THE Gold Coast Magic Millions yearling sale has defied the ‘economic gravity’ of the negative levers of rising interest rates, declines in housing values and a local inflation rate of 6.3% to signal a strong start to the yearling sale season in the southern hemisphere.

Any doubt had been shrugged off in the first two sessions as buyers fought hard across all five sessions for quality yearlings with the previous benchmark of A$1.9 million bettered four times.

“When you have a catalogue of 979 horses and you’re clearing almost 89% it’s a big effort considering the volume of horses you’ve got and going into the unknown from an economic perspective,” said Magic Million’s Barry Bowditch.

“The clearance rate held, average stayed pretty similar and we’ll end up with a gross similar to last year and in the current climate it’s a really pleasing result.”

Magnier’s bidding

With Book 1 grossing just shy of $300 million, averaging $292,352 and producing a median of $210,000, it was again Tom Magnier’s bidding that topped the sale.

Having gone to $1.9 million for an I Am Invincible colt last year, he returned to the well, securing Segenhoe’s I Am Invincible colt out of the Fastnet Rock mare Anaheed for A$2.7 million.

“We’ve got a great colts’ syndicate,” said Magnier. “So it is really exciting to get him and we’ll take him home and work out what we’re doing.

“There’s loads of quality and if he can do anything like we think he can then he could be a very good horse to have in the stallion barn at Coolmore.

“You walk around the sales complex and some horses just stand out. You didn’t have to open the catalogue page when you saw this fellow.”

Stallions

Beyond the individual sales what really stood out is the contribution of four stallions; I Am Invincible, Zoustar, Snitzel and Written Tycoon.

Between them they contributed $83.74 million or nearly 28% of the sale’s gross from 19% of the yearlings sold.

The clear ‘king of the sale’ is I Am Invincible, his 44 yearlings to sell grossed $30 million at an average of $736,136, as they filled six of the top 10 sales. Not surprisingly his 2022 fee at Yarraman Park was $247,500.

DONEGAL’S Martin Harley is facing an extended stint on the sidelines after a nasty fall at Doomben last Thursday.

His mount Deferential clipped heels with another runner throwing Harley over the top. “Martin is an international Group 1 jockey and such a good bloke that we want people to know he’s okay,” said Brisbane Racing Club vice chairman Richard Morrison.

Full recovery

“His injuries will take time to heal, but he should make a full recovery. They have done the full body scan now, and there are multiple fractures, including two neck fractures. There are fractures to the C0 and C1, just at the bottom of the skull, where it joins the neck.

“The biggest positive to come out of it is that he has escaped any spinal cord damage. He has a fractured shoulder and some busted ribs. Nothing is 100% certain at this stage but it looks like he could avoid surgery.”

New Zealand \ Stuart McCormick

Telegraph Stakes (Group 1)

THE Ken and Bev Kelso-trained Levante completed back-to-back triumphs in the Group 1 Telegraph over Trentham’s 1,200 metres on Saturday.

Third to Imperatriz and Babylon Berlin in the Group 1 Railway on New Year’s Day, that race’s placegetters fought out a mighty tussle over the final furlong as the All Too Hard mare Babylon Berlin had to settle for a second consecutive Group 1 runners-up cheque, beaten a long neck. Third was the Keano gelding Ifndoubtgetout.

“It was a little bit different this year as we had to sit back on the inside and then make our luck,” said jockey Ryan Elliot.

“Once she got out into the clear and gets rolling she is really just so strong through the line. I didn’t think I was going to get past the other mare at the 100m, but she just has that ability to dig deep and find a way.

“This is great for me to win another Group 1 and I’m just so glad I can do it for Bev and Ken and all the team.”

It was a welcome trip to the races for Bev Kelso who has not enjoyed the best of health recently. “That was just huge as every time she goes out, she is just such a trier,” said Bev. “She never runs a bad race and she sure does make it exciting.”

THE So You Think gelding Cognito bullocked his way through a packed field to put a stamp of class on a well taken win in Group 2 Wellington Guineas at Trentham.

Ridden by Opie Bosson the Te Akau-trained three-year-old dived left and right before sprinting clear to defeat the Super Easy gelding Duncan Creek and the Vadamos Missy Moola. “He’s a very good horse.” said jockey Opie Bosson. “I haven’t had a lot to do with him before, but I’ve been riding him in a few gallops of late, and he’s really given me a nice feel. He’s still learning, but he’s a very, very good horse.”

A A$165,000 Gold Coast Magic Millions yearling purchase by David Ellis, Cognito will now be focused towards the March Group 1 features of the New Zealand Derby and Levin Classic.

Cognito became the second Wellington Guineas winner in the last three years for Te Akau Racing, who also won the race in 2021 with Need I Say More.

Bred by Gerry Harvey, Cognito is the best of three winners from Lady Primrose, an unraced More Than Ready daughter of Zabeel stakes-winner Primrose Sands. He is the 47th stakes winner for So You Think.

MARTIN Harley is facing an extended stint on the sidelines after a nasty fall at Doomben last Thursday.

His mount Deferential clipped heels with another runner throwing Harley over the top. “Martin is an international Group 1 jockey and such a good bloke that we want people to know he’s okay,” said Brisbane Racing Club vice chairman Richard Morrison.

“His injuries will take time to heal, but he should make a full recovery. They have done the full body scan now, and there are multiple fractures, including two neck fractures. There are fractures to the C0 and C1, just at the bottom of the skull, where it joins the neck.

“The biggest positive to come out of it is that he has escaped any spinal cord damage. He has a fractured shoulder and some busted ribs. Nothing is 100% certain at this stage but it looks like he could avoid surgery.”