LOCAL horsemen packed the Mickey’s Restaurant and OTB on Macapagal Avenue in Pasay City on May 17 when Magic Millions managing director David Chester held a networking conference there.
Several horseowners from three major owners’ groups—Marho, Philtobo and Klub Don Juan de Manila—were there together with other trainers and horsemen to hear what the 2011 Magic Millions National Sales that starts on Wednesday would offer.
Chester, who came from Korea in his Asian tour to invite horsemen to the annual two-week auction which is considered the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere, talked about the exciting horses that will be paraded on the auction ring in the Gold Coast.
“Horseracing and thoroughbred sales go hand in hand at Magic Millions. At Magic Millions, we believe that our commitment to the industry is your key to success. Horseracing is all about winning and Magic Millions Sales proudly claims its share of legends, cementing Magic Millions‘s reputation as the place to buy world quality thoroughbreds. Such success reflects the company’s relentless quest for excellence in all of the Magic Millions thoroughbred auctions wherever they may be held,” Chester said.
He added that “in recent years, the Magic Millions has been the sounding board for the careers of many great horses such as Sebring, Heavenly Glow, Divine Madonna, Princess Coup, Sirmione, Scenic Blast, Black Piranha, Gilded Venom, Rebel Raider, Shoot Out, Once Were Wild, Theseo, Melito, All American, Shocking, Rocket Man and many others.”
In his invitation to the local horsemen to participate in the annual sale, where all quality horses are definitely on sale at very competitive prices, David laid out several incentives that the Magic Millions will be providing to all participants.
For more than six years now, many Filipino horseowners are trooping to the Magic Millions National Sales every May and June for future champions that are bought at such low prices compared with horses being bought from New Zealand and the United States.
Lim Expensive Toys, a champion horse in the past, is a graduate of the National Sales. I was the one who bought the magnificent horse by Giant’s Causeway for A$30,000 several years back.
The horse is now standing at stud at the SC Stockfarm of Jojo Velasquez after Roland Lim decided to retire him from almost two years of racing.
The horse won several stakes races and more than P4.8 million, making him the most successful graduate of the Magic Millions National Sale here in the Philippines.
Last year I bought two race-winning colts for Joe Arceo and they were Maypan and Zadar, who are still enjoying their racing career. The other filly in that group, Megarena, is now in-foal in Lipa City.
This year the 2011 Magic Millions National Sale has brought together an outstanding catalogue of some 2,199 lots, which commences with the first session of the National Weanling Sale on May 25.
The National Weanling sale, over three sessions from May 25 to 27, has attracted a catalogue of 632 youngsters—29 are supplementaries.
Past graduates of the National Weanling Sale include the likes of Shellscrape, Anabandana, Chartreux, Swiss Ace, Pimpala Secret, Dubleanny, Graceful Anna, Dusty Star, Single Spice, Luen Yat Forever, Rebel Call, Cute Emily and the unbeaten South African juvenile Gimmethegreenlight.
The National Broodmare Sale is next and will be conducted from May 29 to 31.
Some 767 lots make up this section of the sale—where over 110 stakes performed fillies or mares will go under the hammer.
Among the stakes-winning mares are Sister Madly, Military Rose, Belle Bizarre, Ruby Clipper, Arapaho Miss, Astrodame, Set for Fame, Deer Valley, Le Plunge, Fairy Oak, Saint Minerva, Lolita Star, Princess Pulse and Chakvedatze.
A number of mares catalogue are in foal to a great selection of Australia’s and indeed the world’s hottest sires—among them High Chaparral, Commands, Choisir, Encosta de Lago, Fastnet Rock, Flying Spur, Lonhro, More Than Ready, Sebring, Not A Single Doubt and Street Cry.
The National Yearling Sale, set from June 5 to 7, has attracted its best ever catalogue with 684 lots.
Previous graduates of this sale include top class Group-1 winners Rocket Man, Princess Coup, Tell a Tale, Polar Success and Heavenly Glow.
The National Racehorse Sale, scheduled for June 8, wraps up a massive catalogue with 116 lots to go under the hammer.
Quality drafts from the Williams family’s Hudson Conway Racing, Darley operation, Patinack Farm stable and the powerful local Heinrich stables highlight this session. A number of stakes performed and city winning gallopers will go under the hammer.
Meanwhile, the the R.M. Williams legendary traveling retail store, The Longhorn Express, will be at the Magic Millions National Sales on the Gold Coast starting yesterday up to the last day of the sale in Gold Coast.
The special appearance will be one of the first public displays of The Longhorn Express’s recently launched custom-designed Western Star prime mover. The first of its kind in Australia, the prime mover has been meticulously custom-sprayed with iconic R.M. Williams imagery including the late Reginald Murray (RM) Williams himself.
Since 2001, more than 2 million people have experienced The Longhorn Express at bush concerts, festivals, rodeos and other major events across the nation.
The homestead-style store has provided shoppers with an authentic Australian shopping experience with a wide range of R.M.Williams items such as R.M. Williams boots, men’s and women’s jeans, t-shirts, polo’s and shirts, accessories including belts, wallets and mosaic belt buckles, as well as the R.M. Williams Outback magazine.
