Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
At A Glance
A further five horses fetched seven-figure sums on Day 3 of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, spearheaded by a pair of yearlings from the first crop of Coolmore stallion Wootton Bassett.
The average dropped fractionally from Wednesday to $289,810, which is below the $306,240 average at the same point during last year’s sale. The median also held steady at $220,000, $10,000 below last year’s corresponding figure at the same stage.
The current gross of $155,338,000 at the close of play on Day 3 is up marginally on the same figure at this stage 12 months ago, while the clearance rate of 85.21 per cent is fractionally below last year’s 87.05 per cent at the end of Day 3.
Te Akau’s David Ellis CNZM (BANZ) continues to lead the buying bench, helped by his purchase of the current sale-topping Wootton Bassett filly out of the nine-time Group 1 winner Avantage, who was purchased by Ellis as a yearling. Ellis has signed for 10 yearlings outright for a total gross of $6,965,000 thus far.
Newgate continues to lead the leading vendor standings, but Segenhoe Stud is hot on its heels after another stellar day for leviathan owner-breeder John Camilleri, who sold the second most expensive horse through the ring on Thursday, a $1.6 million Wootton Bassett colt. Segenhoe is the leading vendor by average, with an incredible figure of $659,750 from 20 lots sold.
Yarraman Park Stud’s reigning Champion Sire I Am Invincible jumped to the head of affairs in the leading sire standings by gross, almost $3 million clear of his nearest pursuer Snitzel, while Frankel leads the same standings by the average metric.
After a landmark day for the rags to riches stallion, Wootton Bassett is comfortably ahead in the leading first-season sire standings by both gross and average. His average of $471,000 is $138,273 ahead of the average posted by last year’s leading first-season sire at the same juncture.
#1. Bassett goes bang, bang, bang
He may only qualify as a first-season sire on a technicality, having already sired nine Group 1 winners in the Northern Hemisphere, but there is no denying that Wootton Bassett’s (GB) first Australian-bred crop of yearlings came to the fore during Thursday’s third session of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
His 12 yearlings to sell on Day 3 were spearheaded by the current sale-topping filly out of nine-time Group 1 winner Avantage (Fastnet Rock), who was also crowned New Zealand Champion 2-Year-Old and Leading New Zealand 3-Year-Old Filly during her glittering race career for Te Akau Racing.
Unsurprisingly, it was Te Akau’s David Ellis who held strongest during a protracted bidding duel for the filly, seeing off industry giants Yulong to land the first foal out of his former Tangerine flagbearer for $2.1 million.
Wootton Bassett (GB) | Standing at Coolmore Stud
Wootton Bassett, who began his career off a service fee of €6000 (AU$9800) at Haras d’Etreham in France back in 2012, sold 12 lots during Thursday’s session for a combined total of $7,720,000 at an average of $643,333. He was also responsible for three of the top 10 lots through the ring on Day 3, including the top two most-expensive purchases at $2.1 million and $1.6 million apiece.
Those incredible results have helped him leapfrog to fourth on the overall leading sires’ standings by gross, while he is also comfortably in the top 10 stallions by average. The latter figure of $471,000 is way ahead of the $332,727 average posted by last year’s leading first-season sire Blue Point (Ire) at the same stage of the sale.
It truly was a remarkable 24 hours for all concerned with Wootton Bassett, and Coolmore’s Tom Magnier could hardly have been more effusive in his praise for the Group 1-winning shuttle stallion.
“I spoke to Aidan O’Brien before the sale - he only had two Wootton Bassetts in the yard last year and they’re both Group 1 horses,” he told The Thoroughbred Report.
“The trainers like him a lot and I haven’t seen the hype around a first-season sire quite like this before.
“The trainers like him (Wootton Bassett) a lot and I haven’t seen the hype around a first-season sire quite like this before.” - Tom Magnier
“There was obviously a hype around Justify with his first yearlings at the sales and we’ve seen what they’re doing on the racetrack. We’d hold Wootton Bassett in the same category as him and we and our clients have supported him with the very best mares.”
Wootton Bassett has 10 more lots due through the ring during the remainder of this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
#2. Frankel Fever hits the Gold Coast
Frankel’s (GB) prowess as a stallion in both hemispheres needs no introduction, but the sire of 33 Group 1 winners worldwide has really forged an excellent reputation in Australia and New Zealand, where his 17 stakes winners from just 89 runners has him striking at a stakes winners to runners ratio of over 19 per cent.
Frankel (GB) | Standing at Banstead Manor Stud
With statistics like that, it was no surprise to see three lots by the Juddmonte stallion sell for an average of $858,333 on Day 3. That trio was spearheaded by a filly out of Cercle D’Or (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) - a half-sister to G1 Epsom Derby and G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe champion Golden Horn (GB) - who was secured by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott in conjunction with bloodstock agent Matt Houldsworth for $1 million from the draft of Yarraman Park Stud.
The Waterhouse-Bott stable has already enjoyed plenty of success with the progeny of Frankel, having trained one of his three Group 1 winners on Australian soil in Converge, and Waterhouse was delighted to come away with a daughter of what she believes is one of the greatest stallions on the planet.
“He is the Champion stallion in the world, so we feel very privileged to be training this filly,” she said.
“He (Frankel) is the Champion stallion in the world, so we feel very privileged to be training this filly (Lot 513).” - Gai Waterhouse
“He stamps them very well, they’re very fluid-moving horses and his winners to runners are very high.
“The best mares go to him because he costs a lot of money and that’s half the battle isn’t it?”
Lot 513 - Frankel (GB) x Cercle D'Or (Ire) (filly) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The first Frankel through the ring on Day 3, Lot 488 was secured for $825,000 by Chris Waller Racing and Mulcaster Bloodstock. Waller trained Hungry Heart, Frankel’s second and most successful of his three Southern Hemisphere Group 1 winners to date, to win the G1 Vinery Stud S. and G1 ATC Oaks.
Go Bloodstock Australia, Tom Magnier, Paul Moroney Bloodstock and Catheryne Bruggeman teamed up to buy the third and final Frankel to sell on Day 3, parting with $750,000 to secure the first foal out of Edith Piaf (Ire) (Le Havre {Ire}), who is a half-sister to G2 Theo Marks S. winner Home Of The Brave (Ire) (Starspangledbanner).
#3. John Singleton on the board
A matter of moments after she secured the $1 million Frankel filly, Gai Waterhouse was once again signing the docket for a Wootton Bassett filly out of Group 2 winner and multiple Group 1 placegetter Champagne Cuddles (Not A Single Doubt), only this time it was on behalf of a name many perhaps didn’t expect to see on the buyers’ list this week.
Leviathan owner-breeder John Singleton was listed as the buyer of the Coolmore Stud-consigned filly, who was catalogued as Lot 516, after parting with $800,000 to secure the granddaughter of Group 1 winner Sky Cuddle (Snippets).
John Singleton | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Having sold Strawberry Hill Stud alongside the vast majority of his bloodstock interests last year, it was a positive sign to see one of Australia’s greatest ever breeders active on the buyers’ sheet, and Waterhouse is confident that ‘Singo’ will continue to be involved in the racing and breeding industry moving forward.
“Singo wanted to put his finger in the water and he said, 'You’ve got one horse to buy,'” she revealed.
“He gave me the brief and that was it. The only horse for Singo.
“He said, ‘I only want one horse and if you like it, buy it’. I do like her, she’s very feminine and she moves very freely.
“I think John, until the day he dies, will always be buying. He just loves the sport. He’s truly a great enthusiast.
“I think John (Singleton), until the day he dies, will always be buying. He just loves the sport. He’s truly a great enthusiast.” - Gai Waterhouse
“Most people as they get older give up certain passions, but he hasn’t.”
#4. A perfect 30 from 30 for Coolmore
The might of Coolmore hasn’t just been buying elite colts at the top end of the market this week, given the operation can also lay claim to having a perfect clearance rate of 30 lots offered for 30 lots sold at the close of trade on Day 3.
Only one of their 36 offerings through the ring failed to find a buyer at this sale 12 months ago, and with 21 lots still to offer during the remainder of this year’s auction, the Jerrys Plain outfit will be keeping everything crossed that they can maintain their immaculate record over the coming days.
Tom Moore, marketing and nominations at Coolmore Australia, is delighted with how the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale has panned out thus far and is confident that the coolmore team still has a few nice bullets to fire later in the week.
“I suppose it’s a reflection on the investment that Coolmore has put into the Australian operation over the past number of years, which is starting to come to fruition now.
“We’ve got a number of highly rated yearlings to offer over the next two days, so we’re not getting ahead of ourselves, but we couldn’t be happier with the results so far.”
“I suppose it’s a reflection on the investment that Coolmore has put into the Australian operation over the past number of years, which is starting to come to fruition now.” - Tom Moore
Coolmore has clearly been meeting the market with the right reserves at a host of different price points, including selling the current $2.1 million sale-topper on Thursday morning. Coolmore’s Tom Magnier has also been involved with the purchase of three of the current top 10 lots sold so far this week, indicating a busy few days for the world-leading operation.
#5. Mithen delighted with endorsement for Hanseatic
Plenty of first-season sires have created favourable impressions this week, with Wootton Bassett (GB), Ole Kirk, Farnan, King’s Legacy, Bivouac, Prague, Graff, Anders and Hello Youmzain (Fr) all having sold at least one yearling for in excess of $300,000 during the opening three days of trade.
Rosemont Stud’s triple stakes-winning stallion Hanseatic added his name to that list on Day 3, when his colt out of the G3 Keith F Nolan Classic heroine Cameo (Shamardal {USA}) - a half-sister to G1 Queensland Oaks winner Kukeracha (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) - sold to MyRacehorse, Anthony Freedman Racing and Damon Gabbedy’s Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) for $375,000.
Hanseatic | Standing at Rosemont Stud
An impressive $357,400 profit on his $17,600 (inc GST) service fee, Hanseatic also enjoyed a stellar result on Day 2 when his colt out of the Group 3 winner Adorabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) again sold to Anthony Freedman Racing, this time in conjunction with Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA), for $250,000.
Hanseatic was of course trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman during his racing career, and Rosemont Stud principal Anthony Mithen believes it’s a great sign that the Victorian-based training partnership are putting their faith in the young stallion at the first possible opportunity.
Lot 402 - Hanseatic x Adorabeel (NZ) (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“It’s great that the market has come for him and it’s interesting that the two top lots have been bought by a guy who knows Hanseatic pretty well in Anthony Freedman - that’s the greatest endorsement,” Mithen told The Thoroughbred Report.
“It’d be nice to share them around Anthony, but at the same time I think when someone knows the product and they’re willing to put their money where their mouth is, it means that those marketing quotes from Anthony Freedman aren’t just hot air and bulldust, they’re real and he’s happy to put his hand up.”
“... it’s interesting that the two top lots have been bought by a guy who knows Hanseatic pretty well in Anthony Freedman - that’s the greatest endorsement.” - Anthony Mithen
The Freedmans weren’t the only trainers seen backing one of their former horses, with Danny O’Brien purchasing the first yearling offered at public auction by his Group 1 winner Russian Camelot (Ire) for $220,000. The Widden Stud-consigned filly is a half-sister to another first-season sire in Graff.
#6. Value to be found at the lower end
While the seven-figure lots and regally bred offerings tend to grab the headlines, there has also been plenty of good business done at the lower end of the market over the course of the first three days of selling.
A total of 173 lots have sold for $150,000 or less thus far, which accounts for 32 per cent of all horses sold during the opening three days of trade. Syndicators are always prominent players in that section of the market, and both First Light Racing and Joe O’Neill’s Prime Thoroughbreds believe they have sourced some value over the previous couple of days.
Ashleigh Dowley | Image courtesy of First Light Racing
The former signed for two lots, a Spirit Of Boom filly and a Written Tycoon colt, at an average of $90,000 during Thursday’s session, and First Light’s Ashleigh Dowley could not be happier with the operation’s shopping thus far in what she perceives to be a difficult market to prevail in.
“The first couple of days were certainly pretty tough. We’re here to find value and it was very strong,” Dowley said.
“The first couple of days were certainly pretty tough. We’re here to find value and it (the market) was very strong.” - Ashleigh Dowley
“Those that we had on the list we were well-beaten on, so all the indicators suggest that the market is healthy at the moment.
“It’s a huge catalogue and we have been very patient, and as always patience pays off. We stuck to our guns and we were very happy to get what we thought was incredible value on Day 3.”
Dowley’s thoughts were echoed by O’Neill, whose Prime Thoroughbreds had signed for five yearlings at an average of $150,000 at the close of trade on Day 3.
Joe O'Neill | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“I found the market to be stronger than what a lot of us expected it to be, but we’ve done very well and bought five very nice yearlings from $100,000-$200,000,” he said.
“I think they’re terrific value and I’m thrilled with what I bought. I’ve had a good response as well - without any advertising I've had 13 new inquiries today on my horses, and that’s a great result.”
The final word
The recent rain that has battered the Queensland coast was all too much for one gentleman over by the Sledmere Stud hospitality tent on Thursday, whose chair struck a particularly saturated patch of turf and sank into the ground, prompting him to perform a Frankie Dettori-style flying dismount from his seat. Only this one didn’t end with two feet on the ground.
Thankfully the gentleman in question quickly rose to his feet and brushed off the tumble like nothing had happened. Needless to say, he pulled up better than the fence he took with him.
Top buyers
| D C Ellis CNZM (BANZ) | 10 | $696,500 | $2,100,000 | $6,965,000 |
| Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott/Kestrel Thoroughbreds | 17 | $340,588 | $600,000 | $5,790,000 |
| James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership | 5 | $907,000 | $1,600,000 | $4,535,000 |
| Ciaron Maher Bloodstock | 14 | $313,214 | $675,000 | $4,385,000 |
| Tom Magnier | 3 | $1,416,667 | $1,750,000 | $4,250,000 |
| China Horse Club/Newgate/Go Bloodstock/Trilogy | 8 | $530,625 | $800,000 | $4,245,000 |
| Waller Racing/Mulcaster Bloodstock | 12 | $306,667 | $825,000 | $3,680,000 |
| Gandharvi Pty Ltd/Michael Freedman Racing | 8 | $446,250 | $750,000 | $3,570,000 |
| Highway Farm | 6 | $551,667 | $1,000,000 | $3,310,000 |
| Ciaron Maher Bloodstock/David Redvers Bloodstock | 3 | $968,333 | $1,900,000 | $2,905,000 |
Vendors by aggregate
| Newgate Farm, Aberdeen, NSW | 37 | $370,811 | $1,450,000 | $13,720,000 |
| Segenhoe Stud, Scone, NSW | 20 | $659,750 | $1,900,000 | $13,195,000 |
| Yarraman Park Stud, Scone, NSW | 24 | $399,375 | $1,300,000 | $9,585,000 |
| Coolmore Stud, Jerrys Plains, NSW | 30 | $306,000 | $2,100,000 | $9,180,000 |
| Widden Stud, Widden Valley, NSW | 25 | $345,600 | $1,000,000 | $8,640,000 |
| Arrowfield Stud, Scone, NSW | 31 | $273,226 | $1,000,000 | $8,470,000 |
| Milburn Creek, Wildes Meadow, NSW | 8 | $621,250 | $1,600,000 | $4,970,000 |
| Bhima Thoroughbreds, Scone, NSW | 17 | $274,118 | $775,000 | $4,660,000 |
| Baramul Stud, Widden Valley, NSW | 13 | $342,308 | $750,000 | $4,450,000 |
| Yulong, Nagambie, Vic | 18 | $228,889 | $500,000 | $4,120,000 |
Vendors by average (3 or more sold)
| Segenhoe Stud, Scone, NSW | 20 | $659,750 | $1,900,000 | $13,195,000 |
| Milburn Creek, Wildes Meadow, NSW | 8 | $621,250 | $1,600,000 | $4,970,000 |
| Rosemont Stud, Gnarwarre, Vic | 5 | $421,000 | $625,000 | $2,105,000 |
| Yarraman Park Stud, Scone, NSW | 24 | $399,375 | $1,300,000 | $9,585,000 |
| Kulani Park, Goulburn Weir, Vic | 9 | $392,778 | $700,000 | $3,535,000 |
| Redbank North Pty Ltd, Harden, NSW | 3 | $371,667 | $625,000 | $1,115,000 |
| Blue Gum Farm, Euroa, Vic | 7 | $371,429 | $1,300,000 | $2,600,000 |
| Newgate Farm, Aberdeen, NSW | 37 | $370,811 | $1,450,000 | $13,720,000 |
| Waikato Stud, Matamata, NZ | 5 | $366,000 | $470,000 | $1,830,000 |
| Longwood Thoroughbred Farm, Longwood East, Vic | 4 | $347,500 | $750,000 | $1,390,000 |
Sires by aggregate
| I Am Invincible | 24 | $618,750 | $1,300,000 | $14,850,000 |
| Snitzel | 22 | $542,273 | $1,750,000 | $11,930,000 |
| Zoustar | 27 | $441,667 | $1,100,000 | $11,925,000 |
| Wootton Bassett | 25 | $471,000 | $2,100,000 | $11,775,000 |
| Capitalist | 29 | $266,724 | $800,000 | $7,735,000 |
| Extreme Choice | 9 | $688,333 | $1,600,000 | $6,195,000 |
| Farnan | 19 | $315,000 | $800,000 | $5,985,000 |
| Written Tycoon | 16 | $362,188 | $800,000 | $5,795,000 |
| Deep Field | 18 | $267,222 | $675,000 | $4,810,000 |
| Ole Kirk | 15 | $265,667 | $1,000,000 | $3,985,000 |
Sires by average (3 or more sold)
| Frankel | 4 | $825,000 | $1,000,000 | $3,300,000 |
| Extreme Choice | 9 | $688,333 | $1,600,000 | $6,195,000 |
| I Am Invincible | 24 | $618,750 | $1,300,000 | $14,850,000 |
| Too Darn Hot | 6 | $591,667 | $1,900,000 | $3,550,000 |
| Snitzel | 22 | $542,273 | $1,750,000 | $11,930,000 |
| Wootton Bassett | 25 | $471,000 | $2,100,000 | $11,775,000 |
| Zoustar | 27 | $441,667 | $1,100,000 | $11,925,000 |
| Savabeel | 4 | $393,750 | $500,000 | $1,575,000 |
| Justify | 5 | $391,000 | $650,000 | $1,955,000 |
| Written Tycoon | 16 | $362,188 | $800,000 | $5,795,000 |
