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The
Magic Millions June National Sale, one the biggest
equine auctions in the world, formally starts today on
the Gold Coast with more than 2,500 horses going under
the hammer.
Some 800
weanlings will be offered while more than 1,000
broodmares and racing/breeding propositions will be on
sale starting June 2 up to 6. And more than 700
yearlings will be up for grabs in the yearling sale that
starts on June 10 up to 13.
Gerry
Harvey, chairman of the Magic Millions Sales, has it all
summed up when he said: “I invite you to visit us during
the National Sale to experience the largest
breeding-stock sale in the southern hemisphere, and the
wonderful hospitality of Magic Millions on the Gold
Coast.”
For her
part,
Queensland premier Anna Bligh said: “Enjoyed by thousands of
international and domestic buyers each year, the Gold
Coast is home to the Magic Millions National Sale and
proudly supported again in 2008 by my government,
through Queensland Events. Since its partnership in
1999, the event has experienced a strong winning streak.
The Magic Millions brand is now sought after by buyers
from key markets across the globe who recognize the
quality and performance of these fine horses.
“Of
course, it not all business. The Gold Coast’s fantastic
weather, restaurants and beaches and the fast-paced
carnival calendar keep even the casual punter
entertained. So to all attending the 2008 Magic Millions
National Sale, I wish you the very best and encourage
you to enjoy the Gold Coast to the fullest while you are
here.”
That
will surely be in the mind of the Filipino horsemen,
most of them leaving on June 2, as they target the
National Broodmare Sale where promising racehorses and
breeding prospects are aplenty.
I
received a report that two new big investors in local
racing are also attending the annual sales. One of them
is reportedly very keen in building a racing empire and
wants to compete aggressively in the coming years, with
the way he has been buying horses left and right since
last year.
Four-time Group One winner Divine Madonna is expected to
be one of the highlights during the first session on
June 2, and she is set to eclipse the $1.6-million
record for a mare sold in the Gold Coast ring.
By the
way, an outstanding supplementary catalogue of over 130
lots has been assembled and is made of five weanlings,
five stallion shares, 53 mares, one stallion, 57
racehorses and 14 yearlings.
Among
the mares are stakes performers Class Success, Gaily
Funky, It’s You, Kosi Bay, Night Club, Royal Snip, Rue
Des Reves, Scenic Mist, Shalt Not, Strange Lady, These
Days and Timeless Winds.
Also in
the supplementary are the dams of stakes performers,
including Amelia’s Dream, Hustle Bustle, Mica’s Pride
and Money Begets Money. The racehorse section, comprised
of 57 lots, includes a number of exceptionally bred
fillies and mares. Plenty of proven gallopers will be
going under the hammer, including Sydney stakes winner
Anwaar and recent city winners Damnation, Feline Hunter,
Firedrake, Impetus and Mr. Bachelor.
****
IT’S
still several days before the final leg of the US Triple
Crown Series is disputed, but there’s still no definite
lineup that’ll challenge rampaging Big Brown.
So far,
we heard nine are expected to be entered in the Belmont
Stakes next month, but others may either join or pass up
depending on their competitiveness to withstand the
onslaught of Big Brown, the two-leg winner that is
aching to make racing history.
Among
those who might join are Nick Zito’s Anak Nakal, Dallas
Stewart’s Macho Again (whose regular rider Julien
Leparoux was replaced by a new one in jockey Garrett
Gomez), Todd Pletcher’s Ready Echo, K. Fujisawa’s Spark
Candle and Casino drive, D. Zanelli’s Tomcito and G.
Motion’s Icabad Crane.
Stewart
belied stories that Garrett Gomez’s replacement of
Julien Leparoux’s has anything to do with the latter’s
dismal performance on his horse.
“Julien
has done a great job with him. But after talking with
[West Point Thoroughbreds’ managing partner] Terry
Finley and the owners, it was decision based more on a
‘home-court advantage’ for the rider.
“Gomez
is a New York rider and he knows that mile-and-a-half
track. That’s not taking anything away from Julien or
anything, but Gomez rides there every day and he’s going
to ride a bunch on the card. We’re going up there trying
to win it; not that we think we couldn’t win it with
Julien. Terry just felt that it would give us a little
bit of an edge to have someone that rides there every
day,” Stewart was quoted as saying.
Leparoux
was onboard two of Macho Again’s four wins in his five
last races. On the other hand, Gomez is the leading
national rider with more than $7.4 million in earnings
so far this year.
Meanwhile, although many still believe Big Brown will
retire after his Belmont Stakes run, win or lose, Mike
Iavarone, one of the co-owners, has said that if the
colt “comes out of the Belmont in good shape, he would
run again.”
That’s a
crazy answer, according to many racing insiders, since
racing Big Brown, whose worth is now more than $100
million but could only be insured up to only $50
million, could invite the risk of being injured.
Being a
Wall Street guy, the connections of Big Brown are very
much aware that they cannot get those big bucks from
racing Big Brown even if he sweeps the Triple Crown this
year. That money will come definitely from breeding,
which they had already inked several days back with a
world-class US breeder.
Come to
think of the time when breeding in this country could
reach the level of those in the
US,
or even Australia, New Zealand and Japan. Winning in the
Triple Crown or in big-money stakes races could mean big
money in their next job at the stud. |
