Fireworks Start Early at Gold Coast Yearling Sale

Four lots broke the seven-figure barrier at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale Jan. 9—the strongest start in the sale's history—with key indicators suggesting the auction could eclipse last year's record-breaking edition.

Phoenix Thoroughbreds signaled its intention to ramp up its interests in Australia, teaming with Aquis Farm for the Redoute's Choice half brother to dual group 1 winner Stratum Star, eventually going to an eye-watering AU$1.6 million (US$1,142,400) for the colt.

"Obviously, the Phoenix brand is a worldwide brand, so we are participating at a large level here, in the States and in Europe," said Phoenix representative Tom Ludt. "The plan is to play at the top with the racing, and we are going to build a good broodmare band with the fillies that we are racing.

"Unfortunately, you have to pay for the good ones, and he was one of the best colts in the sale, we thought. We worked out a partnership with Aquis, and, hopefully, we'll have some success at the track with him and, God forbid, we have a stallion."

There was also a fine result for Hannah Wall and David Redvers' Redwall Bloodstock, as their Widden Stud-consigned son of Tweenhills shuttler Zoustar went the way of Spendthrift Australia for AU$900,000 ($642,600).

The colt was bought for AU$310,000 ($234,825) at last year's Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale and is the third foal out of U.S. stakes-winning mare Shakeira, with the U.S. element of his pedigree adding extra appeal for Spendthrift Australia.

"We had him down as the best Zoustar colt here," said Spendthrift Australia general manager Garry Cuddy. "When they are going as well as Zoustar, you have got to dig deep into your pockets and hope you end up with the horse that you want. There were plenty of good judges on him, so congratulations to the people who purchased him as a weanling because they have turned a good profit on him. We are happy to have him in the stable."

At the close of trade Wednesday, Zoustar was sitting third in the leading sires table with 10 yearlings selling for an average of AU$372,500 ($265,730), finishing the day with an aggregate of AU$3.725 million ($2,657,300).

Barry Bowditch, overseeing his first Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale as managing director, spoke of his delight at the conclusion of the opening session, which saw 22 yearlings make AU$500,000 or more and finished with an average of AU$251,856 ($179,825), a figure that was up 19% from Day 1 last year.

Despite the heat in the market, in part fueled by the significant presence of international buyers, the median remained at the 2018 level of AU$170,000 ($121,380), while the clearance rate stood at 84%.

"It is a solid catalog all the way through, but we did have a good, strong start to the sale, as we expected," Bowditch said. "The stats are where they are, but we would love to increase our clearance rate and keep the other figures where they are right now."

The aggregate of AU$50.875 million ($36,324,750) was the highest-grossing session in the Magic Millions' 34-year history.

"We thought we had a very strong catalog today, a stronger Day 1 than last year, and the results reflected that," Bowditch said.

The China Horse Club and Newgate Bloodstock partnership was the current leading buyer after Day 1 with AU$3.46 million ($2,470,440) spent on eight lots. Redoute's Choice was the leading sire by average for three or more lots sold at AU$690,000 ($492,660).

The second of four days of Book 1 selling will take place Thursday.