Gai Waterhouse's Midas touch extends to Gold Coast sales ring as clearance rate soars

MAGIC Millions' greatest ambassador secures another float load of new acquisitions and one lot that was initially knocked down elsewhere.

Gai Waterhouse has continued to buy up big at the Magic Millions sales on the Gold Coast. Picture: Glenn Hampson

EVEN when she's seemingly beaten, Gai Waterhouse still wins.

As Magic Millions' greatest ambassador went about the business of securing another float load of new acquisitions yesterday, she also secured one lot that was initially knocked down elsewhere.

Gerald Ryan thought he had been the successful bidder on a colt by his former good youngster Hinchinbrook for $160,000.

But it emerged that two bid spotters believed they had the call and the colt had to return to the ring.

In a wonderful turn of events for vendor Harry Mitchell, Ryan and Waterhouse then went toe to toe to the $200,000 mark before Waterhouse upped the ante to $250,000.

A frustrated Ryan walked away, leaving Mitchell $90,000 better off. Waterhouse will also train the first of the BC3 repossessions, with Round Table Racing buying Lot 90, a Star Witness filly for $90,000.

There is one more yearling to be sold today and another seven two-year-olds on Saturday night from BC3 repossessions.

To the end of the session, Waterhouse had 22 lots for just under $4 million.

The sale zipped along at another frantic pace yesterday.

Again there were no sales that reached huge numbers, with $400,000 being the top price, but the consistency across the market continued to surprise officials.

Managing director Vin Cox described the sale as "quite incredible".

The gross to the same time last year is up almost $5 million thanks to a clearance rate of 88 per cent.