Australia: Magic Millions sells two seven-figure broodmares, posts big gains

Australia’s Magic Millions select broodmare sale saw two seven-figure mares and strong increases in gross and average.

The two-day auction’s leading buyer was Tom Magnier of Coolmore Stud, who picked up the sale-topper for about $1,627,065 ($1.65 million Australian). That was Melito, a two-time Group 1 winner by Redoute’s Choice who was carrying an Encosta de Lago foal. Reavill Farm was the consignor.

“She will be served this spring by So You Think, and I can’t wait to see the resultant progeny,” Magnier said. Coolmore bought 10 mares for a total of about $4,476,150.

Segenhoe Stud bought the sale’s other seven-figure mare, Hurtle Myrtle, who sold for $1 million Australian. The 5-year-old Dane Shadow mare is a Group 1 winner whom Kitchwin Hills consigned as a racing or broodmare prospect.

The auction sold 299 mares for about $19,458,145. Compared year-to-year in the auction’s local currency, Australian dollars, that was an increase of 24 percent. Average price gained 38 percent when it rose to about $65,078 from last year’s figure. the auction house did not report median price.

The buyback rate was 26 percent, as compared to 24 percent last season.