Hunter bred yearlings dominated the sales ring at the 2021 Gold Coast Magic Millions.
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Overall the top12 lots which sold for more than one millions dollars each, all but the Kingman colt, (lot 322 purchased by Tom Magnier, Coolmore stud) were sired by stallions that stood in the Hunter Valley in 2020.
The top priced lot was a colt offered by Widden stud and sold for $1.9 million to Tom Magnier. Sired by Snitzel the colt's dam Bonny O'Reilly was sold at the Magic Millions National sale for $1.2 million 18 months ago carrying this colt.
Mr Magnier paid $1.8 for the Kingman sired colt offered by Segenhoe stud, Scone.
Sire Not a Single Doubt sired four of the top priced lots. He stood at Arrowfield stud but has now been retired from stud duties. His top priced offspring was a colt from One More Honey sold for $1.8m to Tony Fung Investments/Phoenix Thorougbreds.
The goods news from the Magic Million sales followed a pre-Christmas shock to the Hunter's thoroughbred industry when the Independent Planning Commission gave approval for the development of an underground mine Maxwell Underground Project neighbouring the two leading studs Coolmore and Godolphin near Jerrys Plains.
Maxwell Underground mine will produce approximately 148-million tonnes of coal over 26 years and will be developed on land formerly owned by Anglo American who spent years trying to gain approval for their Drayton South open cut mine.
President of the Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders Association Cameron Collins described the IPC decision as a black day for our industry and the Hunter.
"Our concerns about the impacts of this mine on water, air, noise and blasting, aboriginal heritage and landscape remain unabated. In our view the claimed benefits of this proposal do not outweigh the environmental costs and risks to our community," he said.
Louise Nichols
From cattle to coal. Once a specialist agriculture writer today its about community, in particular, the Upper Hunter. I have lived and worked in the region for more than 30 years. Land use issues and the future direction of our region. But you cannot take ag out of the picture - our food and how we grow it is the basis of all life. Covering the Hunter and Mid North Coast rural issues is now part of my role with ACM.
From cattle to coal. Once a specialist agriculture writer today its about community, in particular, the Upper Hunter. I have lived and worked in the region for more than 30 years. Land use issues and the future direction of our region. But you cannot take ag out of the picture - our food and how we grow it is the basis of all life. Covering the Hunter and Mid North Coast rural issues is now part of my role with ACM.
