$90M target set for Magic Millions yearling sale on the Gold Coast

INSPECTIONS will start today of the almost 1000 horses that will go under the hammer at the Magic Millions complex in Bundall in the next fortnight.

Fig Tree Thoroughbred yearlings at Biddaddaba get ready for the Magic Millions sale. Lot 418, a Maid For Me colt, goes for a walk with handler Kandice Pritchard. Picture Glenn Hampson

INSPECTIONS will start today of the almost 1000 horses to go under the ­hammer at the Magic Millions complex at Bundall next month — with hopes that a $90 million sales ­target will be hit.

Magic Millions CEO Vin Cox said yesterday the catalogue of horses, including 960 yearlings, was better than the January sale last year and should deliver a good start to the year for owners Gerry Harvey and Katie Page-Harvey.

“Last year’s yearling sale netted $86 million,” he said.

“We would be doing cartwheels if we got $90 million this year.”

Mr Cox said a turnaround in the thoroughbred industry this year and excitement surrounding the recently announced $10 million race weekend had given the sale a welcome boost.

This Snitzel colt, pictured here with Fig Tree Thoroughbred handler Satsuki Kanda, is expected to be among the most keenly sought after yearlings at the Magic Millions sale next month. Picture: Glenn Hampson

“We have had a fantastic 12 months and that has given breeders a lot of confidence,” he said.

The who’s who of Australian racing are expected on the Gold Coast this week for a first look at the lots and Gai Waterhouse is likely to be one of the first to arrive.

There will be plenty of interest among buyers in the progeny of 22 first-season sires — including Smart Missile, So You Think, Foxwedge and Sepoy.

But, based on numbers alone, yearlings by Sebring and Snitzel will be the biggest talking points of the sales since the stallions have sired a combined 105 yearlings that will be auctioned off from next Wednesday.

Fig Tree Thoroughbreds owner Murray Murdoch has high hopes for his Snitzel colt — particularly since he sold the yearling’s half brother to Waterhouse’s Roundtable Racing for $190,000 at last year’s Magic Million’s sale.

Mr Murdoch was yesterday getting ready to transport 16 yearlings from his Biddaddaba stud into Bundall.

“I am fairly optimistic about this sale,” he said. “I would expect the best horses to go for a good price.”

The long-term breeder said the Magic Millions’ yearling sale in January was the main event of the year for Fig Tree Thoroughbreds.

“It is the first sale of the year and the one for early maturing horses,” Mr Murdoch said.

Among the best lots in the 2015 catalogue are relations to Group 1 winners including Aloha, Buffering, Dreamaway, Heavenly Glow, Pierro, Royal Descent, Whobegotyou and Spirit of Boom.