Tim Wilson of First Light Racing rated a daughter of Spirit Of Boom as the 'best filly' in Book 2 of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and he backed his judgment when he teamed up with trainer Tony Gollan to purchase the youngster for a session-topping AU$170,000 (approx. US$104,526) Jan. 12.
Offered by Eureka Stud, where Spirit Of Boom resides, the filly is out of three-time winner Argie Bargie (Snitzel), whose first foal, the Robert Heathcote-trained Celestial Blaze (Husson), broke his maiden at Eagle Farm Dec. 21.
"I loved her—she was the pick of Book 2 for us, I was surprised she was in Book 2 to be fair to her. She's gorgeous, strong and very correct. I have noted down in my catalog that she was 'sexy' so she's obviously going to be a very attractive filly for her owners," Wilson told ANZ Bloodstock News.
The filly will head into training with Gollan, who is well known for his aptitude for handling the progeny of his former stable star Spirit Of Boom.
"I didn't think I'd have to go that high, but we've done all the horses for tomorrow as well," Wilson said. "She's gone to the top of our budget, but our Queensland stable is flying with the horses we've got up here."
On his Book 1 purchases, which included an AU$900,000 Frankel colt, Wilson said: "We got seven yearlings in Book 1. It's been such a successful sale for us and we've come in to target fillies out of well-credentialed mares.
"Obviously, we got a Frankel colt, who we broke the rules for. But we got six gorgeous fillies and I think this has been our best Magic Millions sale, but the proof will be in the pudding."
On the first day of Book 2, Eureka Stud sold five yearlings for an aggregate of AU$370,000 and head of nominations and bloodstock Harry McAlpine said he expected the session-topping filly to be well received by the buyers.
"We thought she'd sell well—she had a nice page and a bit of elegance," he said. "First Light, while they were looking at other horses in our draft, kept having their attention drawn away to this filly who was being paraded for other people—I couldn't get them to focus on any other horse but her, so it is nice they followed through and bought her."
Given the new format, with only 120 lots cataloged, comparisons are difficult, but across the late afternoon and evening session, over AU$3.35 million (approx. US$2.06 million) was traded on 70 lots sold at an average price of AU$47,900 (approx. US$29,452) and a clearance rate of 66%.
"I thought the average (price) today was great," Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch said. "To have an average of about $48,000 was well in line with our expectations leading in.
"Vendors were very willing to meet the market. A clearance rate of 66%—it's a bit below where we needed to be.
"There's plenty of value to be found. When the right horse enters the ring there's plenty of people willing to bid on them."
"It's a very genuine and realistic market.
The final day of the 2025 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Day 2 of Book 2, will be held from 10 a.m. (local time) Jan. 13.
