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Father and son duo spend $2,910,000 over three days at Magic Millions

Bill and James Mitchell of Mitchell Bloodstock purchased nine mares, including one in partnership with Segenhoe Stud - over the three days at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale and their collection was headed by the well-related Taste Of Heaven (Encosta De Lago), whom they secured for $1.6 million from the Yarraman Park Stud draft. 

Catalogued as Lot 1369, the mare was offered in foal to Yarraman Park’s resident star sire I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) and she hails from the most prolific families in the Australian stud book. 

Taste Of Heaven is out of winning Canny Lad (Bletchingly) mare Shanta’s Choice, who is most famous for being the dam of dual Group 1 winner and late breed-shaping stallion Redoute’s Choice (Danehill) and fellow elite level winner Platinum Scissors (Danehill) and Manhattan Rain (Encosta De Lago). 

The mare is also the dam of Listed winner Echoes Of Heaven (Encosta De Lago) and Group 3 scorer Sliding Cube (Rock Of Gibraltar) - the dam of Group 2 winner and now Swettenham Stud resident  Rubick (Encosta De Lago). 

This is the second time Taste Of Heaven has been offered at this sale, having been purchased by James Harron Bloodstock for $1.5 million at the 2014 edition of the sale and was then subsequently sent to America. 

The mare has produced four foals to date, headlined by 2020 Maple Leaf Stakes (Gr 3, 10f) winner Heavenly Curlin (Curlin).  

James Mitchell told Racing & Sports Bloodstock, that although they had to stretch to $1.6 million for the mare, given her pedigree and the strength of the Australian market he felt it was a fair price to pay. 

“She was bought for a group in partnership, including Gerry Harvey,” said Mitchell. “It’s basically the best pedigree we have in Australia and Encosta De Lago mares are worth a dime a dozen now and she is in foal to a stallion we know well. 

“We always knew she was going to make good money, but we still see that as pretty good value in this market. This family is as good as it’s ever been. She is a sister of Redoute’s Choice, there are daughters of and granddaughters around, but she is his sister and she’s only 11, rising 12-years-old, so she has plenty of years left  in her. 

“We are hoping for a nice Vinnie, filly or colt, but a filly would be really nice.”

A few lots later, the Mitchell’s made their presence felt again, when they teamed up with Segenhoe Stud to buy Oregon's Day (Domesday) for $1 million. 

Catalogued as Lot 1375, the mare was consigned by Segenhoe Stud on behalf of Aquis Farm, who purchased her $1 million at the 2019 edition of the sale and she was offered on Thursday in-foal to their resident stallion Pierata (Pierro).

Oregon’s Day’s first foal - a colt by Fastnet Rock (Danehill) - was purchased by Rosemont Stud and Justin Bahen for $600,000 at last week’s Magic Millions National Weanling Sale and James Mitchell said it gave them confidence in the mare going forward. 

“She’s been living on Segenhoe, so she’ll be going back and we are happy to get her,” said Mitchell. “We saw the foal last week and he was a very nice Fastnet Rock colt who we were really taken with. Peter O’Brien obviously knows the mare well and has dealt with her a lot for Aquis.

“There has been no decision yet as to who she will go to. We will see the foal and then make a decision on that front.”

Over the three days of trade, Mitchell Bloodstock purchased nine mares, including Oregon’s Day with Segenhoe, outlying $3,910,000 for the ennead at an average of $354,444, meanwhile Segenhoe sold all 18 of the offerings for a gross of $5,412,000 at an average of $300,667.