Record-priced mare at Magic Millions sale

Princess Coup, a three-time New Zealand champion, set a Magic Millions all-time price record and topped opening-day selling Thursday when she brought Aus$3 million Australian (about $2,370,000 U.S.) at the Magic Millions select broodmare sale on Australia's Gold Coast.

The 6-year-old Encosta de Lago mare sold as a broodmare prospect to bloodstock agent Tony Bott, representing and entity called E Thoroughbred.

"She went for more than I thought," Bott said afterwards. "I thought we might be able to get her for $2 million to $2.5 million.

"Whether she is a value buy, I guess time will tell," he added.

Princess Coup won four Group 1 races in New Zealand, including back-to-back runnings of the Kelt Capital Stakes in 2007 and 2008, and was champion three times: 3-year-old filly in 2007 and champion older mare and stayer in 2008.

Willow Park Stud was the consigning agent for owners John Bromley and Ray Coupland. The record price beat last year's $2.7 million (Australian) for Divine Madonna. Darley Australia bought the broodmare prospect at the 2008 select broodmare sale.

Thursday's opening session grossed about $8,097,895 for 168 horses, for an average of about $48,201. Those figures were down 13 percent and 36 percent, respectively.