RECORD price, gross and average – all went ka-BOOM at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale held on Monday and Tuesday, March 19 and 20.
Records were smashed across the board as interstate buyers displayed an insatiable appetite for the latest crop of youngsters by Australian first season sire sensation Spirit of Boom who stands at the McAlpine family’s Eureka Stud, Cambooya.
More $13.7 million was traded on 301 lots sold over the two days to average $45,795. The gross (up 61 percent) and average price (up 59 percent) both soared to record levels while the clearance rate also climbed from last year and rounded out at 84 percent. In fact, progeny by Spirit Of Boom grossed $6,197,500 – almost half the sale gross!
Remarkably, with 38 lots presented – after six were withdrawn from the original 44 catalogued – only one lot was passed in. The remaining 37 yearlings averaged an outstanding $167,500 to easily top the sire averages.
With prices never before seen at the sale, his stock picked up from Day 1 when five yearlings sold for more than $200,000 and went to another level with another six selling for $300,000 or more on Day 2.
Late in the second session a new benchmark for the auction was set when Craig Rounsefell of Boomer Bloodstock teamed up with leading Brisbane trainer Tony Gollan to buy a Spirit Of Boom/Hidden Flair filly for $430,000 – more than double the previous record price of $180,000 for a Mossman filly set in 2016.
The filly – the fifth last lot to be offered at the sale – was presented by the Kruger family's Lyndhurst Stud Farm, Warwick. She is a three-quarter sister to stakes winner Flamenco (Sequalo) while her dam Hidden Flair is a half-sister to Sequalo stakes winner Holding.
Lyndhurst's Jeff Kruger said the filly came from a family in which three generations had been bred on the farm. "It's a great winning family and we should also remember the Spirit of Boom story started at Lyndhurst. He’s by Sequalo and the McAlpines sent his dam to the farm to be covered."
Duncan Grimley, bidding for John Singleton's Strawberry Hill Stud, bought two Spirit of Boom fillies for $400,000 and $360,000 respectively.
The higher priced of the duo was a filly from Country Class offered by KBL Thoroughbreds, Beaudesert – a half-sister to two stakes performers including group winner Thiamandi.
The other Strawberry Hill Stud purchase was a filly from Thank You Darling – a half-sister to Group 2 winner Mitanni – offered by Tullyard, Boodua on behalf of her breeder.
The result was exciting and emotional for breeder Helen Hough, who fought back tears telling of the input of her late husband Mark who planned the mating. Mark, who passed away a couple of years ago, also bred former champion mare Emancipation.
Another high priced Spirit of Boom yearling was a filly from Goodlookin Gambler who sold to trainer Toowoomba trainer Rex Lipp for $320,000.
Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch said the results were "just amazing”.
"Obviously Spirit of Boom – he's the kingmaker. We were all overwhelmed with how he went. He helped take this sale to a new level and it's great to see so many Queensland breeders enjoying this success.
"It's also great to be able to continue the trend of the Magic Millions Yearling Sales this year which have all had significant increases," Bowditch summed up.
