Last-Crop Statement by Not A Single Doubt at Gold Coast

A colt described as a "once in a lifetime" horse, and one of the last to be offered to market by champion Not A Single Doubt , lit up the second session of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale as buyers' thirst for new racing stock reached fever pitch and the stallion funds battled it out for high-end potential sire prospects. 

The allure of the AU$1.7 million (US$1,225,762) Not A Single Doubt colt—the highest priced of the four seven-figure yearlings sold on day two—came as little surprise to anyone who had been associated with the Segenhoe-bred horse, least of all eventual buyer Ciaron Maher, nor the man who has seen him since birth, Peter O'Brien.

One of just 17 colts in Not A Single Doubt's 15th and final crop, and the first foal out of dual Oaks-placed mare Miss Admiration, he also found favor with the likes of the Rosemont Stud-formed Victorian Alliance and underbidder Coolmore. 

The Victorian Alliance, in its second year, did not take long to get over their sales ring disappointment, landing a Zoustar colt out of Pirapala for AU$1.3 million ($937,348) later in the session.

Agent James Harron's long-time group of supporters made their first investment of 2022, the AU$1.1 million ($793,141) brother to Swettenham Stud's group-winning stallion I Am Immortal.

Sheamus Mills rounded out the million dollar lots with a AU$1.55 million ($1,117,607) filly by I Am Invincible  out of Najoom, 24 hours after spending AU$900,000 ($645,695) on another filly by the Yarraman Park Stud sire out of Harlem River.

Jan. 12's brisk trade, in which all key metrics bettered day one's big start and has the auction house well-placed to set a new sale record, saw the average increase to AU$287,004 ($206,317) and the median to AU$227,500 ($163,541), while the clearance rate also improved to an almost unheard of 94%. 

Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch said: "We predicted that day two would gain a bit of gusto and it was another deep, solid day's trade. Obviously, it is always good to work through the (million dollar) glass ceiling and we did that on several occasions.

"It was a good, healthy, diverse market I thought … and the numbers we've got now, I'd take them and run away with them; they're fantastic numbers. 

"But there's still another 530 horses to offer in Book 1 as well as Book 2, so we're far from over. We have got to continue the momentum, continue the enthusiasm, and ensure that the market is good from Lot 1 all the way through to 1230."

The glass ceiling was well and truly smashed soon after auctioneer Clint Donovan called for bids on Segenhoe's Not A Single Doubt colt, cataloged as Lot 261. 

The opening bid of AU$800,000 had him on the market and AU$1 million was the second call. His price escalated in AU$100,000 increments and, just as the major protagonists were battling it out, Maher, his co-trainer David Eustace, and their bloodstock manager Will Bourne chose to enter the fray with a two-bid knockout blow.

Maher compared the colt to his former group-winning sprinter and Magic Millions graduate Dubious, rather than the yearling's more stout dam, Miss Admiration, who landed the JRA Trophy Colin Stephen Quality (G3) in 2018. 

He said: "The (price tag) was what I expected, really, given the price of the Not A Single Doubts. He's obviously retired, there's no more of them, and he's out of a really good racemare and he is a lovely physical. Being by that stallion, I always thought we'd have to bat up for him.

"Generally, Not A Single Doubt sharpens those mares who get over a bit of ground right up."

Maher linked with Tony Fung, who races the H. D. F. McNeil Stakes (G3) winner and Coolmore Stud Stakes (G1) placegetter Bruckner with the stable, to ensure he had the collateral to land the sale's benchmark horse.

Fellow Bruckner owners Widden Stud, Rifa Mustang, and John Simmons, as well as Nick Psaltis, have committed to racing the horse in partnership.

Breeder Kevin Maloney, the owner of Segenhoe and who raced Miss Admiration in partnership, whom he brought out upon her retirement from the racetrack, has also retained a 10% share in the valuable colt.

Segenhoe general manager O'Brien compared the colt to another farm graduate, dual group 1 winner King's Legacy, a AU$1.4 million ($1,003,800) Magic Millions graduate who stood his first season at Coolmore Stud in 2021, as well as the champion sire Danehill.

O'Brien said: "I have been at Segenhoe for seven years and King's Legacy was the best until this fella. He is a quality, great-moving colt and all the right people were on him. 

"He is just one of those special horses that comes around once in a lifetime, so to speak, but with Not A Single Doubt now pensioned, it's the last chance to get one. 

"He reminded me of a good Danehill. Very laid-back with a massive walk and huge hind action. Nothing fazed him and since he was born he's reminded me of those good Danehills back in the day."

Maher bought 21 yearlings, either outright or in partnership, over the first two days of the sale for a total spend of AU$9.65 million ($6,937,028).