3 minute read

Heading into Magic Millions, we talk to some of the agents attending this year’s sale.

With most international buyers unable to attend the 2021 sale, do you think this will present additional opportunities for domestic buyers?
Without a doubt. I can think of one horse from last year’s Magic Millions sale which was sold to an overseas buyer which Star Thoroughbreds was underbidder on - it’s now a Group 2 winner. I understand that buyers won’t be attending this year because of the COVID situation. 
 

Have you had more enquiries this year with overseas agents / buyers, or equally domestic buyers, unable to travel to Queensland for the sale? 
Not at this time. I think most people probably now know we pretty much work exclusively for Denise Martin (Star Thoroughbreds). Denise is normally very active at this sale. We have one or two other clients that we assist and they may only want one or two horses at most. 
 

Australia has led the way with increased information and transparency around bloodstock sales. Do you think there will be any other positives come out of the global Covid pandemic and how do you feel this will change the industry over the coming years? 
I certainly think there are more buyers than a year ago who are a lot more comfortable purchasing horses without a physical inspection. There is a lot more information online - good quality photos, videos, x-ray reports, scope reports, health records etc. Every vendor wants repeat business and no buyer wants to be short changed purchasing a horse with a latent issue which has not been disclosed and which has the potential to inhibit its ability to race. 
 

Vendors have been reporting high numbers of on farm inspections this year. Do you think these are becoming an increasingly important part of the inspection process and how do they help you? 
It has become very important because there is not enough time to thoroughly inspect nearly 1,200 horses on the sales grounds. Once upon a time when the catalogues were much smaller, you could do it. 
 

Which of the first season sires have caught your eye so far? 
So far Pariah. 
 

Which horse is your favourite Magic Millions yearling purchase and why? 
We assisted Denise Martin at the 2015 Magic Millions and from that sale Invincibella, ‘The Queen of the Magic Millions’, was sourced. 
 

What is your favourite Magic Millions moment? 
At the end of the 2019 Magic Millions raceday walking back to the sales complex. Courtesy of Invincibella’s second Magic Millions success, I was entrusted with delivery a gold magnum of Moet and Chandon to the Star Thoroughbreds table. I must have encountered at least a couple of hundred ‘friends’ along the short journey.