It will not be until well into the third day, January 11, before yearlings by highly valued international sires – Deep Impact, Frankel and Invincible Spirit – begin appearing at the Gold Coast Magic Millions sale.
Deep Impact, who is a son of the immortal Sunday Silence, was a winner of seven Group 1 races including the 2006 Japan Cup during an exceptional racing career.
He earned the title of Horse of the Year in Japan in 2005 and 2006.
Since his retirement he has been standing at the Shadai Stallion Station in Hokkaido.
Among his progeny is George Ryder Stakes-Gr.1 winner Real Impact, who is now standing at Arrowfield Stud and is well represented in the Magic Millions catalogue.
Another is Tosen Stardom, who won the Toorak Handicap-Gr.1 and Emirates Stakes-Gr.1 and is now in residence at Woodside Park Stud.
Deep Impact was standing at a fee approximately equivalent to $A312,000 when mated with the Redoute’s Choice mare Grito who subsequently produced the colt who is Lot 635.
Just six Lots later comes the first of three yearlings by Frankel, who proved himself to be one of the greatest racehorses of all time.
In the hands of the late Henry Cecil Frankel, who is by champion sire Galileo, was unbeaten in his 14 racecourse appearances.
His victories featured races such as the 2000 Guineas, the Juddmonte International Stakes and Champion Stakes.
Frankel headed world thoroughbred rankings in 2011 and 2012, was European Horse of the Year in 2011 and 2012, European Champion Three-Year-Old Colt in 2011 as well as European Champion Older Horse in 2012, when he had a Timeform rating of 147.
Since his retirement Frankel has been standing at Banstead Manor Stud in Suffolk where he was commanding a fee of some $A220,000 when mated with Harlech, by Pivotal, whose resulting filly is Lot 641.
Two colts by Frankel from Kahara River, by Bushranger, and from Kiss Moon, by Malibu Moon, follow as Lots 706 and 717 respectively.
The Irish National Stud stallion Invincible Spirit, by Green Desert, also adds lustre to the list of stallions.
A brilliant performer Invincible Spirit was a winner of the Haydock Sprint Cup-Gr.1 and was rated as Joint Champion Older Male Sprinter in Ireland in 2007.
He is the sire of six stallions – Cable Bay, I Am Invincible, National Defence, Shalaa, Territories and Zebedee – currently standing in Australia.
I Am Invincible has, of course, been hugely successful being Leading Australian First Season Sire in 2013-14 and his progeny features the likes of Brazen Beau – now in turn sire of Golden Slipper Stakes favourite Tassort – I Am A Star, Viddora and Hellbent.
Invincible Spirit was standing in Co. Kildare at a fee close to $170,000 when mated with Next Meeting, whose filly goes under the hammer on the Saturday night, January 12, as Lot 858.
