Spirits high on March Sale opening day

10 min read
A 'genuine' opening day's trade at the Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale was highlighted by two quality Spirit Of Boom colts that topped the session at $180,000 and $140,000 respectively with both set to enter the stables of Tony Gollan.

Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions

At A Glance

The Day 1 average of $39,679 failed to match a record opening to the 2021 edition, ($47,156), but was well up on the $29,024 of 2020.

The Sale aggregate stands at $6.11 million ($7.5 million last year), the median at $30,000 ($35,000) and the clearance at 81.5 per cent (84 per cent).

As he has for the past few editions of this Sale, Eureka Stud's Spirit Of Boom was dominant, with the top two lots and the highest aggregate ($928,000).

Written By, who had the third highest lot of the day, was the top sire on average, on $92,500.

Tony Gollan and John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) were the leading buyers, spending $502,000 across four lots, including the top two and another $125,000 on two lots in partnership with others.

The leading vendor was Kenmore Thoroughbreds, who had $847,500 in sales, while Glenlogan Park leads all vendors on average on $79,400.

Gollan in the Spirit

Trainer Tony Gollan trained Spirit Of Boom to double Group 1 glory himself and the Eureka Stud stallion has provided him with 22 individual winners, so it was no surprise to see Queensland's leading trainer pick up two quality colts by the stallion on the first day.

He went to the day's top price to secure, in partnership with his trusted bloodstock advisor John Foote (FBAA), Lot 120 from the draft of Eureka Stud for $180,000.

Tony Gollan | Image courtesy of Magic Millions

Bred by Mark Pascoe, that colt is out of Imanoremiss (Made Of Gold {USA}), making him a brother to Gollan's six-time winner Le Palmier as well four other multiple winners.

“Le Palmier has been a good horse, he’s won over $300,000, he’s a very fast horse and he’s what you come to the QTIS Sale to buy, a nice sharp, fast QTIS horse and I thought he was one of the nicer colts here at the Sale," Gollan said.

“There wasn’t all that many colts here and he was one of them and I was particularly happy to get him. We had to dig a bit deeper to secure him but that’s what we had to pay. He looks like all those other fast colts like Le Palmier was out of the family."

"There wasn’t all that many colts here and he (Lot 120) was one of them and I was particularly happy to get him. We had to dig a bit deeper to secure him but that’s what we had to pay." - Tony Gollan

Imanoremiss is a half-sister to dual stakes winner Magic Marvo (Bite The Bullet {USA}), a family which also includes stakes winners Mistador (Mister C {USA}) and Right Fong (Dr Fong {USA}). She foaled an Encryption filly last year before heading to Spirit Of Boom for the sixth time.

Eureka Stud principal Scott McAlpine said Lot 120 deserved his spot among the top lots of the Sale.

Lot 120 - Spirit Of Boom x Imanoremiss (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions

“He was a nice horse. Tony knows the family and knows the results of them and this horse is probably as nice a foal as she’s had," he said.

"He’s a nice, strong colt, a lovely horse who brought good competition, so everyone must have thought the same thing.

“He has gone to a good stable and we’re happy about the owner (of the yearling) because he’s been a shareholder in Spirit Of Boom and he’s had to race a couple of Spirit Of Booms himself and now this one has given him the reward."

“He (Lot 120) has gone to a good stable and we’re happy about the owner (of the yearling) because he’s been a shareholder in Spirit Of Boom and he’s had to race a couple of Spirit Of Booms himself and now this one has given him the reward ($180,000)." - Scott McAlpine

McAlpine said it was no surprise to see Gollan have so much success with the progeny of Spirit Of Boom, highlighted by the likes of Group 1 winner Jonker, who tackles Friday's G1 William Reid S.

“The Spirit Of Booms we know can be early horses but probably the majority of the Spirit Of Booms we purchased have probably needed a little bit more time and we’re fortunate that Tony’s given them that," he said.

"He knows what they need to get them across the line. They’re showing him some nice results, so look out towards the end of the season, they’ll be going quite well for us."

Kenmore Boom takes Gollan's eye

Earlier, Gollan and Foote had paid $140,000 for Lot 35, a colt from the Kenmore Lodge draft.

Again, there is a strong connection to the stable, with Gollan having trained Lot 35's half-brother Gundy Son (Falvelon) in the latter part of a career which saw him win 10 races, including two Listed races.

Lot 35 - Spirit Of Boom x Dantibes' Treasure (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions

Gollan also trains another half-brother, Tokoriki Lad (Falvelon), a winner of seven races and over $525,000 in prizemoney. Their dam, Dantibes' Treasure (Dantibes), has produced seven winning foals and is a half-sister to Listed winner Treasure The Kwila (Mister Kwila).

"He reminded me quite a lot of Gundy Son, he was a good horse. She’s an older mare, but she’s done a good job and she has no worries getting city-class horses," Gollan said.

"He looked a lovely yearling, that horse, by a stallion I like and know very well in Spirit Of Boom, so I really liked him and I was happy to secure him at that price."

"He (Lot 35) looked a lovely yearling, that horse, by a stallion I like and know very well in Spirit Of Boom, so I really liked him and I was happy to secure him at that price ($140,000)." - Tony Gollan

Dantibes' Treasure, who is 22, is still active as a broodmare and foaled a filly to Dracarys last year.

It was a highlight result for Kenmore Lodge, which sold 14 of its 16 horses offered on the day to be leading vendor on aggregate heading into Day 2.

"I think it was a pretty selective market, but when the horses hit the target it was a good result," Kenmore's Kellie Bond said.

"He (Lot 35) was a half-brother to a couple of really good horses and it was the mare's best mating so it probably wasn't a result that totally surprised us."

"He (Lot 35) was a half-brother to a couple of really good horses and it was the mare's best mating so it probably wasn't a result that totally surprised us." - Kellie Bond

Kenmore also sold Lot 179, a filly by Sidestep, to Gollan and Foote, for $130,000. She is out of Magic Ivy (NZ) (Magic Albert), who has two winners already and is a daughter of Group 3 winner Verlei (NZ) (Blues Traveller {Ire}).

It also sold Lot 26, a filly by Capitalist out of Crystal Nights (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}), to Helen Page for $105,000.

"The Capitalist was an okay result too and the Sidestep was a nice filly that delivered for us. There was good competition on the horses that met the mark," Bond said.

Kenmore is well-placed to finish as the Sale's leading vendor with 21 further horses to sell on Tuesday.

Gallery: Some of the other yearlings sold by Kenmore Lodge at the Magic Millions March Sale, images courtesy of Magic Millions

"We’ve got a massive draft of horses and so it’s a big job, but we have been well supported today by a good, diverse bunch of buyers and hopefully that continues," Bond said.

Gollan and Foote's fourth purchase of the day was a Sidestep colt, Lot 52, from Telemon Thoroughbreds for $52,000. He is the first foal out of I Am Invincible mare Invictum Domina, who was a five-time winner for Lindsay Park and Brad Widdup.

Healey gets Written desire

Billy Healey and Allan Endresz's Ezybonds Syndicate came together with Furlong Bloodstock to pay $135,000 for Lot 108, a Written By filly from the draft of Glenlogan Park.

Lot 108 - Written By x Hey Blondie (filly) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions

Healey had picked out the filly as one of his must-haves of the Sale and while he had to stretch beyond his original budget, she will end up in his Sunshine Coast stables.

"I spent two and a bit days before the Sale going around looking at all the horses and for me, she was in the top two fillies in the Sale. She was a standout," he said.

"I was tapped-out a bit earlier, but we have learned this year that if you find the yearling you want, you have to pay a little bit more. I wanted a Written By all year. I was really keen. There were only two in the Sale and I was underbidder on the other one for $100,000. It went for $110,000, so I had to be strong on her and just happy to get her."

"We have learned this year that if you find the yearling you want, you have to pay a little bit more. I wanted a Written By all year. I was really keen." - Billy Healey

The filly's dam Hey Blondie (Royal Academy {USA}) has already produced three winners, including the six-time winner Barefoot (Show A Heart), and she is a half-sister to Listed winner and Group 1 placegetter Magic Aces (Dr Johnson {USA}).

"The family can really gallop. She has left some standout horses and this one probably looks the most like Barefoot, which is the mare's best horse," Healey said.

"I've been keen to try and get a Written By all year, so I was happy to land her and being QTIS is a bonus."

Billy Healey | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy

Healey said that while the filly had plenty of precocity about her, he would let her tell him if she was the type who would get to the track quickly.

"We'll take her home and let her tell us. She looks like she could get up and go early, but we'll take her home and break her in. We’ll see where she gets to. We won't be bustling her."

A pleasing opener

Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch was broadly pleased with how the opening session panned out.

"I thought it was a very genuine day's trade. The vendors were very realistic with their expectations and the buyers were motivated to find horses and there was definitely value to be found during the day," he said.

"There were 12 lots that have made over $100,000, which is a really pleasing day and to be averaging almost $40,000, a healthy clearance rate of 82 per cent, a gross of over $6 million, I thought that was well within where we expected it to be."

"There were 12 lots that have made over $100,000, which is a really pleasing day and to be averaging almost $40,000, a healthy clearance rate of 82 per cent, a gross of over $6 million, I thought that was well within where we expected it to be." - Barry Bowditch

Bowditch expected a similar level of trade on Tuesday, with the catalogued evenly balanced over the two sessions.

"I think that the days pretty well mirrored each other. I’d expect a similar outcome tomorrow. There will be plenty of buyers here who missed out, and there are good-quality lots to be offered," he said.

"There is a real eye for quality. When the right horse walks into the ring, there's plenty of money to be found."

Day 2 of the Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale starts at 10am local (11am AEDT) on Tuesday.

Top lots

120Spirit Of BoomImanoremissCEureka StudGollan Racing/ John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA)$180,000
35Spirit Of BoomDantibes' TreasureCKenmore LodgeGollan Racing/ John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA)$140,000
108Written ByHey BlondieFGlenlogan ParkHealey Racing/ Ezybonds Synd/ Furlong Bloodstock (FBAA)$135,000
179SidestepMagic IvyFKenmore LodgeGollan Racing/ John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA)$130,000
103Better Than ReadyHearts'n'diamondsCTipuana FarmsClinton Taylor Racing$125,000
42Written ByDukemoreFGlenlogan ParkSears Racing/ Paul Moroney & Catheryne Bruggeman$110,000
67CapitalistFive StarsCWaylon J StudTaui Johnson Bloodstock NZ/ Avesta Bloodstock/ A Williams$110,000
26CapitalistCrystal NightsFKenmore LodgeHelen Page$105,000
177Heroic ValourMagazine MissCRaheen StudSears Racing/ Paul Moroney & Catheryne Bruggeman$105,000
113Russian RevolutionHonestaCGrandviewKyhope$100,000

Top buyers

Gollan Racing/John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA)4$502,000 $125,500 $180,000
Sears Racing/Paul Moroney & Catheryne Bruggeman6$378,500 $63,083 $110,000
Group 1 Pty Ltd7$279,000 $39,857 $80,000
Jeff Hannaford4$160,500 $40,125 $70,000
Munce Racing3$145,000 $48,333 $55,000
John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA)2$138,000 $69,000 $90,000
Healey Racing/Ezybonds Synd/Furlong Bloodstock1$135,000 $135,000 $135,000
San Reef Pty Ltd3$134,500 $44,833 $80,000
Kendrick Racing3$133,000 $44,333 $85,000
McKeever Bloodstock/Alexander Racing2$126,000 $63,000 $80,000

Vendors by aggregate

Kenmore Lodge, Wyreema, Qld15$875,000 $58,333 $140,000
Lyndhurst Stud Farm, Warwick, Qld20$753,000 $37,650 $85,000
Eureka Stud, Cambooya, Qld12$621,000 $51,750 $180,000
Raheen Stud, Darling Downs, Qld14$512,000 $36,571 $105,000
Glenlogan Park, Innisplain, Qld5$397,000 $79,400 $135,000
Lucas Bloodstock, Croftby, Qld9$365,000 $40,556 $90,000
Oaklands Stud, Darling Downs, Qld10$284,000 $28,400 $55,000
KBL Thoroughbreds, Beaudesert, Qld6$229,000 $38,167 $85,000
Alexia Fraser Bloodstock, Warwick, Qld4$215,000 $53,750 $75,000
Telemon Thoroughbreds, Innisplain, Qld4$208,000 $52,000 $100,000

Vendors by average (3 or more sold)

Glenlogan Park, Innisplain, Qld5$79,400 $135,000 $397,000
Tipuana Farms, Boonah, Qld3$61,667 $125,000 $185,000
Kenmore Lodge, Wyreema, Qld15$58,333 $140,000 $875,000
Alexia Fraser Bloodstock, Warwick, Qld4$53,750 $75,000 $215,000
Telemon Thoroughbreds, Innisplain, Qld4$52,000 $100,000 $208,000
Eureka Stud, Cambooya, Qld12$51,750 $180,000 $621,000
Lucas Bloodstock, Croftby, Qld9$40,556 $90,000 $365,000
Noble Bend Farm, Gowrie Junction, Qld3$40,333 $80,000 $121,000
KBL Thoroughbreds, Beaudesert, Qld6$38,167 $85,000 $229,000
Lyndhurst Stud Farm, Warwick, Qld20$37,650 $85,000 $753,000

Sires by aggregate

Spirit Of Boom 12$928,000 $77,333 $180,000
Better Than Ready19$819,000 $43,105 $125,000
Heroic Valour 12$478,000 $39,833 $105,000
Written By 4$370,000 $92,500 $135,000
Sidestep 6$318,000 $53,000 $130,000
Rothesay 11$294,000 $26,727 $57,500
Spill The Beans 8$265,000 $33,125 $85,000
Capitalist 2$215,000 $107,500 $110,000
Jungle Cat 4$191,000 $47,750 $100,000
Power6$188,500 $31,417 $55,000

Sires by average (3 or more sold)

Written By 4$92,500 $135,000 $370,000
Spirit Of Boom 12$77,333 $180,000 $928,000
Sidestep 6$53,000 $130,000 $318,000
Rich Enuff 3$50,667 $80,000 $152,000
Jungle Cat 4$47,750 $100,000 $191,000
Rubick 3$44,167 $75,000 $132,500
Better Than Ready19$43,105 $125,000 $819,000
Heroic Valour 12$39,833 $105,000 $478,000
Divine Prophet 3$37,000 $45,000 $111,000
Spill The Beans 8$33,125 $85,000 $265,000
Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale
Tony Gollan
Spirit Of Boom
Eureka Stud
Kenmore Lodge
John Foote
Billy Healey
Written By
Glenlogan Park