A colt by outstanding Newgate Farm based sire Extreme Choice topped the traditional Saturday night session of the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale tonight.
Offered by Kingstar Farm, the colt from the Shamardal mare Mischief Night was sold for $1.4 million which is the highest priced yearling Kingstar Farm have ever sold.
The colt is a half brother to two winners headlined by the multiple Group winner and former sale graduate Our Playboy.
Kingstar have a great record as the breeder of stock by Extreme Choice sold at the Gold Coast - Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside the perfect example.
After a prolonged bidding battle between a number of parties it was Victoria's Highway Farm (Yulong) who held the bid when the gavel fell.
"Nothing like a good old fashioned battle in the sale ring," Vin Cox, representing the buyer, said.
"He's a beautiful colt out of a Shamardal mare who has already thrown a stakes winner and we're delighted to get him."
"We expected him to be up there somewhere (in price). He was a much talked (about) horse that we identified fairly early and we saw him in December when we went through the Hunter Valley looking at yearlings and it is great to come away with him."
Cox said the achievements of Extreme Choice were extraordinary from limited numbers so far.
"When you look at his numbers it is staggering. He’s an outlier in terms of his statistics and in terms of what he's done and what he's achieved, realistically and anyone would admit from a low base, is wonderful."
"They all seem to gallop and we're glad to get a colt that is bred by him and looks like him."
"He's a very athletic, good looking horse and we’re hoping that we can knock into shape down the line."
"He’s probably not as big as Parkour. Parkour was a very big yearling but he's a chestnut like Parkour and there's a lot of similarities with him but this horse has made a lot more money than Parkour but that is on the back of continued success of the stallion."
"Land the right colt and it improves business. If we can hit on the right colt by the right stallion it moves the needle from a business perspective."
Cox said he found the top end of the market at the Gold Coast Yearling Sale tough for buying.
"It is very strong. When you find a horse that you like, and others like, you find a fair bit of competition."
"That end of the market is always going to be strong. It is well patronised with significant players and they're always going to be ponying up on those good looking, well bred lots."
"We are very happy (as a vendor also). It is a market that you have to work pretty hard in but it is a work in progress and you’ve got to keep at it."
That colt was one of 23 yearlings who sold for seven figure prices at the auction - a new record for the Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Today's The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic winning trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott teamed up with Bruce Slade of Kestrel Thoroughbreds to be the leading buyer across Days 1-5.
The powerful team, who oversaw the success of three horses at today's Magic Millions Raceday, outlaid over $8.5 million on 23 lots.
Ciaron Maher Bloodstock (24 lots for $8.145 million), David Ellis (10 lots for $6.965 million), China Horse Club/Newgate/Go Bloodstock/Trilogy (12 lots for $6.52 million) and James Harron's Bloodstock Colt Partnership (7 lots for $6.185 million) were also among the leading buyers.
The leading vendor by gross was Segenhoe Stud ($16.665 million), just $50,000 ahead of Newgate Farm, while Tasmania's Grenville Stud led the vendor averages (3 or more sold) at $578,333.
Frankel ($825,000), Extreme Choice ($703,462), I Am Invincible ($674,138), Snitzel ($522,206) and Justify ($500,714) led the way for the sires by average, while first seasoners like Wootton Bassett ($465,625) and Farnan ($309,483) proved extremely popular.
Across the five day Book One component of the sale over $223 million was traded on 800 lots sold at an average price of $279,256 and clearance rate of 86 per cent.
"I'm incredibly pleased with how it came together," Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch reported. "We'll reflect on this sale as a great sale as the year goes on."
"Right now we are a tick over 2% under last year and that is pleasing considering things aren't easy out there for everyone."
"We did have an increase in million-dollar lots - 23 million-dollar lots which is the most we’ve ever had here."
"To have an average of around $280,000, that is the third highest we've ever had and it was the last two years that beat that."
"The clearance rate of 86% is acceptable and I'd suggest that will only increase over the next 24 to 48 hours while we work with buyers."
"The results tonight were pleasingly above our expectations."
With a full inspection day tomorrow (Sunday), attention now switches to the two day Book Two section of the 2024 Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
"This is a sale that just keeps on producing. The number of Group One winners, millionaires and Magic Millions winners to graduate from Book Two is impressive."
"Look at today - the $14.25 million The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Raceday - two of the winners there today came from Book Two."
That duo was headlined by Abounding who scored a career peak win in the $3 million Gold Coast Magic Millions 3YO Guineas for Rob Heathcote, Martin Harley and the First Light Racing team.
To see the results of the sale or to make an offer on a passed in lot click here.
SALE STATISTICS
(2023 in brackets)
Lots Catalogued: 1020 (979)
Lots Sold: 800 (776)
Lots Passed In: 132 (101)
Lots Withdrawn: 88 (102)
Top Price: $2,100,000 ($2,700,000)
Sale Gross: $223,475,500 ($228,411,000)
Average Price: $279,344 ($294,344)
Median Price: $200,000 ($215,000)
Sold %: 86 (88)
DAY FIVE TOP SELLERS
$1,400,000 - Extreme Choice-Mischief Night colt (Lot 942)
Vendor: Kingstar Farm / Buyer: Highway Farm (Vic)
$800,000 - Deep Field-Merited colt (Lot 931)
Silverdale Farm / Hong Kong Jockey Club (HK)
$650,000 - Exceed and Excel-Miss Toorak Flyer colt (Lot 962)
Rosemont Stud (As Agent) / Suman Hedge B'stock (Vic)
$600,000 - Wootton Bassett-Mistook filly (Lot 966)
Cressfield / Ciaron Maher B'stock (Vic)
$500,000 - Too Darn Hot-Moldova colt (Lot 973)
Milburn Creek (As Agent for Makybe) / Rosemont Stud/Suman Hedge B'stock/Moody Racing (Vic)
LEADING BUYERS
(ranked by total spend)
$8,520,000 - Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott/Kestrel T'breds - 23 lots
$8,145,000 - Ciaron Maher B'stock - 24 lots
$6,965,000 - DC Ellis CNZM - 10 lots
$6,520,000 - China Horse Club/Newgate/Go B'stock/Trilogy - 12 lots
$6,185,000 - James Harron B'stock Colts Partnership - 7 lots
LEADING SIRES
(ranked by average - 3 or more sold)
$825,000 - Frankel - 4 sold
$703,462 - Extreme Choice - 13 sold
$674,138 - I Am Invincible - 29 sold
$522,206 - Snitzel - 34 sold
$500,714 - Justify - 7 sold
LEADING VENDORS
(ranked by gross)
$16,665,000 - Segenhoe Stud - 30 sold
$16,615,000 - Newgate Farm - 48 sold
$13,455,000 - Widden Stud - 38 sold
$12,940,000 - Coolmore Stud - 40 sold
$12,760,000 - Arrowfield Stud - 48 sold
LEADING VENDORS
(ranked by average - 3 or more sold)
$578,333 - Grenville Stud - 3 sold
$555,500 - Segenhoe Stud - 30 sold
$539,091 - Milburn Creek - 11 sold
$475,714 - Rosemont Stud - 7 sold
$452,714 - Silverdale Farm - 6 sold
