The Magic Millions sale at the Gold Coast got off to a mixed start on Wednesday with Gai Waterhouse’s purchase of two Redoute’s Choice colts among the highlights.
Waterhouse went to $450,000 to buy a colt by Redoute’s Choice out of former boom two-year-old I Got Chills, who was unbeaten as a juvenile before being struck down by injury.
She also secured another son of the successful stallion out of Hustle Bustle, dam of multiple stakeswinner Hurried Choice, for $300,000.
“This is a buyer’s market,” Waterhouse said on Sky Channel.
She believed there was plenty of value at the sale, the first yearling auction of the year in Australia, and said quality horses were selling for much cheaper prices than a few years ago.
Fellow Sydney trainer Anthony Cummings also dug deep, buying a Redoute’s Choice-Miss Jakeo colt from the draft of Gerry Harvey’s Baramul Stud for $450,000.
There was an international presence with the Hong Kong Jockey Club paying $350,000 for an Exceed And Excel colt out of 2006 Magic Millions winner Mirror Mirror.
However, there were a number of lots which failed to reach their reserves, including a Redoute’s Choice colt out of Inaflury who was passed in for $275,000.
The sale continues on Thursday with the yearlings purchased eligible for next year’s $2 million Magic Millions Classic (1200m).
This year’s renewal of the race is at the Gold Coast on Saturday with the Waterhouse-trained Driefontein favourite.
