A pre-Christmas blitz through the storage cupboard at Daybreak Farm revealed my treasure trove of past catalogues, which got me thinking, how far have we come and what has changed since 2010?
Getting Bigger
The 2010 Magic Millions catalogue featured 910 lots with 690 in Sessions One to Four and the remainder in the old Session Five, which has now morphed into Book Two with the premium part of the sale Book One.
So this sale has gotten bigger with 1065 horses catalogued this year, 888 in Book One.
Gone Missing
The vendor index is filled with familiar names, the majority still selling in 2020, with the notable absence of prominent vendors Patinack Farm and Reavill Farm, both of which no longer exist and Bellerive Stud, which was the sister farm of Arrowfield and is now combined into the one entity.
The Legend
On the sire front, Redoute’s Choice was the leading sire by average with 17 averaging $343,235 and in 2019 was still the second leading sire by average with 15 averaging $549,667, so he’s one stallion that is a constant, although with his passing earlier this year, his reign is nearly at an end with just nine of his stock catalogued for 2020.
Gone But Not Forgotten
The following sires had 15 or more lots in 2010 and none of them are represented this year – Anabaa (USA), Charge Forward, Commands, Dehere (USA), Elusive Quality (USA), Encosta de Lago, Excites, Flying Spur, General Nediym, Hussonet (USA), Jet Spur, Magic Albert, Nadeem, Red Dazzler, Rock of Gibraltar (IRE), Show a Heart, Stratum and Testa Rossa.
First Season Failures and a Freakish Success
Most of the class of 2010 were thoroughly disappointing although Holy Roman Emperor (IRE) and Artie Schiller (USA) have achieved notable success in both hemispheres and Darci Brahma has been very successful in New Zealand.
The real success story of the class of 2010 lies with a stallion that did not win a Group I race and had only two yearlings in the sale that made $55,000 and $45,000, one of those selling in Session Five.
He’s Written Tycoon and in 2020 he will have 35 Magic Millions entries, while his sons Capitalist, Winning Rupert and Rich Enuff account for a further 68 yearlings.
Based on this recipe for success, maybe the first season sires in 2020 people should be looking at are Kiss and Make Up and Defcon.
Calm Before the Storm
In 2020, Snitzel is a record breaking sire and has 52 entries so will be a commanding force at the sale, back in2010 he was a second crop sire that had only moderate expectations placed upon him.
There were 15 of his stock catalogued and 11 sold at an average $121,591 with his trainer Gerald Ryan purchasing the dearest of them, a filly from Modave for $240,000 that returned the next year as Schiffer to finish third in the MM 2YO Classic.
From Bread and Butter to Champagne
Bought for $30,000 in 2010 at the Gold Coast, Karuta Queen won the Magic Millions 2YO Classic the next year and was one of the early horses that elevated her sire Not a Single Doubt from bread and butter to champagne.
He had six yearlings average $52,500 from a $13,750 service fee in 2010 and in 2020 will have 38 conceived at $88,000.
From Zero to Hero
In January 2010, I Am Invincible had not yet covered a mare and in 2020 he is the most represented sire at the Gold Coast with 53 lots catalogued, 18 of them consigned by Yarraman Park, who stand the son of champion European sire Invincible Spirit.
If there is one Australian bloodstock story that has defined the past decade and a horse that has changed the lives of all around him it’s I Am Invincible, who at age 15 is at the height of his powers.
Long may he live!
