Coolmore secure seven-figure son of Darley shuttler Exceed And Excel

The market showed remarkable resilience with three seven-figure lots and 23 lots exceeding A$500,000 (£262,000/€309,000) on day one of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale on Wednesday, despite the absence of some notable buyers and bushfires continuing to wreak havoc across Australia.

The opening session was highlighted by a late flurry of action, with Coolmore showing its commitment to the local industry by securing the day's A$1.1 million (£576,000/€679,000) top lot - a colt by Darley stallion Exceed And Excel - eight lots before the close of play.

Tom Magnier targeted the colt, who was bred by Nick Wakim and offered by Milburn Creek, as part of Coolmore's bid to land a stallion prospect at the yearling stage, rather than off the track when they are considerably more expensive.

"He was an exceptional physical, a very nice type out of a Frankel mare. All the judges were on him, so we'll take him home, break him in and see where we go from there," said Magnier.

"Things are very positive in this country, prize-money is very high, so it is a great place to race horses. We are out there now to find colts and hopefully we get a bit of luck along the way. For the top colts this week you're going to have to pay for them."

Magnier continued: "John and Trish Muir of Milburn Creek have got a really good farm and are very good breeders, so when they put a quality colt in their draft everyone takes them very seriously."

Tom Magnier - who signed for the top lot - and Coolmore Australia business manager Des HernonCredit: Magic Millions

Catalogued as , the colt is the first foal out of the unraced Frankel mare Dream In Colour, who was purchased for Wakim by Peter Ford Thoroughbreds for A$750,000 at the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale. The mare is a half-sister to the stakes-placed Exceed And Excel mare Chamarel and a daughter of the South Australian Group 3 winner Colour, by More Than Ready.

Wakim said: "He's been a cracking colt from day one at home and it's a fantastic result. Milburn Creek have done a fantastic job with him and he's been the best of our colts this year.

"He'd over 30 hits on the x-rays and about 165 views. He was very popular and we knew he was going to be a nice colt. We've the mare and the sister at home and she will race with me."

Coolmore was also in action supporting the offspring of its own high-profile first-season sire American Pharoah, with a colt added to the racing operation for A$850,000.

The colt, catalogued as lot 237, is the sixth foal out of the unraced Danehill Dancer mare Derelique, who is the dam of the Group 2 winner Man From Uncle and the Sydney winner Napoleon Solo, both by Uncle Mo.

"He's got loads of quality and everybody's been talking about the American Pharoahs since we arrived at the complex," said Magnier.

"We're delighted to have a Triple Crown horse down here. He got a great book of mares and obviously the results are being seen here today - it's very exciting.

"We're going to be needing a little bit of luck going forward, but he was a very nice physical... and hopefully it will eventuate on the track. Obviously the shuttle sires had a great year and I think you will be seeing their influence in Australia for years to come."

Two millionaires for I Am Invincible

I Am Invincible, Australia's highest-priced stallion by service fee, was responsible for eight horses to sell for A$400,000 or more on Wednesday, including two of the three seven-figure lots.

The most expensive of those was a Segenhoe Stud-consigned son of Group 2-winning Zabeel mare Adrift who was purchased by Chris Waller's long-time agent Guy Mulcaster for A$1.05m.

Segenhoe Stud's Peter O'Brien admitted he thought the prized lot could have fetched a higher price.

"I honestly thought he would make a bit more than that, but at the end of the day if you get seven figures you've got to be happy," said O'Brien.

"He's going to a great home where he'll get every chance. To have a horse go to a trainer with the quality of Chris Waller is everything you want."

Catalogued as lot 69, the colt is the first living foal out of Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes sprint winner Adrift, a half-sister to Karaka Million winner Xiong Feng, by Iffraaj, and from the family of multiple Group 1 winner Maldivian, by Zabeel.

Zabeel is the damsire of 39 Group 1 winners in total including Samantha Miss and Dundeel.

A yearling is sold in front of a packed Magic Millions sales complexCredit: Dave Goudie / Eagle Image / Magic Millions

The colt was sold by Segenhoe Stud on behalf of Fairway Thoroughbreds' John Camilleri, who raced Adrift after buying her as a yearling for NZ$370,000 in 2013.

"She's a young mare who James Harron purchased for John at Karaka, and she's been very unfortunate with this being her first live foal out of four - all due to bad luck - but now she is back in foal to Merchant Navy," said O'Brien.

"She's not a straightforward mare breeding-wise, but she won a Group 2 and not many Zabeel mares win over six furlongs and beat Winx at the same time. I thought there would be more bidders involved but it looked like there were only two bidders and I honestly thought there would be five or six.

"Initially I'm a bit deflated as I thought he would make a lot more, but at the end of the day you have to be happy and John is delighted."

Despite the significant price the colt brought, Mulcaster believes he would have made more had he been sold later in the auction.

"We liked him on the farm and we liked him all week. He was the target horse and we were lucky enough to be able to get him," said Mulcaster.

"Segenhoe has done a great job with him and he has just kept on improving and takes it all in his stride. He was just a lovely horse so we're very happy."

Sale figures - day one

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