The now Melbourne based trainer Lloyd Kennewell was able to outbid the powerful Godolphin operation to secure the star colt who was offered by Yarraman Park Stud on behalf of the Gillard family.
Kennewell purchased the colt in conjunction with Matthew Becker’s Group One Bloodstock, Aquis Farm and successful owner Ozzie Kheir.
“I thought he was the best colt in the sale obviously,” Kennewell said. “We thought he would pass the million, but we didn’t know where he would stop.”
“He’s the sort of horse who looks ideal for the race next year – or races like the Blue Diamond and Golden Slipper.”
“He was clearly the top pick for me – I thought he was the best colt on the complex and we wanted to go really big with one this year and we put a good crew together to do it and I think it’s worked out well.”
“It’s led by Ozzie Kheir and hopefully we can continue on and get a really good result with this horse. I think he’s a horse who will have a really good two-year-old career.”
“I know the breed very well and he’s one of the best colts I’ve seen by I Am Invincible and hopefully we can get the right result with him.”
“I’m really happy,” Kennewell added. “Most of him is done and we will just get him down to Victoria next and get him broken in.”
The Godolphin team, who just two hours earlier had celebrated winning The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic, secured the other seven figure seller on the night, going to $1 million to buy the Medaglia d’Oro filly from Blue Diamond Stakes winner Miracles of Life.
“The dam was a high class race filly – a Blue Diamond winner and two-year-old speed is so important in our market and we thought this filly fit the bill in that regard as well,” Godolphin Australia’s Racing and Bloodstock Manager Jason Walsh said.
“We loved her. She’s by one of our champion sires in Medaglia and you could see a lot of her mother in her and she impressed us from the first moment we saw her,” Walsh added.
The $1.7 million colt and $1 million filly tonight pushed the number of seven figure sellers at the auction to 11 – a record for the Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Across the Book One section of the sale over $169.5 million was traded on 707 lots sold at a record average price of $239,809. The clearance rate sat at more than 88 per cent.
“It was an incredible sale,” Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch reflected on Book One. “We’re thrilled with it – it’s been a very solid sale.”
“A lot of work has gone into this sale. The buyers and vendors have really stepped up and done their jobs well and we couldn’t be more pleased with how it’s gone.”
“These are probably results that were beyond our expectations and also the industry’s expectation.”
“Gai Waterhouse, with Adrian Bott, is the leading buyer again – she’s an institution when it comes to the Gold Coast Yearling Sale and then there’s I Am Invincible and I think he would have the record for a gross at any sale.”
“It’s been a fantastic sale across all levels,” Bowditch summed up.
To view the results of the sale so far and to make an offer on a passed in lot clickhere.
Book 2 of the 2019 Gold Coast Yearling Sale will commence at 11am (Qld time) tomorrow with a quality line up of over 230 yearlings catalogued.
SALE STATISTICS
(2018 in brackets)
Lots Catalogued: 888 (853)
Lots Sold: 707 (684)
Lots Passed In: 99 (87)
Lots Withdrawn: 82 (82)
Sale Gross: $169,545,000 ($155,952,000)
Top Price: $1,700,000 ($2,000,000)
Average Price: $239,809 ($228,000)
Median Price: $170,000 ($170,000)
Sold %: 88 (89)
DAY FOUR TOP SELLERS
$1,700,000 – I Am Invincible-Oakleigh Girl colt (Lot 869)
Vendor: Yarraman Park Stud (As Agent) / Buyer: Kennewell Racing/Group One B’stock/Aquis/Ozzie Kheir (Vic)
$1,000,000 – Medaglia d’Oro-Miracles of Life filly (Lot 802)
Coolmore Stud (As Agent) / Godolphin (NSW)
$900,000 – I Am Invincible-Mimi Lebrock colt (Lot 799)
Segenhoe Stud Australia (As Agent) / China Horse Club/Newgate Bloodstock/WinStar Farm (NSW)
$875,000 – Not a Single Doubt-Negotiate filly (Lot 853)
Arrowfield Stud (As Agent) / Stonestreet Stables (USA)
$600,000 – Myboycharlie-Mine Game colt (Lot 801)
Gilgai Farm / Ciaron Maher Bloodstock (Vic)
LEADING BUYERS
(ranked by total spend)
$6,560,000 – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Racing – 24 lots
$5,320,000 – China Horse Club/Newgate Bloodstock – 12 lots
$5,200,000 – James Harron Bloodstock – 8 lots
$5,095,000 – Waller Racing/Mulcaster Bloodstock – 12 lots
$5,000,000 – Phoenix T’breds (II) Ltd/Aquis Farms Pty Ltd – 6 lots
LEADING VENDORS
(ranked by gross)
$11,595,000 – Yarraman Park Stud – 27 sold
$11,080,000 – Arrowfield Stud – 47 sold
$10,875,000 – Newgate Farm – 45 sold
$10,860,000 – Widden Stud – 37 sold
$10,590,000 – Coolmore Stud – 46 sold
LEADING VENDORS
(ranked by average – 3 or more sold)
$429,444 – Yarraman Park Stud – 27 sold
$401,250 – Milburn Creek – 8 sold
$392,105 – Segenhoe Stud Australia – 19 sold
$365,000 – Mill Park Stud – 6 sold
$329,750 – Newhaven Park – 20 sold
LEADING SIRES
(ranked by gross)
$24,345,000 – I Am Invincible – 55 sold
$12,815,000 – Zoustar – 40 sold
$11,760,000 – Snitzel – 32 sold
$11,685,000 – Written Tycoon – 40 sold
$8,695,000 – Sebring – 30 sold
LEADING SIRES
(ranked by average – 3 or more sold)
$633,750 – Medaglia d’Oro – 4 sold
$549,667 – Redoute’s Choice – 15 sold
$442,636 – I Am Invincible – 55 sold
$377,353 – Fastnet Rock – 17 sold
$367,500 – Snitzel – 32 sold
