$1.9 million Snitzel Colt Tops MMGC Day-1

The first foal of stakes winning mare Bonny O'Reilly, a colt by champion sire Snitzel, was the stand out act on Day One of the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale on Tuesday. The colt, consigned by Widden Stud, was purchased by Coolmore's Tom Magnier for $1.9 million after an entertaining bidding battle. Magnier, who late last year paid a Southern Hemisphere record to secure glamour mare Sunlight at the National Broodmare Sale, said today's top seller would be heading to Sydney's leading trainer Chris Waller. "He's a really nice horse," Magnier said. "I think all the top people were on him and we've got a great group of people to race him with. We're going to need a bit of luck - but we're in the right country - the prizemoney is great here in Australia." The result was a great success for the team from Widden Stud who purchased Bonny O'Reilly carrying the top seller for $1.2 million at the 2019 National Broodmare Sale. "We were underbidders on her at $800,000 when she was retired from the track," Antony Thompson said. "So when she came onto the market in foal to Snitzel we just had to have her." Just minutes earlier Widden Stud offered the I Am Invincible-Bonaria filly on behalf of her breeder Robert Anderson and she sold to Busuttin Racing for $975,000.

Day-1 sale-topping Snitzel-Bonny O'Reilly colt (pic: Steve Hart)