Article images courtesy of Magic Millions and Makoto Kaneko
Book 1 of the auction has seen an increase in quantity and quality with record entries received for the auction and Bowditch is confident the domestic and international buying benches will react accordingly and ensure strong business on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Vendors from all over Australia, and Wentwood Grange from New Zealand, will be represented and yearlings by 130 stallions, including the first Australian crops of 30 freshman stallions will all add further spice and interest to proceedings.
“The yearling sales series this year so far have been very positive from an auction house perspective. Averages from all our sales from Gold Coast through to Perth and Tasmania have all been up and our clearance rates have been healthy,” Bowditch said.
“The indicators say the market is in great shape and here in Adelaide we’ve probably got as strong a catalogue as I’ve seen in recent times. There’s a great vibe around the grounds with plenty of buyers.”
“This is probably the largest Book 1 we’ve had in many a year. There are 400 in Book 1 which is a big number for us and it’s up 60-odd horses on last year.
There are over 400 yearlings catalogued in Book 1 of the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale
“We had a lot of horses to select from this year from a record number entered, so the quantity has gone up and so has the quality. There’s no doubt buyers will have strong lists of horses and be able to chip away at them.”
“We had a lot of horses to select from this year from a record number entered, so the quantity has gone up and so has the quality.” – Barry Bowditch
Despite global events of recent weeks with the coronavirus outbreak, overseas purchasers will be in attendance.
“We’ve got a good number of international buyers in town and obviously a strong domestic contingent in from New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia and even Tasmania,” Bowditch said.
“Like any sale, you are heavily reliant on the domestic market and there are a lot of trainers in town and traders to bid on the good quality colts.
Gallery: There is a strong contingent of both international and domestic buyers around the sale complex this week
“All our states will be well represented at a buyer level and a great representation of horses from all over Australia. Vendors are here from Tasmania, New Zealand, Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales and here.
“All our states will be well represented at a buyer level and a great representation of horses from all over Australia.” – Barry Bowditch
“All roads have apparently led to Adelaide and we’re delighted with the quality of horses we have to offer.”
Bowditch said it was hard to gauge the impact the coronavirus outbreak may have on the sale, but the focus had been on factors within the company’s control.
“It’s hard to say and we go along and do our best and get as many people here as possible. We’ve done our best through these circumstances and will see where the numbers fall.
“We do what we can do and do it well, that’s the mentality. The standard across all sales in Australia has been strong and buoyant and the expectation of this sale is that if we set numbers similar to last year we’d be delighted.
Group 1 winning graduates
Recent graduates of the sale include Melbourne spring carnival Group 1 winners Begood Toya Mother (Myboycharlie {Ire}) and Warning (Declaration Of War {USA}).
Group 1 winner Begood Toya Mother is a graduate of the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale
On Magic Millions Gold Coast race day the rising Queensland-based star Vega One (Lope De Vega {Ire}), a $75,000 Adelaide buy, won the $1 million Magic Millions Cup and is now a leading contender for the G1 Stradbroke H.
Casino Prince (Flying Spur), Gold Guru (Geiger Counter {USA}), Mummify (Jeune {GB}), Undoubtedly (Redoute’s Choice), Devil Moon (King Cugat {USA}), Divine Madonna (Hurricane Sky) and Amphitrite (Sebring) are also among the decorated of the Adelaide Sale.
The catalogue also comprises 293 BOBS eligible, 144 Super VOBIS nominated and 109 SABOIS Breeder Paid youngsters.
No fewer than 130 individual sires are represented, including the first Australian crops of a record 30 freshman stallions.
