Arcadia Queen was sensationally passed in at the Magic Millions broodmare sale as several mares were sold for seven-figure sums.
One of Australia’s best race mares Arcadia Queen failed to sell when she was put through the ring at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale on the Gold Coast on Tuesday.
The Bob Peters-owned mare, a three-time Group 1 winning daughter of Pierro, was regarded as the headline act of the sale but an online bid of $3.4 million wasn’t enough for the West Australian-based owner to part with his prized five-year-old, the winner of eight from 16 with career earnings of more than $3.9 million.
Bidding on Arcadia Queen started at $1.5 million, going up in $250,000 increments to $3 million when it continued to ride with $100,000 bids until stalling at $3.4 million.
The reserve price on Arcadia Queen was $4 million, just $200,000 short of the sale record of $4.2 million for Sunlight last year.
The Australian record for a broodmare is $5 million, which Coolmore paid for Danehill mare Milanova in 2008.
Negotiations with prospective buyers are believed to be continuing behind closed doors.
Despite Arcadia Queen’s failure to sell, the strength of the Australian bloodstock market was again on show with 13 of the mares catalogued selling for $1 million or more.
Champion Kiwi mare Melody Belle led the way when sold to the Written Tycoon Syndicate for $2.6 million before the same ownership group landed Greysful Glamour for $1.5 million while Coolmore paid $2.2 million for Mizzy.
Rosemont Stud purchased three seven figure mares – Bella Vella for $1.9 million, Minhaaj for $1.8 million and Fiesta for $1.35 million while Shamus Mills Bloodstock parted with $1.6 million to secure Bonham.
Zamzam was signed over to Tom Magnier for $1.25 million, Widden Stud paid $1 million for Humma Humma and Suman Hedge Bloodstock rounded out the big spenders paying $1 million for Hindaam.
Eight mares in foal from the Shadwell Stud Australasia Unreserved Dispersal also fetched seven figures.
Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock paid $2 million for South Australian Derby winner Qafila, in foal to Dundeel, Rimraam, also in foal to Dundeel, fetched $1.5 million from a bid by a group consisting of Shemus Mills Bloodstock, Longwood Thoroughbred Farm and Peter Morgan.
Go Bloodstock and Coolmore Stud parted with $1.7 million for Minhaaj ‘s dam Telaawa in foal to Exceed And Excel, it took $1.35 million for Rosemont to purchase Bulbula in foal to Epaulette with James Harron Bloodstock paying $1.2 million for Taraayef in foal to Deep Field.
Rounding out the big money action on Tuesday was two mares in foal to super sire I Am Invincible and the final lot of the day.
Ektifaa is heading to Kia Ora Stud after being bought for $1.7 million while Fatoon was sold for $1.2 million to Suman Hedge Bloodstock.
Auctioneer Steve David described it as “a remarkable day” when his gavel fell at $1.35 million, knocking down Khalaasa, in foal to Too Darn Hot, to Rosemont Stud.
“This has been, no question, the greatest breeding stock sale in Australia,” Davis said.
Meanwhile, the “bargain of the day” was Doncaster Mile and Queen Of The Turf winner Nettoyer which was purchased by Newgate Farm for $900,000.
Newgate principal Henry Field said he is considering giving the daughter of Sebring one last race start before she heads to Capitalist in the breeding season later this year.
“We thought she was great value on the market,” Field said. “She was a super mare, we liked her physically and she’s got a great pedigree to back up her amazing race record.
“She’s been bought specifically to go to Stay Inside when he retires next year. This year she’ll go to Capitalist.”
