Magic Millions have arrived at the final leg of their sales extravaganza. With the Magic Millions National Weanling and Magic Millions National Broodmare Sales done and dusted, it is now time for the yearlings to shine. Starting on Tuesday, the first of 399 lots will head through the ring.
One of the vendors, who have enjoyed success, with a Group 1-winning graduate, is New Zealand-based Westbury Stud. The stud has crossed the Tasman with nine yearlings. The Thoroughbred Report caught up with Westbury Stud’s general manager, Russell Warwick, to discuss some highlights ahead of selling.
Westbury Stud presented the outstanding mare Campionessa (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) at the 2019 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale, where the astute David Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) purchased her for $60,000. Campionessa went on to win the G1 Zabeel Classic last year, along with several other Group 2 contests.
Campionessa | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Additionally, Westbury Stud is home to Redwood (GB), a name well-known to Queenslanders through the deeds of his brilliant son Antino (NZ), a first-up winner of the G2 Victory S. and currently on the path towards the G1 Stradbroke H. Westbury Stud will offer two yearlings by Redwood - Lots 1242 and 1261.
Westbury delights
Among Warwick’s shortlisted lots is Lot 1214, a colt by Westbury Stud’s resident sire Tarzino (NZ), a son of the brilliant Tavistock (NZ). Tarzino has sired two Group 1 winners in his debut crop: Jungle Magnate (NZ), who won the G1 South Australia Derby, and Gypsy Goddess (NZ), who triumphed in the G1 Queensland Oaks and the G3 Grand Prix S. in Brisbane.
Lot 1214 - Tarzino (NZ) x Ashima (NZ) (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Lot 1214 is the fifth foal from the Red Giant (USA) mare Ashima (NZ), who has three foals to race, including two winners: the seven-time winner Go Lotte (NZ) (Telperion) and Who Loves Sushi (NZ) (Swiss Ace), a six-time winner. The colt’s third dam, Jezabeel (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), famously won the G1 Melbourne Cup and the G1 Auckland Cup.
“He’s (Lot 1214) a lovely colt, very reminiscent of his sire, Tarzino. As we know, Tarzino left two Group 1 Classic winners from his first crop,” Warwick noted.
Warwick also highlighted Lot 1504, a September-born colt by another resident sire, Reliable Man (GB). A dual Group 1 winner, Reliable Man is the sire of 26 individual stakes winners worldwide and 62 stakes performers globally.
Lot 1504 - Reliable Man (GB) x Victory Lap (NZ) (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Lot 1504 is the first colt from the unraced Redwood (GB) mare Victory Lap (NZ), a full sister to the talented Night’s Watch (NZ), a nine-time winner who claimed the G3 Neville Sellwood S. and the G3 Naturalism S., and was placed in the G1 Toorak H. The colt’s third dam, Penny Gem (NZ) (Pentire {GB}), won the G1 Captain Cook S. and the G2 Counties Cup.
“We really like Lot 1504. He’s a Reliable Man colt and the first foal from a full sister (Victory Lap) to Night’s Watch, who was a very good horse for Chris Waller. This colt is grey in colour, like his father, and he moves really well. Quite a few people have circled him on their shortlist. He is at the end of the sale, so hopefully, there’ll still be a bit of money left for a horse like that,” Warwick said.
“... he (Lot 1504) moves really well. Quite a few people have circled him on their shortlist. He is at the end of the sale, so hopefully, there’ll still be a bit of money left for a horse like that.” - Russell Warwick
Rounding out Warwick’s selections is Lot 1255, a colt by Westbury Stud’s El Roca. A son of Fastnet Rock, El Roca is the sire of 10 stakes winners, including two Group 1 winners, and 20 stakes performers. Lot 1255 is from the Danehill Dancer (Ire) mare Concert Girl, a proven producer who is the dam of the G1 Doomben 10,000 victor Music Magnate (Written Tycoon) and four other winners.
Lot 1255 - El Roca x Concert Girl (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“If I was looking for one a little left field, it would be Lot 1255. It seems a lot of people like him. He’s an El Roca colt and a half-brother to Music Magnate, who won the Doomben 10,000. Lot 1255 is a late foal, born on December 1, but he’s been given time to mature.
"That’s why he’s at the sale. He’s developing into a nice horse. El Roca is doing exceptionally well, particularly in Hong Kong and back home in New Zealand. I think he’s another that might create some interest from the Asian market,” Warwick added.
Inspections increase
Since arriving at the Bundall Complex on the Gold Coast, Warwick has been pleased with the inspections and potential buyers on the ground. However, as an experienced vendor, he knows the proof will be in the pudding come the sale ring.
Russell Warwick | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“We’ve brought nine yearlings over from New Zealand, and they’ve all been popular. We've had around 30 parades today (Monday) alone. On the strength of it, that’s as many as we’ve ever had at the sale. So, I think we’ve had the interest; it’s now just a matter of whether that translates to the buying bench in the ring and getting the horses sold. I couldn’t be happier with how the parades have gone and the horses have all settled in well.
“... we’ve had the interest; it’s now just a matter of whether that translates to the buying bench in the ring and getting the horses sold. I couldn’t be happier with how the parades have gone and the horses have all settled in well.” - Russell Warwick
“They’ve been here a week now. This sale was probably a little difficult last year, but I still think it’s a good sale. Good horses can come from anywhere, and they always find their market and their place.”
Bowditch upbeat
After an exciting but undoubtedly tiring few weeks of selling, Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch and his team remain upbeat and optimistic ahead of the final hurrah.
A slightly smaller catalogue of 399 yearlings entered, compared to last year’s 408, greets potential buyers. However, Bowditch has no doubt there will be opportunities for savvy buyers to nab their next Yellow Brick (The Mission), Stretan Angel (Harry Angel {Ire}), or Campionessa among many others.
“We were really pleased with how the weanling and broodmare sales have gone. I think it’s been a tremendous success so far. Now we’ve moved into the last section of the sale, which is obviously the yearlings.
Yellow Brick | Image courtesy of Michael McInally
“The inspections started Saturday, and as we’ve gotten closer to the sale starting on Tuesday, more people have arrived here at the grounds and I’ve felt inspections have been reasonable heading into tomorrow (Tuesday),” Bowditch told TTR AusNZ.
“Given the fact we’re essentially at the end of the sale year, and we’re in a market that’s spent a huge amount of money on yearlings already this year; some $500 million. Firstly, there’s a huge opportunity for buyers because vendors are going to be willing to meet the market, given it’s the last sale, and secondly because you’re probably dealing with a market that’s coming to the end of it.
“...there’s a huge opportunity for buyers because vendors are going to be willing to meet the market, given it’s the last (yearling) sale...” - Barry Bowditch
“I think there’s a lot of opportunity within this catalogue, and we know a good horse can come from any sale and there’s been plenty of good horses that have come from the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale.”
Although optimistic, Bowditch acknowledges that vendors and the Magic Millions team will be facing a potentially tricky market.
Barry Bowditch | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“The Magic Millions National Sale each and every year presents value and opportunity for those who still have an appetite to buy horses for the year. It also gives end-users a great opportunity if they are happy to buy and race the horses themselves.
“It is a sale that shouldn’t be missed given the fact you are buying horses that are realistically priced and the hard work has been done. Basically, you’re taking home a horse ready to be educated and to go on.
“It (National Yearling Sale) is a sale that shouldn’t be missed given the fact you are buying horses that are realistically priced and the hard work has been done. Basically, you’re taking home a horse ready to be educated and to go on.” - Barry Bowditch
“On paper, we’ve got a strong catalogue, and going through the horses we have here on the grounds, there are enough nice horses that should whet the appetite of the buying bench. This sale serves a huge purpose whether you’re trading or buying to race.
“We’ve had plenty of fantastic graduates and the whole team is looking forward to the next two days (Tuesday and Wednesday). I think that if anybody is interested and wondering if they should be playing; they should get involved in the sale because the opportunity is here now.”
