Bowditch in buoyant mood ahead of Magic Millions Horses In Training Sale
Barry Bowditch is hopeful that a strong international presence will act as the catalyst for a buoyant market when the Magic Millions Horses In Training Sale returns to the Gold Coast on Tuesday.
Magic Millions’ managing director is expecting the competitive bidding – both in the ring and online – for some quality juveniles to be intense, while the inclusion of around 15 three-year-old horses for the first time is set to add further intrigue to the one-day sale.
With lots by leading sires such as I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit), Zoustar (Northern Meteor), Justify (Scat Daddy) and Written Tycoon (Iglesia) likely to be in high demand alongside progeny by up-and-coming stallions Ole Kirk (Written Tycoon), Alabama Express (Redoute’s Choice) and Pierata (Pierro), Bowditch believes the stock on offer will ensure that the sale cements its reputation for producing standout racetrack performers.
“The breeze-ups went particularly well in the build-up to the sale, and some of the times being run were as good as we’ve seen,” he told ANZ Bloodstock News.
“There’s no doubt that we’re presenting some horses that will be highly sought-after, so there will be a fair bit of money changing hands for the lots at the top of the market.
“As well as the locals and our friends over from New Zealand, we’ll have buyers on the ground from China, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam, so there’s a good cross-section of clients from right across Asia who we expect to be active at all levels of the market.
“We might have to work a little bit harder to keep the clearance rate as high as we’d like it, but provided the vendors set their reserve prices in accordance with the inspection rates I’m sure horses in the lower and middle brackets will also sell well.”
Of the potential headline acts, Bowditch cites Lots 76 and 88, both by Justify, as ones to watch.
Offered by KO Racing, Lot 76 is a colt out of the once-raced Port Augusta (Encosta De Lago), who herself is a half-sister to Coolmore stallion Holy Roman Emperor (Danehill) and Milanova (Milan), the dam of Group 3 winner Pretty Perfect (Galileo). Lot 88 is a filly offered by Nolen Racing out of Sacred Witness (El Moxie), an unraced blood sister to crack Hong Kong sprinter Silent Witness.
Also expected to attract plenty of interest in Lot 138, the Network Bloodstock offered Ole Kirk colt who produced some slick times when he performed at the breeze-ups. The same applies to Lot 147, Barramul Stud’s colt by Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice) out of Bislieri, a half-sister to Group 3 winner Bel Danoro (Danehill), whose nine foals to race include Australian Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Sofia Rosa (Makfi).
Amongst the three-year-old offerings is a chestnut gelding by Widden’s emerging stallion Zousain (Zoustar).
For the second year, Magic Millions used state of the art technology during the breeze-ups, which have been conducted over the past month at Seymour, Newcastle and on the Gold Coast. The vision and data provided by TripleS – which is available on the Magic Millions website – enables prospective buyers to measure a horse’s stride length, frequency and speed.
“This precision data is an additional service which enables our clients to make a more informed decision, it was very well received when we introduced it last year so it made sense to bring it back again this year.”
The action is due to get underway at 12pm, when a colt by Yulong’s flagbearer Written Tycoon will be the first juvenile to go through the ring at the famed sales complex.