Magic Millions releases 2YOs in Training Sale catalogue packed with ‘sire power’
Juveniles by Exceed And Excel, I Am Invincible, Written Tycoon and Pierro to go under hammer at breeze up auction
Magic Millions faces the prospect of the majority of its buying bench playing from afar at the company’s 2YOs in Training Sale on the Gold Coast in November but the head of the auction house says the sire power available in the 152-lot catalogue cannot be ignored.
The Gerry Harvey-owned thoroughbred sales company is not alone in being hit by the closure of domestic and international borders and Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch is confident of providing a competitive market for vendors on November 8.
“Our vendors have handpicked these horses and they have selected a quality line,” Bowditch said.
“The sire power this year I think is as strong as we’ve ever had it and that gives us great confidence given the history our preparers have in bringing these horses, firstly to the breeze-ups and then to the sale, in great order.
“It also gives the market confidence to come back again and come to a source where they’ve had so much success in the past.”
Australian rival Inglis will hold its Ready2Race sale on October 26, two weeks later than originally scheduled in Sydney, and New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale in November again appears confined to a domestic buying bench being on the ground for the second year in succession.
Magic Millions also conducted last year’s two-year-old sale in November, in part because of the unpredictable nature of the pandemic, after previously holding it in October.
Bowditch sees the later auction date, the Monday after Melbourne Cup week, as a positive.
“It gives these horses a great part of the spring to grow and develop before they get into their work and if you have any hiccup early days it gives them the time to get through it and still be ready for the breeze-ups and onto the sale,” he said.
“It also gives plenty of time for the spring riches from the domestic market to be won and that money to be circulated throughout the sale (through reinvestment).”
Harvey’s Baramul Stud has 41 lots by sires such as Star Turn (Star Witness), Sebring (More Than Ready), Zoustar (Northern Meteor) and All Too Hard (Casino Prince).
Reigning champion Australian sire Written Tycoon (Iglesia) has one colt in the sale, I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) has a filly, while Aquis Farm’s first season sire Spieth (Thorn Park), who had two first crop barrier trial winners in Sydney on Monday, is represented by four lots.
Another champion sire in Exceed And Excel (Danehill) has two colts, both consigned by A List Stud, as does last season’s leading first season sire Extreme Choice (Not A Single Doubt) and his Newgate Farm barnmate Flying Artie (Artie Schiller).
The progeny of Pierro (Lonhro), Shalaa (Invincible Spirit), Capitalist (Written Tycoon), Spirit Of Boom (Sequalo) and So You Think (High Chaparral) will also go under the hammer.
Sale graduates include Australian stakes winners and million dollar earners Krone (Eurozone), Tyzone (Written Tycoon) and Victorem (I Am Invincible).
At the weekend in Singapore, sale graduate Lim’s Lightning (Lope De Vega) won the Raffles Cup (Listed, 1800m) for trainer Dan Meagher. Runner-up Top Knight (Zoustar) was also sold through the Magic Millions 2YOs in Training Sale.
Matthew Park of Queensland-based Symphony Lodge will offer a draft of up to 18 two-year-olds including colts by Deep Field (Lot 65), who is out of a half-sister to Listed winner Spring Choice (Choisir), and Spieth (Lot 74), who is the first foal out of a half-sister to stakes-winning sprinter-miler Vinland (Sebring).
“The horses are obviously (being breezed up) a little bit later, so they are a little stronger than in other years, a little more mature, the boys are boys now,” said Park, a noted seller.
“There’s a mixture, some will be near the top and there are some there for the budget market.
“Those two (Deep Field and Spieth) are actually two of our standout horses for our draft, not only on pedigree, but as in how they run. The Spieth is a real professional. He was a cheap buy out of the old Scone sale (Inglis HTBA May Sale for $7,000) and he could be one of the better ones to come out of that sale.
“He is a real professional. That might be the Spieths in general. He just walks onto the track like an old horse – he just gets it.”
Park, who runs the Oakey breaking-in operation with his wife Alison, added: “We have got a few horses that didn’t cost us a lot or they are fifty-fifty with people, so they will really suit those people with lower budgets. We have got the Deep Fields and the Spieths that might shine a light on the top end with a bit of luck, but there’s a few others there for (Australian) trainers to buy, too.”
Magic Millions will be leaning on its bloodstock consultants David Chester and Nicky Wong, the eyes and ears on the ground at the Gold Coast for the company’s Asia client base, to help cultivate a strong international buying bench.
“I think there is a craving from the industry to be participating in the market and it is our job to ensure all our buyers, wherever they may be situated come sale time, get the information to be able to bid,” Bowditch said.
“I have got confidence in our team and I have got confidence in the horses that we have to sell that we will be able to make a success of it.
“We are in a very fortunate position of having David Chester and Nicky Wong who have such great relationships throughout Asia and they are already speaking to our clients up there and getting them geared up for the sale.
“They are showing good interest … and that gives our vendors a huge advantage come sale time that there will be participation from our Asian markets.”
The first of four scheduled breeze-up sessions across three states will be conducted in Victoria at Seymour on October 15.
Magic Millions 2YOs in Training Sale
October 15, 11am AEDT – Breeze Up Session at Seymour
To be confirmed date – Breeze Up Session in NSW
October 19, 9.30am AEST – Breeze Up Session at Gold Coast
November 5, 9.30am AEST – Breeze Up Session at Gold Coast
November 8, 12pm AEST – sale day