Records smashed at Magic Millions National Sale
Phaistos tops racehorse session as curtain falls after eights days of selling on the Gold Coast
Godolphin’s Phaistos (Helmet) was the top seller of the racehorse session on the final day of a record–breaking Magic Millions National Sale on the Gold Coast yesterday.
The five-year-old stakes–placed gelding, a winner of just over $450,000 in prize–money, was bought by Winners Bloodstock for $165,000 and will join the Gillian Heinrich stable.
Phaistos’ former Godolphin barn mate Jeronimos (Contributer) was also purchased by the group for $90,000 and is set to race in the black and pink colours of the Heinrich team.
In a career spanning ten starts, Jeronimos has so far been the winner of a maiden over 1200 metres at Newcastle last May.
The third highest–priced horse sold from Godolphin’s offering of eight was Flemington winner Fatigues (Hallowed Crown), who was knocked down to Victoria’s Laming Racing for $80,000.
The three-year-old gelding won a Benchmark 70 race at headquarters last August and ran second at Ballarat at his most recent start on May 19.
Magic Millions’ managing director Barry Bowditch was pleased with the results of the National Racehorse Sale.
“We obviously had a small group this year. The Godolphin component is always highly sought after,” he said.
“There was strong bidding on quality horses and it goes to show there’s plenty of people wanting to take them on.”
Earlier in the day, Book 2 of the National Yearling Sale came to a close and grossed over $1.15 million with 94 lots sold at an average price of $12,327 and a clearance rate of over 83 per cent.
The best seller of those yearlings auctioned yesterday was a Pride of Dubai (Street Cry) half-sister to stakes winner Jami Lady (Spirit Of Boom), who was purchased by Scott Bancroft for $95,000.
Presented by Roona Lodge, the filly is from the four-time winner Bevico Girl (Easy Rocking), who at stud has produced two winners from two to race, headed by the Bright Shadow Stakes (Listed, 1200m) winner Jami Lady.
Yesterday’s sale of yearlings and racehorses brought what has been labelled as the most successful breeding stock sale in southern hemisphere history to a conclusion.
After eight days of selling, the 2021 Gold Coast National Sale grossed a staggering $191,305,000 – smashing the previous record of almost $148 million in 2019 by 30 per cent.
A total of 1296 lots were sold at an average price of $147,597 and a sale clearance rate of 83 per cent.
“It’s fantastic to finish a big two weeks on a successful note,” said Bowditch
“The gross figure is $43 million higher than 2019 which is a record itself. It’s unbelievable.
“It’s a huge effort by so many components of the industry and the cogs in the wheel that make this a success. I want to thank everyone for playing a part.”
The bloodstock sales focus now shifts west with the Magic Millions Swan Valley complex playing host to the Perth Winter Racehorse, Yearling and Thoroughbred Sale on Sunday, June 27. Catalogues for the auction will be made available online during the coming days.