Magic Millions Delays Start of National Weanling Sale

Magic Millions has pushed back the start of its 2024 National Sale, condensing an up to three-week selling extravaganza on the Gold Coast in May and June to two weeks. The auction house on April 3 announced that its two-day National Weanling Sale would be held May 26-27, with the three-day Broodmare Sale to remain unchanged, the first session to be held May 28. The first running of the AU$1 million Magic Millions National 2YO Classic will be staged under lights at Gold Coast racecourse on May 24 as planned. The weanling sale was originally scheduled for May 23-24. Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch says the move has been welcomed by vendors and he expects the majority of buyers to feel the same way. "A lot of vendors have said they'd prefer it this way and, from our perspective, we always thought when the time was right and we could manage it logistically from a horse welfare perspective, as well as facilitate all our needs, that it would create a good environment at the complex," Bowditch told ANZ Bloodstock News. "It should ensure that it's busy at all times, having weanling buyers, broodmare buyers and hopefully a good cross-section of buyers on the grounds who are doing both." With the National Yearling Sale also unchanged on June 4 and 5, the shorter time period between sales will allow buyers to participate in more segments of the market if they choose to, Bowditch said.