At A Glance
>> The Book 1 average finished on $39,920, nearly $4000 less than last year, when it was $43,763
>> The median slumped from $35,000 to $30,000
>> The clearance rate was also well down, from 84.72 per cent to 78.8 per cent
>> Despite the fact that the catalogue was bigger this year, the aggregate was down from $11.16m to $9.94m
>> A positive was the greater international horses bought at the sale, with 12 lots sold to Hong Kong compared to three last year and 13 to New Zealand compared to 10 in 2018
>> There were ten lots sold at $150,000 or above compared to just five last year
Moore demand for Akeed Mofeed
An equal record price for a yearling by Akeed Mofeed (GB) highlighted the final session of Book 1 at the Adelaide Yearling Sale.
Gary Moore Racing went to $200,000 for Lot 254, a colt offered by the sire's former home, Goldin Farms.
He is out of More Than Ready mare Calemore, who has already produced multiple winners Thunder Cat (Real Saga) and Unyielding (I Am Invincible). The dam is a half sister to G1 Thousand Guineas winner Lady of the Pines (Bluebird {USA}), a family that also includes another Group 1 winner in Caledonian Boy (Plush {NZ}).
Gary Moore after purchasing Lot 254
"I've been watching him for the past two days," Moore told Racing.com. "I admired the stallion when he raced in Hong Kong. He's a very good-looking horse, he's got great bone, I feel he's a nice acquisition for the stable in Sydney."
"He's a very good-looking horse, he's got great bone, I feel he's a nice acquisition for the stable in Sydney." - Trainer Gary Moore
The price matches the record $200,000 paid for an Akeed Mofeed colt at last week's Premier Sale in Melbourne.
The former Hong Kong champion is headed to Swettenham Stud this season having spent the past five seasons at owner Pan Sutong's Goldin Farms at Angaston in South Australia.
He ended Book 1 as clearly the leading sire on aggregate with 14 horses sold for a total of $865,000.
Macdonald and Gluyas shop late on
In a quieter session than Tuesday, the other yearling to reach $150,000 plus was Lot 301, a Shamus Award filly offered by Willow Grove Stud.
Local powerhouse training operation, Leon Macdonald/Andrew Gluyas Racing, paid $150,000 for the filly out of El Milagro (Encosta De Lago), having bought her stakes-winning half-brother Tequila Time (Stratum) at this sale two years ago. Another half-sibling, Inner Warrior (God's Own) was also a stakes-winner while the dam's half-sister produced the black-type winner, Pardoe.
"She's quite a nice filly. Not over big I suppose, but she's all there, she's put together well and I was always pretty interested in buying her," Macdonald said.
"She's put together well and I was always pretty interested in buying her." - Trainer Leon Macdonald
Macdonald and Gluyas also went to $140,000 for Lot 338, a colt by Shooting To Win out of stakes-placed mare Gwynethanne (NZ) (Handsome Ransom).
They ended up with five horses for Book 1, spending $500,000 to finish just behind Yulong, who bought four yearlings for a total of $515,000 on Day 1, as the leading buyers.
Cornerstone Stud, who sold 25 horses for a total of $726,500, ended up the leading vendor on aggregate, ahead of Goldin Farms which sold 10 horses for a total of $723,000. Tasmania's Grenville Stud, who had three horses sell on Day 1, led the vendor averages at $163,333.
Darley's first-season sire Exosphere secured Book 1 honours in terms of leading sire averages (three or more sales) with three sales at $113,333, with Shamus Award second on $88,250.
Local buyers stand up
Despite a funding crisis hitting the South Australian industry in the past 12 months, South Australian buyers actually spent nearly $300,000 more in Book 1 of the sale this year.
The drop off came in Victorian buyers (minus approx. 600k), NSW buyers (minus approx. 300k) and most notably Western Australian buyers, who dropped from spending nearly $900,000 across 22 lots last year to just eight lots for a total of $134,000 this year.
The top lot of Book 2 was a colt by Toronado (Ire) who is headed to Hong Kong. John Foote paid $80,000 for Lot 374, which was offered by Mill Park out of the mare Marmelo (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}), who is from the family of G1 Australian Oaks winner Tributes (Quest For Fame {GB})
Lot 374 Toronado x Marmelo
Book 2 performed better than last year, with the average of $16,401 and median of $11,000 both up slightly on last year, while clearance rate was 79.5% per cent in the immediate aftermath of the sale.
“The good horses sold extremely well,” Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said. “Vendors who supported the sale with the right horses have been rightly rewarded.”
“It goes to show the South Australian breeders who keep their nice horses here and support the Adelaide Sale that they can get huge results.”
“It was pleasing to see the strength of the local owners and trainers considering the challenges they are facing with the current racing climate in South Australia.”
Leaderboards - Book 1
Top lots overall
| 157 | Dundeel (NZ) | Swan River (AUS) | F | Sold | 0 | 250,000 | McEvoy Mitchell Racing P/L /Suman Hedge Bstoc | SA | Rushton Park, Tatura, Vic |
| 254 | Akeed Mofeed (GB) | Calemore (AUS) | C | Sold | 0 | 200,000 | Gary Moore Racing Ltd | NSW | Goldin Farms, Angaston, SA |
| 230 | Zoustar (AUS) | Asylum Seeker (SAF) | F | Sold | 0 | 190,000 | Redgum Racing/CB Bloodstock | VIC | Grenville Stud, Whitemore, Tas |
| 72 | Brazen Beau (AUS) | Natural Swinger (NZ) | C | Sold | 0 | 190,000 | Kennewell Racing / Group 1 Bloodstock | VIC | Grenville Stud, Whitemore, Tas |
| 122 | Written Tycoon (AUS) | Rossa Mia (AUS) | C | Sold | 0 | 180,000 | Yu Long Investments (Australia) Pty Ltd | VIC | Princess Park Thoroughbred Farm, Nagambie, Vic |
| 100 | Exosphere (AUS) | Pontington (AUS) | C | Sold | 0 | 180,000 | Richard and Chantelle Jolly | SA | Armidale Stud, Carrick, Tas |
| 84 | Not a Single Doubt (AUS) | Our Emily Mia (AUS) | F | Sold | 0 | 170,000 | Yu Long Investments (Australia) Pty Ltd | VIC | Glastonbury Farms, Scone, NSW |
| 42 | Shamus Award (AUS) | Lil Cashy (AUS) | C | Sold | 0 | 160,000 | Anthony G Cavanagh & Co P/L (FBAA) | VIC | Golden Grove Stud, Denman, NSW |
| 301 | Shamus Award (AUS) | El Milagro (AUS) | F | Sold | 0 | 150,000 | Macdonald Gluyas Racing | SA | Willow Grove Stud, Woodside, SA |
| 199 | Reward for Effort (AUS) | Wings of Alice (AUS) | C | Sold | 0 | 150,000 | Ryan Balfour | SA | Willow Grove Stud, Woodside, SA |
Top vendors by average (3 or more sold)
| Grenville Stud, Whitemore, Tas | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 163,333 | 490,000 | 190,000 |
| Armidale Stud, Carrick, Tas | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 133,333 | 400,000 | 180,000 |
| Kulani Park, Merricks North, Vic | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 83,000 | 249,000 | 125,000 |
| Glastonbury Farms, Scone, NSW | 4 | 2 | 2 | 66.67 | 77,500 | 310,000 | 170,000 |
| Goldin Farms, Angaston, SA | 10 | 1 | 0 | 100 | 72,300 | 723,000 | 200,000 |
| Jorson Farm, South Burnett, Qld | 4 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 64,250 | 257,000 | 90,000 |
| Rushton Park, Tatura, Vic | 7 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 61,571 | 431,000 | 250,000 |
| Willow Grove Stud, Woodside, SA | 9 | 0 | 2 | 81.82 | 59,111 | 532,000 | 150,000 |
| Rosemont Stud, Gnarwarre, Vic | 7 | 2 | 1 | 87.5 | 57,929 | 405,500 | 130,000 |
| Three Bridges Thoroughbreds, Eddington, Vic | 5 | 0 | 1 | 83.33 | 54,600 | 273,000 | 90,000 |
Top vendors by aggregate
| Cornerstone Stud, Angaston, SA | 25 | 4 | 7 | 78.13 | 29,060 | 726,500 | 85,000 |
| Goldin Farms, Angaston, SA | 10 | 1 | 0 | 100 | 72,300 | 723,000 | 200,000 |
| Princess Park Thoroughbred Farm, Nagambie, Vic | 11 | 1 | 1 | 91.67 | 51,955 | 571,500 | 85,000 |
| Willow Grove Stud, Woodside, SA | 9 | 0 | 2 | 81.82 | 59,111 | 532,000 | 150,000 |
| Grenville Stud, Whitemore, Tas | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 163,333 | 490,000 | 190,000 |
| Rushton Park, Tatura, Vic | 7 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 61,571 | 431,000 | 250,000 |
| Rosemont Stud, Gnarwarre, Vic | 7 | 2 | 1 | 87.5 | 57,929 | 405,500 | 130,000 |
| Armidale Stud, Carrick, Tas | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 133,333 | 400,000 | 180,000 |
| Glastonbury Farms, Scone, NSW | 4 | 2 | 2 | 66.67 | 77,500 | 310,000 | 170,000 |
| Baramul Stud, Widden Valley, NSW | 12 | 0 | 15 | 44.44 | 24,833 | 298,000 | 85,000 |
Top buyers
| Yu Long Investments Pty Ltd | 4 | 128,750 | 515,000 |
| Macdonald Gluyas Racing | 5 | 100,000 | 500,000 |
| McEvoy Mitchell Racing | 4 | 86,750 | 347,000 |
| Kennewell Racing and Group 1 Bloodstock | 5 | 51,600 | 258,000 |
| McEvoy Mitchell Racing and Suman Hedge Bstock | 1 | 250,000 | 250,000 |
| Anthony G Cavanagh and Co | 2 | 122,500 | 245,000 |
| Ryan Balfour | 5 | 44,000 | 220,000 |
| Richard and Chantelle Jolly | 2 | 106,000 | 212,000 |
| Gary Moore Racing Ltd | 1 | 200,000 | 200,000 |
| Redgum Racing and CB Bloodstock | 1 | 190,000 | 190,000 |
Top sires by average (3 or more sold)
| Exosphere (AUS) | 3 | 0 | 3 | 30,000 | 180,000 | 50 | 113,333 | 340,000 | 180,000 |
| Shamus Award (AUS) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 5,000 | 160,000 | 100 | 88,250 | 353,000 | 160,000 |
| Reward for Effort (AUS) | 3 | 0 | 2 | 35,000 | 150,000 | 60 | 81,667 | 245,000 | 150,000 |
| Unencumbered (AUS) | 7 | 0 | 1 | 48,000 | 90,000 | 87.5 | 70,000 | 490,000 | 90,000 |
| Akeed Mofeed (GB) | 14 | 1 | 0 | 11,000 | 200,000 | 100 | 61,786 | 865,000 | 200,000 |
| Headwater (AUS) | 3 | 0 | 3 | 18,000 | 125,000 | 50 | 61,667 | 185,000 | 125,000 |
| No Nay Never (USA) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 32,500 | 65,000 | 100 | 54,167 | 162,500 | 65,000 |
| Nicconi (AUS) | 9 | 1 | 3 | 16,000 | 135,000 | 75 | 52,000 | 468,000 | 135,000 |
| Smart Missile (AUS) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 17,000 | 110,000 | 100 | 49,500 | 198,000 | 110,000 |
| Super One (AUS) | 5 | 1 | 0 | 21,000 | 70,000 | 100 | 45,400 | 227,000 | 70,000 |
Top sires by aggregate
| Akeed Mofeed (GB) | 14 | 1 | 0 | 11,000 | 200,000 | 100 | 61,786 | 865,000 | 200,000 |
| Unencumbered (AUS) | 7 | 0 | 1 | 48,000 | 90,000 | 87.5 | 70,000 | 490,000 | 90,000 |
| Nicconi (AUS) | 9 | 1 | 3 | 16,000 | 135,000 | 75 | 52,000 | 468,000 | 135,000 |
| Shamus Award (AUS) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 5,000 | 160,000 | 100 | 88,250 | 353,000 | 160,000 |
| Exosphere (AUS) | 3 | 0 | 3 | 30,000 | 180,000 | 50 | 113,333 | 340,000 | 180,000 |
| Magnus (AUS) | 9 | 0 | 3 | 11,000 | 70,000 | 75 | 34,222 | 308,000 | 70,000 |
| Zebedee (GB) | 13 | 2 | 3 | 5,000 | 37,000 | 81.25 | 19,731 | 256,500 | 37,000 |
| Free Eagle (IRE) | 8 | 0 | 3 | 7,000 | 65,000 | 72.73 | 31,750 | 254,000 | 65,000 |
| Fighting Sun (AUS) | 8 | 1 | 0 | 15,000 | 90,000 | 100 | 31,625 | 253,000 | 90,000 |
| Dundeel (NZ) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 250,000 | 250,000 | 100 | 250,000 | 250,000 | 250,000 |
