The Magic Millions National Sale confirmed itself as the Southern Hemisphere’s number one breeding stock sale with a red letter day of results at Morphettville led by the outstanding Group One victory of Miracles of Life.
One of the country’s most popular gallopers, Miracles of Life produced a sizzling turn of foot late in the feature fillies and mares dash to reel in National Weanling graduate Gregers and win by a short half head.
The mare received a rapturous welcome back by South Aussie race fans as their former local star pin-up juvenile returned to notch a second career Group One.
Now prepared by the father-son training partnership of Peter and Paul Snowden, Miracles of Life boosted her lifetime record of eight wins and four minor placings and earnings of over $1.578 million.
“For her to come back here and do what she did is fantastic,” a proud Paul Snowden said. “It’s testament to her character the way she found the line today.”
“Full credit to the owners, they basically said do what you want. If she wants to be there, all good and well, if not she can go to stud.”
Winning rider Hugh Bowman was thrilled to have notched a Group One with a mare he’d grown very fondly of over recent months.
“She’s already a Group One winner, every one knows what her record is like,” Bowman pointed out.
“To come here and win another Group One as an older mare means a lot to the Snowden stbale, it means a lot to me and I’m sure it means a lot to her owners.”
The win was the third at group level for the daughter of Not a Single Doubt since being purchased by John Moynihan for Barbara Banke’s leading Stonestreet Stables operation for $900,000 at last year’s National Broodmare Sale at the Gold Coast.
Miracles of Life, a winner of the Blue Diamond Stakes at two for Adelaide horseman Daniel Clarken, was bred and formerly raced by Teeley Assets and was sold without reserve at their Dispersal almost a year ago.
Moynihan went to $400,000 to secure her dam, the More Than Ready mare Dazzling Gazelle, who has since produced a full sister to Miracles of Life and is now in foal to champion sire Fastnet Rock.
Since her purchase almost a year ago, Miracles of Life has won a Group Two Challenge Stakes in Sydney and dead heated in a Group Two Caulfield Sprint in Melbourne. She has now added a Group One in Adelaide confirming her status as one of the country’s most talented, versatile and tough sprinters.
Connections said the bonny chestnut would return home before they decide on whether she would return to Adelaide for a possible tilt at the Group One $500,000 The Goodwood (1200m) in a fortnight.
Miracles of Life continues an outstanding run of National Broodmare Sale graduates to score feature wins after their purchase and prior to heading to stud. That list includes the likes of Russeting, Cinque Cento and Sister Madly who all scored their career high win after being sold at the Gold Coast.
Runner-up Gregers (Commands-Satnav), a $130,000 National Weanling Sale purchase, went close to scoring her biggest win when lipped out in the feature by Mirales of Life.
Placed third in the same race last year, Gregers is a Group Two and Three winner in Melbourne who has won her jubilant connections an ever increasing prizemoney haul of $826,450.
Winner: Miracles of Life
Breeding: Not a Single Doubt-Dazzling Gazelle (More Than Ready)
Race: SAJC Robert Sangster Stakes G1 (1200m)
Sold for: $900,000
Sale: 2014 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale
Vendor: Teeley Reduction
Buyer: John Moynihan Bloodstock
Earnings: $1,578,270
Owner(s): Stonestreet Stables LLC (Mgr: Ms B Banke)
Trainer: Peter and Paul Snowden (Randwick)