Musk Creek Farm is hopeful of strong returns as it offers four choice broodmares at the Aug. 27 Magic Millions Virtual Sale, the first edition of an auction the Victorian farm is keen to support.
A total of 46 lots will go under the hammer online from 2 p.m. including 32 mares headlined by Oakleigh Plate (G1) winner Marabi and group 2 victor Steel City.
Musk Creek is the equal top vendor by numbers, with four quality broodmares, including half sisters out of quadruple group 1 winner Divine Madonna in Deipara and Notre Dame.
Stud manager Scott Williamson said the Mornington Peninsula farm was delighted to patronise the innovative new sale.
"We're always happy to see sales companies trying new things, so we wanted to support Magic Millions doing something like this," Williamson told ANZ. "Magics are putting a lot of effort into it and it appears to be a good concept, which is part of the reason we've put four mares into the sale.
"Considering the market at the moment, I think it'll be pretty selective, but there's something for everyone and people will be able to home in on particular horses in various budget ranges."
Musk Creek offers two mares in foal, including Lot 23, Only Words, winner of the 2021 The Roses (G2) and at listed level in New Zealand.
The 7-year-old is in foal to Swettenham Stud's Toronado, who's followed on from a strong 2023-24 in which he ranked 13th on the general sires' table by shooting to fourth so far in this year's edition—and first by winners, with 23.
"Toronado is doing great things as a sire, so there's plenty of appeal there, so we thought we'd test the market and see how it responds to a group 2 winner in foal to him," Williamson said.
"Her first foal by Maurice is a really athletic, nice-walking first foal, and she's an exciting young mare, so we're hoping she'll do well, especially being in foal to such a successful stallion as Toronado. I think Toronado will make an excellent broodmare sire as well, being by High Chaparral."
Musk Creek's other in-foal offering is Lot 17, American mare Apologynotaccepted, who's carrying to Darley shuttler Pinatubo.
The 13-year-old mare won four races in the United States from six furlongs to 1 1/16 miles and was stakes placed on three occasions at grade 2 and grade 3 level.
Her progeny have already shone at yearling sales. Goodes—now a winner of one from four starts for Trent Edmonds—was bought by the Rosemont Victorian Alliance for AU$500,000 at the Gold Coast in 2022, while Plea fetched AU$550,000 there a year later, bought by Kia Ora, TFI, and Lloyd Kennewell.
Apologynotaccepted's half sister Curlin's Approval is a grade 2 winner, while her full sister Curlin's Mistress is the dam of the exciting Headline Numbers, who is 2-for-2 to start her career for Klaravich Stables and trainer Chad Brown.
"Apologynotaccepted is a mare who had a lot of ability on the track herself, has had some great sales results, and she's being offered in foal to Pinatubo, which might be something that piques people's interest," Williamson said of Darley's shuttler.
"The first yearlings by Pinatubo will be offered at sales next year. By all reports everyone liked his weanlings at the sales, and I know I was impressed by them. He could be the next Too Darn Hot off the ranks as far as success on the track goes, as a young Darley stallion down here."
