CIARON Maher and David Eustace franked their heavy spending of recent years at the Magic Millions sales with victory in the A$2 million Magic Million 2YO Classic with the Written Tycoon filly Coolangatta.

It was their second win in three years following Away Game’s win in 2020.

In a dogged finish the race favourite, now undefeated in three starts, had to dig deep to keep out the hard-finishing Russian Revolution filly Russian Conquest who ran out of runway in the 1,200-metre sprint. Third was the Snitzel filly Snitcat.

Blessing

“Barrier 13 was a blessing that worked out brilliantly,” said jockey James McDonald who continues his stellar run in big races. “To get the chocolates is just awesome. Especially with a hype horse like her, she’s been a dominant favourite for a long time.”

A sentiment echoed by Maher: “It’s a big relief when they’re such a short-priced favourite. She’ll have a break now and head towards the Slipper.”

Bred by Highclere Stud Australia, Coolangatta was a $280,000 Gold Coast buy by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock.

THE I Am Invincible gelding King Of Sparta landed the A$2 million Magic Millions Guineas for three-year-olds making it back-to-back wins for Peter and Paul Snowden and the China Horse Club, following Aim’s win in 2021.

Ridden by Nash Rawiller, King Of Sparta was wide on the final bend with three-quarters of the field in front of him. With little fuss he ran through his gears with the result in little doubt, as the Star Turn filly Me Me Lagarde took second two lengths away, ahead of the Capitalist filly Socialist.

“What he’s got under the hood is a bit of a Ferrari engine,” said Rawiller. “Not many horses let down like that, he was very impressive. I’ve never sat on him, but you’ve only got to see him in the mounting yard to know you’re getting onto a horse that’s pretty special.”

A $700,000 yearling, King Of Sparta became the most expensive yearling to win the 1,400 metres Guineas.

SATURDAY night’s fifth session of the Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale drew the curtain on a record-breaking Book 1. Nineteen yearlings made seven-figure sales, a record for the sale, and seven more than last year.

In all 783 yearlings generated a remarkable gross of A$229,597,500, selling at a clearance rate of 93.4%. The average for the sale was $293,228 and the median $230,000.

“It’s a dream result for us,” said Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch.

“The team have put so much time and effort into this sale. It hasn’t been an easy one to get organised for, but to get here and to have our buyers back here on the Gold Coast, enjoying the Gold Coast and buying a lot of lovely horses is great.”

Invincible results

I Am Invincible produced the highest priced colt and filly of the sale. The $1.9 million Tom Magnier handed over for the colt out of Suspicieuse remained the top, and Sheamus Mills Bloodstock secured the top-priced filly, out of Najoom for $1.55 million.

“The world over we haven’t seen a sale like this for a long time,” said Tom Magnier.

“The quality of the animals here were as good as ever. And the prices, you know it’s nothing like we’ve seen before but when you look at the way the industry is in Australia, it’s going from strength to strength. The prize money is through the roof, we have 70 races now I think that are worth over a million dollars, so no wonder it’s as strong as it is.”

Maher’s buys

The leading buyer by volume and gross was Ciaron Maher Bloodstock who signed for 34 yearlings at an average of $387,794 and a gross of $13,185,000.

Of the vendors, Newgate Farm led by gross, selling 45 yearlings for a total of $18,810,000, and Arrowfield sold the greatest number, 50 at an average of $306,800.

Four stallions with sales of three or more all averaged greater than $500,000: Not a Single Doubt (12 sold), I Am Invincible (44), Snitzel (38) and Savabeel (3).

The leading first-season sire was Arrowfield’s The Autumn Sun whose 28 progeny to sell averaged $383,929, with a top price of $950,000. Justify with a top price of $900,000 had 23 sell at an average of $300,000.

Damon Gabbedy, of Belmont Bloodstock since 1988, summed up the sale succinctly.

“I’ve never bid on more horses and bought so less, which is an indication of the strength of the market.”