Magic Millions Perth Day 1: At a glance
>> Record average and median for the first day of a Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale, with an average of $64,981 and a median of $55,000
>> Aggregate was down on last year from to $8,35m to $6.82m, with the clearance rate down from 94 per cent to 77.21 per cent at the end of day 1.
>> There were 23 horses sold for $100,000 or more as compared to 28 in Book 1 last year
>> Local trainers Ben and Daniel Pearce snapped up the rare opportunity to buy an I Am invincible at the Perth sale, topping the sale by buying Lot 66 for $260,000.
>> Aquis Farm bought the only Snitzel on offer, paying $200,000 for Lot 12
>> Sun Stud's Magnus led aggregate sales with eight sold for a total of $584,000, while Safeguard, now permanently standing at Mogumber Park, led the local stallions, with six sold for a total of $520,000. Safeguard led averages for sires who had more than three yearlings sold today.
Pearces seize Invincible chance
The clear top seller on the day was the I Am Invincible colt, Lot 66, who went to Pearce Racing and bloodstock agent John Chalmers for $260,000.
Just the third yearling by the Yarraman Park sire to be sold in the history of the Perth sale, the locals were keen to get a hold of a rare offering, with Ben and Daniel Pearce paying the highest price they ever have for a yearling on behalf of a loyal client.
The Western Breeders Alliance, Darling View Thoroughbreds, consigned Lot 66
Offered by Western Breeding Alliance, he is the half brother to Listed Magic Millions WA Classic winner The River (Magnus) as well as stakes-placed pair Jestpatim (Patronize {GB}) and Soundcheck (Your Song). The second dam is a sister to multiple WA stakes-winner Vizard (Magic Of Money).
"It’s good to seal him. He is a lovely colt, very powerful and we are excited to get him to the races for a loyal client of ours Warren Martin," Ben Pearce told The Races WA.
"He's got the power and strength. He's got a wonderful attitude, wandering around there handling everything well."
The Pearces also buttered up on the next lot, Lot 67, from the same family. She is a filly by Snippetson from a sibling of Lot 66, Jester Derriere (Patronize) and sold for $62,500.
Harvey Racing pounces on Zoustar
Harvey Racing took its opportunity to grab the only Zoustar yearling on offer in Perth, Lot 39 from Amelia Park for $200,000. Out of Donna Intelligente (Dehere {USA}), she is a half-sister to three winners, while her dam is a half sister to G3 Sweet Embrace S. winner Burning Sands.
"We had to dig deep for her, but we were pretty happy to secure her," Todd Harvey said. "The filly is a really classy looking filly and we’d have to be pretty unlucky if she couldn't gallop."
"She's got a nice length of rein and a nice walk. She's a good size for a Zoustar. She is probably a bit more scopey. I think she should be a filly that might potentially run early as well as run as a 3-year-old."
Lot 39, Zoustar filly sold by Amelia Park
The only Snitzel in the catalogue went to Aquis Farm, who went to $200,000 for Lot 12, the filly out of stakes-winning mare Belle D'Amour (Jet Spur).
Offered by Gold Front Thoroughbreds, she is a half sister to Retribution (Foxwedge), with the dam a winner of the L. BRC Ambassador S. as a 2-year-old.
WA buyers dominant
Seven of the top eight lots went to WA buyers, with over 75 per cent of aggregate sales coming from the home state.
The opportunity to secure a member of one of WA's better families fell to Ascot-based trainer Paul Jordan with Lot 90, a Safeguard colt out of Mississippi Belle (Marooned). That makes him a half to the Group 1 winner Elite Belle (Canny Lad) as well as dual stakes winner Mississippi Delta (High Chaparral {Ire}).
The honour of being the first person to buy a yearling from the Bob Peters-owned mare cost Jordan $150,000.
Meanwhile, a timely pedigree update ensured a strong bidding war for Lot 124, the Magnus filly out of Secret Mak (Lonhro), eventually won by Boomer Bloodstock and local trainer Lindsey Smith for $140,000.
The dam Secret Mak is a half-sister to Crack The Code (I Am Invincible), who won the G3 Kevin Hayes S. at Caulfield earlier this month, becoming the fourth stakes-winner of that family.
The dam was the sale topper in Perth six years ago for $260,000 for Dawson Stud, who got $120,000 less for her first foal.
The Snitzel filly offered by Gold Front Thoroughbreds was purchased by Aquis Farm
Early in the session, Gangemi Racing went to $140,000 for a Lot 8, a Nicconi colt offered by Amelia Park. His dam, Bathilda (NZ) (King's Chapel) is a half-sister to G1 Victoria Derby winner Monaco Consul (High Chaparral {Ire}).
"We're absolutely rapt with him," Michael Gangemi said. "The sire has produced some very fast horses. We had State Solicitor in the west and Nature Strip, who is flying over in the east. This bloke has got speed all through him."
"He's got a massive walk on him. He is well-boned and very well balanced. We were rapt to secure him early."
"He is going to grow into a magnificent animal, so on type he was probably our pick of the sale."
Slim pickings for interstate buyers
Similar to last year, only six of the 23 lots which went to six figures were sold to interstate buyers.
Along with Aquis Farm, Victorian trainer Andrew Noblet combined with Mark Pilkington to pay $120,000 for a Dundeel colt (Lot 74), while Lindsay Park/Andrew Williams paid $110,000 for Lot 53, a colt by Artie Schiller (USA), Victoria's Bluegrass Bloodstock paid $102,500 for Lot 136, a Brazen Beau colt, and Chris Waller and Guy Mulcaster parted with $100,000 for Lot 24, a War Chant (USA) colt.
Morton Racing was the leading buyer for Book 1, spending $392,500 on six lots, just ahead of Parnham Racing, who spent $382,500 for its six.
Western Breeders Alliance sold 13 lots to be the leading vendor with total sales of $985,000, while Amelia Park sold all eight of its draft on offer for a total of $793,000, which saw it top the averages for any vendors with three or more sales.
Statistics
Top Lots
| 66 | I Am Invincible (AUS) | Jestceny (AUS) | C | Sold | 260,000 | John Chalmers Bloodstock (FBAA)/Pearce Racing | WA | Western Breeders Alliance (Darling View Stud, Eino |
| 12 | Snitzel (AUS) | Belle dAmour (AUS) | F | Sold | 200,000 | Aquis Farm | QLD | Gold Front Thoroughbreds, Gingin, WA |
| 39 | Zoustar (AUS) | Donna Intelligente (AUS) | F | Sold | 200,000 | Harvey Racing | WA | Amelia Park Racing & Breeding Pty Ltd, Vasse, WA |
| 90 | Safeguard (AUS) | Mississippi Belle (AUS) | C | Sold | 150,000 | Paul Jordan | WA | Mogumber Park, Bullsbrook, WA |
| 124 | Magnus (AUS) | Secret Mak (AUS) | F | Sold | 140,000 | Boomer Bloodstock P/L (FBAA)/Lindsey Smith | WA | Dawson Stud, Myalup, WA |
| 8 | Nicconi (AUS) | Bathilda (NZ) | C | Sold | 140,000 | Gangemi Racing | WA | Amelia Park Racing & Breeding Pty Ltd, Vasse, WA |
| 65 | Magnus (AUS) | Jest Envy Her (AUS) | C | Sold | 130,000 | Trevor Andrews | WA | Western Breeders Alliance (Darling View Stud, Eino |
| 85 | Dundeel (NZ) | Mendicity (AUS) | F | Sold | 130,000 | Durrant Racing/Geoff Bull | WA | Oakland Park Stud, North Jindong, WA |
| 74 | Dundeel (NZ) | Lateral (AUS) | C | Sold | 120,000 | Andrew Noblet Racing/Mark Pilkington Manageme | VIC | Western Breeders Alliance (Darling View Stud, Eino |
Top sires by aggregate
| Magnus (AUS) | 8 | 140,000 | 80.00 | 73,000 | 584,000 |
| Safeguard (AUS) | 6 | 150,000 | 100.00 | 86,667 | 520,000 |
| War Chant (USA) | 7 | 100,000 | 70.00 | 68,214 | 477,500 |
| Blackfriars (AUS) | 8 | 100,000 | 66.67 | 49,125 | 393,000 |
| Oratorio (AUS) | 4 | 115,000 | 80.00 | 83,125 | 332,500 |
| Deep Field (AUS) | 4 | 90,000 | 100.00 | 70,625 | 282,500 |
| I Am Invincible (AUS) | 1 | 260,000 | 50.00 | 260,000 | 260,000 |
| Nicconi (AUS) | 3 | 140,000 | 75.00 | 84,167 | 252,500 |
| Dundeel (NZ) | 2 | 130,000 | 100.00 | 125,000 | 250,000 |
Top sires by average
| Safeguard (AUS) | 6 | 150,000 | 100.00 | 86,667 | 520,000 |
| Nicconi (AUS) | 3 | 140,000 | 75.00 | 84,167 | 252,500 |
| Oratorio (AUS) | 4 | 115,000 | 80.00 | 83,125 | 332,500 |
| Magnus (AUS) | 8 | 140,000 | 80.00 | 73,000 | 584,000 |
| Deep Field (AUS) | 4 | 90,000 | 100.00 | 70,625 | 282,500 |
Top buyers
| Morton Racing | 6 | 65,417 | 392,500 |
| Neville Parnham Racing | 6 | 63,750 | 382,500 |
| Trevor Andrews | 4 | 92,500 | 370,000 |
| John Chalmers Bloodstock (FBAA)/Pearce Racing | 2 | 167,500 | 335,000 |
| Harvey Racing | 2 | 150,000 | 300,000 |
| Roy Rogers | 7 | 41,214 | 288,500 |
| Durrant Racing | 4 | 72,000 | 288,000 |
| Gangemi Racing | 2 | 120,000 | 240,000 |
| Simon Miller | 3 | 73,333 | 220,000 |
Top vendors by aggregate
| Western Breeders Alliance (Darling View Stud, Einoncliff Park and Westbury Park), WA | 13 | 72.22 | 75,769 | 985,000 |
| Amelia Park Racing & Breeding Pty Ltd, Vasse, WA | 8 | 100.00 | 99,125 | 793,000 |
| Mungrup Stud, Narrikup, WA | 12 | 92.31 | 53,292 | 639,500 |
| Mogumber Park, Bullsbrook, WA | 6 | 100.00 | 87,000 | 522,000 |
| Yarradale Stud, Gidgegannup, WA | 8 | 61.54 | 62,188 | 497,500 |
| Gold Front Thoroughbreds, Gingin, WA | 6 | 75.00 | 80,417 | 482,500 |
| Scenic Lodge, Muchea, WA | 8 | 72.73 | 54,063 | 432,500 |
| Gervase Park Stud, Belhus, WA | 6 | 85.71 | 65,833 | 395,000 |
| Dawson Stud, Myalup, WA | 6 | 75.00 | 65,667 | 394,000 |
Top vendors by average
| Amelia Park Racing & Breeding Pty Ltd, Vasse, WA | 8 | 100.00 | 99,125 | 793,000 |
| Mogumber Park, Bullsbrook, WA | 6 | 100.00 | 87,000 | 522,000 |
| Gold Front Thoroughbreds, Gingin, WA | 6 | 75.00 | 80,417 | 482,500 |
| Western Breeders Alliance (Darling View Stud, Einoncliff Park and Westbury Park), WA | 13 | 72.22 | 75,769 | 985,000 |
| Gervase Park Stud, Belhus, WA | 6 | 85.71 | 65,833 | 395,000 |
| Dawson Stud, Myalup, WA | 6 | 75.00 | 65,667 | 394,000 |
| Yarradale Stud, Gidgegannup, WA | 8 | 61.54 | 62,188 | 497,500 |
| Scenic Lodge, Muchea, WA | 8 | 72.73 | 54,063 | 432,500 |
| Mungrup Stud, Narrikup, WA | 12 | 92.31 | 53,292 | 639,500 |
| Bellbridge Park, Myalup, WA | 3 | 60.00 | 48,667 | 146,000 |
