Magic Millions: Qld breeder makes $780,000 before lunch on two Snitzel colts

WHEN Scott McAlpine got up yesterday, he thought it would be a good day — but he had no idea it would be this good.

WHEN Scott McAlpine got up yesterday, he thought it would be a good day — but he had no idea it would be this good.

The Darling Downs breeder, whose Eureka Stud has sold at every Magic Millions since the beginning, got four times what he hoped for his colt, raking in a cool $500,000, then added to the bounty by selling a second colt to Gai Waterhouse for $280,000 before lunch.

“We had a change of luck — I thought it was going to be a nice day, but instead it was a fantastic day,” he said.

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“It nearly blew me off the stage, I couldn’t believe it.

Scott McAlpine owner of Eureka Stud with his $500k horse. Picture: Mike Batterham

“There were a fair few people who thought he was a nice horse.”

Both Eureka Stud colts were sired by the ever-popular Snitzel, whose progeny had earned more than $2.6 million by yesterday afternoon.

“We’ve been sending mares to Snitzel for eight years,” Mr McAlpine said.

Eureka is selling nine lots over the carnival and the family company also has two runner in the races on Saturday.

“We were part of the original studs of Magic Millions — from the word ‘go’,” Mr McAlpine said.

“To see it become a $10 million race day on the Saturday is phenomenal.”

Meanwhile, bidding started strong and early for day one of the 2016 Magic Millions Yearling Sales, with sales cracking half-million-dollar mark by the seventh lot and reaching $800,000 by the afternoon.

An average of $184,332 was reached over the day’s bidding, with 158 animals sold for a gross total of $29.12 million.

Victorian outfit Spendthrift set the pace early, splashing $1.125 million on two horses in the first 15 lots, while Hong Kong interests also spent up big, taking four of the top 10 sales of the day.

Nearly $30m was spent on future racehorses at Magic Millions yesterday. Picture Mike Batterham

A bay colt from Victoria’s Ampulla Lodge and sired by Exceed and Excel drew the largest sum of $800,000. Aquis Farm picked up a colt by the same sire for $75,000.

Another bay colt was sold by South Australia’s Mill Park stud for $725,000 to Michael Wallace on behalf of the China Horse Club.

Magic Millions director David Chester said although the clearance rate of 80 per cent was disappointing, the average was up on last year and another strong day was expected today.

“There are buyers here from every major racing jurisdiction in the world,” he said.

“As the sale went on, it just got stronger and stronger.

“It’s the biggest crowd I’ve ever seen on a first day, and I’ve been at every sale since 1986.”

Lot 119 keeps its handler on her toes at Magic Millions. Picture Mike Batterham

Yearlings sired by Snitzel proved popular among bidders, earning $3.855 million between 12 lots that sold for between $160,000 and $525,00 each yesterday.

All Too Hard proved another trending name among bidders, achieving 14 sales for $3.5 million.

About 1000 horses that will be sold over the next four days in a sale that is expected to clear more than $100 million.

Gai Waterhouse bought several horses for owners and said the sales had opened strongly.

“There is a lot of overseas money here and that is a great thing for Australia and Australian racing,” she said.