Bumper Magic Millions sale on cards with average price well up despite failure to crack $1M mark

DAY 1 of the Magic Millions yearling sale came and went yesterday without the $1 million mark being cracked but a bumper result still looks likely.

Agent Michael Wallace bought Lot 143, a Chestnut Filly from Mill Park South Australia, for $850 000 at the Magic Millions Sales at Bundall on the Gold Coast. Picture Glenn Hampson

DAY 1 of the yearling sale came and went yesterday without the magic million-dollar mark being cracked — but a bumper result at the Bundall complex still looks likely.

The $23.3 million total for the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale’s opening day was almost $4 million up on last year and the average sale price paid for the 140 lots was about $25,000 greater.

New Zealand bloodstock agent Michael Wallace claimed the top lot yesterday on behalf of the China Horse Club, which is a members-only horseracing group aimed at bored mega-rich Asian buyers.

GALLERY: MAGIC MILLIONS GLAMOUR

Agent Michael Wallace bought Lot 143, a chestnut filly from Mill Park Stud South Australia, on behalf of a consortium of rich Asian clients. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Mr Wallace said the athletic filly by Golden Slipper winner Sepoy out of Celebrity Girl would be taken to NSW to be broken in before a trainer was selected.

“We inspected her several times and were impressed with how strong she was and her temperament,” he said.

“Nothing bothered her all week — she was unflappable.”

The filly, offered by Mill Park Stud, went for $850,000, which far exceeded the sale price for the favourite of the day from the same South Australian stud, a bay Redoute’s Choice colt which sold for $575,000.

Magic Millions CEO Vin Cox was over the moon about the start of the sale.

“Anyone on the ground here would have accepted last year’s average of $141,506,” Mr Cox said.

“It is a big jump. It is fan­tastic.”

Mr Cox said he expected the buoyant sale conditions to continue now that day one was out of the way. “The market is set now,” he said.

Mr Cox was hopeful a $1 million-plus sale would be recorded today.

Magic Millions auctioneer David Chester was kept busy on the opening day of the sales.

An exhausted Katie Page-Harvey, who owns Magic Millions with husband Gerry, said the energy was up right from the start of the sale compared to last year.

“There was such a great vibe,” she said.

“I hope it continues.

“I am really happy with how things are going so far.”

The sale continues until Tuesday, but the top yearlings will be sold by Saturday evening when the main part of the Magic Millions auction draws to a close.