Tom Magnier, on behalf of Coolmore, paid the highest price on each of the two opening days of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in Australia.
The New South Wales-based Irishman, son of Coolmore magnate John, paid AUD$1.9 million (US$1,462,138) for a son of champion Australian sire Snitzel on the opening day of business, while he signed for AUD$1.8 million (US$1,399,304) for a colt by Juddmonte Farms sire Kingman on day two.
The colt by Snitzel was consigned by Widden Stud in New South Wales and is a first foal from the stakes winning mare Bonny O’Reilly. Widden Stud had purchased the mare at the 2019 National Broodmare Sales in Australia, when costing AUD$1.2 million (US$929,611). Her son, the new Coolmore purchase, will be trained by Australia’s leading handler, New Zealand-born Chris Waller, at his Sydney, Australia, base.
Speaking after purchasing Lot 115, Tom Magnier said:
“He’s a really nice horse. I think all the top people were on him and we’ve got a great group of people to race him with. We’re going to need a bit of luck – but we’re in the right country – the prizemoney is great here in Australia.”
Day 2 saw Tom Magnier again claim the top lot, a son of European sire Kingman, for which he paid AU$1.8 million (US$1,399,304). Bred by top owner/breeder Juddmonte Farms, the colt stole the show less than 24 hours after the death of Juddmonte’s owner Prince Khalid bin Abdullah.
Born in Britain to Southern Hemisphere time, the colt was bred by John Camilleri of Fairway Thoroughbreds, the man who bred the now-retired legendary Australian racemare, Winx, a four-time winner of the Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2015-18 inclusive), as well as the 2015 Golden Slipper winner, Vancouver. The colt is a half brother to the stakes-placed horses Villa Carlotta and Fasano.
Commenting on the latest Coolmore acquisition (Lot 322), Magnier said:
“He’s a lovely individual and we know how well Kingman is going at the moment – all the boxes were ticked for us. John Camilleri can certainly breed a horse – when you see the Fairway brand you have to take them seriously.”
Magnier confirmed that the colt, the sixth foal of the Redoute’s Choice mare Florentina, a former winner of the Group 3 Gold Coast Guineas in Australia, will join their previous day’s top lot in being trained by 47-year-old Australian Hall of Famer Chris Waller.
The mare Florentina previously went to Darley stallion Dubawi and produced a filly that sold for 475,000 guineas at Tattersalls.
Peter O’Brien of Segenhoe Stud, who acted as agent for Fairway Thoroughbreds, said he expected the colt to be popular among bidders, stating:
“We knew every one of the big buyers liked him, but you never expect them to sell that well. He was a beautiful colt by one of the best sires in the world from a very good racemare. I’m delighted he is going to Coolmore, because he’ll get every chance.”
Over AUD $35 million (US$27,157,395) was traded on 142 lots sold at a record Day 1, with an average price of over $248,000 (US$192,439) in Queensland. The clearance rate of 85 per cent was higher than the 2020 opening day figure of 83%.
At the close of business of Day 2 of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, the gross had increased to over AUD$85 million (US$65,953,675) with an average price of AUD$258,773 (US$200,798) for 330 lots sold, with the clearance rate standing at 88%.
