Locals in the mood to spend up at sale

STATISTICS from the Gold Coast Magic Millions Sale showed a significant growth in spend by Queensland-based buyers.

The record-breaking sale concluded on Monday with Gillian (pictured) and Hoss Heinrich snaring the three top lots of the Summer Racehorse Sale – Hilo ($220,000), Deference ($150,000) and Chilliwack ($100,000), all from the Godolphin offering.

Queensland-based buyers secured 254 yearlings at the sale for $40.9 million, up strongly on last year’s 141 purchases for $22.7 million.

Many of those purchases will head to interstate stables, including Tony Fung and Phoenix Thoroughbreds’ 19 purchases which topped the buying at $11.6 million.

Offsetting that,

Black Soil Bloodstock’s seven buys with Gollan Racing for $2.9 million and Proven Thoroughbreds purchases with O’Dea/ Hoysted Racing tallying 11 for $1.79 million – both of which were attributed to New South Wales, will be trained here.

Kelly Schweida topped the local trainer list buying under his own name with 10 lots for $3.07 million.

Kacy Fogden, based at Canungra, signed for 10 lots for $2.5 million.

Edmonds Racing secured eight yearlings for $1.8 million, while Chris Munce and Gillian Heinrich also secured multiple lots to race in Queensland.

Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch said the boosted Queensland activity at the sale could only be a good thing for local racing.

“On reflection of the 2021 Magic Millions yearling sale, the increased numbers of horses by Queensland-based buyers and their spend is a great indication on where the Queensland racing industry is heading,” he said.

Spirit Of Boom has been the flagbearing local stallion for the past few years and this sale saw the presentation of his best-bred yearlings to date, where 28 sold at an average of $193,000.