Magic Millions banking on quality as 2YOs In Training Sale catalogue released
Juveniles by champion stallions among 140-lot Gold Coast offering, brought forward to October date
Dane Robinson insists it will be quality over quantity when the Magic Millions 2YOs In Training Sale takes place on the Gold Coast next month as the competition for horses, vendors and buyers in the breeze-up market continues to intensify.
Magic Millions yesterday released a 140-lot catalogue for its October 25 two-year-old auction, which has been brought forward in 2022 after two years of being held in November, with juveniles by champion stallions Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice), I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit), Zoustar (Northern Meteor), Written Tycoon (Iglesia) and proven Hong Kong sires Deep Field (Northern Meteor) and Star Turn (Star Witness) all on offer.
The one-day sale, which will have four breeze-up sessions across Victoria, NSW and Queensland, will start at 12pm at its Gold Coast headquarters.
Robinson, Magic Millions’ bloodstock manager, said the sale’s vendors, the majority experienced educators and sellers of two-year-olds, had been diligent at this year’s yearling sales, ensuring they sourced the best-credentialled stock possible for the breeze-up auction.
Magic Millions’ 2021 catalogue for the 2YOs in Training sale comprised 156 lots.
“We have got some very good people preparing the horses, they know what they’re doing, and it’ll be another quality sale despite the lesser numbers, the quality horses are definitely there,” Robinson said yesterday.
“We didn’t want (vendors) to overcommit, particularly given the strength of the yearling sales, and those who bought smartly and prepare them well will be well rewarded, so I think it’ll be a good sale.”
A List Stud has a draft of 18 two-year-olds by the likes of champion first season sire Russian Revolution (Snitzel), Toronado (High Chaparral) and Xtravagant (Pentire), while Gerry Harvey’s Baramul Stud has a draft of 35 horses catalogued by stallions including All Too Hard (Casino Prince), Star Turn, Zoustar and Snitzel. Capitalist (Written Tycoon), the in-form Astern (Medaglia D’Oro) and Hellbent (I Am Invincible) also have two-year-olds catalogued.
KBL Thoroughbreds, Kenmore Lodge, Nolen Racing, JCS Thoroughbreds, O’Gorman Racing and Symphony Lodge will also consign two-year-olds on the Gold Coast late next month.
Past Magic Millions 2YOs In Training Sale graduates include million-dollar earners Krone (Eurozone), Tyzone (Written Tycoon) and Victorem (I Am Invincible) as well as the sprinting mare Esta La Roca (El Roca) and Indy Car (Sebring), who was later sold to Hong Kong.
Lim’s Lightning (Lope De Vega), Top Knight (Zoustar) and Celavi (Fighting Sun) have enjoyed success in Singapore having been purchased out of the Gold Coast sales ring, while last month Star Of Yiu Cheung (Casino Prince) won the Macau Gold Cup (Listed, 1800m).
The Asia market, particularly Singapore and Hong Kong, remains a primary focus for all auction houses and Magic Millions is no different with the company recently deploying long-time employee David Chester on an international recruiting mission.
“David did his trip over there not long ago and racked up a lot of the buyers and they’re keen, they’re on the bit, and asking every other day about what horses are coming to the sale and asking for the catalogue, so we’re confident that there’s a buying bench there,” Robinson said.
“We’ll be pushing to get them down here to support the vendors who have supported us.”
The buoyancy of the bloodstock markets in recent years, Robinson believes, can continue to flow through to the two-year-old sales in the next two months.
“You only have to look at America this week with the way their (Keeneland) sale is going over there,” he said.
“Across the world the market has stayed strong and we’re expecting the same again. We had a good sale last year during trying times and I think with the borders opened up again now, it’s only going to get stronger.
“There’s a good spread of stallions, which is a key for these sorts of sales. You have got to get a bit of variety in there, particularly when you’re dealing with Hong Kong. The Star Turn sire line is working over there, so overall, we’re content with what we’ve got and there’s enough there for everyone.”
Magic Millions breeze-up sessions will be conducted at Seymour (September 30) in Victoria, Newcastle in NSW (October 4) and at Eagle Farm in Brisbane (October 6 and 21), the Queensland breeze-up venue transferred from the Gold Coast racecourse due to works on its redevelopment.
Inglis, which opens the two-year-old sale season on October 11 at Riverside Stables in Sydney, has a catalogue of 289 horses for its Ready2Race auction while New Zealand Bloodstock’s November 17 and 18 Ready to Run Sale at Karaka has 329 lots.
Magic Millions 2YOs In Training Sale schedule
Friday, September 30 – breeze-up, Seymour, VIC
Tuesday, October 4 – breeze-up, Newcastle, NSW
Thursday, October 6 – breeze-up, Eagle Farm, QLD
Friday, October 21 – breeze-up, Eagle Farm, QLD
Saturday, October 22 to Monday, October 24 – inspection days, Gold Coast
Tuesday, October 25 – sale day, 12pm start, Gold Coast