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Secured by William Tsang for $348,000 during TFI Gelding Unreserved Reduction
Two-time winning three-year-old Lammer (Swiss Ace) is Hong Kong bound after topping Friday's Magic Millions Online Sale (5-9 Sep).
Hong Kong based owner William Tsang went to $348,000 to secure gelding who has won two of his four career starts, his last win coming at Doomben last weekend for former trainer Kacy Fogden.
Lammer was one of 21 lots offered as part of the TFI Gelding Unreserved Reduction Sale, a draft that included the second top seller, Merchant Prince (Written Tycoon), who is also bound for Hong Kong.
Trained by Peter Moody, Merchant Prince has won once and placed in two of seven career starts and was bought by Jamie Richards in partnership with Andrew Williams Bloodstock and Lucky Forever Syndicate for $250,000.
"He's a really nice type of horse and we're delighted to get him," Richards said from Hong Kong. "I'd been in discussion with the TFI team about the horse when the sale was announced.
"Thankfully we had a group of people up here that were looking for a PP, so it's worked out really well. These type of reduction sales, when the horses have been gelded, do present a genuine opportunity for Hong Kong buyers to get involved.
"He had a good race record and I think he is open for significant improvement now that's he's been gelded and he's by a champion sire."
Richards said Merchant Prince will have a good break in Queensland before heading to Hong Kong later in the year.
"We are absolutely delighted with today's results," TFI's racing and breeding manager Sally Williams said. "The Magic Millions Team have done a terrific job reaching a diverse buying bench.
"The online format complemented by our on-site inspections has proved to be incredibly successful and the prices we achieved today were reflective of that.
"Thank you to everyone who expressed interest in our offerings and we wish the purchasers the very best of luck with their new acquisitions.
"We look forward to following them and no doubt will see many winners," Williams added.
Exciting broodmare prospect Rip Em Up (Rip Van Winkle) was another lot to sell well, bought by Trilogy Racing for $248,000.
The group performed half-sister to Group 1 winner Pondarosa Miss (High Chaparral) was offered by Go Racing.
"We are rapt with today's sale of Rip Em Up," Go Racing's Albert Bosma said.
"Selling online has not affected the result, with so many good judges having the confidence to bid on her through this platform.
"Magic Millions marketed her very well and our thanks go to them and all of the people involved in getting her to sale.
"She has a terrific pedigree and I think the buyers will do very well with her in their broodmare band," Bosma added.
Earlier in the sale, the "50% off" draft of fillies offered by owner and breeder Rob Ferguson was well received by buyers across Australasia. The top seller of the draft was a Lonhro (Octagonal) filly who sold for $80,000 to John Galvin's Fortuna Racing in New Zealand.
Brett Howard of Randwick Bloodstock, representing the Ferguson draft, was pleased with the results achieved by that draft of unbroken two-year-olds.
"It's been a big effort by Magic Millions to put a sale like this together and they've bent over backwards to not only have the horses on site, but to also get the buyers to inspect them.
"We couldn't have been happier with how it all came together and the overall results," Howard added.
Across the sale 75 of the 94 lots were sold for just over $2.6 million. The average price was almost $35,000 and the clearance rate is currently 80 per cent.
"We are absolutely thrilled with the results of this week's sale, ending with some fierce bidding through to the conclusion," Magic Millions managing direct Barry Bowditch said.
"New registrations and outstanding interest clearly shows that with the right product the Magic Millions Online platform can give our sellers the very best results.
"We look forward building on the September Online Sale and gaining further confidence with local sellers and buyers," he added.
