Virtual success as Sheeza Belter sells for $1.35 million through Magic Millions
Yulong snap up first Group 1-winning two-year-old filly to go to auction in seven years
Magic Millions’ Barry Bowditch believes the company has a point of difference in the growing online thoroughbred marketplace by conducting live virtual auctions for high-end bloodstock after the auction house sold Sheeza Belter (Gold Standard) for $1.35 million.
The first Group 1-winning two-year-old filly to go to auction in seven years, her success at the highest level coming in the 2022 JJ Atkins Plate (1600m), Sheeza Belter was bought by Yulong under its Highway Farm banner yesterday, the second million dollar mare sold virtually by Magic Millions in the past six weeks.
The virtual sale, conducted by auctioneer Clint Donovan, opened with a $300,000 bid via the phone before another 21 bids, all going up in $50,000 increments, saw Sheeza Belter sold to Yulong for the seven-figure sum, taking her total career prize-money and sale earnings to more than $3.2 million.
Bowditch, Magic Millions’ managing director, said Sheeza Belter’s price tag was a great result for her owners, led by retired trainer Justin Warwick, and it also showcased the company’s way of selling elite mares.
“We’ve been on a great journey with Justin over the years by having the luck of selling Quilista for him for big money [$950,000] and now Sheeza Belter. We thank Justin for his trust in us while we’re trying a new concept,” Bowditch said of the virtual auction.
“I have got to say, I think it’s a huge point of difference for Magic Millions [compared to Inglis Digital and Gavelhouse] and it’s been a great experience for both the vendor and the buyer.
“The buyer can bid with a lot of confidence, they can see what’s going on, it’s instantaneous, it’s sharp, it’s fast and it has all the theatre a live auction can provide you and from a vendor’s perspective it’s exciting.
“They get to sit back and enjoy watching who I believe are the best auctioneers in the world do what they’re best at and that’s selling the horses for the most amount of money.”
Bought by Warwick for $50,000 days after accidentally buying the previous lot at the 2021 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale, Sheeza Belter won her first start on New Year’s Day 2022 before landing the Magic Millions WA 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) two starts later, enough for connections to send her to the east coast.
It was an inspired decision as new trainers Peter and Paul Snowden were able to win the BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m) and JJ Atkins later in the season with her.
At three, she won the Hot Danish Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m) and also finished third in the Coolmore Classic (Gr 1, 1500m) last autumn but a last-placed performance in the Golden Pendant (Gr 2, 1400m) last month in Sydney prompted Warwick and his co-owners to put her on the market.
“It is a very nerve-wracking experience selling a horse around that level,” Warwick said yesterday.
“I’m relieved that the process has been a success and I’m very happy to see where she is going and the opportunity she will have.”
Sheeza Belter, a first crop daughter of Widden Victoria’s Gold Standard (Sebring), is out of juvenile winner Saxabelle (Saxon), a half-sister to Special Kiseki (Special Bond) who has produced stakes winners Special Reward (Demerit) and Showy Chloe (Alfred Nobel).
Bowditch said Sheeza Belter’s race record spoke for itself and her ability to cope with a long two-year-old campaign was underlined by the fact she was transported by truck from Perth to Brisbane.
“It’s very rare that you have a Group 1-winning two-year-old filly go to auction. I believe we marketed her extremely well going into it and, from Yulong’s perspective, they’ve already got an unbelievable broodmare band and she fits in there closer to the top of it.
“I think she’s a fantastic addition to what is the strongest broodmare band in this part of the world.”
Magic Millions sold Kiku (Zoustar) for $1.46 million with David Chester auctioneering through a virtual sale on August 31. She was bought by Japan’s Katsumi Yoshida.