Figures gallop ahead as mid-year sales begin

MORE than 23,000 people are expected to splash a total of up to $150 million at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast national midyear sales.

Australia’s premier weanling and broodmare sale, the event has grown to rival the showcase Magic Millions yearling sale held in January.

A bumper crowd of 23,717 people attended last year’s event – up from 21,553 in 2016.

The majority of them travel to the Coast from interstate or overseas, particularly New Zealand and Asia, with organisers expecting a 15 per cent increase in visitors this year.

Cashed-up players buying across the 2018 mid-year sale include China Horse Club, Aquis Farm, John Warren, Tom Magnier and Mr Zheng (YuLong).

Coolmore Stud tops the list of sellers, which includes John Singleton, Magic Millions co-owner Gerry Harvey, Vinery Stud, Widden Stud, Yarraman Park, Godolphin and Newgate Farm.

The event opened yesterday with the national weanling sale, which continues today before next week’s national broodmare sale from May 29 and the yearling sale from June 7-9.

More than $11.6 million was traded on 191 lots sold at an average price of $60,942. The Day 1 clearance rate was a healthy 82 per cent, with figures across the board well up on last year’s opening day.

“We’re really pleased with the day’s proceedings,” Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch said.

“It’s a good, solid start to the national weanling sale.

“There’s good confidence in the market and there’s a great spread of buyers on the sheets. No one is really dominating among the buyers – that is very pleasing.”

Coolmore’s Lot 138, a Fastnet Rock colt from G1 winner Diademe, was knocked down to Craig Rounsefell of Boomer Bloodstock for $650,000, making it the top lot on Day 1 of the weanling sale yesterday.

Diademe herself will go through the national broodmare sale as Lot 1007 next week.

The 2151 lots up for sale this year – 555 weanling, 1068 broodmare and 528 yearling – are expected to generate nearly $150 million..

While the number is slightly down on last year’s total of 2273 lots, organisers believe the quality is better than 2017.

Day Two of the 2018 Gold Coast national weanling sale starts today at 10am.