Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
For the second time, TripleS data is being provided for each horse going through the ring at the Magic Millions Horses In Training Sale; the information gleaned from electronic chips recording stride length, frequency and speed data is laid out in easy to read charts.
Sectionals between the 600 metres and 400 metres, the 400 metres and 200 metres and the final 200 metres are recorded as are average and top speeds and average stride lengths.
Also of interest are vendor quotes which sit nicely alongside of all the usual pedigree information and updates provided as well as breeze-up and parade footage.
Example of the TripleS stride data | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“You can never have information overload when it comes to selling horses,” Magic Millions' Barry Bowditch said.
“We are in a world now where the more you provide the better and for us it means that people who can't be here on the ground still have access to plenty of information.
“We are in a world now where the more you provide the better and for us it means that people who can't be here on the ground still have access to plenty of information.” - Barry Bowditch
“And the more information there is, the greater degree of market confidence there is.”
Welcoming technology
"Our vendors have really welcomed the technology," Bowditch said, adding that "we are always looking at more ways to improve."
Bowditch is looking forward to selling 3-year-olds at this sale for the first time, noting that it gives vendors another option for horses who for some reason have not been ready to go on traditional sales dates.
“We'd had a fair bit of interest from buyers in this concept, especially from Hong Kong and Malaysia; early season 3-year-olds ready to go. So we thought why not?!”
Barry Bowditch | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Bowditch is happy with the strength of the sale; both in regards to horses and sellers.
“We are delighted with the quality line up of stock and fortunate to have the finest equine educators preparing horses for the sale.”
“People who have proven track records for first class horsemanship; unearthing future track stars for their next connections.”
Gallery: Insepections at the Gold Coast Sales Complex on Monday, images courtesy of Magic Millions
Mixture of stallions
88 different stallions are represented in the sale which kicks off at noon (12pm AEST) with horses who have breezed up at Seymour, Newcastle and the Gold Coast.
Proven stallions have their share of nice produce, such as All Too Hard, Better Than Ready, Capitalist, I Am Invincible, Proisir, Snitzel, So You Think (NZ), Spirit Of Boom, Starspangledbanner (Street Boss {USA}), Toronado (Ire), Written Tycoon and Zoustar.
As do such up-and-coming younger stallions as Anders, Bivouac, Brave Smash (Jpn), Brutal (NZ), Cool Aza Beel (NZ), Cosmic Force, Exceedance, Hanseatic, Farnan, Justify (USA), Ole Kirk, Pierata, Russian Camelot (Ire), Tagaloa, Tassort, Yes Yes Yes and Zousain.
And there are bonus schemes aplenty; the Magic Millions Race Series nominees, BOBS and BOBS Silver horses as well as VOBIS Gold, VOBIS Silver and VOBIS Sires horses plus those fully paid up for the lucrative QTIS scheme.
Snitzel leading the way
With last year's $750,000 purchase Bittercreek doing well for Snitzel; taking out the G2 Spirit Of Boom Classic and finishing second to Broadsiding (Too Darn Hot {GB}) in the G1 JJ Atkins S., the progeny of that Champion Sire are going to be in high demand as usual.
There are five Snitzel colts and one filly up for grabs, all from the Baramul Stud draft, including Lot 147, a striking chestnut half-brother to the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly Of The Year Sofia Rosa (NZ) (Makfi {GB}).
"He is going to prove pretty popular," Bowditch said.
Lot 147 - Snitzel x Sofia Rosa (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Also by Snitzel is Lot 8, a full brother to the Listed Twilight Glow S. winner Vienna Princess (Snitzel) and Lot 54, the first foal for a half-sister to the stakes winners Sidereus and Velrosso (General Nediym). As well as Lot 92, a half-brother to the G3 Canonbury S. winner McLaren, 109, a half-sister to the Macau-based multiple stakes winner Pearl Green (Fastnet Rock) and Lot 128, a three-quarter brother to the Listed Geelong Classic winner Confrontational (Redoute's Choice).
Lot 76 by Justify is another horse Bowditch highlighted as a likely good seller; the bay from the draft of KO Racing hailing from one of the world's finest families, his dam a half-sister to Holy Roman Emperor (Ire).
Lot 76 - Justify (USA) x Port Augusta (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
A stand-out amongst the horses by first season stallions is Lot 138, a Ole Kirk colt being sold by Network Bloodstock. A half-brother to the city winner Matriarch Rose (Epaulette), he hails from the same family as Packing Hermod (Rubick) who remained undefeated after an impressive performance at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Siblings to stakes winners
Asian buyers will also be interested in Lot 28, an Exceedance half-brother to the Listed Hong Kong Classic Mile winner Nothinglikemore (Husson {Chi}) and Lot 185, a Trapeze Artist half-brother to the Macau Listed winner Mister Kaopu (Redoute's Choice) and the local Group 2 winner Running Tall (Stratum).
There are also full siblings to the stakes winners In His Stride (Rothesay) and Cosmic Alert (Star Witness) as well as halves to Religify (Choisir), Yamazaki (Real Saga) and La Rocque (Kuroshio).
Gallery: Some of the stakes performers with relations in the sale
And there are the progeny of some very talented mares, namely the stakes winners Discreet (Show A Heart), Magically (Danehill {USA}), Moulin Lady (Reset), Petits Filous (Street Boss), The Filly (NZ) (Ishiguru {USA}), Pravana (Anabaa {USA}), Chica Loca (Fr) (American Post {GB}), Dashitude (Dash For Cash) and Duchess Kate (NZ) (Savabeel).
Amongst the 3-year-olds are horses who have shown ability at the trials, such as the trial winners Golden Octavian (Impending) and Nation Changing (Cosmic Force).
