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Medical episode led to National Sale buying spree
Rob Ferguson would not be the first person to have pangs of regret after buying up at a horse sale, as he did at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale in June.
Ferguson spent almost $1 million on 22 fillies by stallions including Written Tycoon, Lonhro, Dundeel, Nicconi, Hellbent, Harry Angel and Trapeze Artist at the Gold Coast offering.
But few have publicly conceded their regret, as Ferguson did this week when he revealed the bizarre story that led to his spending spree, which was conducted under the Louis Bloodstock banner.
Ferguson, who suffers from a lung condition, put it down to a medical episode.
The former Magic Millions proprietor was being weaned off strong steroids by his doctor at the time of the sale and was unaware side-effects of the process included feelings of invulnerability and euphoria.
"It is like having been at the Magic Millions bar all day and then deciding to buy some horses. It felt like a great idea at the time," Ferguson said.
"It was just one of those things that happened. I'll probably end up famous because of it.
"I have had some feedback from a few good judges who have seen the horses and they tell me that there are some nice fillies in the group so I may not have done too bad a job."
Despite that, Ferguson is dispersing with all 22 fillies, who are unbroken, and will offer them as part of the Magic Millions Online Sale that runs from September 5-9.
Among those to be offered are a $160,000 filly by Lonhro out of Sebring's sister Adria and a daughter of Harry Angel and Audacious Choice, the dam of Prime Star, who sold for $150,000.
There is also a $70,000 daughter of Written Tycoon and an $85,000 Lean Mean Machine filly from the family of Metal Bender, Keeper and North Pacific.
The fillies, who were all paid-for in full by Ferguson, have been at Warrandale Stud at Biddaddaba since the National Sale and will be subject to vet testing prior to the sale with the vet's findings to be posted on the Magic Millions sale pages.
All fillies will be available for inspection at the Gold Coast Sales Complex in the four days leading up to the closure of the sale on September 9.
Ferguson is offering each filly with a reserve 50 percent of their purchase price and he is willing to pay some sort of price for his three hours of madness earlier in the year.
"Obviously it looks like I am going to show a loss, as I'm willing to take a haircut on each horse, but it was never my intention to own these horses," he said.
"When I purchased these fillies I am sure I made a lot of vendors happy. This time around I will probably be making a lot of buyers happy.
"One of the vendors has already offered to buy their filly back at what we paid for her, as they felt she was sold too cheaply, but I didn't accept the offer as I want the sale to be fair and transparent.
"We bought 22, so all 22 will be reoffered."
Ferguson's lots are merely part of the Magic Millions sale and owners have until Wednesday to enter their horses in the sale.