Inspections done, clients canvassed, trainers set in place, overseas and interstate participants fed and watered, let's get ready to rumble for the Magic Millions Yearling sale on the beautiful Gold Coast beginning on Wednesday.
All of the top stallions have solid representation. In addition, the sale features a colt and filly by the North American sire sensation Tapit.
That will surely please the growing number of Americans attending the sale as the grey son of Pulpit is coming off a record-breaking year.
There has been a changing of the guard in the last few years with perennial sale-toppers Fastnet Rock and Redoute's Choice fighting off a new guard, which includes the likes of Snitzel, I Am Invincible, Not A Single Doubt, Sebring and Written Tycoon.
Vinery Stud's evergreen More Than Ready (USA) has an exceptional draft at the Gold Coast this year. We expect him to play a leading role over the four days with a colt out of Jolie Bay on day one and full-brother to Sebring on day two leading the way.
In 2016 Snitzel had the top lot at the Easter Yearling sale, Segenhoe Stud's half-brother to Winx knocked down to Gai Waterhouse Racing / J Blaxland for $2.6 million; the sale topper at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling sale, Strawberry Hill's colt out of Mirror Mirror purchased by Jadeskye Racing/Gerald Ryan for $1.6 million; the top priced lot at the Inglis Premier Yearling sale, Blue Gum Farm's Beauty World colt purchased by L Hung / Bahen Bloodstock for $700,000, and the top lot at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling sale, Golden Farm's Aussie Crawl filly purchased by Sheamus Mills Bloodstock for $230,000.
The Arrowfield Stud based champion will face some serious opposition to continue his run of sales-toppers, principally from Yarraman Park's incredibly popular I Am Invincible but also Snitzel's first crop stablemate Dundeel whose colt out of the champion Miss Finland is among the top drawcards on the ground.
The progeny of another first season sire, Zoustar, have been garnering rave reviews as has another Golden Rose winner Epaulette. Indeed Zoustar kicks off our compilation of what we believe will be the hot lots on day one.
Lot No: 9 B F Zoustar x Fast Talker by Fastnet Rock.
Out of a stakes-placed winner of three races whose stakes-winning dam Crystal Wit is a half-sister to three stakes winners including Group 1 Golden Slipper heroine Crystal Lily.
Lot No: 31 B F Snitzel x Fortune Of War by General Nediym.
Sister to this seasons Listed Debutant Stakes runner-up Spoils out of stakes-placed millionaire Sertorius and Group III winner Clifton Red.
Lot 38 B F I Am Invincible x Furline by Tale Of The Cat.
Half-sister to twice stakes-placed Smart Manoeuvre out of a stakes-placed daughter of dual Group II winner and Group I placed Umaline.
Lot No: 42 B C Pierro x Gallica by Redoute's Choice.
Half-brother to recent Warwick Farm winner Sparkle out of dual Group 1 winner.
Lot 58: CH C Snitzel x Good Weekend by Hussonet.
Dam is an unraced sister to Horse Of The Year Weekend Hussler and a half-sister to the dam of dual Group 1 winner Lucky Hussler.
Lot 72: B F Snitzel x Gypsy Robin (USA) by Daaher.
The first foal of a multiple Grade II winner in the States and was runner-up in the Grade I Test Stakes at Saratoga.
Lot 77: B C I Am Invincible x Harlem Heat by Xaar
Half-brother to Listed winner Harlem River out a winning half-sister to Group III winner Hot As Hell, Hong Kong stakes-winner Craig's Dragon and the Listed Carrington Stakes winner Flaming Hot.
Lot 80: CH F More Than Ready (USA) x Heart Ashley (USA) by Lion Heart.
Half-sister to recent Caulfield winner Ameristralia out of a Grade III winner at Aqueduct and Pimlico.
Lot 104: B C Savabeel x Illuminates by Strategic.
Half-brother to Listed winner Hursley out of 4-time stakes-winner and Group 1 placed granddaughter of the champion Travel Light.
L ot 117 B F I Am Invincible x Is Amazing by Laranto.
Half-sister to three winners out of a winner of 11 races including the Group III Roma Cup.
Lot 125: B C Dundeel x Johan's Toy by Johan Cruyff
Half-brother to multiple Group II winner and multiple Group 1 placed Toydini out of Listed winner and 3-times Group I placed half-sister to Extra Zero and Operetta Lass.
Lot 127: B C More Than Ready (USA) x Jolie Bay by Fastnet Rock.
First foal of Group II Roman Consul Stakes winner and Group I Coolmore Stud Stakes runner-up whose dam Legally Bay is a Group III winning and Group I placed half-sister to Group I winner Bonaria and Group III winner Time Out.
Lot 165 BR or GR F Tapit (USA) x Leinan (USA) by Ready's Image
Lot 232: B C Dundeel x Miss Finland by Redoute's Choice.
Half-brother to Group 1 Thousand Guineas winner Stay With Me out of 5-time Group 1 winning granddaughter of the Epsom Oaks heroine Moonshell.
