The Newgate Consignment was the leading vendor by aggregate at the end of the first day of the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale on Tuesday selling 24 mares for $10million and change.
Top seller in the draft was Group I winning mare Lady Laguna offered on behalf of OTI Racing.
Astute bloodstock agent James Harron is no stranger to success at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale having purchased elite $6million earning Group I sprinter Sunshine in Paris at the Gold Coast for $3.9million in 2023.
He was active on Tuesday signing for Lady Laguna at $2.5million.
Lady Laguna was bought cheaply out of the paddock from Spendthrift Farm by OTI Racing and given to Annabel Neasham to train and was one of the first horses to put her on the map.
From the first crop of unheralded I Am Invincible stallion Overshare, she won her first two starts as a two year-old in November 2021 at Eagle Farm and Rosehill and never looked back.
Lady Laguna improved with every preparation and has the imposing record of seven wins and 15 placings from 35 starts with prizemoney of $2.6million.
“She’s an outstanding mare. Really tough, durable, resilient, across all age groups,” said Harron.
“Just a stunning individual who presented in incredible health. Very excited to get her. I think that is what we’ve come to learn that these mares are worth. Very hard to match a group one like that.
“Delighted to get her. We’ll get her back home and work out a mating and go from there. The plan was to see how it went this evening. You never quite know what but it is great to get her.”
Lady Laguna is the lone winner to date for her dam Catalina de Lago, who is now with Kingstar Farm after they purchased her at this sale in 2022 for $180,000.
Catalina de Lago has been a tricky breeder of late, but did produce a colt by State of Rest (IRE) last spring and was then covered by I Am Invincible son King’s Gambit, so the resulting foal will be a three-quarter sibling to Lady Laguna.
Also offered for OTI Racing was Group I South Australian Derby winner Femminile, who was bought by Yulong for $1.5million and Group II winner Amazonian Lass also cracked $1million when bought by Nocab Racing Pty Ltd/Kestrel Thoroughbreds.
