The 4th and final session of the 2015 Magic Millions premier session concluded at 10:00pm on Saturday night and with the fall of the hammer of the final lot, the staggering figures revealed:
The incredible strength of the thoroughbred industry in Australia,
The success of hard work by the Magic Millions Team to put together such a top array of physically appealing yearlings to go under the hammer,
The strength of the Australia economy and the confidence of consumers to welcome discretional spending back into the racing industry,
The benefits of a weaker Australian Dollar against the U.S. Dollar
The incredibly high Prizemoney on offer
And Most Importantly, the MAGIC was back at the Gold Coast thanks to Gerry Harvey & Katie Page who have determined that for graduates of the 2015 sale, they will be able to compete for a Australian Record $10 million Prizemoney on the 2016 Magic Millions Raceday.
Buoyed on by these factors and Dynamic Syndications own announcement 12 days earlier that we had formed a "Strategic Alliance" with Hall Of Fame and Champion Trainer Gai Waterhouse, we set about the task of finding between 15-20 lots to purchase from this year's sale.
Having reviewed the catalogue 912 lots of Books 1 and 2 and identifying 278 candidates that genetically met our strict buying formula, Team Dynamic (Dean, Adam and Gary Mudgway) since 1January, slogged our way through the stifling heat and humidity and often, driving monsoon type rain showers, to identify candidates that we believed had the conformation, athleticism and commercial appeal to give our owners the "Best Opportunity of Racetrack Success".
We reduced that number to 103 potential candidates and then, we introduced our contracted veterinarian Dr. John Walker to determine our final list which was reduced by 12 lots to 91quality athletes.
From here, we arranged for Dr. Walker to read a record 91 sets of pre-sale x-rays, where another 11 lots were removed due to defect issues detected.
As the final lot was approved, we had a total of 80 yearlings identified as ideal candidates (77 in the main catalogue Book 1 - Sessions 1-4 and 3 lots in Book 2 - Session 5).
Then Dean Watt, a licenced Bloodstock Agent and Member of the Federation of Bloodstock Agents, set about the task of establishing the commercial value ceiling price for each of the 80 qualified lots.
With the process completed, candidates identified and prices established, we went into our holding pattern as we patiently waited for our lots to roll through the salering.
By the end of sessions 1-4 we had purchased 13 of 77 lots (16.9%) we had selected.
Such was the strength to this market, we had been frustrated on another 21 lots to which we were the direct underbidder, whilst we were competitive but eventually blown out of the water on the other 46 lots.
Whilst we would have liked to have brought at least another 2 lots as a minimum and up to another 7 lots in total from this sale, our strict business philosophy will not allow us to deviate from our highly successful selection process, which identifies high quality racing prospects at fair market valuation.
Dean Watt said: "To say we are thrilled with what we have purchased would be an understatement. These 13 lots as a crop, are arguably the best crop of yearlings we have ever purchased at the Magic Millions and that's a big statement since from this ring we have purchased many fine racehorses including: POLAR SUCCESS, SAVABEEL, BRADBURY'S LUCK, HE'S NO PIE EATER, etc."
When the final lot passed through the ring late on Saturday night, the sale gross had rounded out at over $92 million with an average price of over $170,000. The clearance rate was an extremely lofty 86 per cent.
The strength of Saturday's night's fourth session of the auction, following the highly successful raceday was incredible.
The evening session had been subdued over the past 5 years however that was not the case this year, it was a spectacular evening. The sale averaged approximately $200,000 for the session and cleared about 90 per cent.
Magic Millions Managing Director Vin Cox said: "What the figures show is that people that bring their top quality horses here will get the top money which we're very happy about."
"Apart from anything else it proves that Magic Millions, no matter what sale we're running, can provide the biggest and best international buying bench and domestic buying bench of any sales company in Australia."
MAGIC MILLIONS PREMIER SESSION - Book 1
CATALOGUED (Sessions 1-4): 692
SOLD: 539
TOP PRICE: $1.2m Sepoy / Sister Madly colt
AVERAGE: $170,728 ($141,836) up $28,892 (20.3%)
MEDIAN: $130,000 ($120,000) up $10,000
CLEARANCE: 85.7% (89.2%)
DYNAMIC SYNDICATIONS Sales Figures
PURCHASED: 13 LOTS
7 FILLIES : 6 COLTS
GROSS SPEND: $1,310,000
AVERAGE: $100,769
MEDIAN: $105,000
PRICE RANGE: $60,000 to $130,000
DISTRIBUTION: GAI WATERHOUSE 7, GERALD RYAN 3, PETER MOODY 2, T.B.A 1.
BUYER POSITION ON TOTAL SPEND: 10th
BUYER POSITION ON NUMBER OF LOTS: 4th
13 PURCHASES (by Lot):
Lot 14 MORE THAN READY - VINTEDGE Filly $110,000 + GST - GAI WATERHOUSE
Lot 22 SNITZEL - WORKHARD Colt $120,000 + GST - GAI WATERHOUSE
Lot 52 STREET CRY - AH HA Colt $120,000 + GST - GERALD RYAN
Lot 166 NOT A SINGLE DOUBT - CLOUDYGAZE Filly $85,000 + GST - GAI WATERHOUSE
Lot 191 FOXWEDGE - DE LAGO LASS Filly $80,000 - GERALD RYAN
Lot 269 CHOISIR - FRIENDLY SEAS Colt $110,000 + GST - GAI WATERHOUSE
Lot 313 SNITZEL - HUISKES Colt $70,000 + GST GAI WATERHOUSE
Lot 363 COMMANDS - KRYPTELON Colt $80,000 + GST - PETER MOODY
Lot 383 SNITZEL - LAURINEL ARGIE Filly $115,000 + GST - GERALD RYAN
Lot 423 SEBRING - MARHETA Filly $105,000 + GST - PETER MOODY
Lot 462 MORE THAN READY - MOONFLUTE Colt $125,000 + GST - GAI WATERHOUSE
Lot 523 FOXWEDGE - POLITE Filly $130,000 + GST - GAI WATERHOUSE
Lot 558 EXCEED AND EXCEL - RED FEVER $60,000 + GST -T.B.A
Here are is the data of the 2 lots we didn't have photos of the previous day:
Lot 523 FOXWEDGE / POLITE Filly
To be trained by Gai Waterhouse
By exciting First Crop Sire FOXWEDGE
From POLITE a 1/2 sister to Gr2 Winner CONSERVE, she is a direct descendant of FANFRELUCHE (by Northern Dancer) Horse of the Year& Champion 3yo Filly.
Lot 558 EXCEED AND EXCEL / RED FEVER Filly
Trainer to be confirmed
By Champion Sire EXCEED AND EXCEL - Brilliant Sire of 2yo's which included this years Magic Millions Winner LE CHEF, our Blue Diamond Winner REWARD FOR EFFORT, Golden Slipper Winner OVERREACH, Sires Produce Winner HELMET, etc.
From RED FEVER - Unraced 1/2 sister to Blue Diamond Prelude Winner WAY WEST and the Dam of Blue Diamond Preview Winner JUMLAH. Dam of 2 to race - Both Winners.
Session 5 commences at 11:00am Sunday. This session is a stand alone session Book 2 and does not form part of the Premier Session Statistics.
Dynamic Syndications have just 3 Lots identified here to bid upon. We believe these 3 Lots should have been catalogued into Book 1 sessions 1-4 however they were not and it may prove a correct decision by their vendors as they will certainly be the biggest fish in this smaller pond and should sell well. We remain hopeful of securing at least 1 of these lots if not more.
Follow our progress through the day on Twitter.