The Magic Millions National Sale got off to a promising start on the Gold
Coast Tuesday during the first of four weanling sessions. The day was
highlighted by a 39-lot dispersal from the late Robert Sangster’s Swettenham
Stud, which produced the session-topping A$700,000 Redoute’s Choice–Twist My
Heart colt. Local outfit Blue Sky Thoroughbreds purchased the three-parts
brother to champion juvenile filly Fashions Afield, a dual Group 1
winner in Australia.
“He’s just a magnificent colt,” Blue Sky’s Julian Blaxland said of Hip No.
119. “On the strength of the sale, we are delighted to get him for this sort of
money. We’re undecided at the moment whether he will come back through the sales
as a yearling or whether we’ll keep him to race”
Blaxland said the colt was purchased for a syndicate of owners.
Despite a pedigree steeped in Australian influences, the colt’s dam, the
Dayjur mare Twist My Heart, was bred and raced in America. Twist My Heart’s dam,
Wrap Around (Aus) (Bletchingly), was a Group 1 winner in Australia in 1992
before being shipped to the United States where she won two of three for
trainer Barclay Tagg, including a minor stakes at Meadowlands. Twist My Heart
was Wrap Around’s third foal. Knocked down to Frank Stronach for $100,000 at the
1997 Keeneland September Sale, Twist My Heart was stakes-placed in the United States
before being purchased privately by Australian interests.
Wrap Around’s first foal, meanwhile, was the Wild Again mare Attire, who was
also exported to Australia. Attire is the dam of the first-class Fashions Afield,
whose wins included the A.J.C. Sires Produce S. (Aus-G1) and G1 Flight S.
(Aus-G1).
The second-highest-priced weanling at the National sale was an Encosta de
Lago filly who was knocked down to Emerald Thoroughbreds’ Bill Benson for
A$680,000. The filly, who also hailed from the Swettenham draft, was produced by
Group 1 winner Larrocha (Danehill).
Swettenham Stud’s Adam Sangster, Robert’s son, said he was delighted with the
interest and prices on the farm’s prized draft, which accounted for the majority
of the day’s top prices.
“I am particularly delighted with the cross section of purchasers,” Sangster
said. “It was glad to see such strong bidding on the lots. It’s always sad to
see the end of an era, but I’m excited about the new journey ahead. There’s big
shoes to fill!”
The Swettenham dispersal helped boost the session average to a record
A$68,917, up 34 percent from 2007’s A$51,428 despite the sale of a
$A1.15-million weanling last term. The clearance rate slumped a bit, however,
from 89.6 percent a year ago to 84.3 percent. Far fewer horses sold in 2008, 150
compared to 215. Magic Millions Managing Director David Chester said he was
pleased with how the first session went.
“There was great value on offer across all levels of the market today,”
Chester said. “The astute buyers are here, and they are delighted with how the
sale is going for them. The Swettenham Stud dispersal was, not surprisingly,
well received by buyers, and again we thank the Sangster family for the honor of
offering such a wonderful selection of young horses.”
The sale was to continue Wednesday. For complete results, visit
www.magicmillions.com.au.