Day 1 sale-toppers: early scramble for I Am Invincible, Snitzel and Zoustar command hefty prices

Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions

Day 1 of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale saw a rush of action early, with progeny by I Am Invincible causing a rush of attention in the first 25 lots.

As the auction progressed later into the afternoon, other top stallions Zoustar and Snitzel began to make their presence felt, while first-season sire King's Legacy made a splash on the first day of his progeny being available as yearlings.

Lot 19 - I Am Invincible x Palace Talk (NZ) (Street Cry {Ire}), colt, $1.3 million

One of the most anticipated colts of the opening day had the price-tag to match his hype, with David Ellis CNZM (BANZ) and Tom Magnier collaborating to secure the striking colt for $1.3 million, less than an hour into the sale.

The full brother to the G2 Angus Armanasco S. winner Shuffle Dancer (I Am Invincible), Lot 19 was met with a flurry of interest, with the winning bid of Ellis and Magnier delivering a second seven-figure result for Yarraman Park’s draft in a matter of minutes.

His dam, Palace Talk (NZ) (Street Cry {Ire}) has built a golden record as a producer, alongside Shuffle Dancer she has produced another full sibling to this colt, Forbidden City (I Am Invincible), as well as Never Talk (No Nay Never {USA}), both of whom have recorded placings in black-type races.

Speaking to The Thoroughbred Report following the purchase, Ellis lauded his new purchase.

“We thought he was a beautiful colt, we’re just delighted that we can train these sort of horses in Australia at our Cranbourne stable, so it’s a very exciting day for us, to be able to buy a colt of his quality, and have him to train for Coolmore Stud.”

Lot 163 - Snitzel x Serena Bay (Sebring), filly, $1.25 million

Bloodstock agent Sheamus Mills, working under his banner Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA), emerged victorious from an impassioned bidding war for Lot 163, with the well-related colt by Snitzel being knocked down to him for $1.25 million, the biggest result of the day for Newgate Farm as vendors.

She is out of the Sebring mare Serena Bay, Lot 163 comes from a family of early 2-year-old speedsters, with his half-siblings being Summer Loving (Exceed And Excel), Alinea (Written Tycoon) and West Of Africa (Not A Single Doubt), all three having shown ability in their juvenile year.

“That was like death by 1000 paper cuts, I never thought that was going to end to be honest,” Mills said following the bidding frenzy.

“But you’ve got to be staunch with the good ones, don’t you? They stand out and everyone seems to want them.

“I got a little bit of extra incentive when I realised that Gai (Waterhouse) was on it. I think she’s got the last two (out of Serena Bay), including the one that trialled this morning (Alinea), so she’s got to think something of them if she’s punching us along this far.

“Thanks to Gai for that last little bit of incentive.”

Asked what qualities he saw in the colt that saw him stretch all the way to the final purchase price, Mills said, “Just her size and athleticism. We kept knocking the catalogue down more and more and more, I think we ended up with five horses through the week as the horses we identified as the five we thought were must-haves, and I’d be surprised if the other four are viable.

“She was definitely at the upper echelon, but I suspect that the other four are going to be hard to beat so we had to be a little but staunch there.”

Lot 16 - I Am Invincible x Outback Barbie (Spirit Of Boom), filly, $1.2 millIon

Leading Queensland-based trainer Tony Gollan continued a long-standing collaboration with the Acton family, with the first foal from their champion mare Outback Barbie (Spirit Of Boom) being knocked down to them for $1.2 million when going through the ring as Lot 16 when offered by Yarraman Park.

Alan Acton, a Central Queensland racing legend, tragically died in a helicopter accident last April, missing the chance to see his prized mare, Outback Barbie, debut her first foal at the sales.

Outback Barbie, trained by Gollan, shone in her racing career, notably in the Magic Millions events and winning the $1 million QTIS in 2020. Acton was also key in founding The Archer, Rockhampton's celebrated annual slot race.

Speaking to The Thoroughbred Report minutes after securing her, Gollan was glowing on the seven-figure filly’s qualities.

“I actually bought Outback Barbie’s mother, Pure Purrfection, many years ago now, and then Outback Barbie came along, she was her first foal, she did a great job for the stable and for the Acton family, and now in conjunction with them I was able to secure her (Outback Barbie’s) first foal.

“We’re hoping history can repeat itself again, she’s a beautiful filly, she reminded me an awful lot of her mother, a dead ringer of her actually.

“She’s a very nice first foal, very athletic, the type of filly you buy with the hope to get back here next year (for the R. Listed Magic Millions Gold Coast 2YO Classic).

“We’ll try and get her back here and race for the riches on Magic Millions day, her mother was able to race in three or four Magic Millions days in her career, starting as a 2-year-old, hopefully this filly can do the same.”

“I think she is (my most expensive yearling purchase), she’s a very obvious filly, the type of I Am Invincible filly people queue up to buy, she was always going to bring the price-tag, but I was lucky enough to have the support of the Acton family behind me, it made my job a lot easier.

“She’s the biggest lot I’ll buy at this sale.”

Lot 84 - Zoustar x Ready To Soar (More Than Ready {USA}), colt, $1.1 million

Having partnered with Coolmore earlier in the day to secure Lot 16, Te Akau Racing went it on their own on Lot 84, with David Ellis CNZM (BANZ) going to $1.1 million to stave off interest from a cavalcade of prospective buyers.

By leading sire Zoustar, Lot 84, who was offered by Segenhoe Stud, he is out of More Than Ready (USA) mare Ready To Soar, a three-time victress on the racetrack, and a full sister to the G1 Queensland Derby winner Eagle Way (More Than Ready {USA}).

Also a part of the family is the dual-Listed winner Impressive Eagle (Rubiton) and the G3 Black Opal S. winner Kalashnikov (Capitalist), both winners of juvenile races.

Ellis is bullish about the level this colt can get to, telling The Thoroughbred Report of his desire to see him across the road in 12 months' time, competing in the $3 million R. Listed Magic Millions Gold Coast 2YO Classic, and even bigger targets beyond.

“Our aim would be to have him back here this time next year for the Magic Millions race, and then for a race like the (G1) Golden Slipper. We see him being an early maturing horse, a lot of class, he’s correct and we loved him from the moment we saw him.

“This Zoustar colt is out of a More Than Ready mare, we bought the colt from Segenhoe Stud, we loved the pedigree and thought he had a terrific attitude.”

Solely bought for the Te Akau Racing colt syndicate, Ellis explained what the future may look like for the flashy chestnut.

“He’ll finish up in Cranbourne, but we’ll take him home to New Zealand to break (race educate) him in first.

“He’s a classy colt, very athletic, you can just see him on a racecourse, he just looked the goods to us.”

Lot 47 - Written Tycoon x Piping Hot (More Than Ready {USA}), filly, $800,000

Highclere Australia secured sole ownership of Lot 47, a filly by Written Tycoon who is a full sister to the G1 VRC Lightning S. and the G1 Moir S. winning heroine Coolangatta (Written Tycoon), with the stirking filly recording the biggest result of the day for vendor Milburn Creek.

Initially a foal share, breeder John Warren decided late into the bidding to take her outright, telling The Thoroughbred Report, “We’re excited to have been able to buy the partner out and enjoy racing her here in Australia.

“She’s a completely different physical (type) to Coolangatta, she’s much more (like) Written Tycoon, but none of us know what the engine is like inside, so how can you compare apples and oranges?

“In my experience, in the past, I’ve seen plenty of full brothers and full sisters look completely different, and were equally as good as one another.”

Speaking minutes after the hammer crashed down, Warren confessed that the decision to go all-in on her wasn’t pre-planned, revealing that it was a last-minute move to keep and race her.

“We haven’t thought it through yet (who will train the filly), because quite frankly that was a little bit of a spontaneous purchase at the end, so we weren’t geared up to have it thought out.

“She’s a ball of muscle, hopefully she’ll slot well into the program that she’s bred for here, and be a very good racehorse along the way to becoming a broodmare.

Away from the Coolangatta connection, there is plenty of strength on the page of the filly, being related to the G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Reaan (Hussonet {USA}), who was foaled by Ribe (Danehill {USA}), the victress of the G2 Moonee Valley Oaks, the latter being this filly's grandam.

Lot 164 - King’s Legacy x Serenade (Star Witness), colt, $775,000

One of the most reliable names in columns of this nature is the James Harron Bloodstock Colts Partnership, and despite waiting until the late stanza of the sale, Harron struck to secure Lot 164, a striking colt by first-season sire King’s Legacy.

By a fast daughter of Star Witness, Serenade, the colt was subject to plenty of interest as the price ticked up, with Harron outlasting rival bidders by going over three-quarter of a million dollars to take her off the hands of Bhima Thoroughbreds.

Serenade is a half-sister to Stratum Star, winner of the G1 Kingston Town Classic (now Northerly S.), as well as the first-season stallion Prague.

Speaking following the purchase, Harron spoke of how the colt caught his eye from the moment he laid eyes on him.

“In our opinion he was one of the highest horses on the ground,” Harron said.

“He has a lovely pedigree and (he’s) off (a) great farm. King’s Legacy is one of the most exciting first-season sires around.

“We knew we’d have to be strong on him (bidding) and we’re happy.”

Lot 21 - I Am Invincible x Palazzo Pubblico (Conatus), colt, $750,000

Another early purchase attracting big money was Lot 21, a sharp colt by I Am Invincible that lured the China Horse Club and Newgate partnership up to a winning bid of $750,000, giving ‘Vinnie’ three high-priced lots in the first hour of the sale.

The half-brother to the Listed Phelan Ready S. winner Palazzo Spirit (Spirit Of Boom), he drew plenty of attention when entering the ring, and the final price was reflective of pre-sale interest in the colt, according to Luke McDonald of Baramul Stud.

“He’s one of the standout colts, a lot of good judges were on him, but it’s hard to beat China Horse Club, Henry Field and the team (at Newgate), they’re elite judges and they’ve selected a good one here.

“It’s an enormous result, he’s been purchased by an elite group, China Horse Club and Henry Field, they’ve got behind this horse.

“They’ve found a cracking individual. The best thing about him is that’s he’s an I Am Invincible, he’s an imposing animal, he’s got a lot of size and substance to him.

“I think he’ll go on to some big things on the racetrack, and his best attribute is his attitude. He walks up and down with a lot of presence, I think he’s going to go a long way, and he’s got a good pedigree to boot. He’s a half to Palazzo Spirit, who was a very early, stakes winning 2-year-old, so he’ll get up and be (competing) early.”

Lot 154 - Bivouac x Secretly Discreet (Lonhro), filly, $675,000

The second of the first-season sire band to rocket into the top lots for Day 1, Bivouac enjoyed an expensive yearling from his debut crop, with Lot 154 being knocked down to Ciaron Maher Bloodstock for $675,000.

Brought to the Gold Coast by South Australian-based Mill Park Stud, one of the biggest trips for any vendor, the filly is the second foal of the winning Lonhro mare Secretly Discreet, who tasted success over 1200 metres.

There is plenty of speed within the family, including the G3 Spring S. winner Just Discreet (Exceed And Excel) and the Listed Queen Adelaide S. winner Halo Again (Don’t Say Halo). Even with large volumes of speed, there’s still a staying presence on the page, with the filly's grandam, Maybe Discreet (Shamardal {USA}) a winner of the G1 Australasian Oaks in South Australia.

Speaking following the purchase, Will Bourne, bloodstock manager for Ciaron Maher Racing, spoke of his enthusiasm for the daughter of Bivouac.

“She’s very much an athlete, strong, great through the hocks walking away from you and (we) felt that she’d be a filly that could come back and compete next year as a 2-year-old, and obviously Mill Park are great breeders.

“(It’s a) first-season sire in Bivouac, but on that Lonhro-Exceed (And Excel) cross, across the board we felt it was a measured play.”

Discussing Bivouac himself, Bourne pointed to the athleticism of the electric sprinter turned stallion as a key advantage for his progeny.

“They’re not heavy horses. They’re leaner more athletic types, but I think that is going to be advantageous to get them to the races at two. They’re not too heavy.

“Ciaron’s dominant horses have been lighter types, like Coolangatta, they don’t take a lot of training so I’m hoping it enables her to get back here next year.”

Lot 78 - Kingman (GB) x Rainbow Falls (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), filly, $650,000

Coming off a 12-month period that saw him sire the G1 JJ Atkins S. winner King Colorado, and the G1 VRC Oaks victress Zardozi, intrigue was high in the first of a quartet of offerings by Kingman (GB), with Highway Farm, a buying name previously used by Yulong, going to $650,000 in order to purchase her from the draft of Vinery Stud.

Boasting a family with dual-hemisphere success, the filly is out of an unraced daughter of Dubawi (Ire), Rainbow Falls (Ire). There is plenty of depth to her page, including the G2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint S. winner Derryn, and the ultra-impressive 2-year-old Arabian Summer (Too Darn Hot {GB}), who looks poised to influence the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic on Saturday.

Speaking to The Thoroughbred Report after the hammer had come down, Vinery Stud’s Bloodstock Manager Adam White was thrilled with the result for one of the operation’s banner lots.

“She’s a beautiful filly, with a bit of an international pedigree, being by Kingman, she’s got a real Australian flavour to her damline, her grandmother Colour was a Group 3 winner as a 2-year-old in Australia.

“She was born and bred on the farm, and being out of a Dubawi mare she was bred on the same cross as the Oaks winner (Zardozi), so she had a lot going for on pedigree, and she’s a beautiful-looking filly.

Lot 119 - Snitzel x Run To The Beat (Can) (Scat Daddy {USA}), colt, $650,000

The Gandharvi Racing operation partnered with Michael Freedman Racing to come out on top of a number of bidders to secure Lot 119, a colt by Snitzel, for $650,000.

Out of a winning Scat Daddy (USA) mare Run To The Beat (Can), the colt is a half-sister to the G3 Ontario Fashion S. winner Southern Ring (Can) (Speightstown {USA}), with their dam being the Listed Northernette S. victress Seeking The Ring (Can) (Seeking The Gold {USA}).

Speaking following the sale, Arrowfield Stud’s Bloodstock Manager, Jon Freyer, was pleased with the price commanded for the colt.

“We were very happy with it (the price), he’s gone to a good home, Michael Wallace and Gandharvi have secured him, he’ll be trained by Michael Freedman, we’re very satisfied with the result,” he told The Thoroughbred Report.

“He was a very popular horse, he vetted very cleanly, he’s quite a specimen. A colt like that by Snitzel, it’s no surprise that he’d sell to that type of level, and we expected he’d be up there amongst the upper echelon.”

With a page holding some names not often seen in Australian yearling sale catalogues, Freyer expanded on the journey of this colt ending up being consigned by Arrowfield.

“She (Run To The Beat) is a Scat Daddy mare, that raced in Canada, it’s a very famous Canadian family. She’s been quite a success for us, she was an imported mare from the Keeneland November Sale.”

Michael Freedman, who was involved in the purchase, will be thrown the keys to train the colt.

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