Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
At A Glance
Wednesday’s Magic Millions Digital Sale saw 15 lots sold for a gross of $156,500 at the close of bidding.
The maiden winner and well-bred Botanist (Wootton Bassett {GB}) topped the Magic Millions Digital Sale at $55,000, when selling to Viva Racing/Neil Jenkinson Bloodstock (FBAA) from the Coolmore Stud draft.
The second top lot for the sale was the consistent gelding Crusader Voyage (Camelot {GB}) who was purchased by Jack Bruce Racing and Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) for $45,000 from the Chris Waller Racing draft.
The well-bred Botanist tops the sale
The impeccably-bred and lightly-raced 3-year-old colt Botanist (Wootton Bassett {GB}) topped proceedings when purchased for $55,000 by Viva Racing/Neil Jenkinson Bloodstock (FBAA) from the Coolmore Stud draft.
"The team is very happy with the result and found the whole process of selling through Magic Millions Digital straightforward," Coolmore Stud's John Kennedy said.
"We've had plenty of horses sell online previously and race on with great success so we wish his new owners all the very best."
A colt with considerable upside, Botanist has only had five career starts to date, but has already shown encouraging ability. His performances include an impressive maiden victory at Warwick Farm along with a placing at Kembla Grange, suggesting there is still plenty of improvement to come as he continues to mature.
Botanist | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Originally secured for $900,000 by John Stewart’s Resolute Racing at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, Botanist boasts a pedigree packed with black type and quality European and Australian bloodlines.
The 3-year-old is out of dual Group 3 winner Tulip (Pierro), making him part of a highly accomplished family. Tulip is a full-sister to Listed winner Les Vampires (Pierro) and the Listed and Group 3-placed Sikorsky (Pierro), while also being a half-sister to Group 3 winner Sacred Eye (High Chaparral {Ire}).
With limited racing exposure, early education being with a Champion trainer in Chris Waller, there looks every chance that this colt can do his new owners proud.
Crusader Voyage heads north to Queensland
The well-bred Crusader Voyage (Camelot {GB}) will continue his racing career in Queensland after being secured by Jack Bruce Racing/Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) for $45,000 from the Chris Waller Racing draft via the Magic Millions Digital Sale.
A consistent and genuine performer throughout his career to date, Crusader Voyage has been competitive in strong company without quite managing to break through for a deserved victory. From just 10 starts, he has recorded six placings and amassed just under $75,000 in prizemoney, highlighting both his honesty and versatility on the racetrack.
Crusad Voyage | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The son of Camelot {GB} was originally purchased for $275,000 by Waller Racing and Mulcaster Bloodstock from the Coolmore Stud draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He has shown adaptability across a range of distances, placing from 1250 metres through to a mile, while also producing a credible fourth placing over 1900 metres at Canterbury against quality opposition.
Crusader Voyage is out of champion mare Sea Siren (Fastnet Rock), a seven-time winner whose outstanding career included victories in the G1 Manikato Stakes, G1 Doomben Ten Thousand Stakes and G1 BTC Cup. Sea Siren has since established herself as an elite broodmare, producing four winners to date, headed by Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a multiple Group 1 winner across the United States of America, Great Britain and France.
The pedigree runs deep, with Sea Siren also a half-sister to stakes winners Lady Dehere (NZ) (Dehere {USA}), Oratorio and Discorsi.
Exciting dispersals headline end of month Digital Sale
"We saw some very good results in the sale but overall the market well and truly identified the ones they wanted," Magic Millions Head of Digital Bryce Bevan said in the aftermath of Wednesday's sale.
"We have a good track record of moving on horses post-sale and that is where our attention will be for the next few days."
The Magic Millions team's attention now turns to preparing the next sale's catalogue, which will run from May 29 to June 4 and will feature major dispersal drafts from leading Western Australian nursery Geisel Park Stud and Hesket Thoroughbreds. Geisel Park will catalogue more than 60 unreserved lots of weanlings, yearlings, racehorses, shares, and broodmares.
Given the size and significance of these drafts, the sale will finish on the Thursday, June 4, instead of its normal finish on Wednesday.
