Frankel takes top spots at Magic Millions Gold Coast Weanling Sale

It was a frenetic finale to the 2023 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale this afternoon when a pair of Frankel colts were sold for $925,000 and $725,000 respectively.

After prolonged bidding battles, both colts were knocked down to the bid of Sam Fairgray of Yulong Investments.

Taken from Breednet.com, Friday 19th May 2023

The $925,000 sale topping colt, from the unraced mare Upside, was presented as the star attraction of a quality draft from South Australia's Cornerstone Stud.

He is the first foal of his dam, a Muhaarar half sister to Europa Point and Harbour Watch. She is catalogued as Lot 1189 at next week's National Broodmare Sale on the Gold Coast.

Fairgray was delighted to secure the colt for Mr Yuesheng Zhang and the Yulong team.

"Obviously Frankel is a fantastic stallion and Mr Zhang has a passion for his progeny and has for a long time," Fairgray said.

"He was a lovely, great moving colt and Mr Zhang is very happy that he'll be running in the Yulong colours."

"With a colt like that, we're hopeful that he can be successful on the racetrack and end up in the stallion barn at Yulong," Fairgray added.

Only minutes after signing for the $925,000 sale topper, Fairgray and Yulong were back in the action, going to $725,000 to secure the other Frankel colt offered.

Presented by Coolmore Stud the colt from the Zoffany mare Walk This Way was a member of the supplementary catalogue as Lot 453.

"Two proper prize fights for the two lovely Frankel colts," Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said. "He is an outstanding sire and to have quality Frankels in the sale is something we're very thankful for and I am pleased the market saw them accordingly."

"On the sale topper, I think there were about six or seven (bidders) still playing above $500,000. It was a very, very good battle - it was great to watch!"

"Mr Zhang has a huge opinion of Frankel and why not?! He's probably the world's most commercial leading sire at the moment - it's great and it bodes well for the mares next week."

Across the past two days of selling at the Gold Coast over $22 million was given for 267 lots sold at an average price of over $83,000 and clearance rate of 72 per cent.

"All numbers, outside the clearance rate, are really pleasing. To have a gross that is marginally up on last year and a really healthy average of $83,000 is fantastic."

"We had 77 horses make over $100,000 and that's a big number to have at a foal sale. It just shows there's a great thirst for quality horses out there."

"It's positive for the industry and positive for next week," Bowditch added.