Magic Millions Weanlings Set Records

The weanling section of the Magic Millions national Gold Coast sale ended Sunday in Australia in spectacular fashion. Unprecedented demand for quality youngsters led to massive gains across the board at the auction, with records set for average price and gross.

More than Aust$16 million was traded on 495 weanlings at an average of $32,556. It has laid, unquestionably, a platform of the highest order for the national broodmare sale which commences Tuesday at the complex.

The weanling gross climbed 60% while the average leapt more than 28% on last year's record breaking figures.

The top price during Sunday's third session was given by New Zealand Bloodstock acting as agent for Kiwi nursery Ascot Farm for a colt by first season sire Exceed and Excel (by Danehill). Ascot Farm spent Aust$200,000 on the colt, a son of the group winning Zoffany mare Burning Embers.

All up some 32 weanlings sold for $100,000 or more - another Australasian record.

Magic Millions managing director David Chester described the national weanling sale as "an outstanding success.

"This has been the most successful weanling sale ever conducted in the Southern Hemisphere," Chester reported. "To say I am ecstatic would be an understatement."

Chester believes next year's sale will be even bigger.

"Quality youngsters were the subject of massive interest and this reflected in their sale price when it came to their time in the ring," he said.

Over the three day-sale, weanlings sold up to Aust$650,000 (U.S.$486,000), and for the first time in Australasian sales history, two weanlings in the one catalogue sold for over Aus$600,000.

The broodmares start on Tuesday and already the buyers are lining up.

"There was been record interest in the national broodmare sale this year," Chester noted. "I'm looking forward to what should be a massive week ahead."

One very big Kentucky based stud farm is at the broodmare sale looking to buy up big in preparation for spreading its wings to Australia.