The 2017 Magic Millions National Sale on the Gold Coast concluded June 8 with records for the 15-day auction that consisted of weanlings, broodmares, yearlings, and racehorses.
The total sale gross for 1,636 lots sold was AU$144,344,750 (US$108,853,000), up AUS$37 million, or 35% over the AU$107 million total a year ago. The overall average price was AU$88,230 ($66,536), up almost 15% over last year when fewer lots were offered.
"We started selling 15 days ago and in that time we've seen many people come and go. Everyone has played a significant part in what has been an outstanding couple of weeks on the Gold Coast, said Magic Millions managing director Vin Cox. "There are many people we need to thank for their support and dedication in making for what has been a hugely successful National Sale."
The final segment of the auction consisted of a three-day stand in which yearlings and racehorses were offered, with a More Than Ready colt sold to leading Hong Kong trainer George Moore for AU$380,000 (US$286,566) emerging as the top-priced yearling.
The sale-topping colt is a half brother to the group 1 Champagne Stakes winner Carry on Cutie, the dam of this year's Champagne winner and The Mission.
"He's the standout yearling of the sale," Moore said. "He's by More Than Ready who is the sire of Eagle Way, a recent group 3 winner in Hong Kong for the stable. He comes with an outstanding page with the recent group 1 winner The Mission in the second dam.
"The colt ticked all the boxes for what I was looking for," Moore added.
The More Than Ready colt just edged out a Fastnet Rock filly who is a half sister to the multiple group 1 winner Fiveandahalfstar and the group performer Wordplay.
The filly was knocked down to David Lucas on behalf of Dubai's Phoenix Thoroughbreds for AU$350,000 (US$263,942).