Magic Millions sales: Makybe Diva filly a treat for potential buyers as the wallets open on Gold Coast

Lot 500 will carry more interest than usual at the Magic Millions sales when a filly enters the parading enclosure being the ninth foal of Melbourne Cup queen Makybe Diva.

A little piece of history goes on sale at Thursday’s second session of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, with the ninth foal of Melbourne Cup legend Makybe Diva being offered.

This lass will be sold as Lot 500 on Thursday under the draft of Lime Country Thoroughbreds, the result of a mating between Makybe Diva and top stallion Written Tycoon.

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Makybe Diva created Australian sporting history in 2005 when Glen Boss partnered her to an unprecedented third Melbourne Cup success.

Trainer Lee Freedman and owner Tony Santic retired her immediately following the race, with earnings of a then Australian record $14.5 million.

Last spring Makybe Diva produced her 10th and ultimately final foal, with connections announcing that at the age of 20, she would be retired from the breeding barn.

Like many superstar mares of the racetrack, Makybe Diva’s progeny have thus far failed to live up to the exemplary standard of their mum on the racetrack, although she has produced five individual winners from seven horses to race.

Georgia Griffin (left) and Lana Gleeson (right) with the Written Tycoon-Makybe Diva filly. Picture: Nigel Hallett

These include the stakes-placed mare Divanation, while her second foal, La Dolce Diva, is the dam of the Group 2-placed filly Touch Of Mink.

Makybe Diva’s first two foals fetched $1.5 million and $1.2 million respectively at sale and all up, the six yearlings sold from the mare have grossed just short of $4 million.

While the Written Tycoon filly will likely fall a long way short of topping this week’s sale, Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch noted how someone has the opportunity to secure a rare jewel on Thursday.

“I look forward to seeing who takes her home, it’s like taking a bit of art home isn’t it,” Bowditch said.

“She’s a really good looking filly too.”

Makybe Diva wins her third Melbourne Cup in 2005.

Buyers were quick out of the blocks at the opening session of the sale, with Yarraman Park stallion I Am Invincible leading the way early, with two colts breaking the seven figure mark.

Chris Waller and his bloodstock agent Guy Mulcaster went to $1,050,000 to secure Segenhoe Stud’s colt from the Group 2 winner Adrift, while Anthony Mithen’s Rosemont Stud had its first ever $1 million sale when Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott put their hand up for the colt from the stable’s Group 1 winner Amanpour.

Wayne Hawkes’s family operation was heavily involved on the opening day at the sales.

Hawkes Racing were prominent in the opening session, signing for an $850,000 colt by deceased stallion Hinchinbrook and $750,000 for a colt by US Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.

The 2016 Magic Millions-Golden Slipper winner Capitalist made an early impression with his first crop.

James Harron, the man who bought Capitalist as a yearling, went to $750,000 for the Capitalist colt from Booklet.

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