The Coolmore draft provided the top four priced sellers
on a day where a superbly bred colt by Fastnet Rock sold for $650,000 to top
proceedings.The colt, catalogued as Lot 138, is the second foal of the Group One winning Savabeel mare Diademe. Her first foal sold for seven figures when sold as a yearling earlier in the year.
It is the perfect start to the breeding career for Diademe who is scheduled to go under the hammer at next week's National Broodmare Sale.
Leading local bloodstock agent Craig Rounsefell, through his Boomer Bloodstock operation, was pleased to secure the day's highest priced lot.
"He's a lovely colt," Rounsefell said. "He's obviously by Fastnet Rock - huge pedigree being out of a Group One winner - just an exciting colt to get."
"He's the right type. He's going to grow into a nice horse and hopefully it's a good decision."
"I bought him for a syndicate of owners, the decision is now in their hands - whether he will be re-offered (as a yearling) or taken to the racetrack, it will be a decision made in the coming months."
The second top seller on the day and the highest priced filly was a half sister to multiple Group One winner Preferment and Group winner Rezoned, who sold to the China Horse Club for $625,000.The filly from the top producer Better Alternative is by Vancouver, a former Magic Millions sales purchase who won a Golden Slipper before retiring to stud.
The Coolmore team were thrilled to see the progeny of Vancouver prove so popular back in the sale ring he graced as a young horse.
"He was an unbelievable racehorse," Coolmore's Tom Magnier said. "On the back of that you'd be excited about him going forward."
"He's got some really nice foals back at the farm and a lot of the breeders are really supporting him again this year."
"If it happens like it's happening with Pierro you'd be looking forward to it," Magnier added.
Victoria's Burnewang North Pastoral, supporting the sale with their inaugural draft, had a great day's selling with all eight of their lots offered selling at an average price of almost $113,000.
The top seller from Burnewang was their Pierro colt from a half sister to Mitraad and Combat Kitty who sold to Rhys Smith for $225,000.
During the day over $11.6 million was traded on 191 lots sold at an average price of $60,942. The clearance rate was a healthy 82 per cent. All figures across the board are well up on last year's opening day's figures.
"We're really pleased with the day's proceedings," Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said. "It's a good, solid start to the National Weanling Sale."
"There's good confidence in the market and there's a great spread of buyers on the sheets. No one is really dominating among the buyers - that is very pleasing."
"On a whole it's been a good solid day of trade," Bowditch added.
To view the results and to make an offer on a passed in lot click here.
To view a video review of Day One of the National Weanling Sale click here.
Day Two of the 2018 Gold Coast National Weanling Sale will commence at 10am (AEST) tomorrow (Friday).
SALE STATISTICS
(Day One 2017 in brackets)
Lots Catalogued: 280 (290)
Lots Sold: 191 (194)
Lots Passed In: 43 (51)
Lots Withdrawn: 46 (45)
Sale Gross: $11,640,000 ($10,535,500)
Top Price: $650,000 ($525,000)
Average Price: $60,942 ($54,307)
Median Price: $40,000 ($30,000)
Sold %: 82 (79)
DAY ONE TOP SELLERS
$650,000 - Fastnet Rock-Diademe colt (Lot 138)
Vendor: Coolmore Australia / Buyer: Boomer Bloodstock (Qld)
$625,000 - Vancouver-Better Alternative filly (Lot 66)
Coolmore Australia / China Horse Club (China)
$340,000 - Fastnet Rock-Amazing Beauty filly (Lot 34)
Coolmore Australia / Jadeskye Racing/Samaco Racing (NSW)
$300,000 - Choisir-Joile's Shinju filly (Lot 239)
Coolmore Australia / Belmont Bloodstock Agency (Vic)
$225,000 - Pierro-Feeling Positive colt (Lot 171)
Burnewang North Pastoral / Rhys Smith (Vic)
LEADING BUYERS
(ranked by total spend)
$650,000 - Boomer Bloodstock - 1 lot
$625,000 - China Horse Club - 1 lot
$460,000 - Dermot Farrington Bloodstock - 4 lots
$390,000 - Redwall Bloodstock - 4 lots
$380,000 - Justin Casse - 3 lots
LEADING VENDORS
(ranked by gross)
$2,540,000 - Coolmore Australia - 10 sold
$902,000 - Burnewang North Pastoral - 8 sold
$675,000 - Aquis Farm - 13 sold
$555,000 - Segenhoe Stud - 6 sold
$505,000 - Newgate Farm - 9 sold
