Records tumbled in the first hour of the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale Feb. 20 when a son of Playing God was purchased by local businessman Idan Young for a record price of AU$450,000 (US$287,598, AU$1=US$0.64), making him the most expensive colt ever bought at the sale and also handed the stallion a new benchmark price.
Cataloged as Lot 15, the colt was offered by Alwyn Park Stud on behalf of his breeders, Robert and Ann Anderson's Anita Vale Stud, and he will head into training with Perth-based Daniel Morton.
Playing God was the buzz stallion heading into the sale and his stock proved popular throughout the day, with the stallion responsible for three of the day's four top lots. At the close of trade, the Darling View Thoroughbreds resident finished the sale with 20 lots having sold for a leading aggregate of AU$3,085,000 and recorded an average of AU$154,250.
A colt by Zoustar prevented Playing God from filling the top three spaces, with Neville Parnham paying Ridgeport Holdings AU$400,000 for the youngster, while Parnham, who trained Playing God, also forked out AU$300,000 for a colt by his former stable star. The duo headlined Parnham's 10 purchases which saw him crowned leading buyer, having spent AU$1.42 million Thursday.
At the close of trade Magic Millions reported that 152 lots had sold at a healthy clearance rate of 85%, which is an improvement at the same point 12 months earlier when 143 sold at a clearance of 79%.
The aggregate dropped 6 points to AU$13,343,500 (US$8,527,915), while the average also took a hit, falling over 10% and sitting at AU$88,368 (US$56,577). The median was recorded at AU$70,000 (US$44,737), having been AU$80,000 at the same point in 2024.
David Houston, manager of Magic Millions' Perth operation, said, given the current economic climate, he was pleased with Thursday's results.
"It's very strong today," he said. "Everybody pretty much said how strong it was, they were battling to buy the horses. Given that across the country things have probably softened a bit, we have had a very good sale."
The day's top-priced Playing God is out of the unraced mare Clear Blue Sky who is herself a half sister to the fellow Anderson-bred Portland Sky, whose dead-head with Celebrity Queen in the 2021 Oakleigh Plate (G1) and a brace of group 3 wins earned him a spot on the Widden Stud roster.
Young told ANZ Bloodstock News that the colt stood out during the inspections and was keen to snare him.
"I've seen a few (Playing Gods) in my time, but he floats," he said. "He doesn't walk, he floats. The Andersons breed and everything they touch turns into gold, there's only so many you can look at and he just stood out to me and I just had to have him.
"I didn't think it would make that much, but I wasn't going to walk away and miss a Derby winner, a Railway winner. I think he'll get a mile and beyond, but we'll find out, time will tell. But as an individual, he's the best I've seen for a while."
