Last week you could have been excused for thinking that:

- the Gold Coast had turned into Keeneland,
- potential buyers were closet weight lifters (courtesy of the phone book sized catalogues they were lugging around.... hint to Magic Millions - PLEASE follow Keeneland's lead and publish MORE THAN ONE book in future); and
- the "something for everyone" mantra (at least in thoroughbred terms) was actually true.

The Magic Millions National Sale boasted the fact that it was "the largest ever Australian thoroughbred sale" and after 8 days of trading (yearlings, weanlings, broodmares, stallions, nominations and shares), AUD $52.4 million changed hands, the last Danehill yearling (well...) was sold, multiple G1 winner Regimental Gal secured $800,000, 124 mares sold for $100,000 or more, Darley received my ethics gold medal for not hyping a first season sire (not a single one of the 7 Noverre weanlings making more than their sires 2003 service fee of $27,500 ...sadly, apart from the ethics, there was minimal good news for the 7 vendors); meanwhile Rock of Gibraltar's average of $288,000 from 6 sold (top price $660,000) and Choisir's $86,600 (from 5 sold; top price $130,000) demonstrated that, all things being equal, the 2006 yearling sales rings should have a fair amount of money/hype/egos playing tag as well.