| What
is Magic Millions? Magic Millions is an
innovative bloodstock auction house where the sales graduates are the only horses eligible
to compete in a series of races worth $2.4 million. The company was pioneered on the Gold
Coast in 1986. Revered entrepreneurs - John Singleton, Gerry Harvey and Rob Ferguson are
the principal stakeholders. The Gold Coast sale is now the second most successful yearling
sale in the country and it is tipped by many experts to become the largest within the next
few years.
How is Magic Millions tied to Adelaide?
Magic Millions took over the Morphettville sales complex
two years ago from ABCOS. In that short time the success of sales has been well
documented. The company's influence has seen the sale's performance indicators climb
significantly. Adelaide's sale is now the third most successful sale in Australia - more
successful than Melbourne's principal sale.
"There have been many changes since the takeover. All
are positive for both the vendors, buyers and subsequently the local breeding industry.
The process used for selecting the yearlings is much more stringent than it used to be. We
now have a catalogue with horses sourced from the width of the country. This means that
the quality of the yearlings on offer is far superior than they used to be both in their
pedigree and their confirmation. The strength of the sale has improved the saleability of
SA horses. This year's catalogue is the best ever offered for sale in the South Australia
and I expect the growth of the last few years to be matched again." Rob Monsma,
General Manager of Magic Millions Adelaide.
SELECT SALE Gross Sale
2001 $12.3m
2000 $9.9m
1999 (ABCOS) $6.14m
A couple of recent Adelaide sales success stories?
Gold Guru cost $50,000 won $2.4m
Streak cost $16,000 won the Sydney Cup
Umrum cost $30,000 won $1.4m
The rising quality of the sale has had an immediate effect
on the racetrack. South Australian-trained horses are now winning more key events
interstate than ever before.
What is the $400,000 Magic Millions Adelaide 2YO
Classic?
This exciting race for 2-year-olds was first run last year
at Morphettville. The winner was the locally trained Broadway Barossa. The event is
restricted to graduates of Magic Millions yearling sales. With its prize pool at $400,000
it is the joint most valuable race in South Australia - sharing its accolade with the
Smoke free Adelaide Cup. This year it will be run at Cheltenham Park as the Morphettville
track is undergoing redevelopment. The race is run on: Saturday February 16th at 2.30pm
"The Magic Millions is a valuable addition to our
racing calendar. It's proven a highly colourful attraction and last year's inaugural
meeting enjoyed excellent exposure through the media and drew a large crowd. The whole
week of social activities and functions building up to the race day has assisted immensely
in branding the event. As in the Gold Coast it has proven extremely popular with 18 to
40-year-olds. Our Million-to-One Marquee (Young Members) has been flooded with bookings
and looks like doubling last years figure. I'm confident that the Magic Millions concept
has helped raise the profile of horse racing as a leisure pursuit with young people in
Adelaide which is great news for the future of the industry." Steven Ploubidis - CEO
SAJC |
