THE power of Gai Waterhouse yesterday rescued the Magic Millions sale from a horror start.

She took it to the strongest sale average in three years.

Magic Millions bosses looked forlorn after the opening 25 lots went through the hammer which saw a star Fastnet Rock colt, with a reserve of $600,000, passed in for less than $500,000.

Waterhouse later purchased it for $500,000 and finished the opening session with eight horses to her name at a cost of $2.5 million.

Star Thoroughbreds, the syndication company which race their horses with Gai Waterhouse, purchased another eight horses. It left Waterhouse with 16 horses for the day at more than $3.5 million.

Magic Millions managing director Vin Cox last night admitted the Waterhouse factor had strengthened a soft buying bench.

"I knew she was going to be strong but at one stage it appeared she was buying the best part of the catalogue," he said.

"She probably identified the sale was going to be a little softer.

"Gai has always been the guts of this sale - no question at all - and she's just a fantastic promoter and she's excellent at communicating and finding clients."

Waterhouse admitted she pounced on rival buyers sitting on their hands in the opening session.

She purchased Lot 20, the Fastnet Rock filly, for $500,000, far less than many expected.

"People were saying it would go for $600,000 but I sensed this sale would be a touch soft," she said.

"Buyers are going to be able to purchase horses from $10,000, right up the scale."

Cox described the day as "very sound".

The opening session finished with an average of $128,685, at a clearance rate of 77 per cent.

More than $17 million of horseflesh went under the hammer.

Sales heavyweights will hope the clearance rate will increase over the 80 per cent benchmark which Magic Millions usually sets.

It is expected some vendors will re-evaluate their sales prices today.

A senior Coolmore figure last night admitted he felt like they were "giving away horses" yesterday.

Cox said he expected the sale to grow further today.

"Traditionally the sale gets stronger and we have several very well-bred horses to go," he said.

"Some horses didn't make as much today and some horses probably got more than we expected."

Read more on the Gold Coast Bulletin.