Dundeel colt tops Magic Millions Day 1

The top price of the opening session of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale came shortly before the end of the day’s selling when Arrowfield horseman Jarryd Stennett led Lot 232 into the ring.

The Dundeel colt out of Arrowfield’s prized mare Miss Finland had attracted very strong pre-sale interest which was reflected in spirited bidding that eventually concluded on the $900,000 bid of Craig Rounsefell’s Boomer Bloodstock.

Rounsefell said, “He’s an absolute standout. We couldn’t find a fault in him physically.

“It’s a stallion we love and there’s been some pressure from Bjorn Baker – I’ve got some horses with him – so he is probably leading to be the trainer.

“If you look in the book he’s by a freshman sire but from a mare who was a champion and she’s proven to throw a Group One winner.”

Bjorn Baker’s father Murray prepared Dundeel to win six Group 1 races from 1600 to 2400 metres, while five-time Group 1 winner Miss Finland is the dam of Thousand Guineas G1 winner Stay With Me.

The sale of Lot 232 cemented both vendor and stallion on top of the first day sale lists. Dundeel heads the Freshman Sire averages after Day 1 with six lots sold for an average price of $291,667.

Arrowfield Stud, overall leading Magic Millions vendor in 2016, leads by aggregate after selling 14 yearlings for $3,395,000.

Boomer Bloodstock was second on the buyers’ table with four lots purchased for a total of $1,542,000, including another Arrowfield yearling, the $320,000 Not A Single Doubt-MIss Sharapova colt.