Magic Millions sale: Fastnet Rock continues dominance

With spirited bidding on a Fastnet Rock filly fueling the evening, the Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling sale continued to show gains as it continued with its fourth session Saturday at the Magic Millions Sales Complex in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

In all, 90 horses were sold at Saturday's session for total receipts of $11,807,14 in Australian currency, or about $12,440,011, posting an average price of $138,222.

Through the first four sessions, which comprise the select portion of the auction, 497 horses sold for a total of $71,305,014, an increase of 8 percent compared with last year's sale at this point. Cumulative average of $144,040 is up 7 percent, while median is up 5 percent to $110,628 through three days.

"It's been an extremely strong sale," Magic Millions managing director Vin Cox said. "Tonight's session was very strong and from a catalog of just 90 lots, for the average to rise again from yesterday is terrific."

Chris Waller outdueled fellow trainer Peter Moody for the session topper, landing a Fastnet Rock filly with a winning bid of $526,800 ($500,000 Australian).

Consigned by Tyreel Stud as agent for Makybe, the filly is out of the winning and stakes-placed El Moxie mare Gold Chant, a half-sister to Starspangledbanner. A champion in both Europe and Australia, Starspangledbanner is a four-time Group 1 winner.

Another notable family member is Circles of Gold, winner of the Group 1 Australian Oaks.

"She's a very, very nice horse," Waller said. "There is Fastnet Rock over a speed mare, and Starspangledbanner sticks out [in the pedigree]. These pedigrees are hard to get and you have to pay more to get into them."

Fastnet Rock has been red-hot at the Magic Millions sale, producing the session topper on three of four days. He and Redoute's Choice—who produced Friday's session topper—each produced two of the top four prices on Saturday.

The six-session sale continues through Tuesday, Jan. 15, with a dark day on Monday.

For hip-by-hip results, click here.