It took until the third last lot of the sale, but the top price at the 2017 Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale held on Monday and Tuesday only occurred when a son of first season sire Sizzling sold for $160,000.
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A son of Group 1 winner Snitzel, Sizzling did the majority of his racing in Queensland with his seven wins highlighted by victory in the Group 1 T.J Smith Stakes at Eagle Farm.
Consigned by Gleeson Thoroughbred Connections, Chinchilla, the colt attracted strong interest after an opening bid of $50,000,
Then, when auctioneer Clint Donovan dropped the gavel it was Sydney trainer Gary Moore’s bid of $160,000 that was successful.
The colt sold $10,000 ahead of a pair of colts by Top Echelon and Written Tycoon, which sold for $150,000 each during Monday’s selling session.
All up, seven yearlings sold for $100,000 or above compared to eight last year.
Over the two days of selling some 298 lots grossed $8.58 million to average of $28,815 resulting in a clearance rate of more than 81 per cent.
All figures were up slightly on last year’s corresponding auction.
Uncannily this sale is a mirror image of the 2016 version, Magic Millions managing director Vin Cox said.
For three years running the gross of the sale has been sitting above $8 million, where up until that time it struggled to reach $6 million.
The breeders have had the benefit of the 30 per cent increase for three years now and it would be assumed that their windfall will lead to increased investment of bloodstock across the board.
The market was aggressive on quality bloodstock and there are obvious reasons while others struggled, Vin Cox said.
The top priced colt is the fourth foal of a lightly raced Red Ransom three quarter sister to group winner and $932,000 earner Crimson Reign.
Moore has been an active buyer of a six figure yearling at every Magic Millions Yearling Sale attended in 2017.
This includes the Gold Coast in January, Perth in February, Adelaide and the Gold Coast again in March.
Murwillumbah, NSW, trainer Matthew Dunn was prominent on Monday when he paid $150,000 for a Top Echelon/Idesa Bay colt.
Offered by Oakwood Farm, the bay colt is a half brother to five winners including the group performer Cerberus Gal and hails from the family of Golden Slipper winning sire Danzero.
Story by Phillip Bate.
