First virtual Magic Millions sale on August 27

Steel City, winner of Group 3, half-sister of the sprinter who won Group 1 twice September Runis offered at the Magic Millions virtual sale.

The four-year-old mare, trained by Ciaron Maher, is included in the 33-lot catalogue released by the Gold Coast auction house on August 14 for its first auction on August 27, which coincides with the start of the breeding season.

The winner of the Best Bloodstock race Magic Night Stakes (G3), who was also second in a Widden Stakes (G3) as a two-year-old, is offered by Ciaron Maher Racing, while this year’s winning mare of the Proud Miss Stakes (G3) Boognisha daughter of the two-time stakes winner and multiple stakes production mare Regrowth, was also entered by Clarken Racing of South Australia.

Winner of the Bright Shadow Stakes and placed Dane Ripper Stakes (G2) Aureus Angel is another quality offering and the Chris Munce-trained mare Miss Coota, who was twice victorious in young horse classes before Christmas, has also been entered for sale.

Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch believes a “highly commercial catalogue” has been put together for this week’s sale on Tuesday and said it has already attracted initial interest from buyers.

“Whether you are looking for a mare in foal who is young or has produced a stakes winner, or a race foal who has progressed to the high levels of group racing, or simply a filly with good pedigree, the catalogue, although small, is packed with beautiful horses that can serve different market segments very well,” Bowditch told ANZ Bloodstock News.

“We’ve been pretty quiet so far, but we’ve had some positive text messages (from buyers) and there’s some early general interest in the sale.

“I am confident that once people have engaged with this and done their due diligence and we start to discuss the options with them, we will be in a (good) position to offer services to providers who have supported this new initiative and deliver them outcomes that they will be happy with.”

At the catalogue confirmation on Wednesday, VRC Oaks (G1) placed Moonee Valley winner Queen Aira 5-year-old trained by Lindsey Smith for a syndicate led by Adam Sangster of Swettenham Stud, is another quality mare with stakes performance on offer.

The European group winner Have A Good Day, pregnant by the world champion sire Frankel was the first ticket confirmed for sale when Magic Millions introduced the concept in mid-June.

A lifetime breeding right for the champion sire of Yarraman Park Stud I am invincible and a share in the productive Lyndhurst Stud Farm resident Better than ready will also be auctioned.

Magic Millions held a standalone virtual sale on 31 July, with the Group 1 winning mare Spy was sold for AU$4.15 million.

Bowditch is excited about expanding the concept to at least 33 lots with auctioneer Clint Donovan on the podium.

“It worked very well in the individual competitions, so we thought, why not try it with a larger number of horses at different levels,” he said.

“Starting at 2 p.m. (local time) on Tuesday one week from now, we will be embedding the market. You can bid online or come to the complex and bid by phone to participate in the sale.”

Late registrations will be accepted until next Tuesday.