Day Two of the National Weanling Sale at Magic Millions picked up where it left off on Sunday, with brisk trade throughout the session. Though not quite matching the opening day's top price of A$400,000, it was a colt by leading sire Exceed and Excel (Aus) (Danehill) that topped proceedings when knocked down to Damion Flower's bid of A$350,000–Flower purchased the youngster in conjunction with Amarina Farm. At the close of business for the two day sale, the aggregate finished up at A$17,079,250, a 15% increase on last year with the average holding steady at A$60,138. Encouragingly the clearance rate rose seven points from last year, up to 86%.
Monday's sale topper offered as lot 270 by Rothwell Park, is the first foal of the unraced Artie Schiller mare Doctrine (Aus) herself a half-sister to Group 2 winning sprinter and A$1.5-million earner Rain Affair (Aus) (Commands).
“He's a beautiful colt,” Flower said. “He's really well balanced. With Craig [Anderson of Amarina Farm] we looked at him early and he ticked all the boxes. He has a bit of quality about him and he looks like the type of Exceed and Excel that will run.”
Throughout a vibrant day of trade on the Gold Coast five individual lots sold for A$300,000 or more. The second top seller of the day and the overall top-selling filly was the Three Bridges Thoroughbreds offered daughter of So You Think (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}), who was purchased by New Zealand's Ascot Farm in partnership with Victoria's Ampulla Lodge for A$335,000.
The attractive youngster, offered as lot 273, is the third foal of the stakes winning and group placed Commands mare Dorf Command (Aus), a winner of seven races and over A$429,000 in prize money.
“During the pre-sales we loved her,” Ascot Farm's Bruce Harvey said. “We thought she was probably one of the best horses on the sale ground, not just filly. So You Think was on our radar and she was the one that we loved.”
James Bester added to his productive first day when adding lot 207 on Monday. The colt by Pierro (Aus) (Lonhro {Aus}) was offered by Newgate Farm as agent and is the second foal out of the winning Exceed And Excel mare Bellevue Girl (Aus).
Irish breeder and pinhooker Ciaran 'Flash' Conroy got his name on the buyer's sheet when going to A$300,000 to acquire a Snitzel (Aus) colt through his Glenvale Stud. The weanling, consigned by Kitchwin Hills as lot 401 is out of Group 2 winning O'Reilly (Aus) mare Rare Insight (NZ), who has already bred three winners from as many runners, including the high-class filly Steps In Time (Aus) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), winner of the G1 ATC Coolmore Classic.
It was Coolmore sire Fastnet Rock (Aus) (Danehill) that was the leading sire for the sale, with his stock grossing A$1,490,000 at an average of A$248,333 for six sold. First-season sire Dundeel (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}) led his compatriots, with an average of A$143,333. His most expensive offspring of six finding new homes, was a colt (lot 226) consigned by Riversdale going for A$240,000 to Musk Creek Farm. He is the third foal from Australian MGSP Cerberus Gal (Aus) (General Nediym {Aus}).
Magic Millions Managing Director Vin Cox was thrilled with the two days of business and said,”Today's action capped a memorable two-day Magic Millions National Weanling Sale with new benchmarks established across the board. It's very much a viable option for our breeders to consider and sell their horses 12 months earlier and at the end of the day you could argue they are getting yearling prices.”
Attention now turns to the National Broodmare Sale which kicks off on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. local time.
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