By Daithi Harvey
The first session of the two-day Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale took place on Monday and it proved an extraordinary sale for the progeny of Spirit Of Boom (Aus). The Eureka Stud first-season sire was responsible for the top 10 highest priced yearlings, headed by a filly that sold to trainer John Morrisey for A$250,000, the highest price ever achieved at the sale. Overall, the auction posted a strong set of figures, well up on the 2017 edition with an aggregate of A$6,032,500 setting the tone. One hundred thirty-nine of the 181 (77%) lots offered sold at an average price of A$43,399 which represented a 45% increase on last year. The median was also strong, rising 13% to A$26,000.
“It was a sensational day,” Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said. “From the opening lot there was a great vibe around the grounds. Spirit of Boom is averaging close to A$135,000. We had five horses sell for A$200,000 or more and we'd never had a horse here get to A$200,000, so for five to break the record was great for the sire. We'd like to see the clearance rate climb overnight and tomorrow. It took a while for the vendors to find their feet in the market, but all in all the results were very pleasing.”
Spirit Of Boom was a graduate of the same sale in 2009 and his first runners to hit the track have done so successfully, making him Australia's current leading first-season sire. The Eureka Stud resident already has four individual 2-year-old stakes winners and demand for his stock was fierce on Monday. All 21 of his yearlings offered were sold and 19 of them were among the 23 top sellers on the day. They were headed by lot 141, a grey filly offered by Eureka Stud out of Regal Tier (Aus) (Royal Academy), whose first foal and first runner Animal Spirit (Aus) (Spirit Of Boom {Aus}) has been placed this season.
“She's a nice, big filly,” John Morrisey said. “She had a bit more size than the others and the greys are the better horses in that family.”
Spirit Of Boom's former trainer Tony Gollan will likely end up with some of Monday's top-end yearlings joining his string, including lot 135, a filly out of Ready To Belong (Aus) (More Than Ready) who sold to Steve Morley and Kitchwin Hills for A$240,000.
Gollan trains two of Spirit Of Boom's juvenile stakes winners Ef Troop (Aus) and Outback Barbie (Aus) and he commented, “It's fantastic watching them race. It's very hard to buy them now. There's a lot of interest in him–the southerners are up here as well. They're lovely horses and I can see why they are in demand. They're doing a job–they're getting to the races early which is what people want.”
Earlier in the day, Gollan had linked up with John Foote to secure lot 4 for A$200,000. This colt, out of Imanoremiss (Aus) (Made Of Gold), is a sibling to four winners and was described by Gollan as a likely early runner who looked an ideal type for next year's Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
Eureka Stud sold nine of the top 10 yearlings on Monday and their draft also included lot 55, a filly that sold to Brad Spicer, Ciaron Maher and Brae Sokolski for A$220,000. “We had A$200,000 in the budget and just went a little bit more,” Spicer revealed afterwards. “You've always got to have that bit more in the locker and Ciaron was keen to get her. She's a lovely filly, a really nice walker–typical of the Spirit of Booms.”
James Harron was another to snap up a filly by the hot sire and the Sydney based agent signed for lot 104 for A$200,000.
“She's been purchased for JHB Syndications,” said Harron of the filly, whose granddam Ossie Cossie (Aus) (Mister C) was a 19-time winner. “She's a cracking filly. We've been looking for one all year for the syndication company and she was just a stand out. She's really strong and powerful and looked a bit like Outback Barbie–we're really excited to get her.”
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott added four yearlings by Spirit Of Boom to their team, headed by lot 63, a filly out of Military Bride (Aus) (General Nediym {Aus}) who was knocked down to the training partnership and Blue Sky Bloodstock for A$170,000.
The second and final day of the sale will take place from 10 a.m. local time on Tuesday.
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