THE Magic Millions Gold Coast National Sale got underway last Thursday with 311 weanlings offered across two days. Cloverfield Bloodstock signed for the top lot, paying A$750,000 for a Zoustar filly out of the stakes winner Members Joy.

“She’s out of a very good racemare who is a good broodmare and she’s by a champion stallion - they cost what they cost,” said John Kelly who flagged the filly’s intended return for the 2023 Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

“She’ll go out in the paddock and run with the other fillies and hopefully grow and mature and turn into a beautiful yearling.”

Top-priced colt

The top-priced colt, by Frankel out of the Fastnet Rock mare Nechita, was offered by Coolmore and made $650,000 from the bid of Tony Bott’s Evergreen Rich.

A second Frankel colt, as well as colts by So You Think and I Am Invincible, as well as a filly by The Autumn Sun, all made $500,000 or greater with the sale averaging $89,183 and a median price of $54,000.

“Any lot of any quality sold well above most vendors’ expectations. It was incredibly buoyant and the competitive nature in the market was fantastic to see.” said Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch.

“Obviously the pinhookers play a huge part but the end users (buying to race) on top of that is great.”

Hitotsu to miss spring
targets

THE Victoria Derby, Australian Derby and Australian Guineas winner Hitotsu will miss the Spring Carnival following an injury “to his suspensory branch in his near foreleg”.

The Maurice colt has dominated staying events against his own age and was being primed to step into open class at the highest level with the Cox Plate near the top of his agenda.

“Successful rehabilitation would see him return to racing in the autumn of 2023, if it’s decided he will race on. Any decision made on his future will be communicated in due course,” relayed a Ciaron Maher Racing press release.