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A $3.2 million deal for champion Arcadia Queen (Pierro) reached two days after she was initially passed in has brought to a close a frenzied Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale; the culmination of a three-day $142 million bloodstock spending spree, never before witnessed in Australasia.
Arrowfield Stud agreed to terms to buy Western Australian owner-breeder Bob Peters’ three-time Gr.1 winner for the saletopping figure, which was below the reserve of $4 million, as the sun had gone down on the Gold Coast and the final lots were going through the ring.
Arcadia Queen, a supplementary entry in the race fillies and mares session and billed as Magic Millions’ star attraction, surpassed Melody Belle (Commands), who made $2.6 million on Tuesday morning.
It capped a frenetic week in which 25 mares sold for $1 million or more, including five who went through the ring in yesterday’s final session, with Volpe Veloce (Foxwedge) the highest-priced of those at $1.9 million.
Arrowfield Stud’s Paul Messara revealed he had shown interest in Arcadia Queen in conjunction with a partner when the mare was offered prior to the Shadwell Stud Australasia dispersal but the dynamic changed once she was passed in at $3.4 million. After 48 hours of considering their options, Arcadia Queen became theirs for the eye-watering figure.
Peters, who sold another Gr.1-winning mare in Celebrity Queen (Redoute’s Choice) at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale for $2.5 million earlier this month, said selling Arcadia Queen was purely a business decision.
If Arrowfield chose to send Arcadia Queen to Dundeel (High Chaparral), they would have Peters’ endorsement.