WIN, WIN FOR VIN
Godolphin’s Australian boss Vin Cox (far left, inset) was the Magic Millions man of the moment on Saturday.
He departed his job as Magic Millions managing director last year and then convinced Godolphin to buy at the sale. It paid off when Kerrin McEvoy rode Exhilarates to victory in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
An emotional Cox said: “To win it is something else.”
WOMEN are digging deep in their pockets and spending on some of the horses in attempt to win big at the Magic Millions race next year.
Last year, a group of 16 females purchased Girls are Ready — their first syndicate horse for $30,000 — and it raced in the marquee Magic Millions 2YO Classic on Saturday, finishing 11th.
The Magic Millions Women Racing bonus means $500,000 is up for grabs to the first horse home owned solely by women.
Although Girls are Ready didn’t place the owners have so far broken even and decided they would purchase another horse at the sales this year — and ended up buying two yesterday.
Sharlene Cleary, of Canberra, was one of 16 females in the syndicate and it was the first horse she had purchased.
“It was our goal to get her in the two-year-old race and we did it,” she said.
Yesterday, Mrs Cleary said they shelled out $45,000 with 19 other females who were keen to have a crack, and second one for $28,000.
Broadbeach-based syndicate member Kelly Morrissey said she had been loving the social side to an all-female syndicate.
“It’s been awesome. I’ve had five new friends today,” she said.
“We’ve all made so many new friends from around the place and it’s so good that we can get together.”
Their $45,000 and $28,000 horses were part of a new record for money spent at the annual yearling sales in Bundall that had surged past $177 million last night.
Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch said it should go past $180 million.
“It’s a record sale for yearling sales in Australia and it’s exceeded all of our expectations this year,” he said.
This year’s average per horse was sitting at $238,000 up on $226,000 last year.
Last night Melbourne trainer Lloyd Kennewell paid the highest price at the 2019 yearling sale when he dished out $1.7 million.
Mr Bowditch said there were a few reasons for the increase in punters spending big.
“The international dollar is quite attractive at the moment, plus the prizemoney is above benchmark in comparison to the rest of the world,” he said.
“We are on the international radar. So many people want to come here and find the next Winx. It’s been a fantastic week. We’ve seen big crowds at our events and had fantastic horse sales.”