Magic Millions Weanlings
The 2008 Magic Millions National Sale started on Tuesday, the 27th of May. The Gold Coast was once again overrun by buyers and sellers of the horse racing industry and while there are many horses on offer, it has been a successful time for the weanlings. Weanlings are approximately six months old and have been recently weaned from the mares. And even though they are too young to race, many buyers invest in weanlings to resell them at the yearling sales.
This year, the sales have already begun on a higher note than the 2007 sale, and the 2008 Magic Millions National Sale, which runs until the 12th of June, kicked off with the auctioning days of the over two hundred weanlings that came to the Gold Coast. Blue Sky Thoroughbreds did not let the grass grow under their feet, when the much desired colt, sired by Redoute’s Choice and three-quarter brother to the legendary Fashions Afield, came under the hammer. The colt was part of the lot brought to the sale by Swettenham Stud, and was sold to Blue Sky Thoroughbreds for $700,000.
With the average price paid on the first day of sale being $68,000 and a total sales amount of $10 million, the average selling price had risen by approximately $17,000, from the previous year. Many horse racing breeders, including Swettenham Stud, were pleasantly surprised after the first day of the sale, as bidding was strong. All thirty nine lots on offer from Swettenham Stud were foaled by the group of mares that were bought by the late Robert Sangster. Adam Sangster, his son, who is now the owner of the stud farm, commented that it was an emotional day for him, and he was very pleased at how well the sale has gone so far. Another Redoute’s Choice colt fetched a handsome price of $630,000, while an Encosta de Lago filly, was sold at $680,000.
And while the breeders were pleased with their sales, many buyers walked away with spectacular horses. Establishments such as Patinack Farm, which bought eight yearlings, bid strongly on the horses that were on their list of most wanted purchases.
The weanlings at the 2008 Magic Millions National Sale made a spectacular impact on the event. It is hoped that as the sale continues, the interest and strong bidding will be maintained throughout the remainder of the event. With the prices that have already been paid at the start of the sale, the weanlings most certainly stole the show.
