Queensland’s top coach, Tony Gollan, backed his opinion on the freshman Vague by taking home the highest priced seed sold at the QTIS 2023 auction on March 21.
Agents John Foote and Gollan, top buyers of the Magic Millions March Sale, paid the top sale amount of AU$170,000 (US$113,945, AU$1 = US$0.6702) for the horse. con (Lot 295) offered for sale by Waylon J. Stud. Gollan compared the aspiration to the Aquis Ranch’s outstanding AU$500,000 sum, Dubious, which was sold on the Gold Coast at the start of the sales season.
Dubious’s son, a tough, winning 2-year-old himself, coached by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, is one of 14 six-figure lots sold in a sale specifically for mixed-breeds. Queensland.
This year’s QTIS auction raised more than AU$10 million ($6,702,670), with 279 horses traded over two days with an average of AU$36,053 ($24,165) and an average is AU$26,000 ($17,426).
“We thought it was the prettiest pony here at the sale,” says Gollan.
“He’s a really good horse with a lot of quality. He reminds John and I of the good Dubious horse that sold well here in January.
“He’s really been a standout in the sale by type – we don’t know how much it cost us to get him, but we’re glad we were able to buy him.”
The dubious craving Gollan was talking about was sold by Noralla Stud for A$500,000 to Justin Fung of Aquis Farm and trainer Annabel Neasham at the Magic Millions sale nine weeks ago.
The head of the March sale is an October 2 pony and the second of a series of ponies that have yet to be thoroughbred. Care to buildshe is the half-sister to the underage winner and runner-up Silver Slipper Stakes (G2) Voilier.
Tony Fung Investments is said to be the lower bidder.
Waylon J Stud’s Brian Smith has been a supporter of Dubious since ATC Breeders’ Plate (G3) and BRC Champagne Classic (G2) winners retired in 2020 and he’s delighted the foal will be training. in Brisbane.
“(Elaborate) is a fairly young mare — she only has one pony — so coming to Tony Gollan is a bonus,” Smith told ANZ Bloodstock News on Tuesday.
‘Lots of Dubious’ isn’t too big and as a pony he may not be too big, but he’s always been a good, strong, proper pony, and March is better for him than January. and it came together at the right time.
“I’ve reviewed quite a few Dubious’ in this sale and I think, in my eyes, it’s the best of the bunch anyway.”
Waylon J Stud has sold nine of the 10 chicks it consigned for a total of A$305,000.
“I think there’s a little bit of a struggle in the mid-to-lower segment. We have some pretty nice horses who might in other years be able to make $20,000 to $30,000 and they’re making it.” 10,000 to 15,000 Australian dollars.
“The last part is probably strong enough if you have the horses they want.”
Gollan contracted 11 cubs in two days, eight of them with his longtime agent Foote, two with Australian Bloodstock and another with a Purebred Dream.
Agents Paul Moroney and Catheryne Bruggeman also actively purchased seven cubs for Toowoomba coaches Tony and Maddy Sears and two with Rockhampton-based Clinton Taylor.
The couple also bought two more chicks on the Gold Coast this week.
Magic Millions CEO Barry Bowditch acknowledged the sale was sometimes difficult for vendors, but he was pleased with how it played out in the second session.
“Generally speaking, today’s sales started a bit slow in the morning, but when we did, it was very active and the good horses were selling well today,” says Bowditch.
“Horses that are (supposedly) above average for sale are highly sought after and increasingly, the liquidation rate increases (to 80%) and the average remains the same from Monday, if not said to be up, so overall, it’s been a good trading day.
“Overall, we’re very pleased with the two-day sale.”
