The third weanling session of the Magic Millions National Sale was
highlighted by the sale of a colt from the first crop of Coolmore’s Oratorio
(Ire) (Danehill) for A$310,000. Melbourne-based agent Damon Gabbedy signed for
the colt under his Belmont Bloodstock Agency banner. Gabbedy was acting on behalf
of an new unnamed client, who would decide later whether the colt will be
auctioned again as a yearling or be retained as a racehorse.
“Just an
outstanding individual,” Gabbedy said of Hip No. 530. “He’d be the nicest weanling
I’ve seen anywhere this year. He’s by a very exciting first-season sire.”
The
colt was offered by his breeder, Ilala Stud’s George Fraser, and brought by far the highest
price attained by any horse sold
by the Hunter Valley-based stud.
“Right from the
time he was foaled, he’s been an absolutely outstanding individual,” Fraser
commented. “I thought he could make a good price, but A$310,000 is just a
brilliant result.”
Hip 530 is the second foal from the
eight-year-old Mistress Lili (Filante), a half-sister to triple Group
1 winner Defier (Dehere).
“The mare slipped last season, but after
producing such an outstanding foal by Oratorio, we booked her back to visit him
again this season,” Fraser added.
Oratorio, highweighted juvenile in France in 2004 after winning the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere-Grand Criterium
(Fr-G1), was
highweighted in Ireland the following year at 9.5-11 furlongs with wins in the
Irish Champion S. (Ire-G1) and England’s Coral Eclipse S. (Eng-G1). He also ran second to Dubawi in the
Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1).
After three days of select weanling
sessions, the National Sale grossed a record A$19,581,750. The average price of
A$46,846 was also a new record. The RNA rate was 16.6 percent, a solid number
despite being down from last year’s 8.1 percent. Magic Millions Managing
Director David Chester was delighted with the results.
“With a record aggregate
and average price and a really healthy clearance rate, we are definitely
pleased,” Chester said. “Quarantine and agistment issues with horses getting
back to New Zealand because of EI has affected the sale I’m sure; they were just
so much more active across all price ranges last year. To have buyers from New
Zealand, Singapore, France, Ireland and the United States, the sale has really
earned its status as one of the finest in the world.”
The weanling portion of
the National Sale concludes with a general session Friday. The first of five sessions of the broodmare portion of the National Sale
begins Monday. For complete results and catalog, visit www.magicmillions.com.au.