group 2 winner Arinosa (Dash For Cash) as well as stakes-placed pair Onerous (Dash For Cash) and Andaz (Dash For Cash).

"She is by Snitzel and a great physical type… it made her a key target for us right from the very start," Glentree Thoroughbreds' manager Luke Simpson said.

"The plan is to race her and she’ll later enter our broodmare barn. Ciaron Maher and David Eustace will have her to race."

It was a first seven-figure result for burgeoning outfit Silverdale Farm, and a moment worth celebrating for principal Steve Grant and his team.

"It's just our second consignment, so just wait until we get good at it," he said. "We prepare these horses for life and the Sale is only one of the processes for us.

"We're just on our way to celebrate, we've given her a big kiss goodbye as she won't be here in the morning and we're off to kick up our heels."

Silverdale is in the remarkable position of leading all vendors by average, having sold four horses at an average of $743,750.

"We came with good expectations and I like looking at the average sales by studs. We were pleased to get on the board up high last year and looking at that now well that's of course fantastic to be leading the list," he said.

Sweet Sherry, who was a $260,000 yearling purchase from Swettenham Stud by Cloud 9 Thoroughbreds and who raced for trainer Brent Stanley, produced an Exceed And Excel filly last year and then visited I Am Invincible.

Another Zoustar for the Victorian Alliance

The Victorian Alliance swooped to pay $1.3 million for a Zoustar colt (Lot 375) on Wednesday and replicated that approach a day later, by paying $1.25 million for Lot 574, a son of the same stallion, who was offered by Widden Stud.

Thursday's purchase is out of Group 2 winner Summer Sham (Not A Single Doubt), meaning this colt boasts a triple cross of blue hen Shantha's Choice (Canny Lad) in his pedigree.

His third grandsire is Redoute's Choice through both his sire Zoustar and his dam, who is also a granddaughter of the late Arrowfield stallion's half-sister Unspoken Choice (Giant's Causeway {USA}).

"He’s got an unbelievable family, out of a Group 2-winning daughter of Not A Single Doubt and the family of Redoute’s Choice," Ryan McEvoy, General manager, Bloodstock at Rosemont Stud, which spearheads the Victorian Alliance said.

"The Victorian Alliance, clearly our emphasis is to buy colts that can ultimately end up in the stallion barn at Rosemont and again he’s a horse that fits that profile."

Widden-based Summer Sham was purchased by David Redvers for $650,000 in 2019 and has an unnamed Star Witness 2-year-old and a Zoustar foal filly, going back to the same sire again in 2021.

It’s Go Time for Snitzel

Four-time Champion sire Snitzel had three $1 million-plus lots on the day, with the third, Lot 567, a colt from Segenhoe Stud, going to Annabel Neasham and Brian McGuire for $1.1 million.

Like the other seven-figure Snitzel colt, he is out of an American mare, the Listed winner Street Secret (USA) (Street Cry {Ire}), who has already produced the Listed winner and Group 1 placegetter Frankely Awesome (Frankel {GB}).

The rich international pedigree includes Urban Sea (USA) (Miswaki {USA}), the half-sister to this colt's third dam, and the dam of influential sires Galileo (Ire) and Sea The Stars (Ire), who were both G1 Derby winners.

On pedigree and type, he was hard to fault for Neasham.

"He was an absolute beauty. We’ve had our eye on him since we saw him on the farm. Snitzel you can’t go wrong with, can you? And she’s already a producer of a Group 1-performed horse," she said.

"When you buy off farms like Segenhoe it just gives you a bit of assurance. Year in, year out they produce good horses off their farm and he was born and raised there. That for me is a big tick, where they come from. That combined with him just being a beauty is probably what made us go to that price."

The colt was bred by Sir Owen Glenn's Go Bloodstock, who purchased his dam, Street Secret for $680,000 in 2017. Segenhoe Stud General Manager Peter O'Brien said the result was a fitting success for Sir Owen and his bloodstock manager Stephen O’Connor.

"He is a really good client of ours, a great friend of the farm and everyone was over the moon for Sir Owen to get a million-dollar horse because he puts so much in," he said.

"He’s a terrific man. He’s put a lot of money into the horses and if anyone deserves that result, it’s him. Particularly it’s gone to Annabel, who is also another great friend of ours so it’s a perfect scenario."

Street Secret has a Lonhro foal filly, while she was sent to Snitzel's son Russian Revolution, last year.

Sir Owen re-invests

Go Bloodstock was also active as a buyer at the top end, spending, in conjunction with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, $1 million on Lot 523, a colt by I Am Invincible from the Yarraman Park draft.

Go Bloodstock's flagbearer in Australia was Criterion (NZ) (Sebring) and this colt is out of his stakes-winning half-sister Silently (Anabaa {USA}), who has already produced the Group 2 winner Muwaary (O'Reilly {NZ}).

"Great stallion, I Am Invincible, there was a lot of strength particularly through his second dam there. Criterion featured prominently there. Sir Owen's Go Bloodstock raced Criterion so they’ve bought into the partnership in the horse," Bott said.

"He just looks a nice forward type, athletic colt that caught our attention pretty early in the Sale and has held that all the way through. He was the one that we were really prepared to secure."

Silently, who is owned by Yarraman Park's Mitchell family, foaled a brother to Lot 523 last spring before visiting Wootton Bassett (GB).

It was the first million-dollar lot for Waterhouse and Bott of the Sale, but they have purchased a total of 24 horses either on their own or in partnership, spending a combined $10.355 million and trailing only Ciaron Maher Bloodstock in terms of investment.

"We’ve bid strong on a couple of colts but this one we were particularly strong on. This one was very easy because we all rated him very highly, we all marked him very highly across the board," Bott said.

Day 4 of the Sale commences at 10am local on Friday (11am AEDT).

Top lots

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Vendors by aggregate

Vendors by average (3 or more sold)

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Sires by average (3 or more sold)