Stratum full brother tops Magic Millions

Widely expected to star during the opening session of the Magic Millions Gold

Coast Yearling Sale, Hip No. 30 was purchased

by trainer Peter Moody for A$850,000 to top the day's action.

Bidding on the attractive colt, who is a full brother to 2005 Golden Slipper S.

(Aus-G1) hero and successful young sire Stratum (Redoute's Choice), kicked off at A$300,000 and

progressed quickly beyond A$500,000. It was Moody, on behalf of a "group of

stable clients," who proved most

resourceful at the finish.

"He is a nice quality colt and I thought he was the

colt of the sale," the conditioner explained. "He has an exceptional pedigree

being a brother to a Slipper winner and just an all round athletic colt."

Moody

said he was keen to buy the colt, who is out of Bourgeois (Luskin Star), and could have gone a fraction higher to secure

him at the auction.

"We would have been prepared to go a little bit more, but we

not have to thankfully," he added.

Stratum was the champion first-season sire in

Australia in 2009-2010 and was represented by a Slipper winner of his own last

year in the

form of his daughter Crystal Lily.

The results sheets showed a hodgepodge of buyers from New Zealand, South

Africa, Singapore and Ireland, including a pair of six-figure purchases from

James Harron of DeBurgh Equine. The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) has long been a loyal

customer of Magic Millions, and four colts are headed to the nation to be

prepared for their racing careers.

The HKJC acquired four youngsters for gross

receipts of A$1.32 million, the most expensive of which was Hip 193, a Flying

Spur son of Group 3 winner Fumble (Snippets), herself a

half-sister to Group 1 scorer Hard to Get (Geiger Counter). The brown colt was

consigned by Willow Park Stud, agent, and became the second-highest price seller

on the day when going for A$440,000.

Encosta de Lago was responsible for the session's leading filly, consigned as

Hip 170 by Coolmore Stud, agent. Ingham Racing made the winning A$350,000 bid on

the miss, who is a daughter of dual listed-placed Fiammarosa (Danehill), herself a full sister

to 2008 C.F. Orr S. (Aus-G1) winner Shinzig.

Session one of the Gold Coast sale more than held its own, statistically

speaking, with a slight increase in the average price versus 2010 and just a

5-percent decrease in the median price. Turnover was nearly A$16.7 million as

three of every four horses found homes.

Magic Millions Managing Director Stephen

Silk said he was pleased with the opening session of the auction and was looking

forward to the second session.

"It's been a satisfying day for both

buyers and vendors," Silk reported. "It did seem to be a buyer's market -- I think

there was some great value buying. We were pleased with some strong

international bidding -- particularly from the Hong Kong Jockey Club which has

been a strong supporter of the Magic Millions Yearling Sale over recent years."

This year's Gold Coast sale is also providing an avenue to help those

affected by torrential rains and flooding in Queensland, Australia. Four of Australia's leading studs have donated stallion nominations for the

2011 breeding season and those seasons will be auctioned off this coming Saturday prior to the

start of the fourth session of the Gold Coast sale.

Emirates Park Stud is

offering a season to Al Maher, while Arrowfield Stud will

auction a nomination to Flying Spur. A season to High Chaparral

(Ire) is available from Coolmore Stud, and Darley Stud has a

season to Lonhro up for auction.

"We have all been deeply saddened by the loss of life and

property in so many parts of Queensland," Coolmore's Tom Magnier said. "A huge number of people in rural and

urban Queensland are suffering through the most appalling and frightening set of

circumstances due to the floods and many people now find themselves desperately

in need of support.

"The Thoroughbred breeding and racing community has a strong

tradition of rallying in times of crisis, and we are in a position to be able to

support those many people suffering in these times. We urge people to attend the

auction and bid."

Magic Millions is also accepting donations on the sales

grounds.

For complete results of the sale please visit

www.magicmillions.com.au.