Three-time group 1 winner Forbidden Love became the equal third-most expensive mare ever sold in Australia when realizing AU$4.1 million (US$2,724,848, AU$1=US$0.6646) during what was an explosive AU$50 million opening session at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale May 23.
Three further mares—Surround Stakes (G1) winner Sunshine In Paris, Snapdancer, and mare-in-foal Piping Hot—each sold for AU$3 million or more, results that continued the trend of the ever-increasing value of elite breeding stock, as leading international investors sparred for the best-credentialed stock on the market at the Gold Coast.
The Michael Freedman-trained Forbidden Love was bought by the Chinese-owned, Victorian-based breeding and racing giant Yulong, which also paid AU$3.2 million for group 1-winning sprinter Snapdancer, AU$2.3 million for Isotope, and AU$1.35 million for Promise Of Success, in a spending spree that amounted to AU$19.031 million.
The blistering eight hours of trade reached AU$50.732 million ($33,716,335) in trade, aided by agent James Harron going to AU$3.9 million to purchase 3-year-old filly Sunshine In Paris, the second-highest-priced lot sold Tuesday, while Coolmore’s Tom Magnier was also a force at the top of the market, adding Piping Hot—AU$3 million, Paris Dior—AU$1.6 million, and Vangelic—AU$1.5 million to their broodmare band.
John Messara’s Arrowfield Stud was the only other investor to get on the board with a seven-figure priced mare, successfully going to AU$1.6 million to buy Shades Of Rose.
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Sale topper Forbidden Love leaving the sales pavilion at Magic Millions
The selling of mares for a price below the million-dollar barrier trade was also brisk, with 192 of the 223 horses offered yesterday changing hands for a clearance rate of 86%.
The clearance rate was no doubt helped by the Edinburgh Park unreserved dispersal, which closed out the race fillies and mares session and resulted in all 40 mares presented for sale finding buyers.
Yulong’s AU$19.031 million Day 1 imprint on the buyers’ sheet surpasses the AU$16.48 million the outfit spent on 37 Lots in the corresponding race fillies and mares session in 2022.
Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch said Tuesday’s session lived up to expectations with the auction providing “unbelievable theater.”
“It was slightly unpredictable at times, which is never a bad thing. We had some very pleasant surprises. All in all, I think there was great participation at the top end of town,” Bowditch said.
“I think most vendors were very, very happy going off the number of inspections they had and it translated into sale prices in the ring.”
Bowditch added: “On the market, I thought Piping Hot was unbelievable value for what she’s potentially got inside her and for what she can continue to produce. Three million dollars is a lot of money, but on the market I thought she was fantastic value.
“I thought we’d have eight million-dollar horses at the start of the day; we’ve had nine. I thought we’d have two, maybe three above AU$2 million; we’ve had five. They’re big numbers in any horse sale around the world.”
Day 2 of the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale will start at 10 a.m. Wednesday.