Auction passes $200m barrier
Sales breaking record
THE Gold Coast’s Magic Millions Yearling Sales have became the richest in the southern hemisphere, flying past $200m on Sunday.
The auction had already eclipsed the previous Magic Millions record of $180m last year, with more than a day’s bidding left to go.
Managing director Barry Bowditch said pent-up buyer demand had been a silver lining of COVID-19 restrictions.
“Clients have been looking forward to this for months,” he said. “They weren’t able to go to the spring carnival, so this has been at the forefront of their minds.
“We had people leaving Sydney before Christmas, to abide by the COVID restrictions, just so they could be here on the Gold Coast.
“The race day is one of the richest in Australia, it brings the best trainers and jockeys and it’s a spectacle – the city gets behind it and the participants want to get in and watch.
“The weather’s been great, it’s a good vibe. Everyone has just been having a great time.”
Mr Bowditch said the sales result, which on Sunday afternoon had a clearance rate of 87.75 per cent, was excellent: “It’s fantastic, it’s been really hard getting here but it’s a much more significant result than we’ve ever had before.
“It’s a record for any yearling sales in the southern hemisphere. It’s been good to have all our friends and clients up here on the Gold Coast, enjoying the city. The economy is very strong out there and racing is in a fantastic place.”
Saturday night buying, which saw the last of the prime book one stock auctioned, was busy, with one horse selling for $1m – a Kia Ora colt of I Am Invincible and Villa Verde, sold to Annabel Neasham Racing and Brian McGuire.
Every horse in the top 10 sold by Sunday had topped $1m, with the highest bid of $1.9m on day one when Coolmore Stud principal Tom Magnier picked up a brown colt sired by Snitzel and sold by Widden Stud out of NSW.
Books two and three of the sales, with entry-level prospects, were scheduled for the Sunday and Monday sales.
On track, more than 13,000 attended The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Raceday on a sunny Saturday, albeit with an afternoon shower or two.
Shaquero won the $2m 2YO Classic, ahead of Alpine Edge and She’s All Class.
Gold Coast Turf Club CEO Steve Lines was “delighted” with the turnout, given strict COVID-19 protocols.
“At this point the feedback was reasonably positive – we’ll get some more next week.
“Everyone was safe, patrons seemed to enjoy themselves.
“There was a bit of a buzz for the Goldy – it has been a tough year for everybody so we were very, very delighted.”
Mr Lines was not so lucky with Shaquero: “Someone tipped it to me two weeks ago but I’ve been too busy (to make a bet) trying to make sure the day went well for everyone so unfortunately I missed out.”
It paid $13 to win.