The catalogue for the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale was released on November 9, 2022 and, since then, a host of yearlings being offered at Bundall this week have had their pedigrees enhanced, which is important information for vendors and buyers alike.
Lot 955 – Exceed And Excel x Ichihara (General Nediym), colt – on account of Corumbene Stud
This colt will require little introduction, being a half-brother to one of the 2-year-olds of the moment, Empire Of Japan (Snitzel), and, as such, he’ll have had plenty of inspections. Empire Of Japan, for the Snowden yard, was already a winner of the G3 Breeders’ Plate at the time of catalogue release, but he’s since been third in a very competitive juvenile race at Randwick, won by Fire Lane (Hellbent), and he’s a hot favourite for Saturday’s $2 million R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
Additionally, Lot 955 is a full brother to Mount Fuji, a $2.8 million yearling when sold in 2019. That horse, now a 5-year-old, was since second in a Beaudesert race on Christmas Eve. This is a prolific sales family that includes the Group 2-winning speedster and now sire, Menari.
Lot 955 will be offered on Saturday evening after raceday. He will be offered by Corumbene Stud, which has 13 yearlings in the sale, and he is one of the 63 progeny by Exceed And Excel on offer this week and next.
Lot 955 - Exceed And Excel x Ichihara (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Lot 1118– Astern x Heritage Lane (Charge Forward), colt – on account of Glen Gallic Stud
This colt is a half-brother to the progressive juvenile filly Fire Lane (Hellbent) who, since the release of the catalogue, has won the Max Lees Classic for 2-year-olds at Newcastle, was fourth in the R. Listed Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic, and won a juvenile race at Randwick on Christmas Eve. It’s quite a consistent pedigree boost for this Astern colt and it could get even better on Saturday with Fire Lane lining up in the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic ahead of this colt being offered on Monday.
The second dam on this page is the American mare Laurel Avenue (USA), a daughter of Avenue Of Flags (USA), and her daughters have been prolific producers, most notably Sunday Valentine (Sunday Silence {USA}), whose Group-winning daughter El Daana (Redoute’s Choice) is the dam of two Group winners.
Lot 1118 is one of a concise draft of three for Glen Gallic Stud, and she is the only youngster by Astern in the sale.
Lot 1118 -Astern x Heritage Lane (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Lot 879 – Magna Grecia (Ire) x Forest Circle (USA) (Arch {USA}), filly – on account of Edinglassie Thoroughbreds
This Magna Grecia (Ire) filly is a half-sister to Hell I Am (Hellbent), who was already a winner at the time of catalogue release but who has since won the Magic Millions Wyong 3YO & 4YO S. and was third to Ananvinci (I Am Invincible) in the Listed Gosford Guineas just after Christmas. Hell I Am will race this Saturday in the $2 million R. Listed Magic Million 3YO Guineas, which will occur after this filly is offered on Friday.
While Hell I Am is a topical update to this pedigree, Lot 879 is also related to the recently performed American runner Shadow Sphinx (USA) (Pioneerofthe Nile {USA}), who was second in the Listed Artie Schiller S. at Aqueduct.
There is a stack of American pedigree on this page from the first dam back, and it includes the Grade 1 winner Carriage Trail (USA) (Giant’s Causeway {USA}) and the dual Grade 3 winner Criminologist (USA) (Maria’s Mon {USA}). American mares have enjoyed a very good run with stakes winners in Australia in recent years, so this filly has plenty going on.
She appears in the draft of Edinglassie Thoroughbreds, which has a draft of 17 on offer this week. Lot 879 is one of 12 progeny by first-season sire Magna Grecia (Ire) on offer.
Lot 879 - Magna Grecia (Ire) x Forest Circle (USA) (filly) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
