The undoubted jewel in the 622-strong Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale catalogue, which along with the National Weanling Sale catalogue is now online, will be the multiple Group 1 winner Sunlight.
Trained by Tony and Calvin McEvoy, Sunlight won 11 of her 24 starts and three wins at the elite level plus the Magic Millions 2YO Classic, saw her retire with earnings in excess of $6.5 million.
The 4-year-old, also a Magic Millions Racing Women’s Bonus winner, is owned by Robyn Parker, Irene Mitchell, Loretta Fung (Aquis Farm), Katie Thompson (Widden Stud), Rae, Shannon and Jordan Fletcher (Telemon Thoroughbreds), Qatar Bloodstock and G1G Racing & Breeding.
Tony McEvoy, with Aquis Farm and Julian Blaxland, selected Sunlight at the 2017 Gold Coast Yearling Sale and went to $300,000 to secure her out of the draft of Widden Stud, who is preparing the mare for the Broodmare Sale.
Sunlight as a yearling
“What a great mare. As a racehorse she had it all – a great attitude, honesty, temperament – but perhaps most importantly a toughness, which you need to be successful in any walk of life,” McEvoy said.
“She had magnificent soundness which enabled us to travel her around Australia and perform at the top level. Sunlight has been a champion mare for McEvoy Mitchell Racing and has continually taken us to the pinnacle of Australian racing.”
Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch is in no doubt that the eyes of the breeding world will be on Sunlight when she comes under the hammer.
“I would suggest that as long as I can remember that she would be the best-credentialled mare to go to auction in this part of the world.” – Barry Bowditch
“I would suggest that as long as I can remember that she would be the best-credentialled mare to go to auction in this part of the world,” he said.
“I think she demands attention from breeders all over the world. She was a champion race filly, competitive as a 2, 3 and 4-year-old and she’s got an outstanding physique. I think anyone, anywhere in the world will see just what a quality mare she really is.”
While Sunlight will take the lead role at the sale, there are a number of high-class supporting acts on offer.
Viddora
“We’ve got Viddora (Lot 492), a crack sprinter by I Am Invincible with a first cover to Lope De Vega and just an outstanding prospect,” Bowditch said. “Then Invincibella (Lot 12) and Unforgotten (Lot 92) – two extremely well-credentialed Group 1 winners. "
Being offered by Newgate, Viddora is a classic Magic Millions fairy-tale, from her $40,000 Adelaide Yearling Sale purchase to a winning a brace of Group 1 events and $2.85 million in prizemoney.
She claimed the Winterbottom S. and Moir S. and placed twice more at the top level and ended her career with a gallant fourth behind G1 King’s Stand and G1 Diamond Jubilee winner Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal {USA}) in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint on the Dubai World Cup card.
Invincibella
A member of the Glenesk Thoroughbreds’ draft, Invincibella (I Am Invincible) won the G1 Tattersall’s Tiara and completed an unprecedented three successive victories in the $1 million Magic Millions Fillies & Mares features to bank more than $3 million.
Unforgotten (Fastnet Rock), who will be offered by the Blue Sky Premium Consignment, was a G1 Australian Oaks heroine and a two-time Group 2 winner of more than $1.5 million.
“That’s not to mention the strong group of race fillies, among them the likes of Champagne Cuddles (Lot 131). It’s an exciting catalogue and packed with quality.
Unforgotten
“We are very excited about the youth of the catalogue, it’s extremely young both with the race fillies and the mares in foal with first and second covers.
“It gives breeders great opportunities to buy mares than can make a great statement for their farms for many years into the future.”
The sale will open at 2pm on Monday, July 20 with the race fillies and maiden mares, stallion shares and nominations with the broodmares to be offered from 10am on the following two days.
To view the online catalogue for the 2020 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale follow the below link.
Top quality youngsters
The quality continues through the National Weanling Sale with 309 lots to be auctioned and 19 young stallions will be represented by members of their first crop at the sale, which boasts graduates including superstar sires Pierro and Zoustar .
The recent Australian Derby winner Quick Thinker (So You Think {NZ}) is the latest Group 1 winner to emerge from the sale.
“It is a condensed catalogue this year, having a later sale, and all the young sires are there in numbers. The farms will offer their very best weanlings at this sale and earmarked this as an auction to show off all their sires.
Quick Thinker, a Magic Millions Weanling Sale graduate
“It’s a strong catalogue and you only have to look at the results out of the sale, whether it be the traders and pinhookers looking to buy horses to sell back as yearlings or the end users, this auction has been quite phenomenal for its results on the racetrack,” Bowditch said.
“The support of the vendors and the faith and patience they’ve showed in our ability to hold a live auction has been greatly appreciated. We just can’t wait to get everybody to the Gold Coast next month and do what we do best.
“We have an outstanding line up of stock to offer the market and look forward to hosting everyone for our much anticipated live auction. Whether it be maiden mares, mares in foal or weanlings, this catalogue will offer more opportunity and quality than any other.”
The sale will open 2pm on Thursday, 23 July and from 10am the following day.
To view the online catalogue for the 2020 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale follow the below link.
National Sale Schedule
National Broodmare Sale
Monday 20 July – 2pm – Race fillies & maiden mares, stallion shares & nominations
Tuesday 21 July – 10am – Broodmares
Wednesday 22 July – 10am – Broodmares
National Weanling Sale
Thursday 23 July – 2pm
Friday 24 July – 10am
National Yearling Sale
Monday 27 July – 10am
Tuesday 28 July – 10am
National Racehorse Sale
Tuesday 28 July – follows yearlings
