(Edited Magic Millions press release)
The Magic Millions national sale got off to a positive start on Australia’s Gold Coast May 27 when the first session of the weanling sale was held. Highlighted by the dispersal from Swettenham Stud, the first session grossed Aust$10,337,500 million and averaged a record Aust$68,917 for the 150 horses sold. The clearance rate was 84.3%.
The top price for the session came during the Swettenham unreserved dispersal when Queensland-based Blue Sky Thoroughbreds went to Aust$700,000 for a Redoute’s Choice – Twist My Heart colt.
"He's just a magnificent colt," Blue Sky's Julian Blaxland said. "On the strength of the sale we are delighted to get him for this sort of money."
The second-highest-priced weanling was an Encosta de Lago filly out of the group I-winning Danehill mare Larrocha in the Swettenham dispersal. She was purchased by Emerald Thoroughbreds' Bill Benson after a bidding duel with a number of prospective buyers around the complex.
Buyers came from all corners of Australia as well as overseas locations including New Zealand, Singapore, Ireland, South Africa, France and the United States.
Magic Millions managing director David Chester was pleased with how the first session went and was looking forward to the second session May 28.
"There was great value on offer across all levels of the market today," Chester said. "The astute buyers are here and they are delighted with how the sale is going for them."
"The Swettenham Stud dispersal was, not surprisingly, well received by buyers, and again we thank the Sangster family for the honor of offering such a wonderful selection of young horses. We've got some really attractive weanlings to come over the next few days and we're sure the smart pinhookers will be in full swing.”
The results for the Swettenham dispersal were 39 weanlings sold, a gross of Aust$6.187 million, and an average of Aust$158,641.