End users dominate top end of startling Magic Millions Weanling Sale
$1 million I Am Invincible colt bought to race as market skyrockets on day one
Buyers seeking quality racing prospects have dominated a dramatic and at times emotional day’s trade at the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Sale in a session which saw a $1 million weanling sold in the southern hemisphere for just the second time.
In a stunning six hours of selling yesterday, which featured the Shadwell Stud Australasia dispersal, a Rick Jamieson-bred I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) colt cracked the seven-figure mark when purchased by trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace as end-users sought some refuge from a runaway yearling market in order to secure racing propositions.
A further seven weanlings made $500,000 or more with at least six of the eight highest-priced foals are set to be retained to race rather than being reoffered through a yearling sale next year.
At the end of day one, 160 weanlings had changed hands at an average of $112,178, a median of $51,000 and an aggregate of $17,948,500. The clearance rate was 85 per cent.
Remarkably, the measures were up 87, 71 and 78 per cent respectively on the 2019 Magic Millions National Sale, the last non-Covid-19 impacted sale, which continues the almost insatiable appetite for stock experienced at this year’s sales.
Yesterday’s top lot, whose price tag is only bettered by a Redoute’s Choice (Danehill) three-quarter brother to champion two-year-old Dance Hero (Danzero) who sold for $1.15 million at the 2007 Magic Millions National Sale, was an important result for Gilgai Farm owner Jamieson.
Victoria-based Jamieson, who operates the Harry The Hirer business, paid $1 million for the I Am Invincible colt’s dam, stakes-winning Perth filly Ocean Jewel (Ocean Park), when she was retired from racing as a four-year-old in a private deal negotiated by agent Damon Gabbedy of Belmont Bloodstock.
An emotional Gilgai Farm manager Kelly Skillecorn was lost for words after the seven-figure result, one that means a lot more to the studmaster than just the money.
“I am surprised at that. They said he was the best colt at this sale, but it’s still amazing. It helps a lot,” Skillecorn said.
“His business is in a bad way at the moment, so he told me that we’ve got to stand on our own two feet for the next three years. The business can’t help us any more. It’s up to us.
“I must thank Damon Gabbedy for this horse because he could have sold her to anyone but he sold her to us.”
Skillecorn also praised the team at Cressfield where Gilgai Farm sends its mares to foal down each season and are then housed for three months to be covered by Hunter Valley-based stallions.
Catalogued as Lot 109, the I Am Invincible colt is the first foal out of the former Simon Miller-trained Ocean Jewel, making him a three-quarter brother to Yulong’s dual Group 3-winning juvenile filly Catch Me.
“He was off a really good farm, and I had seen the horse up there. Kelly and Rick, they just keep producing winners,” Maher said.
“We’d hoped we wouldn’t have to go quite that dear, but the yearling prices are going up and up this year, and we thought it was a good opportunity.
“That’s a yearling price, but he’s a colt that is clearly a standout, out of a good mare and by the right stallion in I Am invincible.”
Maher revealed the colt would be allowed to grow out at Gilgai Farm near Nagambie in Victoria before being broken in early next year with a view to having him ready for the early season two-year-old races in 15 months’ time.
“Physically, he has got the movement and strength to think he should go early,” the trainer said.
“Someone said to me, ‘it’s the best weanling they have seen at this sale ever’ and they have been coming here for a number of years.
“Obviously, you have to pay for a horse like that.”
Ocean Jewel missed to Deep Field (Northern Meteor) but will return this year to the Newgate Farm-based sire, who has earned a service fee increase to $88,000 (inc GST).
Field hoping lightning strikes twice
Gilgai Farm also sold an Extreme Choice (Not A Single Doubt) colt for $650,000 on day one to the China Horse Club-Newgate Farm partnership, who will add the half-brother to Group 1-placed juvenile The Drinks Cart (Unencumbered) to their racing team.
“The last Extreme Choice we bought out of this ring two years ago we liked equally as much and he cost $60,000 and he’s won a Golden Slipper in Stay Inside,” Henry Field said.
“When we saw an Extreme Choice who was the model of Stay Inside, off a great farm, by a very special young sire, he was a horse who was a must-have.
“He will join our racing team and hopefully he will be as successful as the last Extreme Choice weanling colt I bought, but we will see.
“He is a very sharp colt and, to be honest, the best Extreme Choice physically I have ever seen and he’s out of a good mare and off a great farm.
“We think the stallion is something very special and to get a colt as good as this we had to push for him. He is an outstanding horse, he’s an awesome colt. He’s the one we thought was out of the box.”
The $650,000 colt, catalogued as Lot 181 and the most expensive publicly auctioned horse by Extreme Choice, is the sixth foal out of the four-time winner and stakes-placed Snipzu (Snippetson), whose four foals to race are all winners.
He will be raced by similar interests to those who bought into Stay Inside after he won the Pierro Plate (1100m) in February, two starts before he landed the Slipper.
They include Field, S F Bloodstock, China Horse Club, Sir Owen Glenn’s Go Bloodstock, Matthew Sandblom, Grant Lowe Bloodstock and Murray Shaw.
Field’s decision to buy a racing prospect at a weanling sale is not something he sees Newgate Farm attempting on a regular basis.
“From our point of view, it was more a case of we saw a colt that we thought was physically an exceptional animal by a stallion who is out of the box and one who only produces limited editions,” he said.
“Because of that, we thought we had to buy him rather than targeting this sale specifically.
“At a yearling sale you’ve got more visibility, but because of the uniqueness of that horse for us … our hand was forced to buy him in the foal market.”
Shadwell foals shine as buyers take advantage of rare gems
Yesterday’s session also saw weanlings bred by the late Sheikh Hamdan put on the open market for the first and last time, leaving Yarraman Park Stud’s Arthur Mitchell to declare it as the end of an era.
The draft of 20 Shadwell weanlings, comprising high-priced colts by Zoustar (Northern Meteor), Exceed And Excel (Danehill) and Per Incanto (Street Cry) and quality fillies by I Am Invincible, realised an aggregate of $5.435 million at an average $271,750.
Speaking soon after completion of the Shadwell session, in which the foals consigned by Yarraman Park were sold back-to-back, Mitchell said: “They’ve been operational in Australia for 30-plus years, so it’s a very sad end of an era for Shadwell and Angus Gold, who has been the driver of this and the selector of these horses.
“They’ve had a wonderful weanling sale and I am sure they’re all very happy. They sold very well, but it’s rather sad that it’s ended the way it has.”
The highest-priced lot of the Shadwell draft was a $700,000 Zoustar colt who is out of Listed-winning two-year-old Bulbula (Shamardal), making him a half-brother to Ottawa Stakes (Gr 3, 1000m) winning two-year-old filly Aryaaf (Epaulette).
He was bought by agent Justin Bahen and Rosemont Stud. The latter paid $1.2 million for his Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice) half-brother as part of the Victorian Alliance syndicate at the recent Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Shadwell had another four weanlings sell from $500,00 to $600,000.
“The Zoustar was a very nice colt, and then there was an I Am Invincible filly who made $600,000 who is lovely. We think she’s an absolute cracker,” Mitchell said.
“There were some ones that surprised us, but then didn’t at the same time, like a Per Incanto making $500,000.
“He’s a lovely horse and we’ve always loved him on the farm, but we certainly didn’t expect him to make that. We thought more like $250,000, so he certainly doubled our expectations, and the Kermadec colt making $300,000.
“He’s a beautiful horse, but again we certainly weren’t thinking he’d make that.
“It’s funny because the last lot, another Zoustar, made $200,000 and I thought he might have made a bit more. On the whole, I think they all sold very, very well.”
Mitchell had touched base with Shadwell’s UK-based representative Gold via text message yesterday and was expected to speak to him last night.
“It’s quite a moving thing for Angus and it’s been quite sad for him. After all those years of putting this together – and no one works harder than Angus, I can tell you – I think it’s very sad the way this had to end,” he said.
“While it’s been successful, I really do feel very sorry for Angus for all the work he’s done. He’s done a fabulous job.”
Yarraman Park Stud will also consign the Shadwell broodmare band in a special session next Tuesday evening at Magic Millions.
“Obviously, the way these foals have sold it will be interesting to see how the mares sell. I assume they will sell very well as well,” Mitchell said.
“There’s a lot of young stakes-winning mares who are going to go forward, so there’s a huge opportunity for people to buy into some lovely families and the way the foals sold proves that.
“There will be a lot of decent competition on the mares and I think it will be a very strong sale.”
$700,000 Zoustar colt in Rosemont’s wheelhouse
Rosemont Stud principal Anthony Mithen, who signed for the $700,000 Zoustar colt with Bahen, revealed the farm had inspected all the weanlings in the Magic Millions catalogue because “you have to be looking in all markets to try and buy these quality colts”.
A chance discussion early yesterday between Mithen and Bahen led to the duo partnering on the Shadwell-bred son of Zoustar and later a $600,000 colt by Fastnet Rock (Danehill) from the Segenhoe Stud draft.
“It was fortuitous to bump into Justin this morning, and we got chatting about horses we liked and we seem to like the same ones,” Mithen said.
“They were always going to be of champagne tastes, so it’s nice to partner up with him and get the opportunity to hold this horse to racing stage and put him in our colours.”
Mithen added: “We bought the Bulbula at Easter for $1.2 million, you could look at it that we have helped ourselves to a $500,000 discount.
“He was as nice a horse as the yearling by Snitzel. They are both by stallions who seem to be able to provide sons going forward, and that fits our wheelhouse in terms of sourcing future stallion prospects.
“It’s a lovely family and it’s a unique circumstance that we are allowed the privilege to bid on a horse like this.”
The following weanling through the ring, Lot 74, was an I Am Invincible filly who is the second foal out of South African Grade 2 winner Ektifaa (More Than Ready). Her first foal, a southern hemisphere-bred son of Muhaara (Oasis Dream), made $110,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale last month.
Mitchell Bloodstock paid $600,000 for a Shadwell-bred I Am Invincible filly with a decision still to be made on whether she is retained to race or traded on as a yearling.
Fung lands Bivouac clone for $550,000
The third highest-priced weanling sold by Shadwell was an Exceed And Excel colt who was compared to that of Darley’s high-profile multiple Group 1-winning sprinter and first season sire Bivouac.
Purchaser Tony Fung’s representative Shane McGrath signed for the colt who made $550,000 and, continuing the theme of the top end, confirmed that the weanling would be retained to race.
The colt, catalogued as Lot 65, is the first foal out of dual Listed-winning two-year-old Nomothaj (Snitzel), herself a daughter of Maribyrnong Plate (Gr 3, 1000m) winner Real Stolle (Elusive Quality).
“I was fortunate enough to have a look at Bivouac at the stallion parades last week and I was saying to Vin Cox that he’s the sort of mirror image that you’re looking for in a stallion and I saw a lot of similarities with this colt,” McGrath said.
“We love the sire obviously – we were very active on him at the yearling sales – and he’s out of a very fast mare who is out of a Maribyrnong Trial winner out of a Maribyrnong Plate winner, so he’s speed on speed.
“Exceed And Excel’s been as good a two-year-old sire as we’ve seen in many a year and we’re delighted to get him.
“He’s off a good farm and he’s a testament to the program Shadwell put together.”
While a weanling market is traditionally underpinned by traders, McGrath saw the $550,000 as a fair price for the colt.
“We’re in the fortunate position that he’s going into the racing program, so it’s not really about what he’s worth in six months, it’s what he’s worth once he has a saddle on his back,” he said.
“If he can run, he’s going to be a cheap horse.
“He did everything right for us, all the team loved him and Tony Fung is obviously happy to secure him and back our judgment on him.”
Per Incanto pinhook candidate a first for Moore
There isn’t much former champion Hong Kong trainer John Moore hasn’t achieved but buying a weanling was one of them – that was until yesterday.
Now domiciled on the Gold Coast and in the throes of setting up his training operation, Moore made the most of the Shadwell dispersal by purchasing a Per Incanto colt for $500,000.
He proved too strong for under bidder Fung.
The most expensive Per Incanto ever sold, the colt is a son of three-time winner Nasaayim (Redoute’s Choice), who in turn is out of Listed winner Nocturnelle and a three-quarter sister to Group 3 winner Dracarys (Snitzel). He was catalogued as Lot 63.
Moore, who partnered with a client to buy the colt, intends to reoffer the horse as a yearling at next year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale.
“Per Incanto has done very well in Hong Kong, the cross really works. When I arrived here this morning, I had a good look at him and I think he’s the right horse to bring back through the sale in January,” Moore said.
“I know it’s on the dear side for a pinhook, but with the other gentleman that is sharing the horse with me, we will put him through the sale and see if he can make us a dollar.
“If he doesn’t, he can be prepared through our Queensland stable and get prepared for Hong Kong.”
While Moore had little experience with weanlings, he thought yesterday presented an opportunity too good to refuse.
“This is the first time I have entered the market. They have got some very good weanlings going through, and I wanted to take full opportunity of the chance to buy Shadwell stock,” he said.
“The horse that I just bought, if he goes well, right up to January, he’d be making more than half a million. I was onto a Per Incanto at the Inglis sales and he went above budget, but if they are good sorts, then no doubt the Hong Kong buyers will have quite a lot of dollars to spend on that breed.”
Moore, whose training partnership with brother Gary in Sydney was short-lived, has had four runners since relocating to the Gold Coast for three seconds.
He has promising two-year-old colt Jumbo Goal (Exceed And Excel) nominated for a race at Doomben on Wednesday.
“It’s progressing steadily, but there is a lot of work needing to be done, with respect to staffing. It’s a whole new ball game for me,” Moore said.
“David Hayes described Hong Kong as Disneyland, well it ain’t Disneyland here, that’s for sure.
“I’m coming to grips with what is necessary to run a stable here. I’ve had a few teething problems with staff and getting the system in place, but I’m happy with the way things have gone and I look forward to having my first two-year-old runners next week.”
Bahen explores weanling market
The leading buyer on day one was Justin Bahen who bought five weanlings (plus two in partnership with Rosemont Stud) for a spend of $1.38 million.
He also combined with Bromfield Park to buy a Trapeze Artist (Snitzel) colt, offered by Three Bridges Thoroughbreds, for $330,000.
Hong Kong-based Bahen, who has been back home in Australia for the past three months due to the pandemic, saw the weanling market as a way of securing quality racing stock while also using it as an avenue to expand his own business.
The agent normally deals in tried horses from Europe to send to Australia or Hong Kong and also the yearling market in both hemispheres.
“I thought we’d buy quite a few, I had a couple of clients that were interested in entering this point of the market as opposed to going in at yearling level,” Bahen said.
“We thought we’d try another angle, and yearlings are getting harder and harder to buy, especially the nicer ones with the market being so strong.
“We thought it might be a good opportunity to try this end of it.”
Fernrigg Farm was also busy on day one, purchasing four weanlings for a combined $1 million while Sledmere Stud and Cangon purchased five lots for a total spend of $475,000.
Outside Shadwell and Gilgai Farm, Segenhoe Stud sold seven weanlings yesterday for $1.455 million and Woodside Park Stud parted with nine lots unreserved for $1.27 million.
Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch, understandably, was delighted with how yesterday unfolded.
“You catalogue quality horses and the quality buyers turn up in droves and that was evident here today. We had an outstanding bunch of horses, as I’ve said leading into the sale,” Bowditch said.
“The market got behind it and to be averaging well over $100,000 with a healthy clearance rate and a gross number that is beyond our expectations is a fantastic start of a big fortnight.”
Bowditch also reserved special mention for how well the Shadwell draft of weanlings was received by the market.
“The engagement over that time was fantastic. I noticed the buffet was open and no-one got up to get lunch,” he said.
“You know you have everyone’s attention when that is the case. Yarraman did a great job getting these weanlings here in the order that they did.
“They were very well inspected, they didn’t turn a hair over the few days they were here. They performed their job extremely well and the buyers, as they ought to, got in behind them and built these horses up.”
He added: “For Rick Jamieson to have the day he had was fantastic. He’s obviously one of Australia’s greatest breeders and for him to bring a great selection of high quality weanlings up here and to be rewarded like he was was fantastic.
“He’s stepped out of the crease and brought an outstanding colt to the market that would go well in any yearling sale. He’s got the right money today and we are thrilled to be able to offer a seven-figure weanling.”
The depth of the buying bench was one notable observation made by Bowditch, who welcomed the end users to the weanling marketplace.
“Obviously, the yearling market has been quite strong this year, so they are looking at other avenues to bring stock through,” he said.
“Having the quality of horse here, when you look at them on paper, it gives trainers the strength when they are going to a sale that they are going to be taking home stock that will be able to grow out and take to the racetrack.
“It’s viable for them when you have the right horses. Whether it be Ciaron Maher or Justin Bahen, they were here today looking at that high quality blue chip style horse, and bidding very strongly on them.”
The second session starts at 10am today.
“There’s plenty of nice horses and I think it will be another solid day’s selling,” Bowditch said yesterday.
“We’re delighted with the catalogue and we think the market is set now. There will be plenty of people that will be going home tonight wanting to still buy horses.”
Oregon’s Day added to Magic Millions mares sale
Group 2 winner Oregon’s Day (Domesday), whose first foal by Fastnet Rock (Danehill) was purchased yesterday by Rosemont Stud and agent Justin Bahen for $600,000, will be offered at next week’s Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale.
A half-sister to stakes winners Talent Show (Jeune) and Oregon Spirit (Bel Esprit), Oregon’s Day has been added as a supplementary for the mares’ sale after being passed in with a reserve of $1 million at the recent Chairman’s Sale in Sydney.
Oregon’s Day is in foal to Aquis Farm’s first season sire Pierata (Pierro) with a September cover.
Sale results – day one
2021 2019
Catalogued 230 265
Offered 189 224
Sold 160 (85%) 168 (75%)
Aggregate $17,948,500 (+78%) $10,067,500
Average $112,178 (+87%) $59,926
Median $51,000 (+71%) $30,000
Top Lot $1 million $300,000