The all-time record price for a filly sold at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale was broken on Monday when a beautiful filly by leading sire I Am Invincible sold for A$800,000.
The filly, the second foal of the stakes performed Not a Single Doubt mare Single Blonde, attracted an opening bid of A$300,000 before the gavel fell on the successful bid from bloodstock agent Will Johnson.
I Am Invincible filly sold for A$800,000 (Pic – Magic Millions)
The sale topper was one of the star acts of the quality Element Hill Unreserved Dispersal draft.
Johnson purchased the filly for leading US based buyers John and Jes Sikura from Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm.
“The filly presented as a lovely physical,” a delighted Johnson reported. “She’s by the best stallion in the country.”
“Fast forward to January in 2025 you’re trying to buy those style of fillies. So, to be able to secure her now is a plus and hopefully she can reap the rewards on the track.”
“John Sikura and his son Jes bought a filly in partnership with the Waterhouse team in January – the I Am Invincible out of Madam Rouge. This is a similar idea – trying to have more well-bred fillies who are lovely physicals in training in Australia.”
“We’ve got excellent prizemoney in Australia and it’s an endorsement on the Australian racing and breeding industry that someone like John Sikura and his family are investing in the game.”
“Element Hill has bred a lot of top horses and on a day like today with an unreserved dispersal it gives everyone an opportunity to invest in their lovely pedigrees that they have built up over the last 20 years.”
“As you would have seen today is a lot about pin-hooking and trying to get a return in January, whereas this filly has been bought with the long-term ideal of racing – so we’ll let her grow out and put her into training,” Johnson concluded.
The I Am Invincible filly was one of 12 lots to sell for a price of over A$200,000 on a spirited final day of the 2024 National Weanling Sale.
The second top seller of the day was the Home Affairs filly from Witherspoon who was knocked down to Silverdale Farm for A$430,000.
That filly was offered as part of the Newgate Consignment, who this week will present her dam Witherspoon at the National Broodmare Sale.
Leading Sydney trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott teamed up with Bruce Slade’s Kestrel Thoroughbreds to buy another of the Element Hill offerings – the Stay Inside half-sister to Zousain for A$400,000.
The sale gross currently sits at over $18.8 million for 244 lots sold at an average price of A$77,162 and clearance rate of 81 per cent.
“I was really pleased with today,” Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch noted. “To see the average hold, to see the clearance rate increase and to have a really healthy gross given there were a significant amount of fewer horses in the catalogue this year was a great result.”
“It has exceeded our expectations going in.”
“The first season sires, Stay Inside and in particular Home Affairs, have had outstanding sales and whether it be a filly or a colt, I think you’re paid very well for quality and, it’s outstanding to see many end users supporting the sale and taking the pin-hookers on and keeping them honest in the marketplace.”
“I think it’s a huge melting pot, the weanling market. I think it’s under-utilised by our breeders. I think you bring quality here, you do get well paid.”
“I’d like to think off the back of these results this year, over the last two days, that more breeders could consider bringing quality stock to the weanling sale because clearly you’ve got both the traders here and the end users participating, so it gives you good reason to get paid well and obviously you get your money early.”
Bowditch said it was great to see one of the United States’ most respected thoroughbred farms Hill ‘n’ Dale investing with the day’s A$800,000 sale topper.
“I think they’re an outstanding outfit globally and to have John and Jes Sikura participating here in Australia through Will Johnson is fantastic.”
“It’s a great endorsement for the industry in Australia as a whole and I couldn’t be more delighted for John and Fu Mei Hutchins and Josh (from vendor Element Hill). They’ve been outstanding supporters and friends of Magic Millions for many years. For them to top their final weanling sale is an outstanding effort. “
Sale Statistics: (2023 in brackets)
- Lots Catalogued: 374 (478)
- Lots Sold: 244 (267)
- Lots Withdrawn: 70 (105)
- Lots Passed In: 59 (106)
- Sale Gross: A$18,827,500 (A$22,165,000)
- Top Price: A$800,000 (A$925,000)
- Average Price: A$77,162 (A$83,015)
- Median Price: A$41,000 (A$50,000)
- Sold %: 81 (72)
