A stunning colt by Golden Slipper producing sire Medaglia d’Oro topped the opening day of the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale on the Gold Coast today.

Leading bloodstock agent James Harron went to $500,000 to secure the colt, offered as Lot 101, a part of the quality packed Wood Nook Farm Dispersal.

He was the star seller on a day when quality lots helped return a record average price of $61,628 – up over 41 per cent on last year’s buoyant opening day whenyoungsters from Teeley Assets starred.

Today’s top seller, from the black type performed and producing Redoute’s Choice mare Starfish, highlighted a run of four consecutive lots from Wood Nook Farm to sell for over $200,000.

The others in that streak were Lot 108 (Fastnet Rock-Oh Goodness Me filly for $220,000), Lot 109 (Pierro-Rocha colt for $300,000) and Lot 110 (Fastnet Rock-Slapstick filly for $280,000).

“He’s an exceptional colt,” James Harron said of the $500,000 Medaglia d’Oro youngster.

“He’s by a great stallion who’s making headway in Australia including the Champion two-year-old in Vancouver and plenty of other top performers. He’s doing it in both hemispheres.”

“He was a stand out for us and I’m pleased to have got him,” Harron added.

The day’s second top seller was the Pierro-Rocha colt from Wood Nook Farm who was purchased by Segenhoe Thoroughbreds for $300,000.

“He probably made a bit more than we wanted to pay, but in this market the good types with the pedigree are popular,” Segenhoe’s Peter O’Brien said.

“We like Pierro and we’re delighted to have him.” O’Brien added.

First season sires Pierro and All Too Hard were top rivals on the track and they are now doing it at stud. Both sires had exceptional days with Pierro average $196,667 for six sold, while the five weanlings by All Too Hard sold average $180,000.

During the day over $8.77 million was given for 142 lots sold at an average price of $61,768 – an increase of over 40% on last year’s sale and over 70% on the sale in 2013.

“It’s been quite spectacular,” Magic Millions Managing Director Vin Cox reported. “The gross of almost $8.8 million is higher than last year’s Day One gross with 50 less horses being offered.”

“It’s a stunning set of statistics. Our average is up over 40 per cent on last year and over 70 per cent on the sale the previous year.”

“The top three lots of the day were from Wood Nook Farm,” Cox added. “We’re flattered to have been chosen by Bob and Rosemary Scarborough to hold their dispersal sale and we hope that we did the weanling section justice.”

To view the results, online catalogue and to make an offer on a passed in lot click here. To view a video review of Day One click here.

Day Two of the National Weanling Sale will commence at 10am tomorrow (Monday).

STATISTICS
(2014 Day One in Brackets)

Lots Catalogued: 215 (264)
Sale Gross: $8,936,000 ($8,276,500)
Average Price: $61,628 ($43,561)
Top Price: $500,000 ($600,000)
Lots Sold: 145 (190)
Lots Withdrawn: 31 (35)
Lots Passed In: 38 (39)
Sold %: 79.2 (83)

TOP SELLERS

$500,000 – Medaglia d’Oro-Starfish colt (Lot 111)
Vendor: Wood Nook Farm / Buyer: James Harron Bloodstock (NSW)

$300,000 – Pierro-Rocha colt (Lot 109)
Wood Nook Farm / Segenhoe Thoroughbreds (NSW)

$280,000 – Fastnet Rock-Slapstick filly (Lot 110)
Wood Nook Farm / Amarina Farm (NSW)

$280,000 – Medaglia d’Oro-See the Music filly (Lot 154)
Yarramalong Park / Solis/Litt Bloodstock (USA)

$240,000 – Pierro-Sorority Girl colt (Lot 171)
Erinvale Thoroughbreds (As Agent) / Musk Creek Farm (Vic)

$220,000 – More Than Ready-Hussousa filly (Lot 16)
Vinery Stud (As Agent) / Amarina Farm (NSW)

$220,000 – Fastnet Rock-Oh Goodness Me filly (Lot 108)
Wood Nook Farm / Magic Millions as agent (Vic)

LEADING SIRES
(ranked by average – 3 or more sold)

$196,667 – Pierro – 6 sold
$184,000 – Fastnet Rock – 5 sold
$180,000 – All Too Hard – 5 sold
$174,167 – Medaglia d’Oro – 6 sold