(Edited Magic Millions press release)
An Encosta de Lago colt out of the 8-year-old unraced Fusaichi Pegasus mare River Song was the star of the third session of the Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling sale, bringing Aust$620,000 ($570,100 in U.S. funds) Jan. 8 in Australia. Trainer Gai Waterhouse purchased the bay yearling from Coolmore Stud, agent.
“He’s one of the most attractive horses in the sale,” Waterhouse said. “I thought he was just lovely. I actually wrote in my catalog ‘sexy’!"
The colt is the second foal produced by River Song, who is a half-sister to Australian group III winner Murjana (by Giant's Causeway ).
Waterhouse bougtht the yearling for the team of owners that raced Australian champion Sebring.
"The main group (for the horse), the Henderson boys, had said to me, ‘Identify a few colts at the sale that we should be investing in.’ He (the Encosta de Lago colt) was one of them,” Waterhouse said. "He looks great value. There's no doubt a few years ago he would have made a lot more. It's a great time to be buying horses, especially as the prize money keeps going up."
Waterhouse is the biggest spender at the sale so far, paying Aust$2,722,500 ($2,089,700) for 13 yearlings.
The combined statistics for the auction’s first three sessions include a gross of Aust$56,375,500 ($51,841,200) for the 439 horses that sold. The average price was Aust$128,418 ($118,100), and the median price was Aust$100,000 ($91,950). The clearance rate was 80.6%.
"The sale continues to improve, and I'm particularly thrilled with the clearance rate growth over the last couple of days," said Magic Millions managing director David Chester. "There has been plenty of good competition on a number of the lots, but I still think buyers are getting exceptional value."