An outstanding colt by More Than Ready took the honours during a successful Day Four of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale on Saturday night.
Following on from the hugely successful raceday at the Gold Coast Turf Club, a massive crowd flocked to the complex to see the next generation of racetrack star go under the hammer.
A strong session saw the average price for the sale grow to over $144,000 and the sale gross round out at over $75 million. All figures were up on last year’s sale.
Young Sydney trainer Bryce Heys went to $600,000 to secure his prized pick of the sale, the More Than Ready-Polaway colt from Newhaven Park, as agent for Twin Palms Stud.
The colt is from a stakes performed Giant’s Causeway daughter of Golden Slipper winner Polar Success and rounded out the Day 1-4 sale as the third top seller.
“Physically he was as an impressive colt as there was on the sale ground,” Heys said. “He thought he was the best colt in the sale.”
“He’s got the pedigree to back it up. He’s a generation away from a Golden Slipper winner and I bought him with a profile to graduate to that race,” he added.
Fresh off a feature race treble at the raceday earlier in the day, champion trainer Gai Waterhouse was busy again with James Harron and she snapped up the Northern Meteor-Ms Bowie colt from Musk Creek Farm.
Waterhouse will be hoping the $525,000 purchase can follow in the footsteps of another Musk Creek graduate of the sale she purchased, the former superstar youngster Pierro.
“I trained Northern Meteor for Mr Cojuangco to a Group One win and he stood at Widden Stud until his demise and yes I’m delighted to be training him,” Waterhouse said.
“Vendors presented an outstanding draft of yearlings that sold well above expectations,” Magic Millions Managing Director Vin Cox said.
“The market was very strong and it was also very consistent. The buyers were willing to participate across all levels of the market and that created a magical vibe.”
“It’s been extremely rewarding for Magic Millions staff to conduct a sale of this nature,” Cox added.
Cox said Day Five of the sale, comprising Book 2, would present a great opportunity for buyers to compete for some top prospects at value prices.
“We’ve had so many great graduates from Day Five over the years and we’re confident there’s plenty of top prospective racehorses among them again.”
To view a video review of today’s raceday click here. To see a video review of Day Four of the yearling sale click here.
To view the official results and to make an offer on a passed in lot click here.
SALE STATISTICS
(D1-4, 2013 in brackets)
Lots Catalogued: 663 (660)
Lots Sold: 521 (497)
Lots Withdrawn: 61 (60)
Lots Passed In: 80 (103)
Sale Gross: $75,082,500 ($67,677,500)
Top Price: $1,000,000 ($1,350,000)
Average Price: $144,112 ($136,172)
Median Price: $120,000 ($105,000)
Sold %: 87 (83)
DAY FOUR TOP SELLERS
$600,000 More Than Ready- Polaway Colt (Lot 647)
Vendor: Newhaven Park (As Agent for Twin Palms Stud) / Buyer: Ellerslie Lodge Pty Ltd/Bryce N Heys (NSW)
$525,000 Northern Meteor- Ms Bowie Colt (Lot 599)
Musk Creek Farm / Gai Waterhouse/ James Harron Bloodstock (NSW)
$520,000 – Lohnro- Noesis Colt (Lot 614)
Willow Park Stud / Sun Bloodstock (HK)
$450,000 Fastnet Rock- Native Song Filly (Lot 610)
Three Bridges Thoroughbreds (As Agent) / Matchem Racing P/L (Vic)
$450,000 Star Witness- Pachanga Colt (Lot 626)
Glenlogan Park / James Harron Bloodstock (NSW)
$420,000 – Fastnet Rock- Miss Judgement Filly (Lot 579)
Cressfield / Jadeskye Racing/Gerald Ryan (NSW)
LEADING BUYERS
(ranked by total spend)
$8,235,000 – Gai Waterhouse / James Harron B’stock – 39 lots
$2,467,500 – Star Thoroughbreds – 19 lots
$2,315,000 – Chris Waller Racing – 10 lots
$2,065,000 – Round Table Racing / James Harron B’stock – 15 lots
$2,015,000 – Lindsay Park B’stock – 14 lots
LEADING SIRES
(ranked by average – 3 or more sold)
$286,500 – Redoute’s Choice – 10 sold
$270,167 – Fastnet Rock – 30 sold
$243,333 – Street Cry – 6 sold
$240,000 – I Am Invincible – 7 sold
$228,750 – Northern Meteor – 16 sold
