Antony Thompson was kicking himself after he missed out on Bonny O’Reilly at the 2018 National Broodmare Sale, but he wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice.
The Widden Stud operator had to pay $375,000 extra for the daughter of O’Reilly, but it was made worthwhile when her first foal was the star performer on Day 1 of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
The colt by Snitzel, which Bonny O’Reilly was carrying when Thompson bought her, was knocked down to Coolmore’s Tom Magnier for $1.9 million.
That was $700,000 more than Thompson paid for her at the 2019 National Broodmare Sale.
“I was underbidder on her at $800,000 the year earlier, she sold for $825,000, and I thought about it for 12 months and when she was back in the sale I thought, ‘I have to buy her’,” Thompson said.
“We took a big risk there, but to see all those guys rewarded in one go, who have backed us and, obviously personally, it’s a huge satisfaction.”
Magnier was thrilled to win the pulsating battle for the colt, who will be prepared by Chris Waller in Sydney.
“He was a really nice horse and all the top people were on him,” Magnier said.
“There’s plenty of people here this week that have got good money to pay for colts, so if you want to get the good ones, you have to pay for them.
“All the team were very positive on him and he comes from a good farm as well so, a bit of luck now, and we’ll enjoy it.”
The Bonny O’Reilly colt, who went through at Lot 115, was part of a magical 10-minute period for Widden Stud, which also offered Lot 113, a filly by I Am Invincible out of Group 1 winner Bonaria.
She was knocked down to Cranbourne trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young for $975,000.
“It was a very exciting few minutes for Widden and our clients. Obviously there was an outstanding colt and filly coming through the ring in close succession.
“You think you’re going to have a busy run and you hope they sell well, but that was a real ‘wow’ moment over and above our expectations.”
Widden’s stars were the two highest-priced lots of a day that saw five horses sell for in excess of $750,000.
Late in the day, a colt by Fastnet Rock out of a sister to Zoustar sold to David Ellis from Te Akau Racing for $825,000.
Earlier, Guy Mulcaster paid $800,000 for a colt by I Am Invincible, who is a half-brother to SA Derby-winning filly Qafila, which will also be trained by Waller, while Victorian trainer Ciaron Maher paid the same amount for a filly by the same sire midway through the session.
– racing.com
