IMAGINE the Gold Coast Magic Millions thoroughbred extravaganza moving to Victoria or even New York.
It's unlikely, says Magic Millions co-owner Gerry Harvey, but the successful businessman and avid racehorse owner-breeder, and cohorts John Singleton and Rob Ferguson are open to discussions.
Competition is good for business.
Talk at the fourth session of the Magic Millions sales yesterday centred on thoroughbreds and the unthinkable … the Magic Millions moving away from the Gold Coast.
"There's more chance of Ayers Rock being lifted to Russia as a tourist attraction," one staunch Queensland trainer suggested tongue-in-cheek.
However, with an estimated $52 million injected annually into Queensland's economy, and interstate and international visitors flocking to the Gold Coast, Harvey and company are likely to be courted. Victoria is definitely interested. Who else?
"The situation is it doesn't matter who it is, Victoria, West Australia or even New York," Harvey said yesterday. "If someone approaches you, you talk. We'd be mad not to.
"We've been here [Gold Coast] for such a long time and really don't want to move. We want to stay on the Gold Coast. The Magic Millions is the No.1 event in Queensland, Queensland can't afford to lose it. It's big-time stuff for Queensland.
"Look, we're not trying to pressure the Government into giving us money, other than them to recognise it is a big event and to work with us. It's a matter of the whole racing industry, Events Queensland, Queensland Tourism and the Government getting involved and talking.
"There's enough smart people in government to get together with us and try and figure what we can do. It's a matter of, 'Here's an opportunity, pursue it,' and if they don't do anything, we're all big boys, we'll get on with life."
A timely $80m four-year investment in the Queensland racing industry announced at the weekend might have helped appease the Magic Millions hierarchy, who are keen to boost prizemoney for the showcase raceday to $10m.
Big money or lack of it was a moot sales talking point. For the first time since 2005, not one yearling sold for $1m or more. "The top end of the market disappeared," Harvey said. "That end is cyclical. It will change.
"The first day was down and we thought, 'Oh no, not good,' but the sale kept improving and ended up much the same as last year. The average was similar and the clearance rate about the same [82 per cent] on the main days. People and vendors selling horses thought it could be down by as much as 10 per cent. They're happy, so are the buyers with the prices.
"Talking to trainers, the middle market, between $100,000 to $250,000, it was difficult to get the horses they wanted. There was a lot of competition."
Former trainer and bloodstock agent Bill Mitchell said: "The big money wasn't there. With no Coolmore, Darley, Bob Ingham and Patinack Farm buying in that bracket, the market wasn't propped up.
"When they're not throwing their arm in, the top market comes down."
South African trainer Charles Laird was the biggest spender, securing 10 lots for $2.86m, including a $700,000 Fastnet Rock colt out of Sun Song, a three-quarter sister to champion mare Sunline, and a $550,000 Encosta de Lago- Succeeding colt.
Top price at the sales was $925,000 for a Redoute's Choice colt out of They Say. Mark Pilkington Bloodstock Victoria and Bill Vlahos outbid Gai Waterhouse to secure the sales-topper on Saturday night. They Say was the dam of Waterhouse's champion two-year-old of 2003, Hasna.
Waterhouse bought 13 lots for $2.77m, while the Hong Kong Jockey Club (eight lots at $2.68m) and Peter Moody (17 at $2.45m) were also prominent buyers. "It's been a strong sale, particularly in the $100,000 to $300,000 range," Sydney trainer John Hawkes said. "The value of the races do that. Horses can come back and race for big money as two-year-olds, three and four, late maturers and even run in a maiden for $100,000.''
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