Records were smashed across the board on an incredible opening day to the 2021 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale on the Gold Coast today.
An unprecedented AU$68.8 million was traded on 210 lots at a record average price of AU$328,038 – up 59 per cent on last year and double that of two years ago.
Champion New Zealand mare Melody Belle had the honour of being the top seller on a day when 18 individual lots sold for seven figure amounts.
The 14 time Gr1 winner was offered early in the day as part of the Blue Sky Premium Consignment draft and was knocked down to the Written Tycoon Syndicate for AU$2.6 million.
“It’s great to have a mare of this quality joining the farm,” Yulong’s Sam Fairgray said. “It’s fantastic.”
“We’ve got Written Tycoon now standing at the farm and she was an obvious mare that we would look at and I think she will suit him ideally.”
“Mares of this quality don’t come onto the market very often and it’s great to have a mare of her race ability and type to join our broodmare band,” Fairgray added.
The Written Tycoon Syndicate rounded the day out as leading buyer with a spend of over AU$12 million on 26 purchases.
Group winning mare Mizzy will head to Coolmore Stud after she was purchased by Tom Magnier for AU$2.2 million also during the earlier section of the today’s sale.
“She’s one of the nicest physicals at the sale,” Magnier said of Mizzy. “We’re delighted to get her.”
“It’s for a new partnership. She’s a lovely, quality mare and in fairness she should have been a Group One winner.”
“(Her price) shows you the strength of the market here in Australia at the moment. It’s a great indication that Magic Millions have one of the best sales in the world going on.”
Magnier said a stallion for Mizzy hadn’t been decided as yet, but Triple Crown hero Justify and international star Wootton Bassett were among the leading contenders.
Derby winner Qafila, offered in foal to Dundeel in her first season at stud, sold to Dean Hawthorne for AU$2 million and she topped the Shadwell Stud Australasia Unreserved Reduction Sale draft.
Presented by Yarraman Park Stud, the Shadwell draft grossed over AU$25 million at a tremendous average price of AU$679,324 across 37 lots.
Rosemont Stud finished the day as second leading buyer. The Victorian farm purchased 10 lots for AU$9.675 million headlined by Bella Vella at AU$1.9 million, Minhaaj for AU$1.8 million and Fiesta, Bulbula and Khulaasa each at AU$1.35 million.
“It’s been an extraordinary day,” Rosemont’s Anthony Mithen said. “To be able to purchase 10 mares and to add that sort of quality – the opportunity was there with the Shadwell Dispersal, but there were also some beautiful mares before the dispersal that we couldn’t resist.”
“We’re very pleased. We’ve put a line in the sand about how serious we are about Rosemont hopefully being one of the better breeding operations in town.”
“She’s a beautiful mare. She’s a stunning mare – she was a stunning racehorse. Those fast mares, we are keen to breed stallions at Rosemont and we will get fast ones out of her for sure.”
The gross today of over AU$68.8 million was up AU$42 million on last year’s opening day and the clearance rate was over 90 per cent.
“It’s been a phenomenal day,” Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said. “From start to finish it was buoyant, it was strong and it was a really electric atmosphere.”
“We couldn’t be more proud of the team at Magic Millions and we’re proud of our vendors. It’s our job to get as many buyers here as possible and today the results reflect that like they never have before.”
“It was an honour to offer Melody Belle today and I know the owners of the mare have had an incredible journey with her and to see her realise AU$2.6 million was fantastic for Te Akau and John Galvin and his Fortuna team.”
“The Shadwell Stud Australasia Dispersal of racefillies and broodmares provided buyers with an incredible opportunity and it was no surprise to see the demand from buyers for their amazing draft.”
To view the sale results so far or to make an offer on a passed in lot click here.
Day Two of the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale will commence at 10am (Qld time) tomorrow (Wednesday).
SALE STATISTICS
(2020 Day One in Brackets)
Lots Catalogued: (168)
Lots Sold: 210 (117)
Lots Withdrawn: 53 (29)
Lots Passed In: 23 (22)
Top Price: AU$2,600,000 (AU$4,200,000)
Average Price: AU$328,038 (AU$206,714)
Median Price: AU$145,000 (AU$75,000)
Sale Gross: AU$68,888,000 (AU$24,185,500)
Sold %: 90 (84)
