The newcomers among the Darley stallions had their moments on Wednesday’s opening session of the Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling sale, but it was an old hand who showed them how it was done.
Medaglia d’Oro, whose yearlings have been offered worldwide for a dozen years, set the early tone of the sale when $1 million was paid for his colt from the G1-winning mare Peggy Jean.
The colt catalogued as Lot 10, offered by Widden Stud, was one of a quartet of seven-figures sales on the opening day.
While Medaglia d’Oro’s stunning colt stole the show, the first yearlings to be offered by the Darley freshman stallions Exosphere and Kermadec also made their mark among some of the best judges in the business.
The best result among the two Kermadec colts offered on Wednesday was the $240,000 paid by prominent Hong Kong agent George Moore for Lot 26, a filly from the unraced Commands mare Previous.
The filly offered by Attunga Stud is closely-related to the G1 Golden Slipper winner Catbird and the Stakes winners Donna Dior, Sebring Sally and (Our) Maizcay.
Another early Kermadec offering, a chestnut colt from the Pins mare Pimms Time, catalogued as Lot 13, went for $140,000 to Guy Mulcaster and leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller the combination who purchased and trained the world champion Winx.
The top price paid for a yearling by Exosphere, who like Kermadec was the top-rated three-year-old of his era, was the $230,000 bid by prominent owners and breeders Frank and Christine Cook for Lot 122, a filly from the Stakes-winning mare She Goes To Rio.
The buyer of the top-priced Medaglia d’Oro colt, Marie Yoshida of Asian Bloodstock Services, said he would remain in Australia to be trained by Peter and Paul Snowden.
“This horse was just splendid. He was the first horse we inspected and we decided in 30 seconds that we would buy him,” Ms Yoshida said.
The colt is from a family that includes G1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Lady Jakeo and G1 Oakleigh Plate winner Mrs Onassis.
Among other notable sales of yearlings by Darley stallions Lot 262, a filly by Exceed And Excel from Vanilla Princess offered by Evergreen Stud, sold to agent Gary Harding for $550,00.
Another Exceed And Excel, a colt from the G1 winner Star Shiraz whose five foals to race have all won, sold to prominent local agent James Bester for $400,000.
The colt offered by Aquis Farm is closely-related Godolphin’s recent Australian Stakes winner Savatiano.
