For Legarto’s ownership group, who held their collective breath in the auditorium as the theatre played out, the momentous occasion was undoubtedly tinged with a degree of sadness given the unbreakable bond they had forged with the daughter of Rich Hill Stud’s flagbearer Proisir (Choisir). 

Majority owner Philip Brown, who sourced Legarto for the princely sum of NZ$90,000 at the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale, expressed relief shortly after Yulong’s successful bid was lodged at $300,000 over the $2.5 million reserve price. 

“It’s been such a big build-up so there’s a sense of relief that it’s over now, but there’s also a little bit of sadness,” he told ANZ News. 

“I always knew we would have mixed emotions about selling her, and that’s certainly the case. But [wife] Catherine and I have other partners in the ownership group and we came to a decision to sell, so I knew we had to put her through the ring. I’m very happy with the price and I’m thrilled that she’s going to a great farm in Yulong, so I look forward to catching up with their team soon. 

“We had a conversation amongst the owners over dinner last night about how much money she might make, but when we got here this morning I decided not to worry about it and tried to relax. We had no control over it so what will be will be, and we’re delighted with the result. 

“I was hoping that was the sort of figure she might make, but you just never know. With the economic uncertainty across the whole world at the moment, the market is a little bit unpredictable. But $2.8 million is a lot of money to anyone, so we’re happy with that price.

“We had set the reserve price at $2.5 million, so anything above that was a bonus. We knew there was enough interest in her to justify that sort of reserve, so we were pretty confident she would realise her true worth.” 

Yulong general manager Jun Zhang revealed it was a case of love at first sight with Legarto; and having been outbid by Coolmore at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale for top lot Chayan (I Am Invincible), the team was perhaps doubly determined to leave the Bundall complex with a mare whose elite-level success came on both sides of the Tasman Sea.  

“She was the mare of the whole sale and we loved her, we fell in love when we first saw her,” said Zhang, the son-in-law of Yulong’s founding father. 

“Every mare is very special to us, so we can’t put a price tag on any of them. I think she was the one, and so we had to get her. We’re going to send her to Segenhoe. We purchased Segenhoe and we need some very elite mares to support our stallions there.”

Perhaps predictably, Yulong’s spending spree didn’t stop there as the ambitious operation added further depth to an already bulging broodmare band with the $1.8 million acquisition of Snitzanova (Snitzel).

The dual stakes winner amassed prize-money earnings in excess of $1 million for the Bennett Racing syndicate, and she will now get the chance to convert racetrack precocity to success at stud after Yulong confirmed her maiden mating with Devil Night’s fellow Segenhoe resident Private Harry (Harry Angel).

Snitzanova holds a nomination for the Lord Mayor’s Cup (Gr 3, 1800m), so there is a chance the four-year-old will make her competitive debut in Yulong’s bottle green silks at Eagle Farm on Saturday - potentially setting up an intriguing clash with her former stablemate Fawkner Park (Zoffany), who will carry Bennett Racing’s distinctive black and orange checks.  

If Nathan Bennett was experiencing any seller’s remorse, however, it was only for a fleeting moment as the prominent syndicator reflected on a potentially life-changing result for Snitzanova’s ownership group. 

“I thought she was probably worth that price,” he said. 

“It was nerve-wracking, once you get into the million mark you’re hoping for another bid here and there and we were lucky enough to get a few. It’s a huge turnaround for the owners, they paid $200,000 for her as a yearling and then for her to go on and win over a $1 million on the track and produce $1.8 million in the ring is a huge result.

“I’m just stoked for all the owners involved that they’ve got a good payday.”

Arrowfield Stud soon joined the party when they went to $1.6 million for Stretan Angel (Harry Angel), the Yarraman Park-consigned mare whose noteworthy CV was adorned with three stakes wins and a trio of Group 1 placings for trainer Philip Stokes. 

Her dam Sretan (Bernardini) has further elevated her profile in recent years, with Stretan Angel’s former stablemate Stretan Ruler (Wild Ruler) joining his half-sister in the black-type club courtesy of the colt’s dominant victory in this year’s Silver Slipper Stakes (Gr 2, 1100m).

Given that Stretan Angel’s sister fetched $540,000 at this year’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, the extended family is clearly in high demand and so it was no surprise that John Messara’s famed farm arrowed in on the mare as a precious commodity. 

“I liked everything about her,” said Messara, who confirmed that her first suitor would be The Autumn Sun (Redoute’s Choice).  

“I liked the pedigree, I liked the way she looked. I had a good look at her, and I liked her performance. She was three-times Group 1 placed in the best races - the Goodwood, the Newmarket and the Lightning Stakes. 

“It was a tough battle out there, the top end is very competitive. But we’re lucky to have good partners and we’re lucky to have active stallions, so we’re making the best of it.

“I am a big believer in The Autumn Sun, you can see what he has done already. He’s got a very good strike-rate, and he can throw a champion. I compare him with Snitzel and he’s ahead of Snitzel at the same age. Snitzel was a slow starter but I think there is much to come from The Autumn Sun.”

Other notable sales included O’ Ole (Ole Kirk), who was purchased for $1.5 million by Northern Farm’s Katsumi Yoshida.

The daughter of Vinery Stud’s highly respected resident Ole Kirk (Written Tycoon) was returning to the scene of her most famous victory, last year’s Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m). While she was ultimately unable to embellish her racing resume with any further success, the filly’s prodigious speed and deep pedigree - her dam Vellor (Sepoy) is a proven producer and the half-sister to a stakes winner - made a compelling case for Yoshida.

“We really liked how she looks, so that came first,” said Northern Farm representative Shingo Hashimoto.

“And the way she performed in the Magic Millions 2YO [Classic] was fantastic, so we really liked her. We haven’t decided yet whether to take her back to Japan or possibly keep her in Australia, but she’ll be retired.”

The filly’s $1.5 million purchase price was later matched by Lilac (Justify), the dual stakes-winning mare who was also knocked down to Yoshida and will be set for a date with the Northern Farm-bred superstar Equinox (Kitasan Black). 

The third lot to achieve $1.5 million was Captured By Love (Written Tycoon), who was purchased online by China’s Sheng Geng.

A winner of five Group races, including the 2024 New Zealand 1,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m), the mare was consigned by Newgate Stud on behalf of David Ellis’ Te Akau Racing, who purchased her for $525,000 as a yearling at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale.

Bowditch buoyed by strong sale results on day one 

Barry Bowditch hailed an “above expectations” opening to the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale, which yielded a clearance rate of 85 per cent.  

After defying general expectations that the sale might be impacted by a degree of hesitancy from the buying bench, Bowditch praised the “special atmosphere” generated by several headline lots - and none more so than Legarto.

“That was definitely a highlight for a special group of owners,” said Bowditch. 

“Phil and Catherine Brown and the whole Legarto team have had an extraordinary ride with the mare. It was a real privilege for us to sell Legarto on their behalf, and it got the day off to a really fiery start. Then we saw the sale of Snitzanova deliver a huge result for her big syndicate from Bennett Racing, and it’s stories like her that make these sales really memorable.

“There were some unbelievable stories at the top end, but I thought the theatre and the robust nature of the overall market through the middle end was what really stood out for me. It was probably above our expectations, we maybe walked in here this morning with a little bit of trepidation, but to sell 85 per cent of our offerings and average just over $250,000 was a really pleasing result. It was a very genuine day of trading with a great spread of buyers across the board, which is what we’re always looking for.” 

Across the day nearly $34 million was traded on 134 lots sold at an average price of $253,504 with Legarto’s top price of $2.8 million and a median price of $110,000.

Looking ahead to the second and final day of the auction, which will feature mares in foal, Bowditch is anticipating another robust session of trading on the Gold Coast. 

“I think the opportunity of mares on offer at all levels tomorrow should result in another strong day,” he said. 

“There are some mares people may have to take a bit of a risk on, but there will definitely be value to be found and there are some really nice young mares in foal to some of the country’s most respected commercial stallions.”