A savvy $480,000 investment at the MM run Edinburgh Park Dispersal last year by astute pinhooker Jim Carey paid big dividends on Tuesday when the Newgate consigned Snitzel filly from Serena Bay sold for $1.25million to be the highest priced filly sold on the first day of Magic Millions.

A half-sister to stakes-placed Summer Loving and smart metro winner West of Africa, she is the fourth foal of Group II placed Serena Bay, whose third foal, a two year-old filly by Exceed and Excel called Alinea was an impressive winner at the Canterbury barrier trials this morning following a debut fifth in the Group III ATC Gimcrack stakes last spring.

This stunning filly was purchased by Victorian bloodstock agent Sheamus Mills, who is renowned for purchasing elite fillies that develop into Black Type performers.

“That was like death by 1000 paper cuts, I never thought that was going to end to be honest,” said Sheamus Mills, who was forced to work hard to secure the filly.

“But you’ve got to be staunch with the good ones, don’t you? They stand out and everyone seems to want them.

“I got a little bit of extra incentive when I realised that Gai (Waterhouse) was on it. I think she’s got the last two (out of Serena Bay), including the one that trialled this morning (Alinea), so she’s got to think something of them if she’s punching us along this far.

“Thanks to Gai for that last little bit of incentive.”

Newgate ended the first day as the leading vendor by aggregate with our next best result coming with an Extreme Choice colt from Skate to Paris that was sold to China Horse Club/Newgate/Go Bloodstock/Trilogy for $700,000.

The colt is the first foal of stakes-winning Bradbury’s Luck mare Skate to Paris, who was bought by Newgate for $510,000 at the 2022 Inglis Chairman’s Sale when in foal to Extreme Choice with this colt resulting from the mating.

She produced another filly by Extreme Choice last spring and is now in foal to Justify (USA).