Article images courtesy of Magic Millions
At A Glance:
>> Averages lifted from the $64,981 on Book 1 last year to $71,302 for the first day in 2020
>> Median remained steady on 2019 levels at $55,000, while clearance rate dropped to 73 per cent, from 77 last year
>> Gross lifted to over $8.84 million on 124 yearlings sold, up significantly on the $6.8 million of 2019 (105 sold)
>> Yarradale Stud's War Chant had a stellar first day, with nearly double the aggregate sales of any other stallion
>> NSW-based Attunga Bloodstock and Clarke Bloodstock paid the top price on the day for a War Chant filly
>> The diversity of the buying bench was there for all to see with the top five lots going to buyers from four different states plus Singapore
Chant goes up
War Chant may be 22 years old and have just completed his ninth season at Yarradale, but the imported stallion is proving as popular as ever as he had eight sell on the day at a very healthy average of $128,125 to clearly lead aggregate sales with $1.025 million spent.
He also had the top lot, with Attunga Bloodstock and Clarke Bloodstock willing to go to $240,000 for a filly half-sister to multiple Group winning sprinter Quilista (Scandal Keeper {USA}) and stakes winner Red Can Man (Gingerbread Man) offered by Willow Dale Farm. The price was just $10,000 short of the record price for the stallion.
Attunga Stud will retain a small stake in the filly with stud principal Brian Nutt buying on behalf of his brother in law, Melbourne-based Geoff Walsh.
"I had my eye on her for quite some time. She was one of three fillies that I picked out on pedigree before we came over here. She was the one I really wanted," he said.
"She stacked up when I saw her. I thought she held it together for the past couple of days and I've seen her every day, twice yesterday .
"I think Ellie Giles is a great breeder, I'm happy to buy something from her and I bought a War Chant filly last year our of the same draft."
Nutt has had a connection with the family of the filly, with Attunga Stud having consigned Quilista at last year's Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale and he sought the advice of that mare's former trainer Justin Warwick, before buying her younger half-sister.
"He was instrumental in my buying her. He gave me the confidence I probably didn’t have five days ago. I was very happy to get her."
"He was instrumental in my buying her. He gave me the confidence I probably didn’t have five days ago. I was very happy to get her." - Brian Nutt
Another War Chant filly from the family of last season's Australian Champion 2-year-old Microphone (Exceed And Excel) sold for $180,000.
Lot 133 sold to Singapore-based Thoroughbred Owners Association and Sports Trust, providing the delightful acronym TOAST. She Is out of Verse (Quest For Fame {GB}), who has produced a perfect seven winners from seven foals to the track, including the Group 2 winner Lamasery (Commands).
Verse is from a great family from the old Woodlands Stud and a half-sister to multiple Group 1 winner Anthems (Palace Music), as well as juvenile stakes winner Vocalist (Bluebird {USA}), who is the dam of Group 1 winner Yell (Anabaa {USA}) and granddam of Microphone. Another Group 1 winner in the family is Darley stallion Holler (Commands).
Parnham Racing acted early to secure the top-priced War Chant colt, Lot 5 for $170,000, also from Yarradale Stud.
That colt was out of Diamonds'n'Dreams (Viscount), who has already produced two winners and is a half-sister to Quality Dream (Elusive Quality {USA}), the dam of New Zealand Group 1 winner Hypnos (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}).
Lot 5 - War Chant (USA) x Diamonds'n'Dreams (colt)
Winning Rupert colt fetches $200,000
The top colt overall for the day was Lot 161, by Newgate's first-season sire Winning Rupert and offered by Western Breeders' Alliance.
Victorian trainer Matt Laurie paid $200,000 for the colt out of Bitter Twist (California Dane), the half-sister to stakes winner Hoegaarden (Flying Spur) and sister to stakes placed Inspector. The grand-dam, the stakes placed Inspect (Integra) is a sister to eight-time Group 1 winner Intergaze.
"I thought he was a standout and obviously had to bid pretty hard to get him. He's just a really forward well muscled, well balanced colt, A typically early running horse," Laurie said.
Matt Laurie purchased the highest-priced colt of the day by Newgate's Winning Rupert
McEvoy Mitchell Racing paired with Belmont Bloodstock to pay $170,000 for Lot 56, a filly by So You Think (NZ) out of Magical Belle (Blackfriars).
"She just had class. She oozed class. She had a great honesty about her, a great willingness and her purpose was incredible. Beautiful mover, powerful big girl. The colts will struggle to give her two kilos," Tony McEvoy, who will train the filly in partnership with his son Calvin, said.
"She just had class. She oozed class. She had a great honesty about her, a great willingness and her purpose was incredible." - Tony McEvoy
The filly, sold by Western Breeders Alliance, is a half-sister to R. Listed Magic Millions WA 3YO Trophy winner Enchanted Dream (Patronize) as well as stakes-placed Mystic Maid (Patronize) and 12-time winner Bells Tower (Statue Of Liberty {USA}).
It is the extended family of stakes winners Superscenic (Scenic {Ire}) and Magic Filly (Bletchley Park {Ire}) as well as Group 1 winning mare Jungle Dawn (Jungle Boy {GB}).
Earlier, McEvoy Mitchell Racing and Belmont Bloodstock combined with Suman Hedge Bloodstock to pay $160,000 for Lot 13, a colt by Nicconi offered by Dawson Stud.
The colt is out of five-time winner Elite Ateates (Exceed And Excel), the daughter of multiple Group 2 winner Ateates (Zeditave), from the family of Group 1 winner Ruffles (Zeditave) as well as stakes winners such as True Glo (Brief Truce {USA}), Osca Warrior (Zeditave) and Campaign Warrior (Opera Prince).
"They call me Tony Nicconi back east," McEvoy joked, "I love the Nicconi breed and had quite a bit to do with the stallion himself when he was in training. Gee this colt was big and powerful and such a great mover.
"He's going to have a very big stride and is going to be very hard to get past. With him being a big fellow, we might have to watch his weight, but he looks like a real running type to me."
Local sires old and new in demand
The 2020 sale provides the final opportunity to buy the yearlings of the nine-time WA Champion Sire Blackfriars and local trainer Simon Miller took his chance, paying $170,000 for Lot 104 by the departed sire from Sky Rumba (Shrewd Rhythm) offered by Dawson Stud.
The colt is a three-quarter-brother to multiple stakes-winner London Line (Blackfriars) and is closely related to multiple Group 1 winner Scenic Shot (Scenic {Ire}).
Lot 104 - Blackfriars x Sky Rumba (colt)
At the other end of his stallion career is Awesome Rock, and the first season stallion found traction with the market with Victorian trainer Shane Nichols paying $165,000 for Lot 74, a colt out of Nishikawa (Fuji Kiseki {Jpn}), making him a half-brother to Listed winner Takanori (Vital Equine {Ire}), who is the dam of recent Listed Nudgee S. winner Tahitian Dancer (Dawn Approach {Ire}).
Amelia Park active as both buyer and seller
Amelia Park made a strong opening impression as a vendor and was able to get several bidders on the hook, including eventual buyer Aquis, for Lot 15, a Pierro colt for $160,000.
"He's very similar to his half-sister (La Forola {Deep Field}) who sold last year and won her first start for us about six weeks ago. He's an early runner, strong and being a Pierro there were plenty of buyers on him," Amelia Park's Sarah Brown said.
"It's always nice to see eastern states buyers here and always nice to know we have a draft that those big buyers from the east are interested in and buy."
The Amelia Park team with Lot 15 - Pierro x Europa Point (colt)
Amelia Park also sold Lot 72, a Vancouver colt, for $150,000 to Commercial Bloodstock and Vernon Brockman, from the same family as Lot 15, with Group 1 winner Special Harmony (Spinning World {USA}) on both pages.
It also sold a Shooting To Win colt, Lot 40, for $140,000 to Pearce Racing and topped the vendors' list on averages with $112,500 per its six lots sold.
Amelia Park was also on the buyers' list as well, paying $130,000 for Lot 11, a War Chant filly from Yarradale Stud.
"She's a beautifully balanced filly. She's got a good walk. She was just eye catching for me. We are always interested to find fillies to race and to breed with. We came here without necessarily being serious about buying, but she just had a wow factor" Brown said.
Durrant fills up
The top buyer on the day was Adam Durrant Racing, who spent $1.016 million on 15 yearlings, while fellow trainer Neville Parnham spent $637,500 on seven yearlings.
Western Breeders Alliance led the vendors' aggregate table, returning $1.095 million for the 15 it sold, just ahead of Yarradale Stud, which returned $1.025 million in sales across 10 yearlings.
As mentioned, War Chant led aggregate sales for all sires at $1.025 million, with Blackfriars second on $552,500, just ahead of Oratorio.
Zoustar led the averages with three lots or more, selling three at an average of $150,000, edging out War Chant ($128,125) and Nicconi ($120,833).
Top lots
| 166 | Willow Dale Farm, Waroona, WA (As Agent for Korilya Stud) | F | War Chant (USA) | Brocky's Ace (AUS) | Attunga Bloodstock / Clarke Bloodstock | NSW | $240,000 |
| 161 | Western Breeders Alliance (Darling View Stud, Einoncliff Park and Westbury Park), WA | C | Winning Rupert (AUS) | Bitter Twist (AUS) | Matt Laurie Racing | VIC | $200,000 |
| 133 | Yarradale Stud, Gidgegannup, WA | F | War Chant (USA) | Verse (AUS) | Thoroughbred Owners Association & Sports Trust (TOAST) | SINGAPORE | $180,000 |
| 5 | Yarradale Stud, Gidgegannup, WA | C | War Chant (USA) | Diamonds'n'dreams (AUS) | Neville Parnham Racing | WA | $170,000 |
| 56 | Western Breeders Alliance (Darling View Stud, Einoncliff Park and Westbury Park), WA | F | So You Think (NZ) | Magical Belle (AUS) | McEvoy Mitchell Racing/Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA) | SA | $170,000 |
| 104 | Dawson Stud, Myalup, WA (As Agent) | C | Blackfriars (AUS) | Sky Rumba (AUS) | Simon Miller Racing | WA | $170,000 |
| 74 | Gervase Park Stud, Belhus, WA (As Agent) | C | Awesome Rock (AUS) | Nishikawa (AUS) | Shane Nichols Racing | VIC | $165,000 |
| 13 | Dawson Stud, Myalup, WA (As Agent) | C | Nicconi (AUS) | Elite Ateates (AUS) | Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA)/McEvoy Mitchell Racing/Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA) | VIC | $160,000 |
| 15 | Amelia Park Racing & Breeding Pty Ltd, Vasse, WA | C | Pierro (AUS) | Europa Point (AUS) | Aquis Farm Pty Ltd | QLD | $160,000 |
| 138 | Rangeview Stud, Burekup, WA | F | Zoustar (AUS) | Wise Talk (AUS) | Pearce Racing Pty Ltd | WA | $160,000 |
| 152 | Amelia Park Racing & Breeding Pty Ltd, Vasse, WA | F | Street Boss (USA) | Amelia's Love (AUS) | McEvoy Mitchell Racing/Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA) | SA | $160,000 |
Top buyers
| Adam Durrant Racing | 15 | $67,733 | $16,000 | $150,000 | $1,016,000 |
| Neville Parnham Racing | 7 | $91,071 | $42,500 | $170,000 | $637,500 |
| John Chalmers Bloodstock (FBAA) | 10 | $50,350 | $16,000 | $150,000 | $503,500 |
| Pearce Racing Pty Ltd | 4 | $97,500 | $40,000 | $160,000 | $390,000 |
| McEvoy Mitchell Racing/Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA) | 2 | $165,000 | $160,000 | $170,000 | $330,000 |
| Thoroughbred Owners Association & Sports Trust (TOAST) | 2 | $150,000 | $120,000 | $180,000 | $300,000 |
| Bridge Patrol Lodge Pty Ltd | 4 | $68,750 | $40,000 | $130,000 | $275,000 |
| Simon Miller Racing | 3 | $86,333 | $34,000 | $170,000 | $259,000 |
| Jim Taylor | 4 | $62,625 | $25,000 | $140,000 | $250,500 |
| Attunga Bloodstock / Clarke Bloodstock | 1 | $240,000 | $240,000 | $240,000 | $240,000 |
Top vendors by aggregate
| Western Breeders Alliance (Darling View Stud | 15 | 7 | 68 | $73,000 | $22,500 | $200,000 | $1,095,000 |
| Yarradale Stud | 10 | 3 | 71 | $102,500 | $35,000 | $180,000 | $1,025,000 |
| Mungrup Stud | 16 | 2 | 84 | $59,844 | $25,000 | $155,000 | $957,500 |
| Dawson Stud | 10 | 2 | 76 | $83,700 | $22,000 | $170,000 | $837,000 |
| Amelia Park Racing & Breeding Pty Ltd | 6 | 1 | 75 | $112,500 | $10,000 | $160,000 | $675,000 |
| Mogumber Park | 8 | 2 | 72 | $76,875 | $30,000 | $130,000 | $615,000 |
| Gervase Park Stud | 9 | 2 | 75 | $66,000 | $11,000 | $165,000 | $594,000 |
| Alwyn Park Stud | 6 | 2 | 75 | $88,333 | $40,000 | $140,000 | $530,000 |
| Willow Dale Farm | 5 | 1 | 55 | $91,000 | $47,500 | $240,000 | $455,000 |
| Scenic Lodge | 8 | 1 | 72 | $54,500 | $20,000 | $85,000 | $436,000 |
Top vendors by average (3 or more sold)
| Amelia Park Racing & Breeding Pty Ltd | 6 | 1 | 1 | 75 | $112,500 | $10,000 | $160,000 | $675,000 |
| Yarradale Stud | 10 | 3 | 1 | 71 | $102,500 | $35,000 | $180,000 | $1,025,000 |
| Rangeview Stud | 3 | 1 | 0 | 75 | $93,333 | $60,000 | $160,000 | $280,000 |
| Willow Dale Farm | 5 | 1 | 3 | 55 | $91,000 | $47,500 | $240,000 | $455,000 |
| Alwyn Park Stud | 6 | 2 | 0 | 75 | $88,333 | $40,000 | $140,000 | $530,000 |
| Dawson Stud | 10 | 2 | 1 | 76 | $83,700 | $22,000 | $170,000 | $837,000 |
| Mogumber Park | 8 | 2 | 1 | 72 | $76,875 | $30,000 | $130,000 | $615,000 |
| Western Breeders Alliance (Darling View Stud) | 15 | 7 | 0 | 68 | $73,000 | $22,500 | $200,000 | $1,095,000 |
| Bellbridge Park | 3 | 1 | 0 | 75 | $72,500 | $20,000 | $110,000 | $217,500 |
| Gervase Park Stud | 9 | 2 | 1 | 75 | $66,000 | $11,000 | $165,000 | $594,000 |
Top sires by aggregate
| War Chant (USA) | 8 | 2 | 2 | 66 | $128,125 | $35,000 | $240,000 | $1,025,000 |
| Blackfriars (AUS) | 7 | 1 | 0 | 87 | $84,571 | $40,000 | $170,000 | $592,000 |
| Oratorio (AUS) | 9 | 2 | 0 | 81 | $61,111 | $42,500 | $155,000 | $550,000 |
| Zoustar (AUS) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100 | $150,000 | $140,000 | $160,000 | $450,000 |
| Rommel (AUS) | 7 | 1 | 1 | 77 | $56,429 | $10,000 | $130,000 | $395,000 |
| Nicconi (AUS) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 60 | $120,833 | $62,500 | $160,000 | $362,500 |
| Awesome Rock (AUS) | 7 | 2 | 0 | 77 | $49,214 | $11,000 | $165,000 | $344,500 |
| I'm All the Talk (AUS) | 6 | 0 | 1 | 85 | $49,167 | $37,500 | $75,000 | $295,000 |
| Maschino (AUS) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 100 | $72,500 | $20,000 | $140,000 | $290,000 |
| Safeguard (AUS) | 4 | 1 | 0 | 80 | $66,000 | $34,000 | $80,000 | $264,000 |
Top sires by average (3 or more sold)
| Zoustar (AUS) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100 | $150,000 | $140,000 | $160,000 | $450,000 |
| War Chant (USA) | 8 | 2 | 2 | 66 | $128,125 | $35,000 | $240,000 | $1,025,000 |
| Nicconi (AUS) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 60 | $120,833 | $62,500 | $160,000 | $362,500 |
| Blackfriars (AUS) | 7 | 1 | 0 | 87 | $84,571 | $40,000 | $170,000 | $592,000 |
| Magnus (AUS) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100 | $80,833 | $55,000 | $100,000 | $242,500 |
| Maschino (AUS) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 100 | $72,500 | $20,000 | $140,000 | $290,000 |
| Safeguard (AUS) | 4 | 1 | 0 | 80 | $66,000 | $34,000 | $80,000 | $264,000 |
| Oratorio (AUS) | 9 | 2 | 0 | 81 | $61,111 | $42,500 | $155,000 | $550,000 |
| Demerit (AUS) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 50 | $57,000 | $16,000 | $85,000 | $171,000 |
| Rommel (AUS) | 7 | 1 | 1 | 77 | $56,429 | $10,000 | $130,000 | $395,000 |
