Magic Millions sale: Fastnet Rock yearlings dominate opening session

The stallion Fastnet Rock dominated the first session of the Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling sale, siring the three highest-priced horses to help fuel across-the-board gains during Wednesday's session at the Magic Millions Sales Complex in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

In all, 135 horses were sold at Wednesday's opening session for total receipts of $17,372,500 in Australian currency, or about $18,294,028, an increase of 18 percent compared with the totals at last year's opening session.

The average price, $135,515, rose 8 percent, while the median was up 5 percent to $110,572.

Two yearlings by Fastnet Rock shared the session's top price, as Gai Waterhouse and James Harron Bloodstock went to $526,543 ($500,000 Australian) each for a filly and a colt, both consigned by Coolmore Stud as agent.

The filly, out of the Group 3-winning Snippets mare Legally Bay, is a full sister to Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed Jolie Bay.

"She is the best-bred filly out of a top-class mare," Waterhouse said. "How can you go wrong? She has a gorgeous demeanor."

The colt is out of the stakes-winning Royal Academy mare Liberty Rose. He is a half-brother to stakes winner Grand Jardin and to Group 2-placed winner Pontiana.

Waterhouse and Harron Bloodstock also went to $473,889 ($460,000 Australian) for a Fastnet Rock colt out of the stakes-winning Arena mare My Lady's Chamber, consigned by Lomar Park Stud. Waterhouse and Harron Bloodstock finished as the session's top buyer, purchasing eight horses for a total of $2,662,824.

In all, five yearlings by Fastnet Rock were among the sale's top 10 prices.

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

For hip-by-hip results, click here.