Magic Millions bloodstock manager Barry Bowditch has once again come to the party for Bloodline readers by naming his top 10 yearlings selling at the Gold Coast extravaganza beginning on January 11.
Bowditch, however, has reservations because of the fact a record 1030 yearlings are catalogued, with 816 lots going under the hammer from the Book 1 selection.
"The list of 10 yearlings as requested means that our selection panel have not been able to inspect all the yearlings scheduled to sell, so there is a chance we may have missed something," he said.
"We do have the best ever lot of yearlings selling with vendors realising what a remarkable strike rate the Magic Millions has for producing winners including the last two Slipper winners Vancouver and Capitalist."
New career: It's a Dundeel was a star on the racetrack and is expected to become a big success as a stallion, too.Credit:Damian Shaw Photography
Bowditch has listed seven colts and three fillies among a top 10 he predicts will be in huge demand from local and international buyers.
The yearlings are in lot order and consist of three by Fastnet Rock, two by Snitzel and one each by Redoute's Choice, Exceed And Excel, I Am Invincible, Not A Single Doubt and Dundeel, with the latter being the only first-season stallion to make the list.
LOT 232: Colt by Dundeel from Miss Finland is one of three Arrowfield Stud yearlings in the elite list. Miss Finland is an 11-time winner, including five group 1s, with earnings north of $4.6 million. Dundeel won six group 1s and this is a marriage made in heaven. Dundeel's progeny sold strongly as weanlings and he is a stallion destined for great heights.
LOT 271: Colt by Fastnet Rock from No Evidence Needed from the Baramul draft. No Evidence Needed enjoyed a stellar racetrack career winning on six occasions, with two group 1 placings as well. Her pedigree page is full of black-type performers.
LOT 336: Colt by Fastnet Rock from group 1-winning American mare Pure Fun and is one of five yearlings selling next month from US-bred mares for Kia-Ora Stud, which has invested millions in importations. This is Pure Fun's first foal and a very likeable colt.
LOT 348: Colt by Snitzel from the Encosta De Lago mare Quench The Thirst and offered by Australia's most progressive farm, Newgate. Snitzel is the hottest stallion in Australia and Bowditch believes this colt has the potential to become the sales-topper.
LOT 583: Filly by Snitzel from Your Life Style which is another Newgate offering. Has a similar pedigree to lot 348 and Snitzel's fillies include Sweet Idea, Snitzerland, Chance Bye and Oakleigh Girl.
LOT 604: Filly by Exceed And Excel from Acquired, a daughter of O'Reilly and winner of seven races selling from the Kitchwin Hills draft. Her female pedigree page is boosted with the presence of Hips Don't Lie and Golden Slipper placegetter Lake Geneva, which were super impressive juveniles.
LOT 607: Colt by I Am Invincible from Admirelle and bred from Milburn Creek in the Southern Highlands. He's a half-brother to Sizzling, which has his first crop of yearlings selling at next month's sales and is a group 1-winning two-year-old of the T.J. Smith Stakes at Eagle Farm. I Am Invincible's progeny are carrying all before them this season and the Admirelle colt is an imposing individual.
LOT 619: Colt by Not A Single Doubt from an Irish-bred mare Allariza (by Linamix) and is another from Arrowfield's big draft. The mare's two-year-old Azazel (by Snitzel) has already been successful this season for trainer Tony McEvoy and Not A Single Doubt is one of Australia's sought-after stallions.
LOT 651: Colt by Redoute's Choice from Ballet Blue and another of Arrowfield's sellers. His dam was unraced and boasts a tremendous female line with inclusions of star WA mare Rich Haul, whose progeny includes The Heavyweight and Zedrich, two sons of Zeditave who were excellent juvenile performers.
LOT 765: Filly by Fastnet Rock from Dazzling Gazelle and is Coolmore's inclusion in Bowditch's top 10. This filly is a half-sister to the Blue Diamond and William Hill Classic winner Miracles of Life, which won more than $1.5 million on the track. She is another filly that will attract the attention of international breeders and is bound to sell powerfully.
The Bowditch list certainly is a mouth-watering bunch and once again the Magic Millions sale will be the pathfinder to what will occur in the yearling sale market for 2017 – so let the party begin!
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