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Highest grossing National Sale concludes at the Gold Coast on Thursday 

The Magic Millions National Sale came to an end at the Gold Coast on Thursday after eight days of selling, encompassing weanlings, breeding stock, yearlings and racehorses, with 1296 lots sold at an average of $147,597 while the clearance rate sat at 83 per cent. 

From the first of the weanlings selling on May 20, through to the final racehorse on Thursday ,the overall sale gross has reached $191,286,000 – smashing the previous record of almost $148 million in 2019 by 30 per cent.

Arcadia Queen (Pierro) was this year’s top seller when she realised $3.2 million – one of 26 individual lots to sell for $1 million or more. A further 57 lots sold for between $500,000 and $950,000.

Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch was, unsurprisingly, thrilled at the results achieved over the past few weeks, despite being confident heading into the sale that the catalogues that they had assembled for the weanlings, broodmares and yearlings were particularly strong.  

“It’s unprecedented and well above what we could have ever dreamt of,” Bowditch said. 

“I’m absolutely thrilled to have achieved the results over the last fortnight. There was obviously a huge lead up into it. We had a lot of confidence in our catalogues and a lot of confidence in where the industry was at and I think that was evident in the results achieved, which far exceeded any expectations we had leading into it.”

In 2019, after ten days of selling, the National Sale grossed a record $147,959,000 for 1640 lots sold with an average also a record at $91,191.  

“When you can sell almost 90 per cent of your weanlings and broodmares and you’re on a record average, it’s obviously evident the quality was there but also there is a huge craving for thoroughbreds at the moment in time,” Bowditch continued.  

Bowditch believes that there are a number of factors which have led to the increased investment at the sales in Australia this year including the fact given the ongoing travel restrictions, people are spending more time at home, however, this is coupled with a number of other factors with the Australian industry in a very strong place at the home. 

“I think Australians are horse lovers and I think given the fact they haven’t been able to travel as much and that they are at home right now, gives them more reason to invest in the industry,” he said. 

“We have a great syndicator model and our prize money is quite enormous at the moment - it’s phenomenal. That gives the trainers and syndicators confidence that they can step out and invest in our industry. That’s been evident all year and I think what that has done is give the breeders confidence to invest in the weanling and broodmare sales to the level they have, which is at a record rate.” 

In 2019, Australian-based buyers accounted for 80 per cent of the turnover at the National Broodmare Sale having spent $83,767,500 on 591 lots. At this year’s sale Australian purchasers spent $124,590,500 on 529 lots which accounted for 87 per cent of the market. 

“I think the economy is strong here in Australia and the industry is strong. We are at the forefront of the world now, there are a lot of people paying attention to what is going on down here. 

“We are breeding a great product and the key indicators say it’s a great part of the world to invest in. With the confidence we have locally, internationals want to be a part of it and I think that this bodes well for the future. I think that is evident from the spend at the Broodmare Sale in particular. 

Pride Of Dubai filly tops Book 2 
The top lot at Book 2 of the National Yearling Sale was a filly by Coolmore sire Pride Of Dubai (Street Cry) who sold to Scott Bancroft for $95,000. Offered by Roona Lodge as Lot 1955, the filly is the third foal out of the Easy Rocking (Barathea) mare Bevico Girl, making her a half-sister to Listed winner Jami Lady (Spirit Of Boom). 

The Book 2 session saw 94 of the 113 lots offered sold (a clearance rate of 83 per cent) for $1,158,750. The average finished at $12,327 and the median sat at $8,000. 

Phaistos tops Racehorse Sale 
Godolphin draft provides seven most expensive lots to sell on Thursday

Stakes performed gelding Phaistos (Helmet) was the most expensive lot to sell at the Magic Millions National Racehorse Sale on Thursday when he sold for $165,000 to Winners Bloodstock. 

Winners Bloodstock bought the top two lots on Thursday with both lots to head into training with Gillian Heinrich, while the Godolphin draft accounted for the seven highest-priced horses to sell. 

The five-year-old Phaistos has raced 24 times for six wins and 11 placings with his last win coming in May last year. The second top lot also sold to the same connections with Jeronimos (Contributor) making $90,000. The three-year-old has won once in ten starts and was last seen finishing seventh over 1850 metres at Newcastle on May 8. 

During the Racehorse Sale 11 lots changed hands for a gross of $534,000 at an average of $48,545 and median of $40,000.