Sale of mares in Australia at record level

A trio of seven-figure mares lifted the Magic Millions broodmare sale in Australian to record heights again on Tuesday in Bundall, Queensland, Australia.

Continuing the trend seen in the United States last fall and in January, young broodmares and prospects led the way at Magic Millions. The Tuesday session's topper was the stakes-placed 3-year-old Wiener, who brought $1.25 million Australian, or about $1,046,000 U.S. from the Hunter Valley farm Kitchwin Hills. Bellerive Farm, agent, sold the More Than Ready filly, a half-sister to Australian Group 1 winner Snitzel.

Darley Australia paid $1,125,000 Australian, or about $941,963, for Star Shiraz, a 5-year-old Group 1 winner by Sequalo. Eureka Thoroughbreds, agent, consigned the mare as agent.

Personify, a 3-year-old Galileo filly who is a half-sister to two-time South African sprinter Laisserfaire, brought about $858,233 from Paul Makin (Badgers Bloodstock, agent). In Australian terms, the price was $1,025,000. Makin purchased Personify from Coolmore Stud, agent, one day after selling them the broodmare Private Steer for about $1,167,879 at the auction's opening session.

The millionaire horses boosted the session to an Australasian record gross of about $40,686,815 for 342 horses sold. That was up 12 percent from last year's equivalent session, when 449 horses sold. The average price also topped out at an Australasian record of about $118,939.

Tuesday's session was the last select day at the sale, which will feature open sessions through Friday.