Harry Mitchell and Teo Ah Khing celebrate success again with King of Sparta
After four days of exceptional trading through the auction ring, The China Horse Club and The Chase closed their 2024 Magic Millions involvement on an undoubted high.
Saturday was a day when racetrack and auction ring results were in alignment and the fruits of years of planning and investment were realized. The highlights of the day included:
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King of Sparta winning his third successive Magic Millions feature
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Sovereign Fund’s close second in the AUD3,000,000 Magic Millions 3YO Guineas
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The Chase selling the highest priced Capitalist filly of Book 1 of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
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The Chase selling the highest priced filly of the final session of Book 1
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The Chase closing with a 36% year-on-year increase in yearling sale average
King of Sparta
On the track, King of Sparta reaffirmed his status as the undisputed ‘King of the Coast’, winning the AUD1,000,000 Magic Millions Snippets to accompany his 2023 AUD1,000,000 Magic Millions Spring and 2022 AUD2,000,000 Magic Millions 3YO Guineas.
“King of Sparta was outstanding again. Peter and Paul Snowden’s handling of him has been exceptional. He just loves racing fresh, loves racing at this track and at this time of the year,” said Mike Smith, China Horse Club’s Australian Representative.
USA race partners Sean Dingwall, Jason Stenning, Sheikh Fahad Al Thani and Teo Ah Khing reunite at the 2024 Magic Millions Race Day
“King of Sparta has taken his earnings passed AUD3.2 million now. He will go back to Yarraman Stud for a freshen up and then possibly target the AUD5 million The Quokka in Western Australia in mid-April and possibly return to Queensland in the winter.”
Ninety minutes later and the red and gold silks were nearly in the winner’s circle again with Sovereign Fund only snared in the shadows of the post in the AUD3,000,000 Gold Coast 3YO Guineas.
“Sovereign Fund was a leading elect in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic 12 months ago and things just didn’t go right. He has run the race of his life today to finish second in the Guineas,” Smith added.
“Tommy Berry had him parked beautifully just behind the speed, he took the gap along the fence well and he has run 1400m strongly at his first asking. That will open up some opportunities for him later in the year.”
Capitalist x Nurse Kitchen filly is the most expensive filly of the final session and the most expensive Capitalist filly of the sale
The final session of Book 1 of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale immediately followed the race day and The Chase was again to the fore. It’s Capitalist x Nurse Kitchen filly realized AUD500,000 ensuring she was both:
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the highest priced Capitalist filly of the sale and
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the highest priced filly of the session
In all, The Chase sold eight of his nine offerings for total sale proceeds of AUD2.78 million and an average of AUD308,889 – a figure that is 36% higher than last year’s average. These achievements follow the earlier mentioned highlights of selling the:
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Highest priced Zoustar filly
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Highest priced So You Think colt
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Second highest priced Savabeel yearling
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Second highest priced Flying Artie yearling