ENGLISH TEXTS
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SALES
VICKI GIBBINS ’ CHRONICLE
A STRONG LAUNCH FOR 2025 The 2025 sales season kicked off with record-breaking performances at Magic Millions in Australia , while Keeneland saw joint-topper broodmares fetch $ 700,000 in the USA , and strong results emerged from Goffs UK and Tattersalls Cheltenham sales in Europe .
MAGIC MILLIONS GOLD COAST YEARLING SALE ( AUSTRALIA ) 7-13 JANUARY With 127 individual sires represented , the sale opened the 2025 season in tremendous fashion . 5-time leading Australian sire I Am Invincible topped the sale with gross-earner of $ 22,055,000 and re-iterated his reputation as broodmare sire with the victory of Asfoora at Royal Ascot . $ 2.3 million filly out of Eloping caught attention , being a full sister to 2022 Champion 3-year-old Filly In Secret purchased by John Sargent and Ian Moses after intense bidding . “ She probably has a bit more size than In Secret but a similar temperament and to buy a full sister to a Coolmore winner is very hard to get ”, said trainer John Sargent . Snitzel also impressed with exceptional average of $ 765,556 , nearly 3 times his career-high stud fee , and a bay colt out of Gr . 3 winner Humma Humma selling for $ 2.8 million to Ciaron Maher Bloodstock . 3-times G1 winning mare Sunlight set the record for all-time highest Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale when her Coolmore-offered filly by Home Affairs was purchased for $ 3.2 million by Japanese trainer Mitsu Nakauchida : “ She will go back to Japan and trained with me . I ’ ve been lucky to have had success with Australian mares and they do quite well in Japan at the moment . They go well with Japanese stallions .”
KEENELAND JANUARY HORSES OF ALL AGES SALE ( USA ) 13-15 JANUARY The 3-day sale maintained solid results despite the shorter format , with a notable 47 % increase in median price and a total of 724 horses sold . International interest proved important with joint-top lot purchase and buyers from Europe , Middle East , Asia , South America and Australia represented . Three mares jointly topped the sale at $ 700,000 each , including Gr . 3 winner Pretty Birdie purchased by Avenue Bloodstock on behalf of David Nagle from Barronstown Stud in Ireland . Well-bred G1 winner Delahaye ( Medaglio d ’ Or ) achieved the same $ 700,000 when offered by Four Star Sales to Three Chimneys Farm . Love To Shop ( Violence ) was the third to reached $ 700,000 when secured by Pin Oak Stud from Claibourne Farm who previously bought her as a yearling . Despite lower gross totals compared to 2024 , Keeneland officials emphasized the resilience of the market and the strategic adjustment of the sale format .
GOFFS UK JANUARY SALE ( UK ) 21 JANUARY The feature lot , promising novice chaser Peaky Boy , failed to reach its reserve in the ring but later was sold privately for an undisclosed six-figure sum to joint-trainers Jonjo and AJ O ’ Neill . The result left Coolmeen Farm ’ s Johnny ’ s Jury ( Jukebox Jury ) as the official top lot of the sale at £ 75,000 , purchased by bloodstock agent Tom Malone and trainer Jamie Snowden . “ The January Sale opens the European sale circuit each year and it has been incredibly satisfying to start the year with some good prices across all categories ,” said Goffs UK Managing Director Tim Kent .
TATTERSALLS CHELTENHAM JANUARY SALE ( UK ) 25 JANUARY Former Champion Jockey Richard Johnson went to £ 230,000 for top-lot Starzand ( Harzand ) offered by Baltimore House Stud , a point-to-point winner purchased on behalf of owner Dave Lewis to go into training with Philip Hobbs and Johnson White . Gross of the sale fetched £ 1,667,000 with an average price of £ 69,458 for all 24 horses sold .
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REPOR- TAGE
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QATAR , ON THE EVE OF THE FESTIVAL
The relationship between humans and horses has always been deeply rooted in the Arab world , forming part of a centuries-old tradition woven into countless heroic tales . Qatar has consistently placed horses at the center of its initiatives , integrating it into its expansion strategy with a multidisciplinary vision that promotes the horse
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