Alwyn Park’s John Andrew and Darling View’s champion sire Playing God have taken centre stage for the second year running at the Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale.
Andrew topped Day 1 trade selling a Playing God colt from Clear Blue Sky (Lot 15) for $450,000 to locally-based automotive entrepreneur Idan Young. Alwyn Park offered him as agent for Anita Park Stud owners Robert and Ann Anderson and it set the tone for a positive opening session in the Swan Valley
Andrew told ANZ Bloodstock he thought the colt would be well received by the buying bench but the eventual figure exceeded his expectations. “His dam is a half-sister to an Oakleigh Plate winner (Portland Sky) and he’s a cracking type and a good walking horse.
“He’s staying with Dan Morton here in Perth and that’s a massive plus for Western Australia. He didn’t turn a hair despite the number of times he was out of the box for inspections. He took it all in his stride.”
Alwyn Park sold 8 lots for $885,000 at an average of $110,625 and resident stallion Maschino secured second spot behind Playing God among local sires on the leaderboard for averages (5 sold at $117,500).
Maschino is also set for another black-type update with star mare Bonjoy who has opened an even-money favourite for the LR Detonator Stakes (1800m) at Ascot this Saturday.
Andrew headlined the 2024 Magic Millions carnival as vendor of Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Big Shots (Sizzling) and Magic Millions 3YO Trophy winner Bondi Bubbles (Bondi). A TBWA Life Member, has was also saluted for 50 years service to the industry going back to the 1974 Yearling Sale.
Playing God had smashed the Magic Millions Yearling Sale record last year when his Mungrup-drafted filly out of Cosmah Domination (Oratorio) sold for $625,000 after Neville Parnham was outbid by Melbourne-based agent Sheamus Mills.
Parnham was back in the fray on Thursday and fared much better this time around buying a Zoustar – Leitfaden colt (Lot 73) for $400,000 from Ridgeport Holdings and a Playing God – High Aims colt (Lot 51) for $300,000 from Lynward Park.
Playing God had 20 lots sell on Day 1 for turnover of $3.08 million at an average of $154,250.
Parnham purchased a half-dozen yearlings by his former Group 1 galloper and was taken by the colt from High Aims who is a half-brother to Lynward Park’s black-type homebred Queen Alina (Mahuta).
“He reminds me of Playing God although not quite a replica. When I buy a Playing God, that’s what I generally look for, something that replicates the stallion in some way. It might be the head or it might be their shape,” Parnham explained. “He’s a beautiful horse and I wasn’t going home without him.”
Magic Millions reported overall Day 1 turnover of $13.4 million at an average of almost $90,000 off a clearance rate of 86%. “They’re really good numbers and that’s fantastic for the breeders here,” Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said. “Playing God has had a super sale and rightly so. He’s an outstanding sire.
“It’s our second highest grossing Book 1 in WA and the local buyers really do get in and support their own market. They’ve got a great product here and they love the Westspeed Bonuses.”
Book 2 of the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale will commence at 10am (WA time) on Friday.