Top-End Hits the Mark on Day 1 at Magic Millions

Buyers at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale May 18 lapped up the chance to buy once-off offerings by Sheri Iskander and the dispersal of Edinburgh Park Stud, with those two parties responsible for selling the top five lots on Day 1.

Iskander is reducing the size of his bloodstock portfolio and chose the Gold Coast National Sale to sell colts by Zoustar  for a session-topping AU$550,000 (US$366,007, AU$1=US$0.6654) and AU$310,000, respectively. He also sold a colt by Written Tycoon  for AU$350,000.

New South Wales Mid North Coast breeder Ian Smith, on the other hand, is undertaking a dispersal of Edinburgh Park, selling 23 weanlings for AU$2,826,500 ($1,880,942), including the Snitzel  half sister to stakes-placed juvenile Summer Loving for AU$480,000, and the Zoustar half sister to group 2-winning Aquis Farm-based sire Glenfiddich for AU$425,000.

The session-topping Zoustar colt (Lot 155) was purchased by Newgate Farm stud manager Jim Carey and partners after a furious bidding duel with multiple parties keen on the star son of the roster-leading Widden Stud sire.

He is the first foal out of Typhoon Tracy Stakes (G3) winner Embrace Me, who was bought for AU$700,000 by Iskander's bloodstock agent Suman Hedge at the 2021 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.

The new owners of the high-priced colt hope he can go on to become a seven-figure yearling and his foal price backs up Carey's assertion that he was "our pick of the sale."

"That's the plan, but there are a few hurdles to jump between now and then. He comes off a great farm, he's a beautiful colt, great color, great action, (and) out of a bloody good mare," Carey said.

"We're delighted to get him, and we're delighted to get him back to Newgate, where he can grow out in our big paddocks and we'll bring him back either here (Magic Millions) or Easter next year and, hopefully, he makes good money."

Carey also bought Edinburgh Park's AU$480,000 Snitzel filly, who is the fourth foal out of the stakes-placed Serena Bay, the dam of Magic Millions 2YO Classic placegetter Summer Loving. Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, who train Summer Loving, paid AU$420,000 for her Written Tycoon half sister at the Magic Millions in January.

"She will come back through the sale next year. She is a (half) sister to a very promising 2-year-old this year who hopefully kicks on next season and can update the pedigree even further," Carey said.

"I think you look at the sales this year, good quality sells and that's the case whether it's handbags or horses, so I hope it keeps it going."

Carey also acknowledged Smith's contribution to the industry.

"He's a great mate, a great supporter of the farm, and I'm delighted to be part of his dispersal. I probably stretched a bit, but she's a nice filly," he said of the Snitzel filly.

Average, Median Up, Clearance Rate Down

The Day 1 session mirrored much of the yearling sales season, where the quest for quality horses was evident and the clearance rate fell compared to the past two years of trade.

There were 134 horses sold—44 of them for AU$100,000 or more—at an average of AU$85,000 ($56,564) and a median of AU$60,000 ($39,928) with total turnover of $11.39 million ($7,579,669). The year-on-year metrics were up 2% and 15%, respectively, while the clearance rate was at 70%.