A full-sister to Darling View Thoroughbreds stallion Splintex topped Day 1 of the Magic Millions National Foal Sale at the Gold Coast on Sunday.
The opening session also saw Ascot trainer Simon Miller lead a WA buying bench that spent more than $1 million on 15 weanlings. Miller’s most expensive buy was an Ole Kirk filly from Sweet Lavender (Lot 234) for $180,000.
The Snitzel filly from NZ-bred mare Acquired (O’Reilly) topped the overall leaderboard at $550,000 to the bid of North Bloodstock’s general manager Mick Malone. Besides Splintex, she is a half-sister to LR ATC Starlight Stakes winner Invictus Salute (Exceed and Excel).
“Look at the pedigree. It’s a phenomenal family,” Malone declared. “Have a look at what they sell for out of those mares. And it’s a page that’s hard to get a hold of so we’re just rapt to be a part of it.
“She won’t be going back through the sale ring. We’re going to race her and keep her as a broodmare. I bred Splintex and Invictus Salute with Geoff Grimish and it was just a good way to get back into the family for a group of clients.
“She’s a beautiful type. She’s a great length, great scope, beautiful mover. I’ve had a little bit to do with Snitzel and, for me, she’s the sort of Snitzel that runs.”
Splintex was a Group 2 winner at Randwick (ATC Arrowfield 3YO Sprint) and Flemington (VRC Bobbie Lewis Hcp) and will stand for a $7,700 (inc GST) service fee at Darling View Thoroughbreds this year.
The first-crop Splintex yearlings sold to $100,000 at the Perth Magic Millions in February. Serpentine trainer Tony Triscari (Serpentine) outlaid six-figures for the colt from Amillionite (War Chant).
Simon Miller had purchased five foals at the Inglis Weanling Sale earlier this month and the Ole Kirk filly led another four buys at the Magic Millions National Sale on Sunday.
Ridgeport Farms owner Santo Guagliardo topped the WA contingent on the Gold Coast with an aggregate of $430,000 for colts by Toronado and Pierro plus a filly by Hellbent.
The Magic Millions National Sale continues this week with Broodmares on Tuesday and Wednesday, May 27 and 28.