A lovely colt by the exceedingly popular Jet Spur topped proceedings during the first session of the 2011 Magic Millions QTIS 600 Yearling Sale at the Gold Coast today.
Consigned by Kiernan Pastoral, the colt (Lot 195) was snapped up for $120,000 by respected Gold Coast agent Grant Morgan (On Track Thoroughbreds), for a syndicate of owners and will be trained by Trevor Bailey.
“Jet Spur is one of Australia’s most promising sires, we bought the top priced Jet Spur yearling here in January, and to be honest we thought we would have had to pay alot more for this colt – He’s a lovely athletic, precocious colt, there’s some great value at this sale,” said Morgan.
“The owners of Flying Minstrel (by Jet Spur) will be taking shares, and I will keep a share myself. The half-brother to this horse Florida Fellow ran a very impressive second to Show A Prince at Doomben yesterday, the dam Hialeah Star was a good race mare and this colt is bred on the tried and true Danehill and Star Kingdom cross.”
“The QTIS scheme is essential to the development of racing in Queensland, it creates initiatives for new owners, which are very good in comparison to other States, the 2YO prize-money is amazing,” Morgan said.
Following closely, an outstanding colt by Sequalo made $100,000 to the bid of Melbourne based bloodstock agent Cameron Cooke, acting for trainer Tony Gollan and clients.
“He is clearly my pick of the colt’s at this sale – a real standout, good body, very athletic, correct, and a lovely walker,” said Cooke.
“Tony Gollan trained Spirit of Boom, a stake-winner who has won 4 races, over $300,000 with $63,000 in QTIS bonuses, and this horse is a very similar type to him.”
Cooke is a fan of the sale and the QTIS 600 bonus scheme.
“My clients will invest in racing anywhere in Australia wherever they see real benefit and great prize-money incentives. I will keep a share in him, and clients from Melbourne will take shares, we will train and race him in Queensland to take advantage of the great QTIS scheme,” Cooke said.
All up $3,394,500 was grossed on 171 yearlings at an average price of $19,851, down 9 percent on the 2010 average ($21,883) for the opening session. However up 17 percent on the 2009 average of $16,932 for session one.
The clearance rate held at 70 percent – down on last year’s opening session average of 80 percent.
Magic Millions acting managing director David Chester was pleased with the day’s results.
“The Sale held up very well despite the natural disasters that have badly affected Queensland racing this year.
“The average and clearance are down on last year’s sale, but you need to take into account that we are selling an extra 100 horses in this year’s session, which add’s alot of pressure to the average and clearance rate.”
“However on a positive note these factors are very much in buyer’s favour, as there is great value in the market at the moment.”
Magic Millions clients who have attended the sale from Singapore, Macau, China, Malaysia and New Zealand have been very active despite the strength in the Australian dollar so that is an encouraging sign.” Chester said.
Over thirty percent of yearlings sold today have found new homes in far north and central Queensland. The success of the Regional Inward Buyer Scheme has been widely applauded at this sale.
The second session of the sale commences at 10am (Qld time) tomorrow.
SESSION ONE TOP SELLERS
$120,000 (Lot 195) Jet Spur – Hilaleah Star colt
Vendor: Kiernan Pastoral / Buyer: On Track Thoroughbreds (QLD)
$100,000 (Lot 91) Sequalo – Count The Silver colt
Vendor: Lyndhurst Stud / Buyer: Cameron Cooke (VIC)
$95,000 (Lot 174) Bradbury’s Luck – Ghost Story colt
Glenlogan Park / Danny Bougoure (Qld)
$87,500 (Lot 80) Jet Spur – Chicitee filly
Glenlogan Park / Pat Duff (Qld)
$67,500 (Lot 22) Show A Heart – Another Syn colt
Grandview Park (As Agent) / Yeoh Kheng Chye (Singapore)
$65,000 (Lot 39) Jet Spur – Be Faithful colt
Glenlogan Park (As Agent) / Magic Millions as agent (NSW)
$60,000 (Lot 191) Monashee Mountain – Heaven’s Eyes colt
ABC Thoroughbreds / Matthew Dale (ACT)
$55,000 (Lot 111) Falvelon – Dantibes’ Treasure filly
Twin Peaks Thoroughbreds / Paul Willetts (NZ)
$55,000 (Lot 96) Not A Single Doubt – Crash colt
Noralla Stud / McLaughlan Place Racing Stables (QLD)
$55,000 (Lot 64) Jet Spur – Brynica filly
Robyn Wise (As Agent) / John Morrisey (Qld)
SESSION ONE STATISTICS
(2010 Session One in Brackets)
Lots Catalogued: 275 (231)
Lots Sold: 171 (167)
Session Aggregate: $3,394,500 ($3,654,500)
Average Price: $19,851 ($21,883)
Top Price: $120,000 ($135,000)
Lots Withdrawn: 29 (21)
Lots Passed: 74 (43)
Sold %: 70 (80)
