Magic Millions sale delayed as Covid cluster causes problems
Queensland border clamp down forces auction house to make swift call
The Magic Millions National Sale will be pushed back by a week after the Queensland government yesterday placed further restrictions on those allowed to cross that border that would have prevented a significant number of industry participants from attending the vital Gold Coast auction.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, in response to a growing Covid-19 outbreak in western Sydney, banned residents or those who have been in Liverpool and Campbelltown local government areas in the past fortnight from crossing the border.
Rival auction house Inglis’ Riverside Stables complex at Warwick Farm is in a coronavirus hotspot and last week conducted its Easter Round 2, Scone Yearling and Australian Weanling Sales at the venue.
All those who were in attendance would be unable to be at the Gold Coast until after the completion of the Magic Millions broodmare and weanling sales, which was due to start on Monday, if the auction was not rescheduled.
After the Premier made her announcement early yesterday, Magic Millions moved quickly to respond to the latest drama that threatened the National Sale, arguably the southern hemisphere’s most vital breeding stock auction, which has already been delayed from its normal May-June place on the calendar.
Magic Millions had briefly considered applying for exemptions for the affected parties but managing director Barry Bowditch revealed that it became apparent that it would not be an option even with the Gold Coast complex being deemed a Covid-19 safe venue.
“What we were told was that for anyone who attended the hotspot it was mandatory for them to have 14 days (in isolation), so given that, there was no real push (to go down that route),” Bowditch said last night.
“After discussions with the government, who have been very helpful, we decided that the best way forward for everyone was to delay the sale.
“This buys those (who have been in a hotspot) a week to get themselves to the Gold Coast or, if not, to work out how they can conduct business in a market that is extremely vital to the industry.”
The new schedule will see the first broodmare session, featuring Group 1 winners Sunlight (Zoustar) and Unforgotten (Fastnet Rock), take place on July 27 to 29 before two days are set aside for the weanling sale on July 30 and 31.
The National Yearling Sale will proceed on August 3 and 4 as will the National Racehorse Sale.
The dates will not be revised again if further restrictions as a result of the pandemic make it impossible to conduct a sale with buyers and vendors at the complex. Alternatives such as a virtual auction have been mooted if that scenario eventuates.
“Under the current restrictions, yes we are (confident that it will be a live sale) but it’s a moving beast and the auction will take place beginning on the 27th regardless and we’ll work with what’s put in front of us between now and then,” Bowditch said.
“I think it is imperative for any participant who has got the opportunity to get out there in the field and see as many horses as they can in the different areas to be ready for the live auction.
“It’s such a fast-moving landscape that we are living in right now and we can’t predict what might happen next.”
Bhima Thoroughbreds had 20 mares being trucked to the Gold Coast yesterday when news broke of the Premier’s decision to further restrict entry into Queensland.
“We had staff and mares en route to the Gold Coast. They were (the Scone) side of halfway and then the Premier announced the border was going to be closed for anyone who had been to or is a resident of Liverpool over the last 14 days which put three of my staff who were travelling up in jeopardy,” Bhima Thoroughbreds principal Mike Fleming told ANZ Bloodstock News yesterday.
“With the uncertainty, we made the decision to turn around, come back, regroup and see what happens.
“I thought they were better off sitting here (at Bhima in Scone) rather than being up there for an extra week.”
Fleming, who revealed more of his draft may be sold in absentia due to the proximity to their foaling dates, stressed the importance of the Magic Millions sale to the breeding industry.
“We have to understand from a perspective that the Gold Coast sale is a very important trading event,” he said.
“There’s obviously a lot of people who need to trade and need to circulate, so it needs to go ahead in one way, shape or form and hopefully that’s in a live form.”
Coolmore, which has 14 mares set to be offered on the Gold Coast, was due to send its horses to Queensland tomorrow.
Staff had considered driving up early yesterday but the midday deadline and the uncertainty over the sale’s timeslot meant Coolmore management decided against the move.
“We will work with Magic Millions as best we can during this pandemic,” Coolmore stud manager John Kennedy said.
“It is constantly evolving and Barry Bowditch and his team, as Inglis did, are doing what they can within government parameters to provide a marketplace for vendors and buyers.”
Meanwhile, Bowditch said Magic Millions would liaise with vendors in the coming days about what mares would be sold in absentia and what stock would be available for inspection on the Gold Coast.
“That’s one of the things that we are working through at the moment and there will be a number of mares who we will need to stay at home because of the extra week’s delay,” he said.
“The recommendation is that any mare who is within a month of their due date shouldn’t travel and we’ll be working under those guidelines.
“There’s a huge opportunity there in this market if buyers are willing to get out there and do the work to be ready for the sale however it falls.”
Revised Magic Millions National Sale schedule
Monday, July 27 – 2pm – National Broodmare Sale
Tuesday, July 28 – 10am – National Broodmare Sale
Wednesday, July 29 – 10am – National Broodmare Sale
Thursday, July 30 – 2pm – National Weanling Sale
Friday, July 31 – 10am – National Weanling Sale
Monday, August 3 – 10am – National Yearling Sale
Tuesday, August 4 – 10am – National Yearling Sale
Tuesday, August 4 – National Racehorse Sale follows on from yearlings