Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
At A Glance
>> Multiple Group 1 winner Viddora (I Am Invincible) became the third mare to crack the $2.5 million mark on the Gold Coast this week, selling for $2,550,000 on Wednesday morning
>> She was bought by Yulong Investments, who finished the sale as leading buyer, securing 15 mares for a total of $9,985,000, averaging $665,667 apiece
>> Viddora was immediately followed into the ring by another daughter of I Am Invincible, Viennese Star, who was bought by Daandine Stud and Boomer Bloodstock for $550,000
>> Widden Stud, which sold sale-topping Sunlight (Zoustar) on the opening day of the sale, finished as top vendor with 20 mares sold for a total of $5,625,500
>> The overall aggregate for the sale was $55,508,000, down from nearly $105 million last year, but with 405 sold as opposed to 702 in 2019
>> The average was a very respectable $137,058 and a median of $60,000 compared to $135,356 and $65,000 last year
>> The Sale clearance rate is expected to lift from 73 per cent. It ended at 78 per cent last year.
Viddora another jewel in Yulong’s crown
Yueshang Zhang’s Yulong Investments headed to the Gold Coast this week on a mission to bolster their broodmare band, and that mission was well and truly accomplished.
At the end of the National Broodmare Sale, Yulong Investments sat at the top of the buyers’ list, having secured 15 mares for a total of $9,985,000. The average price of their purchases this week is $665,667.
That big haul includes two of the big-ticket lots of the sale. On Wednesday they paid $2,550,000 to secure the dual Group 1 winner Viddora, having purchased Unforgotten (Fastnet Rock) for $2,750,000 earlier in the sale.
Viddora sold for $2.55 million | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Yulong’s Chief Operating Officer Sam Fairgray told TDN AusNZ that Viddora had been right at the top of the team’s wish list for the week.
“It’s really great that we were able to get her,” he said. “She was a fantastic race mare, she’s an absolutely lovely type, and she’s in foal to a very, very good stallion in Lope De Vega (Ire). We’re extremely pleased to be able to add her to our broodmare band.
“I think that these purchases, and the exciting young stallions Alabama Express and Grunt, have really cemented Mr Zhang’s commitment to developing Yulong, and to the Australian thoroughbred industry. We’re very fortunate to be in the position where he’s able to purchase mares of this sort of quality.
“I think that these purchases, and the exciting young stallions Alabama Express and Grunt, have really cemented Mr Zhang’s commitment to developing Yulong, and to the Australian thoroughbred industry." - Sam Fairgray
“Viddora and Unforgotten are both Group 1-winning mares by exceptional sires. We’ve seen all week how strong the market is for these mares at the top end, so we’re very happy to have been able to secure them.
“To have bought so many mares and be at the top of the buyers’ list is great – the week is going along really nicely for us. We might have to buy some more land soon to make room for all of these horses!
“We’ll sit down after the sale and work out a plan for what we might do with all of these mares that we’ve bought, but obviously with Alabama Express and Grunt on our stallion roster, Mr Zhang is very keen to give them all the support he can.”
Henry Field (centre) speaks with the Yulong team after the sale of Viddora | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Yulong purchased another five mares for $400,000 or more, including the multiple stakes winner and Group 1 Queensland Oaks placegetter Another Dollar (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) for $700,000.
Viddora was offered by Newgate Farm, which bought the star sprinter privately 12 months ago in partnership with SF Bloodstock.
She was sent to Lope De Vega (Ire) in late September, and she is one of only 15 Southern Hemisphere pregnancies to that globally influential sire this year.
“I was thrilled with the outcome,” Newgate’s Managing Director Henry Field said on Wednesday. “She was just the most stunning mare you could ever wish to see, and I’m confident that Yulong will do really well with her. They’ve really invested a lot in high-quality stock and high-quality people, and I’m sure they’ll do really well.
“She was just the most stunning mare you could ever wish to see, and I’m confident that Yulong will do really well with her." - Henry Field
“We bought her last year to send her to Lope De Vega, and there aren’t too many mares in this part of the world in foal to him this year. She was a serious sprinter with a huge amount of class, and she’s by a top sire, so she had a lot going for her.
“I found it encouraging that there were five different people on her at $1.5 million. I really hope that Yulong hit it out of the park with her because she is ‘out of the box’ and they have bought the real deal. For what these elite mares are making, I thought she was reasonably priced. I had her clearly marked as the second-best mare in the sale (behind Sunlight) and she made in the middle of what I thought she’d make.”
Lloyd Kennewell (left) with Viddora
For trainer Lloyd Kennewell, Wednesday’s result was the icing on the cake of a fairy tale that began at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale six years ago.
He paid just $40,000 to buy Viddora as a yearling, and her glittering racetrack career netted more than $2.8 million headed by victories in the G1 Winterbottom S. and Moir S.
“It was great to watch the spirited bidding for her,” Kennewell said. “I understand James Harron was the underbidder, and obviously Yulong were very keen to buy her.
"She's coming back to Victoria, to her home, and she will live a beautiful life down here. I would think she will be a good mum and hopefully her progeny live up to what she did.
“Henry Field and Tom Ryan (SF Bloodstock) did a tremendous job in promoting her and getting a great result. They took a chance on bringing her back from the UK, got her in foal and did all the hard work. She was offered for a lot less money privately to all those people, and they took the plunge to buy her and reaped some rewards.”
Viennese Star fetches $550,000
Viddora was always going to be a hard act to follow, but another daughter of I Am Invincible gave it a very good shot.
Edinburgh Park’s Viennese Star was the very next mare through the ring as Lot 493, and she was bought for $550,000 by Daandine Stud and Boomer Bloodstock.
Viennese Star was a winner as a 2-year-old and placed in the Listed Cinderella S., and her dam Viennese Lass (Redoute’s Choice) is a three-quarter-sister to super sire Snitzel, along with the stakes winner and black-type producer Viennese (Redoute’s Choice), and Group performer King’s Troop (Redoute’s Choice).
Lot 493 - Viennese Star
Viennese Star was offered in foal to Shooting To Win.
“Viennese Star was an extremely desirable mare for my client Daandine Stud,” Boomer Bloodstock's Craig Rounsefell said.
“The goal is to breed high-class 2-year-olds, and we believe that she has all the ingredients to do that. She was a talented 2-year-old herself and is a beautifully balanced individual.
“She is the right line of one of the best families in Australia, by the champion I Am Invincible. We are absolutely delighted with the result.”
Viennese Star was one of five purchases for Boomer Bloodstock, spending $1.2million. His other purchases include two from Godolphin, Clothing (Commands) and Notre Dame (Exceed And Excel).
Viennese Star was sold in absentia for $550,000 | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Late fireworks for Aquis
Aquis landed a couple of big results late in the sale with Lots 667 and 669.
Lot 667 was the G3 Aspiration H. winner Karavali (NZ) (Nadeem), who was bought by Zhongli Thoroughbreds for $540,000.
The Aspiration was the best of five wins for Karavali, who also finished fourth in the G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce S. She is a sister to the Listed winner and G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas and Manawatu Sires’ Produce S. placegetter Sir Nate (NZ) (Nadeem).
Karavali was offered in foal to Written Tycoon.
She was followed by Lot 669, the well-related Tremor (Commands), who was knocked down to Fernrigg Farm for $600,000.
Tremor is a half-sister to the Champion 2-year-old Earthquake (Exceed And Excel), winner of the G1 Blue Diamond, G2 Reisling S., G3 Blue Diamond Prelude and G3 Thoroughbred Club S. and placegetter in the Golden Slipper.
Other siblings include the stakes performers Palomares (Commands) and Pandemic (Sepoy), while her dam Cataclysm (Marauding) placed in the G3 Sapphire S. and the Listed Birthday Card H. and Doveton S.
Tremor is in foal to I Am Invincible.
Widden Stud claims leading vendor title
Thanks in large part to the record-breaking Sunlight (Zoustar), Widden Stud took the title of leading vendor by aggregate at the 2020 National Broodmare Sale.
They sold a total of 20 mares over the three days, earning a total of $5,625,500. Their average price was $281,275.
“It’s a great result for us, but you’d have to say it was mostly about Sunlight,” said Widden owner Antony Thompson.
“She was certainly the jewel in our draft. It was a privilege to sell her on behalf of her owners, and we were delighted to get such a great result with her.”
Antony Thompson with Sunlight | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Considering the unusual circumstances, Thompson considered the sale a major success.
“I think the market has held up extremely well, all things considered,” he said. “It presented some unique challenges. With the number of mares being sold in absentia, it was quite a logistical exercise for the buyers to get out to see them all, and it was also very difficult for breeders who were unable to travel.
“All in all, Magic Millions did a great job and it has been an excellent sale.”
Successful live auction a triumph for Magic Millions
The sale concluded with an aggregate of $55,508,000, an average of $137,058 and a median of $60,000. The clearance rate was 73 per cent.
In the tumultuous and challenging COVID-19 climate, Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch sees this week as nothing short of an enormous success.
“It’s been a hugely positive week for us at Magic Millions, and for the Australian industry as a whole,” he said.
“It’s been a hugely positive week for us at Magic Millions, and for the Australian industry as a whole." - Barry Bowditch
“Leading into this week, the ability to hold a live auction was our absolute priority. To be able to do that and achieve the results that we did is a fantastic result.
“I think all participants here have just been happy to be back at a live auction. We’ve been waiting for the right time to hold this sale, which would normally be held in late May.
“I think the vendors are quite pleased and the buyers have sometimes found it tough to get the ones they were hoping for, and that bodes well for a good auction and gives us all a bit of confidence for the six months leading into yearling sale time.”
Demand was high at the top tier of the catalogue, with six mares fetching more than $1 million across the three days. Sunlight took top billing with her Magic Millions record price of $4,200,000 on Day 1.
Tom Magnier with Sunlight and Sarah Anne Rutten | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“With this sale, our mandate is to promote these elite mares to the world,” Bowditch said. “The prices for those star mares this week, with six of them reaching the million-dollar mark, back that up.
“It really reinforces the fact that this sale is the place to sell the best mares.
“It’s been a fantastic three days of selling. Sunlight set the tone midway through Monday, and to close it out with Viddora at $2.55 million early in the day today was great theatre. Yulong and James Harron were going pound for pound from $1.8 million.
“With no international buyers here and a lot of interstate buyers not being able to make it, the market has been a little selective, but for the right product there has been plenty of money here. We’ve cleared some 73 per cent of the catalogue at an average price of $140,000, so it’s been a fantastic sale for what we’re going through in the world right now.”
The action continues on the Gold Coast with the National Weanling Sale to begin on Thursday.
Top lots
| 80 | Sunlight | - | Zoustar | Solar Charged | Widden Stud, Widden Valley, NSW (As Agent) | Tom Magnier | NSW | $4,200,000 |
| 92 | Unforgotten | - | Fastnet Rock | Memories of You (Ire) | Blue Sky Premium Consignment, Canungra, Qld (As Agent) | Yulong | VIC | $2,750,000 |
| 492 | Viddora | Lope De Vega (Ire) | I Am Invincible | Snow Flight (NZ) | Newgate Consignment, Aberdeen, NSW (As Agent) | Yulong | VIC | $2,550,000 |
| 131 | Champagne Cuddles | - | Not A Single Doubt | Sky Cuddle | Turangga Farm, Scone, NSW (As Agent) | Tom Magnier | NSW | $2,000,000 |
| 12 | Invincibella | - | I Am Invincible | Abscond | Glenesk Thoroughbreds, Mount Vincent, NSW (As Agent) | Tom Magnier | NSW | $1,300,000 |
| 384 | Right Chord | Exceed And Excel | Lonhro | Miss Right Note (Ire) | Godolphin, Hunter Valley, NSW | James Harron Bloodstock | NSW | $1,050,000 |
| 114 | Another Dollar (NZ) | - | Ocean Park (NZ) | Make a Wish (NZ) | Blue Sky Premium Consignment, Canungra, Qld (As Agent) | Yulong | VIC | $700,000 |
| 61 | Santa Monica (NZ) | - | Per Incanto (USA) | Monarch (NZ) | Blue Sky Premium Consignment, Canungra, Qld (As Agent) | Spendthrift Australia Pty Ltd | VIC | $600,000 |
| 304 | Mark Two (NZ) | I Am Invincible | Pins | Zephyr Song (NZ) | Yarraman Park Stud, Scone, NSW (As Agent) | Mitchell Bloodstock (FBAA) | NSW | $600,000 |
| 669 | Tremor | I Am Invincible | Commands | Cataclysm | Aquis Farm Operations, Murrurundi, NSW (As Agent for Aquis Farm) | Fernrigg Farm | NSW | $600,000 |
Top buyers
| Yulong | 15 | $9,985,000 | $665,667 | $2,750,000 |
| Tom Magnier | 3 | $7,500,000 | $2,500,000 | $4,200,000 |
| A List Group Holdings Pty Ltd | 19 | $2,250,500 | $118,447 | $560,000 |
| Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) | 14 | $2,227,000 | $159,071 | $360,000 |
| Mitchell Bloodstock (FBAA) | 10 | $1,942,500 | $194,250 | $600,000 |
| James Harron Bloodstock | 4 | $1,810,000 | $452,500 | $1,050,000 |
| Spendthrift Australia Pty Ltd | 5 | $1,715,000 | $343,000 | $600,000 |
| Zhongli Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd | 5 | $1,615,000 | $323,000 | $540,000 |
| Neil Jenkinson Bloodstock | 3 | $872,500 | $290,833 | $430,000 |
| Kingstar Farm | 15 | $846,500 | $56,433 | $100,000 |
Top vendors by aggregate
| Widden Stud, Widden Valley, NSW | 20 | $5,625,500 | $281,275 | $4,200,000 |
| Blue Sky Premium Consignment, Canungra, Qld | 18 | $5,013,000 | $278,500 | $2,750,000 |
| Newgate Consignment, Aberdeen, NSW | 13 | $4,545,000 | $349,615 | $2,550,000 |
| Godolphin, Hunter Valley, NSW | 45 | $3,941,500 | $87,589 | $1,050,000 |
| Yarraman Park Stud, Scone, NSW | 14 | $3,555,000 | $253,929 | $600,000 |
| Rothwell Park, Blandford, NSW | 30 | $2,887,500 | $96,250 | $360,000 |
| Baystone Farm, Gnarwarre, Vic | 12 | $2,565,000 | $213,750 | $370,000 |
| Aquis Farm Operations, Murrurundi, NSW | 35 | $2,546,000 | $72,743 | $600,000 |
| Willow Park Stud, Scone, NSW | 27 | $2,445,500 | $90,574 | $310,000 |
| Turangga Farm, Scone, NSW | 2 | $2,300,000 | $1,150,000 | $2,000,000 |
Top vendors by average (3 or more sold)
| Glenesk Thoroughbreds, Mount Vincent, NSW | 3 | $515,333 | $1,300,000 | $1,546,000 |
| Newgate Consignment, Aberdeen, NSW | 13 | $349,615 | $2,550,000 | $4,545,000 |
| Widden Stud, Widden Valley, NSW | 20 | $281,275 | $4,200,000 | $5,625,500 |
| Blue Sky Premium Consignment, Canungra, Qld | 18 | $278,500 | $2,750,000 | $5,013,000 |
| Yarraman Park Stud, Scone, NSW | 14 | $253,929 | $600,000 | $3,555,000 |
| Arrowfield Stud, Scone, NSW | 5 | $237,000 | $550,000 | $1,185,000 |
| Bell View Park Stud, Meroo Meadow, NSW | 7 | $233,571 | $450,000 | $1,635,000 |
| Baystone Farm, Gnarwarre, Vic | 12 | $213,750 | $370,000 | $2,565,000 |
| Strawberry Hill Stud, Mt White, NSW | 6 | $193,750 | $400,000 | $1,162,500 |
| Glastonbury Farms, Scone, NSW | 4 | $171,500 | $460,000 | $686,000 |
Top covering sires by aggregate
| Lope De Vega (Ire) | 1 | $2,550,000 | $2,550,000 | $2,550,000 |
| Pierro | 9 | $2,510,000 | $278,889 | $560,000 |
| Deep Field | 19 | $2,420,000 | $127,368 | $350,000 |
| I Am Invincible | 3 | $1,775,000 | $591,667 | $600,000 |
| Exceed And Excel | 4 | $1,580,000 | $395,000 | $1,050,000 |
| Written Tycoon | 5 | $1,505,000 | $301,000 | $540,000 |
| Russian Revolution | 10 | $1,225,000 | $122,500 | $240,000 |
| The Autumn Sun | 3 | $1,180,000 | $393,333 | $500,000 |
| Fastnet Rock | 3 | $1,100,000 | $366,667 | $400,000 |
| Capitalist | 11 | $1,040,000 | $94,545 | $180,000 |
Top covering sires by average (3 or more sold)
| I Am Invincible | 3 | $591,667 | $600,000 | $1,775,000 |
| Exceed And Excel | 4 | $395,000 | $1,050,000 | $1,580,000 |
| The Autumn Sun | 3 | $393,333 | $500,000 | $1,180,000 |
| Fastnet Rock | 3 | $366,667 | $400,000 | $1,100,000 |
| Written Tycoon | 5 | $301,000 | $540,000 | $1,505,000 |
| Pierro | 9 | $278,889 | $560,000 | $2,510,000 |
| Trapeze Artist | 4 | $201,250 | $300,000 | $805,000 |
| Lonhro | 3 | $185,000 | $310,000 | $555,000 |
| American Pharoah (USA) | 6 | $160,000 | $340,000 | $960,000 |
| Deep Field | 19 | $127,368 | $350,000 | $2,420,000 |
