Leading buyers keen to buy up at top Australian broodmare sale
Around another $34 million changed hands on Wednesday's second day of the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, but one of the sale's leading buyers has added an interesting perspective to the offering.
Irish agent Dermot Farrington said, despite mares selling at an average of almost $220,000, Australasian mares were 'relatively cheap' compared to other parts of the world.
Speaking after buying the third most expensive lot of the second session, Group 3 Sunshine Coast Guineas winner Baccarat Baby in-foal to Dirty Work for $900,000, Farrington said a mare with her credentials could expect to go for more on other parts of the globe.
"These mares are relatively cheap compared to the rest of the world," he said.
"The model down here is as near as you want to get to perfect as far as prizemoney is concerned. Stallions make a lot of money off the track and you can get a lot of money for a good racehorse to go to stud.
"So, the mares, they're still good value here and I think in the future there's probably room for mares to get more expensive in this country."
That's despite Away Game (Snitzel) selling for $4 million, Tofane (Ocean Park) $3.1 million and six others for at least $1 million on Day 1.
Tangier (Medaglia d'Oro), a sister to Astern and half-sister to Alizee, was the lone seven-figure lot of Day 2 when knocked down for $1.3m, while Reelem In Ruby (Pierro) sold for $950,000.
After Tuesday's race fillies and mares section and Wednesday's first day of broodmares $78,431,500 has been traded at an average of $219,696 with a median of $120,000.
Farrington was happy with $900,000 for Baccarat Baby, who is a half-sister to three-time Group 1-winning Australian Cup heroine Duais and Nicconi mare Amiche, who sold for $380,000 on Day 1 of the sale.
"It's a happening family with some really good updates there," Farrington said of the Spendthrift Farm mare.
"She's one of the mares in the sale that had great performance, the half (Duais) is doing so well and there was another half-sister who sold yesterday for $380,000.
Baccarat Baby was the third big buy for Farrington, who paid $1.7 million for Lighthouse and $1 million for Swift Witness on Day 1.
All up, Farrington spent $4,225,000 across six lots at an average of $777,500.
The National Broodmare Sale concludes on Thursday with lots for sale including Doncaster Mile winner Nettoyer in-foal to Capitalist, Zoustar's Group 2 Tristarc Stakes winner Madam Rouge in-foal to I Am Invincible and Fantasy, a half-sister to the dam of Magical, who is in-foal to Frankel.
