Merlene Tops Second Day of Magic Millions Broodmare Sale

Vendors who presented mares with black type from their racing days and in foal to a high profile stallion Wednesday walked away with Christmas money for their kids. And on day two of the Magic Millions national broodmare sale on Australia's Gold Coast, they all left with plenty.

In the sale ring, Magic Millions. as agent for a client of leading New South Wales Hunter Valley-based bloodstock agent Colm Santry), paid the top price of Aust$875,000 for multiple group I-winning 12-year-old mare Merlene (Danehill -- Bold Promise, by Luskin Star). Merlene (consigned by Strawberry Hill Stud and sold in foal to Vinery shuttler More Than Ready ) earned Aust$1,561,500 (U.S.$1,151,846) and topped the 1995-96 Australasian 2-year-old classifications after notching five juvenile victories (all stakes races).

She has subsequently produced five named foals (four to race) for three winners. Santry (who noted his Sydney-based client would most likely send the mare to Coolmore sire Encosta de Lago after she foals down the foal by More Than Ready in the spring) commented: "It's a rare opportunity to buy a Golden Slipper (Aust-I) winner and a mare of her quality. And I thought she was good value on today's market."

E Thoroughbred's Tony Bott (buying for an overseas client) paid Aust$680,000 for 5-year-old stakes-winner Taken (Gilded Time --Isle of Pines, by Kris) who has not been to stud. Taken (consigned by Widden Stud as agent) recorded six wins and earned $208,320 prize-mone.
Bott summed up: "She is a great mare. I hoped to be able to buy her for between $500,000-$600,000, but the market is very strong."

Her dam, Isle of Pines, has produced five named foals (all winners) also including group III winner Tall Timbers.

British-based Badgers Bloodstock agent Grant Pritchard-Gordon paid Aust $600,000 for Snitzel's stakes-performed 2-year-old half-sister Wiener (More Than Ready --Snippets' Lass, by Snippets), who has not been to stud. Wiener (consigned by Riverslea Farm as agent) finished third in last October's listed Gimcrack Stakes at Randwick in Sydney. Her stakes-winning dam, Snippets' Lass. won seven races, and her group I-winning millionaire half-brother Snitzel (by Redoute's Choice) also won seven races (six stakes) and begins stud duties this spring at Arrowfield Stud. Multiple group I-winning sire Starcraft's senior part-owner Paul Makin (who accompanied Pritchard-Gordon) confirmed Wiener "won't race again: she'll be heading to Starcraft."