$1.2 Million Exceed and Excel Colt Tops Record Breaking MM Book 1 Finale

Media Release - Saturday January 15

A colt by Exceed and Excel sold for $1.2 million and was the top seller of the night at the Gold Coast Yearling Sale as records were smashed across the board.

Advertisement

Fernrigg Farm's $1.2 million Exceed and Excel colt from Devious Rumor (USA) - Magic Millions.

One of four seven figure sellers during the famous Saturday night session of the auction, the colt was purchased by James Harron for his colt fund partnership.

The colt is the first foal of the American stakes winning Street Boss mare Devious Rumor, a mare purchased by Fernrigg for $220,000 at the 2019 Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale.

"He was a colt when we first saw him - he was straight on top of the list," a delighted James Harron said. "It's a big relief to get him."

"He's a very sharp horse with a fantastic attitude. Every time I saw him, he'd handle himself beautifully."

"Brilliant shape, great movement. Exceed and Excel needs no introduction and he's out of a good American mare, a speedy mare."

"He suits our profile down to the ground," Harron added.

The result was welcomed by the team from Fernrigg Farm, the breeder and seller of the colt.

"It was absolutely phenomenal," a beaming Padraig Kelly said. "We knew he had a cracking colt coming up here, it's just unbelievable." 

"It's an amazing result and I'm so proud of the staff - they've put in the hard yards, it's just so brilliant," Kelly added.

Three other yearlings sold for $1 million or more across the Saturday night session.
 
Widden Stud's Lonhro filly from Cool Passion.

Widden Stud presented a Lonhro filly, the first foal of former outstanding racemare Cool Passion, and she sold to Sheamus Mills for $1.05 million.
 
Arrowfield Stud's Sntizel colt from Dream Date.

One of the last lots through the ring, Arrowfield Stud's Snitzel colt from Dream Date was purchased by TFI for $1.05 million, while earlier A List Stud's Chris Lee went to an even $1 million for Newgate Farm's Snitzel filly from Divine Centuri.
 
Another million dollar yearling for Newgate, the Sntizel  filly from Divine Centuri.

Tonight's four seven figure sellers made it 19 for the sale - a record number ever achieved at the Gold Coast - and seven more than in 2021.

Across the five day Book One component of the Gold Coast Yearling Sale a record $228.8 million was traded on 777 lots sold - the same number of yearlings as last year's sale - but with a gross $31.6 million higher.

The average price of $294,476 is up over $40,000 on last year, the median soared from $180,000 to $230,000 and the clearance rate currently sits at 93 per cent.

"It's a dream result for us," Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said. "The team have put so much time and effort into this sale."

"It hasn't been an easy one to get organised for - but to get here and to have our buyers back here on the Gold Coast, enjoying the Gold Coast and buying a lot of lovely horses is great."

"To be able to facilitate the sales for the vendors who have supported the sale like never before, is something we're extremely proud of."

"Obviously it's a record sale whichever way you look at it and it's something to be proud of - being able to bring it all together."

"We move now to the Book Two catalogue of yearlings and we have some great quality yearlings to go under the hammer on Sunday afternoon and Monday."

"The Book Two sale has a proud history of producing quality horses who have won at the elite level all around Australia and abroad," Bowditch added.

To view the results of the Book One sale or to make an offer on a passed in lot click here.

Day Six of the 2022 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, comprising the first session of Book Two lots, will commence at 2pm (Qld time) on Sunday.

SALE STATISTICS
(2021 in brackets)

Lots Catalogued: 933 (962)
Lots Sold: 777 (777)
Lots Passed In: 61 (107)
Lots Withdrawn: 95 (78)
Top Price: $1,900,000 ($1,900,000)
Sale Gross: $228,807,500 ($197,240,000)
Average Price: $294,476 ($253,848)
Median Price: $230,000 ($180,000)
Sold %: 93 (88)

DAY FIVE TOP SELLERS

$1,200,000 - Exceed and Excel-Devious Rumor colt (Lot 910)
Vendor: Fernrigg Farm (As Agent) / Buyer: James Harron B'stock Colt Partnership

$1,050,000 - Lonhro-Cool Passion filly (Lot 877)
Widden Stud (As Agent) / Sheamus Mills B'stock (Vic)

$1,050,000 - Snitzel-Dream Date colt (Lot 930)
Arrowfield Stud (As Agent) / TFI (Qld)

$1,000,000 - Snitzel-Divine Centuri filly (Lot 917)
Newgate Farm (As Agent) / A List Stud (Vic)

$950,000 - The Autumn Sun-Duchess Kate colt (Lot 932)
Kitchwin Hills (As Agent) / Bahen B'stock/Kris Lees Racing (VIC)
 
LEADING BUYERS
(ranked by total spend)

$13,335,000 - Ciaron Maher B'stock - 35 lots
$10,995,000 - Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott/Kestrel T'breds - 27 lots
$6,990,000 - China Horse Club/Newgate B'stock/Trilogy Racing - 14 lots
$5,970,000 - TFI - 16 lots
$5,910,000 - Chris Waller Racing/Mulcaster B'stock - 15 lots

LEADING VENDORS
(ranked by gross)

$18,810,000 - Newgate Farm - 45 sold
$15,340,000 - Arrowfield Stud - 50 sold
$14,125,000 - Widden Stud - 41 sold
$12,270,000 - Yarraman Park Stud - 32 sold
$12,070,000 - Segenhoe Stud - 26 sold

LEADING VENDORS
(ranked by average - 3 or more sold)

$612,500 - Silverdale Farm - 6 sold
$490,000 - Lauriston T'bred Farm - 3 sold
$481,429 - Strawberry Hill Stud - 7 sold
$466,000 - Emirates Park - 10 sold
$464,231 - Segenhoe Stud - 26 sold
Advertisment
More Reading...
Kiwi Innovator Recognized
Emma Thompson was stepping into the unknown when taking on the role as Programme Lead for the NZB Kiwi, and after executing an outstanding inaugural running in March, she was recognised at Entain’s Industry Excellence Awards.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday July 1
Here is the full list of 8 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Vale, Joe Yorke
The racing industry has lost one of its more colourful characters with the passing of Joe Yorke on Sunday.
National Online Breeding Stock Sale online now
The National Online Breeding Stock Sale has launched on Gavelhouse Plus with bidding open on the 87 Lots sale which is set to end from 7pm on Wednesday 9th July.
Profondo Weanlings Impress
The first progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Profondo made a favourable impression during the NZB National Weanling Sale at Karaka on Thursday.
$190,000 Per Incanto Colt Heads Vibrant Weanling Sale
The  2025 National Weanling Sale saw its first dual-code weanling session in play at Karaka, with a total aggregate of $2,410,000 outlaid across 84 lots by a strong domestic buying bench plus international support from Australia, Hong Kong and China.
G1 Older Milers and Stayers- No Wonder Owners Look Overseas
The Australian G1 season has concluded and there were 26 Group I races won by older horses at a distance of 1600m or more and they were won by 17 different horses with Via Sistina (IRE) and Mr Brightside (NZ) the only horses to win G1 races as sprinters (less than 1600m) and also as mile/middle distance/staying horses.
G1 Older Sprinters- Are Our Sprinters the Best in the World?
The Australian G1 season has concluded and there were 23 Group I races won by older horses at a distance less than 1600m, but one race that fits the category but is yet to be given G1 status is the $10million Golden Eagle (1500m) and form out of it would suggest it was the best of them all.
New kids on the block add fresh blood to Vibrant Victorian breeding scene
With 11 new stallions standing in Victoria this coming breeding season, including the winners of three Group 1 races on their ‘home’ soil, the short and long-term future looks increasingly bright for the state’s vibrant industry. 
Many Pedigree Paths Lead to Helen Street
Jane Henning of Pedigree Dynamics offers her thoughts on an Irish Oaks winner that has become a remarkable producer and is now emerging as a great candidate for line breeding.