Australia, 30 May 2008

The Magic Millions National Sale will conclude with a general session today following a successful third session of the select component of the sale on Thursday.

Buyers from around Australia and abroad competed for an outstanding selection of youngsters will prices of up to $310,000.

The top price came when Melbourne based agent Damon Gabbedy signed for a colt by Danehill's shuttle son Oratorio under his Belmont Bloodstock Agency banner.

"Just an outstanding individual," Gabbedy said. "He'd be the nicest weanling I've seen anywhere this year. He's by a very exciting first season sire and I purchased him for a new client," he added. Gabbedy said his client would decide later whether the colt would be auctioned again as a yearling or be retained as a racehorse.

The top priced colt of the day was offered at the sale by breeder, George Fraser of Ilala Stud.

"Right from the time he was foaled he's been an absolutely outstanding individual," Fraser commented. "I thought he could make a good price - but $310,000 is just a brilliant result." The price is clearly the highest attained by any horse sold by the Hunter Valley based Ilala Stud.

"The mare slipped last season, but after producing such an outstanding foal by Oratorio we booked her back in to visit him again this season," Fraser pointed out.

After three days of fierce competition on some of Australia's best weanlings, the sales gross was pushed to a record $19,581,750.

The average price of $46,846 was also a new record for the Southern Hemisphere's premier sale for weanlings.

Magic Millions managing director David Chester said he was delighted with how the past three days of the sale had gone.

"With a record aggregate and average price and a really healthy clearance rate we are definitely pleased," Chester said.

"Quarantine and agistment issues with horses getting back to New Zealand because of EI has affected the sale I'm sure - they were just so much more active across all price ranges last year."

"To have buyers from New Zealand, Singapore, France, Ireland and the United States, the sale has really earned its status as one of the finest in the world."

Chester said the astute buyers would converge on the Bundall sales complex for the general session of the weanling sale from 11am (Qld time) today for a wonderful line up of youngsters.

"There's some fantastic prospects and those buyers who are sticking around are sure to be rewarded," Chester summed up.

STATISTICS
(2007 in brackets)

Lots Sold: 416 (429)
Sale Aggregate: $19,581,750 ($19,119,000)
Average Price: $46,846 ($44,566)
Top Price: $700,000 ($1,150,000)
Lots Withdrawn: 110 (88)
Lots Passed: 83 (38)
Lots Catalogued: 611 (555)
Sold %: 83.43 (92)