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Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale - Vendor In Focus
I want to focus on the first yearlings by Pariah (Redoute’s Choice) because he’s new to the market and Magic Millions have really backed their judgement of his progeny with a great line-up of 28 lots, offered by 15 vendors, with eight in Arrowfield’s draft.
No-one knows the Redoute’s Choice (Danehill) branch of the Danehill (Danzig) sire-line better than we do and we also co-bred, raised, sold and raced Pariah so we know him very well too.
He was an outstanding type from day one, an excellent first foal out of the city-winning mare, Secluded (Hussonet) from a high-achieving Australian family. He expressed everything we expected to see from the Redoute’s Choice/Hussonet cross: loads of quality, and an early-maturing profile in a beautifully balanced, medium-sized physical package.
Like Redoute’s himself, and other sons Redoute’s Snitzel, Not A Single Doubt and Beneteau, Pariah was genuinely precocious, strong enough mentally and physically to handle juvenile racing and able to win the Canonbury Stakes in record time at his first start. He then stepped up to run a close second in the Blue Diamond Stakes and trained on at three to win the San Domenico Stakes. After that I think we mis-read him slightly by trying to stretch him out in distance when he was, like Not A Single Doubt, a true short-course sprinter who loved to ping off firm ground. Learning that probably made him even more attractive to us.
Supported by what we’ve learned about Redoute’s Choice and his sons, the backing of James Harron and his clients, and breeders’ confidence in the sire-line, Pariah has served very good books of mares that suit him and I think buyers are seeing the benefit of that.
What’s been most exciting with his first crop is their development, especially as weanlings through the winter, so by the time Magic Millions began looking at them, they were generating a lot of positive comments. And because Pariah was launched on a $20,000 fee, I think they’ll be perceived as eminently buyable for a wide range of clients – a big plus for a first season sire.
Here are three Pariahs at Magic Millions we think are very typical of what he is leaving:
Lot 44: Pariah - Amerindia (Dubawi) colt – Bhima Stud
Lot 839: Pariah - Streep (Animal Kingdom) colt - Arrowfield Stud
Lot 1107: Pariah - Sultry Dreamer (Dream Ahead) filly – Arrowfield Stud
How do you feel the 2021 sale will measure compared to previous renewals?
I’m amazed I’m saying this, but the resilience shown by Australian thoroughbred industry this year, the undiminished appeal of our domestic racing and the recovery of global commodity markets give me some confidence that we can come close to matching the sale’s 2020 results.
How do you think the current COVID pandemic will affect the sale?
That said, I am a little worried about the middle market, which is generally supported by owners who are more likely to have had their employment or their businesses disrupted this year. We’ll certainly be sharpening our pencil on horses in that category, because we don’t like taking horses home, and we’re keen to maintain the 90 per cent or better clearance rate we usually achieve at Magic Millions.
What do you think are the positives to the pandemic on the way that sales are conducted?
There’s no doubt it has fast-tracked the use of technology by sale companies, vendors and buyers, as it has in many other industries. People have gained confidence in operating remotely and become more comfortable with it, thanks to a lot of hard work across the whole industry. However, I think it’s also increased the premium on live sales, and made us all appreciate how valuable and special that format really is.
What is the thing you like most about the Gold Coast Sale?
We all love the festive atmosphere at Magic Millions Gold Coast, as the first sale of the season, in a holiday paradise, and Gerry, Katie, Barry and their team work very hard to make the business fun for everyone. And this year especially it will be wonderful to catch up with other people in person, even with sensible social distancing and sanitiser!