Pair of $180,000 Colts Share Top Billing at MM Book Two on Sunday

Media Release - Sunday January 16

The momentum of a record breaking Book One catalogue continued at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale as Book Two selling commenced this afternoon.

Advertisement
 
Colts by Winning Rupert and Territories shared top billing on the day when selling for $180,000 as the average and median prices both jumped compared to the same day in 2021.
 
$180,000 Winning Rupert colt from Songbird

Leading local trainer Michael Costa snapped up the first of the top sellers, Lot 994, from the draft of KBL Thoroughbreds.

The colt is from the unraced Songbird (Arg) mare and is by the former outstanding Bjorn Baker trained sprinter Winning Rupert.

"He was as good a looking colt as any of those in Books One or Two," Costa noted. "I guess his pedigree just held him back - but on type he lacked nothing."

"He has everything I look for in a yearling - he's big and athletic, has a great brain and looks sharp."

"I had the half sister who showed plenty early and I'm very happy to buy this colt in partnership with the Archer Park team."
 
$180,000 Territories (IRE) colt from Velvet Moon.
The second last lot offered today, the Territories-Velvet Moon colt offered by Murrulla Stud, was also knocked down for $180,000.

The colt, who hails from the family of Apache King and Flight to Fantasy, was snapped up by Merrick Staunton.

"He was very well presented by the team from Murrulla Stud," Staunton said. "For me he was the stand out horse on the first day of the Book Two sale."

"A really nice type of colt who looks ideal to go through our system," he added.

Colts by Smart Missile (Lot 1031 to Anthony Cummings for $170,000), Nicconi (Lot 963 to Lee Freedman for $160,000) and Star Turn (Lot 991 to John Symons for $150,000) also proved popular with buyers.

During the short afternoon session over $4.5 million was traded on 70 lots sold at an average price of $64,707 and a clearance rate of 80 per cent - figures that compare favourably to the same session last year.

"The day started off a bit sluggish, but we got some great momentum as the afternoon progressed," Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said. 

"The vendors who have nice stock in the sale are getting them on the market and being rewarded."

"And buyers who have done their homework will be well rewarded with great value buys," Bowditch added. "Book Two continually produces high class racehorses both in Australia and abroad."

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

Day Seven of the Gold Coast Yearling Sale will commence at 10am (Qld time) tomorrow with just under 200 lots catalogued.

SALE STATISTICS
(2021 Book 2, Day 1 in brackets)

Lots Catalogued: 100 (111)
Lots Sold: 70 (83)
Lots Passed In: 18 (20)
Lots Withdrawn: 12 (8)
Sale Gross: $4,529,500 ($4,942,500)
Top Price: $180,000 ($300,000)
Average Price: $64,707 ($59,548)
Median Price: $55,000 ($45,000)
Sold %: 80 (81)
 
DAY SIX TOP SELLERS

$180,000 - Winning Rupert-Songbird colt (Lot 994)
Vendor: KBL T'breds (As Agent) / Buyer: Michael Costa Racing/Archer Park (Qld)

$180,000 - Territories-Velvet Moon colt (Lot 1032)
Murrulla Stud (As Agent) / Merrick Staunton (HK)

$170,000 - Smart Missile-Soffraaj colt (Lot 1031)
Twins Hills Stud (As Agent) / Anthony Cummings Racing (NSW)

$160,000 - Nicconi-Riverset colt (Lot 963)
Lyndhurst Stud Farm / Lee Freedman (Qld)

$150,000 - Star Turn-So Stylish colt (Lot 991)
Baramul Stud / John Symons (Qld)
Advertisment
More Reading...
NZB Breeze Up Footage Now Available to View Online
The highly anticipated Breeze Up videos for NZB’s 2025 Ready to Run Sale are now available to view online at nzb.co.nz.
Magic Millions First Digital Sale - Opportunities Aplenty
Bidding is now open for the first Magic Millions Digital Sale with opportunities across all levels of the market for prospective buyers.
Consistency Key On Day One of 2025 Breeze Ups
After the rescheduling of dates for NZB’s anticipated 2025 Ready to Run Sale Breeze Ups, Day One kicked off on Monday at Te Rapa Racecourse with consistent times, weather and track conditions.
NZB Ready to Run Breeze Ups Complete for 2025
The final day of NZB’s 2025 Ready to Run Sale Breeze Ups saw a further 202 two-year-olds gallop down the home straight at Te Rapa Racecourse.
Inglis Digital - Darby Swoop on Amazing Eagle for $310,000
Scott Darby believes today’s Inglis Digital sale-topper Amazing Eagle (Capitalist) can continue along the same successful mould as the likes of former online Darby acquisitions Robusto, Caballus and Imperial Force and progress on to become a future racetrack star.
Sale Cup Winner Adds to Fastnet Rock Super Weekend
It’s been quite the weekend for the late great champion sire Fastnet Rock with a Cox Plate quinella on Saturday and then on Sunday he produced a new stakes-winner when seven year-old gelding El Rocko captured the $200,000 Listed Sale Cup (1600m).
From FNQ To Sha Tin - Aussie Bred Sprinter Wins G2 Premier Bowl
Some horses arrive in Hong Kong with a very different back story - Fresh from winning the $20million The Everest with Ka Ying Rising, David Hayes was back in the winner’s list at Sha Tin on Sunday when Tomodachi Kokoroe won the Group II Premier Bowl (1200m).
Yes Yes Yes 3YO Shooting for G2 on Monday
Last year’s Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) set Savaglee up for Group One glory in Christchurch, and Matamata trainer Pam Gerard is hoping to follow a similar blueprint in 2025 with her Yes Yes Yes 3YO Affirmative Action..
Cream Rises at Trentham
A half-sister by Hello Youmzain (Fr) to dual Group I winner Mustang Valley, exciting filly Cream Tart is set to line up in one of the major three-year-old races over New Zealand Cup Week following her impressive win in Sunday’s Upper Hutt Car Sales LTD Three-Year-Old (1400m) at Trentham.
Doubtland 2YO All On Red Smashes Them Again at Ascot
Widden Stud's Doubtland has a potential 2YO topliner in Perth in the shape of exciting WA colt All On Red, who remains undefeated from two starts after another comprehensive Ascot Saturday win.