Leone Chiara, dam of Australian champion Star Witness, sold for $800,000 ($743,109 in United States funds) to her former trainer May 29 at the second session of the Magic Millions National broodmare sale on the Gold Coast.
The 15-year-old daughter of Lion Hunter was offered in foal to Darley's first-crop sire Sepoy. Vin Cox, bidding by telephone on behalf of Danny O'Brien, landed the winning bid. She was offered by Almavale Bloodstock.
O'Brien trained group III winner Leone Chiara as well as her top offspring, Star Witness, who was Australia's champion 3-year-old male of 2011.
"Danny O'Brien has trained so much of the family," Cox said. "He had great success with Star Witness as well as Leone Chiara herself and (Leone's Chiara's full sister) Ferocity as well.
"It was an obvious choice for Danny and his client."
Two mares each sold for the day's second-highest price of $750,000 ($696,603).
Group I producer Disguise, a winning daughter of Redoute's Choice in foal to Fastnet Rock, is the dam of two stakes winners, including the recently retired multiple group I winner Appearance. She was purchased by Mick Malone of Kitchwin Hills from the consignment of Kulani Park.
Bloodstock agent James Harron bought Newgate Farm's two-time group II winner Majestic Music. The daughter of Al Maher is in foal to Pierro.
Strawberry Hill Stud's group I winner Fashions Afield (by Redoute's Choice), sold in foal to All Too Hard for $625,000 (580,658) to Baramul Stud, and Crowningstone's young stakes winner Nocturnelle (by Elusive Quality ) was bought in foal to Snitzel for $600,000 ($557,423) by Arrowfield Stud to round out the day's top five sellers.
Through two days the broodmare sale, 356 horses have sold for total revenue of $52,133,500 ($48,436,282). Boosted by the star-studded Teeley Assets Reduction consignment at the select session May 28, sales are up 75% compared with the first two days last year.
The average price of $146,442 ($136,052) is up 104% while the clearance rate remained steady at 89%.
Cox, Magic Millions managing director, said he was pleased to see the success of opening day May 28 continue.
"The Teeley dispersal attracted a large buying bench and they are all still here and active," Cox said. "The competition on quality lots was outstanding.
"We are looking forward to the third day of the national broodmare sale tomorrow (May 30). Seemingly there is a great weighting of quality lots tomorrow."
