Magic Millions reschedules National sale to late July
Magic Millions has moved to reassure clients about the Gold Coast National Weanling, Broodmare and Yearling Sale going ahead this season by pushing it back to July in the hope of being able to conduct a live auction.
The sales company, like rival Inglis who next week will hold its Australian Easter Yearling Sale via its digital platform, has been forced to make changes to its schedule due to the coronavirus pandemic which has heavily restricted the movement of people and shut down many business sectors.
Late yesterday, Magic Millions announced that the National sale had been pushed back by two months from its initial late May-June dates, with the broodmare and weanling sessions now tentatively slated for July 20 to 24, while three days, from July 28 to 30, has been set aside for the yearling catalogue.
Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch, in a video address, acknowledged the “unnerving times” brought on by Covid-19 and that the company had delayed the important National sale in a bid to ensure buyers could attend the Gold Coast complex.
“All of our team here at Magic Millions respects the fact that you, our clients, are concerned about sale changes and market adjustments,” Bowditch said.
“Just be assured that we are looking to adjust these to do the best things by you. We are here to serve you (and) to strive for the best possible outcome.
“We pride ourselves on our ability to innovate and to be able to hold exciting and unmissable live auctions.”
But Bowditch did not rule out holding the sale elsewhere or online if protocols limiting people movement remained in place.
“If we are unable to (hold a live auction at the Gold Coast), we have the technology to go online or even change location and have the sale elsewhere,” he said.
“It’s our obligation to you to hold the best auction we possibly can and provide you with the best opportunity to sell your horse.
“To assist you in planning, we have put together a tentative sales schedule … but I must stress that government restrictions mean that this schedule needs to be flexible.”
Given the proximity to the foaling season, any mares with an early covering date will be sold in absentia while entries for the National sale have also been pushed back, with a new closing date of May 8.
Inglis also recently made changes to its 2020 sales schedule because of the impact caused by coronavirus, moving its Chairman’s Sale for elite breeding stock to an online format on May 8 while the Australian Broodmare Session will also be held online two days later.
Round 2 of the Australian Easter Yearling Sale, the Australian Weanling Sale, Melbourne Gold Yearling Sale and Great Southern Sales have also been rescheduled to July.
Australasian sales schedule 2020
Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale Round 1 (online) – April 5 to 8
Inglis Chairman’s Sale (online) – May 8
Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale (online) – May 10
Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale Round 2 – July 5
Inglis Australian Weanling Sale – July 8
Inglis Melbourne Gold Yearling Sale – July 12 and 13
Inglis Great Southern Sale – July 14 and 15
Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare and Weanling Sale – July 20 to 24
Inglis Scone Yearling Sale – July 26
Magic Millions National Yearling Sale – July 28 to 30
NZB South Island Sale – August 7
Magic Millions Gold Coast 2YOs in Training Sale – October 12 and 13
Inglis Ready 2 Race Sale – October 20
NZB Ready to Run Sale of 2YOs – November 18 and 19