Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
A ten-time Group 1 winner, the world’s best sprinter and mare, Imperatriz captivated the audience as bids soared.
The intense battle of Arrowfield, Coolmore and Yulong's Vin Cox on behalf of Zhao, was witnessed by a silent Gold Coast audience, with Zhao securing Imperatriz for a record-breaking $6.6 million.
This sale set a new benchmark as the highest-priced filly or mare (not including yearlings of course) ever sold in the Southern Hemisphere and the highest price in the Gold Coast sale ring's history.
Zhijun Zhao secured Imperatriz for a record-breaking $6.6 million | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The battle of Imperatriz is a reflection of the incredible investment made by both Yulong and partners and Coolmore Stud, over the last decade, underpinning the Australian elite broodmare market.
"The brightest of them all"
Described by auctioneer Steve Davis as “the brightest of them all,” bidding opened at $4 million and rose in quarter-of-a-million dollar increments from international players. Yulong's partner, Zhijun Zhao, ultimately delivered the winning bid online for $6.6 million, smashing the Southern Hemisphere record for a breeding prospect.
Representing the purchaser, Vin Cox expected competition to be strong, stating, “we had to dig deep to get her.”
“These are rare commodities. A ten time Group-1 winner, they’re elite and they don't give Group 1 races away at any level, in any country, in any jurisdiction.
“These are rare commodities. A ten time Group-1 winner, they’re elite and they don't give Group 1 races away at any level, in any country, in any jurisdiction.” - Vin Cox
“You know you had to dig deep coming here and I think she made well and truly enough money. Congratulations to Te Akau Racing and David and Karyn.
“They bought her here on the Gold Coast, raced her in New Zealand and then proved her here in Australia. Full credit to them.
Cox confirmed that the mare would not race on but mating plans were yet to be confirmed.
Vin Cox | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“We don't really have any plans just at this moment, because you never write your speech before the races. We'll get her home and think about where we're going to go with her from there”.
The acquisition was the powerhouse operation's most prolific purchase to date in Australia and New Zealand.
Over the past five years, the top 10 breeding propositions purchased by Yulong and partners are a mouth eye-watering lineup, amounting to a substantial $34.8 million. This includes high-end fillies and mares Forbidden Love (All Too Hard) for $4.1 million, Away Game (Snitzel) for $4 million and Montefilia (Kermadec {NZ}) for $3.4 million.
| 2024 | Magic Millions | Imperatriz | $6,600,000 |
| 2023 | Magic Millions | Forbidden Love | $4,100,000 |
| 2022 | Magic Millions | Away Game | $4,000,000 |
| 2023 | Inglis Chairmans | Montefilia | $3,400,000 |
| 2023 | Magic Millions | Snapdancer | $3,200,000 |
| 2022 | Magic Millions | Tofane (NZ) | $3,100,000 |
| 2020 | Magic Millions | Unforgotten | $2,750,000 |
| 2021 | Magic Millions | Melody Belle (NZ) | $2,600,000 |
| 2020 | Magic Millions | Viddora | $2,550,000 |
| 2024 | Magic Millions | Chain of Lightning | $2,500,000 |
Table: Yulong and partners' top 10 Australia/New Zealand breeding proposition investments 2019 - 2024
Coolmore splash $7.6 million
While missing out on the golden mare of the sale, Coolmore Stud continued their exceptional investment in the Australian market, adding three million-dollar mares to its elite broodmare collection on Tuesday, with a total spend of $7.6 million.
Tom Magnier | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Over the past five years, Coolmore’s top 10 breeding propositions have amounted to a staggering $30.5 million in Australia and New Zealand. This includes high-profile acquisitions such as Sunlight (Zoustar) for $4.2 million, Avantage (Fastnet Rock) for NZ$4.1 million (AU$3.7 million), and Nimalee (So You Think {NZ}) for $3.6 million.
| 2020 | Magic Millions | Sunlight | $4,200,000 |
| 2021 | Gavelhouse | Avantage | $4,100,000 |
| 2023 | Inglis | Nimalee | $3,600,000 |
| 2024 | Magic Millions | Platinum Jubilee | $3,500,000 |
| 2023 | Magic Millions | Piping Hot | $3,000,000 |
| 2022 | Inglis | Shout the Bar | $2,700,000 |
| 2024 | Magic Millions | Madame Pommery | $2,700,000 |
| 2021 | Inglis | Celebrity Queen | $2,500,000 |
| 2019 | Inglis | Maastricht | $2,250,000 |
| 2020 | Magic Millions | Champagne Cuddles | $2,000,000 |
Table: Coolmore Stud’s top 10 Australia/New Zealand breeding proposition investments 2019 - 2024
The most expensive acquisition this year is Platinum Jubilee (Zoustar), who fetched $3.5 million, making her the fourth-highest priced acquisition in recent years. A half-sister to G1 Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot (Written Tycoon), Platinum Jubilee claimed the G3 Gimcrack S. as a 2-year-old. She is out of the blue-hen mare Miss Debutante (Fastnet Rock), which also makes her a half-sister to the highly valuable multiple Group 3-winning filly Queen Of The Ball (I Am Invincible).
Speaking about the acquisition strategy, Coolmore’s Tom Magnier highlighted the unique value of Platinum Jubilee. “The intention is to buy the best of what is on offer from the market.
“We identified her (Platinum Jubilee) as one of the most important mares in the sale, from a pedigree that is extremely active and is only going to get better and better in time.
“We identified her (Platinum Jubilee) as one of the most important mares in the sale, from a pedigree that is extremely active and is only going to get better and better in time.” - Tom Magnier
“Obviously the mother has done more than most will ever hope to do; she’s the dam of a Golden Slipper winner (and) all first three foals are Group winners.
“This particular filly won her Gimcrack on debut and she’s the type of filly that we want to hone in on to send to stallions like Wootton Bassett.
Coolmore acquire familiar faces
Coolmore's second million-dollar acquisition this year was a familiar face for the team, Madame Pommery (No Nay Never {USA}), who fetched $2.7 million. Born, raised, and sold by Coolmore as a yearling, Madame Pommery’s return is particularly special for the farm.
Gallery: Some of Coolmore's million dollar purcahses at the 2024 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale
Coolmore’s Tom Moore commented on this significant acquisition, saying, “She’s a special filly to everyone at Coolmore. She was born and raised at Coolmore, we sold her through our Magic Millions draft to a big syndicate of ladies put together by Sophie Baker.
“She was one of the best fillies of her generation, a beautiful filly from a family that has produced champion 2-year-olds in the past and being by No Nay Never was a positive for us as well.
“She (Madame Pommery) was one of the best fillies of her generation, a beautiful filly from a family that has produced champion 2-year-olds in the past and being by No Nay Never was a positive for us as well.” - Tom Moore
“We'll get her back home and she’ll go to Wootton Bassett this season.”
Rounding out the trio of high-priced acquisitions was Legacies, the stakes-winning daughter of Coolmore's globe-trotting super sire Justify (USA), who fetched $1.4 million. Unbeaten as a juvenile, Legacies won the Listed Anzac Day S. by nearly five lengths at just her second start and then finished between Group 1 winners Veight (Grunt {NZ}) and Little Brose (Per Incanto {USA}) in the G3 McNeil S. as a 3-year-old.
Though a decision on Legacies’ immediate future is yet to be made, Tom Moore was particularly enthusiastic about the purchase for obvious reasons.
Tom Moore and Tom Magnier
“She is a mare that we have followed closely being a high-class 2-year-old and really helped put Justify on the map here in Australia.
“She absolutely dominated the stakes race that she won as a 2-year-old, winning by close to five lengths. These are the type of mares that we want to breed from - she’s from a high class international family and she was one of the highest rated physicals on the complex for us”.
Racing stock prove popular
Yulong's partner, Zhijun Zhao was also too strong on G1 T J Smith S. winning sprinter Chain Of Lightning (Fighting Sun) who fetched $2.5 million. The high-profile mare was offered by Kenmore Lodge on behalf of Stewart Ramsey’s, Ramsey Pastoral.
Representing her new owner, Vin Cox confirmed the mare, who was sold with a Royal Ascot entry, would be spelled before mapping out plans for a spring campaign.
“We'll give her a spell now, she won't go to Ascot. We'll leave her with Peter Moody and bring her back in the spring and hope she can continue racing in top form.
Lot 430 - Chain Of Lightning | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“She’s arguably racing as well as she’s ever raced in, having won a T J Smith. That’s outstanding sprinting form.
Thinking into the future, Cox commented plans around matings would be discussed at a later date but pointed out that she is a highly-commercial breeding prospect that will appeal to a range of stallions.
“She’s a Group 1-winning mare and it’s a good, well-known Australian family. When they win the Group 1 sprints and, outside of that race (T J Smith Stakes), she has a very good race record as well, so whether you’re selling them or trying to produce a racehorse out of them, they set you up very well.”
“She’s arguably racing as well as she’s ever raced in, having won a T J Smith. That’s outstanding sprinting form.” - Vin Cox
Rounding out the spending spree was the four-time stakes winner Life Lessons (Tavistock {NZ}) who was also offered by Kenmore Lodge on behalf of Ramsey Pastoral. Secured for $1 million as a breeding and racing proposition, Vin Cox suggested the 5-year-old mare may race on.
“She's been in pre-training up here in Queensland and she’ll remain in training with Peter Moody. She's had her issues in the past and we hope to get through those and get her back on the track.
Lot 483 - Life Lessons was secured for $1 million | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“The ideal is to have these race fillies and mares like Chain Of Lightning and Life Lessons get back to the track and win some nice races”.
