THE Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale signed off on Book 1 with Saturday night’s fourth and final session held after the Magic Millions raceday. The highlight of the night was the A$1.2 million paid for the Fastnet Rock half-sister to the dual Group 1-winning sprinter Miracles Of Life by a Tom Magnier-led Coolmore syndicate.

“Barbara Banke bought the mare (Dazzling Gazelle) at the sales and she sent her back to Coolmore and she’s bred a fantastic yearling,” said Magnier. “We’ve had a lot of success with Fastnet Rock from this sale – we’ve had Atlantic Jewel.” The previous day saw a Redoute’s Choice colt equal the top price for the sale at $1.3 million. The colt out of the unraced Stravinsky mare Ballet Blue was bought by James Harron Bloodstock. “He’s a neat Redoute’s. He’s not too big but he has a nice girth and is a nice mover,” said Harron. “I can’t wait to get him back to Peter’s (Snowden) to see what we’ve got.”

At the conclusion to Book 1, the sale had grossed over $134.2 million, averaging $206,922 for 592 yearlings sold a clearance rate of 87%. The median was $160,000 as five yearlings, four colts and a filly, broke through the million dollar barrier.

“The place was just heaving,” said Magic Millions managing director Vin Cox. “The tables were all full it was just huge atmosphere. If we had have got somewhere near last year we would have been very happy as it was a great sale last year. But we have gone above that by quite a margin. We had more horses in Book 1 and our clearance rate was pretty much the same and our average has increased and our turnover has gone up massively.”

HARRON

James Harron was the leading buyer by gross buying 12 yearlings for $4.915 million, ahead of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott whose 19 yearlings set them back $3.665 million.

Redoute’s Choice surged to the top of the sires’ board with 12 of his yearlings averaging $369,583 and Snitzel (41 sold), Exceed And Excel (12), Fastnet Rock (25) and I Am Invincible (39) all averaged above $300,000.

The leading first season sire was a tight tussle with Dundeel (by High Chaparral) averaging $272,500 for 10 sold just edging Zoustar (by Northern Meteor) whose 32 yearlings sold averaged $265,156.