Cox bows out on a record high

MAGIC Millions managing director Vin Cox is going out on a high with the past week’s annual yearling sale smashing 2017’s record gross by more than $20 million.

The amount of bloodstock traded at the final bell of the sale last night sat at $160 million compared to almost $146 million a year ago.

The new benchmark 2018 figure included a record single day total of $49 million traded on day three on Friday when five yearlings were bought for $1 million or more.

Mr Cox, who finishes up this coming Friday before starting as managing director of Dubai royal family thoroughbred operation Godolphin Australia, said the size of the sale’s growth this year had surprised him.

“It’s going to be more than $20 million up on the previous year and that is a lot of money to go and find and people to round up and hopefully have the quality catalogue for them to spend it on.

“It is surprising.

“But it just keeps growing and growing. People want a piece of the Magic Millions whether it’s the polo which launches it or the race day or the sales.

“Everyone wants to be part of some part of it,” Mr Cox said.

Plenty of Magic Millions race day goers dressed to the nines on Saturday swapped the Gold Coast Turf Club after the last race to pack into the nearby Bundall sales complex for its traditional post-race night auction with about 100 horses on the block.

Mr Cox said it was a great buzz. “People come from having spent all day across the road and the atmosphere is electric,” he said

Visiting American tycoon and thoroughbred enthusiast Jon Kelly shelled out the most for a yearling at the sale, buying an I Am Invincible-sired colt for a cool $2 million partnership.

Sydney’s James Harron Bloodstock shelled out $1.9 million and $1.05 million each for yearlings on the frenzied day three.

Jadeskye Racing owner Damion Flower lodged a winning $1.45 million bid for another I Am Invincible colt.

He previously paid $1.6 million two years ago for a yearling at the sale, calling it Chaffeur which ran second in the main $2 million Two Year Old Classic the following year.

“The horses on sale here are more precocious, more ready to run,” Mr Flower said.

“You have to give it to (Magic Millions owners) Katie Page and Gerry Harvey – that marketing is amazing. You have women’s race bonus and have a $10 million race day. You can come back here year in, year out and I think that appeals to everyone.

“Everyone says how big the Magic Millions is – well it’s big and bigger and bigger.” in