Darling View Thoroughbreds led Western Australian vendors when Book 1 of the Gold Coast Magic Millions concluded on Saturday evening.
The Mundijong nursery sold a Not A Single Doubt filly through the Attunga Stud draft to Astute Bloodstock (FBAA) agent Louis Le Metayer for $600,000. She will be trained by Peter and Paul Snowden for owners Lustre Lodge and Greenhaven Park.
“That price doesn’t surprise me – that’s what I thought she would make,” Le Metayer said. “I identified her as a superior athlete in an extremely competitive market. We are only interested in horses that can compete at the top level and she’s among the Top 3 fillies that we rated in the Sale.
“She looks a bomb-proof filly. She’s an effortless mover with a great action and a great attitude.”
Darling View owners Clive & Brent Atwell bought her dam Scenes (Scenic) from Widden Stud for $47,500 at the 2013 Magic Millions National Mare Sale. She’s a sister to Melbourne mare Visual Displays (LR Desirable Stakes & LR Lord Stakes).
Attunga Stud owner Brian Nutt also prepped a Choisir colt for Darling View that was purchased by Hong Kong agent George Moore for $260,000. His dam Dalkeith (Encosta de Lago) is an unraced relative of Group 1 winners Assertive Lad, Assertive Lass and Reset.
Dalkeith was another bargain out of the Hunter Valley. Coolmore Stud sold her to Darling View for $60,000 at the 2014 Magic Millions National Mare Sale.
Gold Front Thoroughbreds graduate Secret Lady was far from disgraced behind Sunlight in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic on Saturday. Sold for $150,000 at last year’s Perth Magic Millions, the Choisir filly had won the Golden Gift (1100m) at Rosehill in November.
“It was a bit rough out there,” jockey Ben Melham reported after finishing fifth on Secret Lady. “But she ran an excellent race.”
Earlier on the week, Gold Front owners Alan and Sue Olive received a combined $520,000 for two first-crop yearlings by Dissident on the Gold Coast. Their filly from Mafia Miss (Mossman) was purchased by Joe O’Neill of Prime Thoroughbreds.
The Dissident colt from Rocksan (Fastnet Rock) was bought by Tony McEvoy who trains Sunlight.
Amelia Park’s Peter Walsh, along with partners Brian Bradley and John Ciprian, sold a Snitzel colt for $300,000 to Sunlight’s owners Aquis Farms. His dam New Light (Galileo) is a half-sister to Special Harmony (G1 VRC Oaks), Redwoldt (G2 Karrakatta Plate) and King Canute (G2 Perth Cup).
Darling View, Gold Front and Amelia Park have all entered big drafts for the Perth Magic Millions starting on February 19.
SCENE AT THE GOLD COAST
Brian Nutt, Louis Le Metayer & Brent Atwell