Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
At A Glance
Ascot trainer Simon Miller fought off interstate and international investors to secure Lot 21, the Russian Revolution colt from Western Breeders Alliance, for $325,000.
Local buyers dominated the market, with the top seven lots purchased by WA investors, including colts by Capitalist and Choisir which sold for $220,000 to Lindsey Smith and Ridgeport Holdings respectively.
The clearance rate soared on where it was after the first day last year, from 73 per cent to over 79 per cent.
The Day 1 average was nearly identical to the first session last year at $71,374 compared to $71,302.
The median after Day 1 was identical to last year at $55,000.
The Day 1 gross was just $8,493,500, short of last year's $8,841,500 but with five fewer lots sold and 22 fewer lots catalogued.
The top eight lots of the Sale were all by different sires.
It’s Miller's time
Local trainer Simon Miller put on the fireworks early on the opening day, paying $325,000 for the only yearling by Russian Revolution in the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale.
It was the highest price at the Perth Sale since 2015, as Lot 21, a colt offered by Western Breeders Alliance, attracted plenty of interest.
Bred by Darling View Thoroughbreds and offered as part of the Western Breeders Alliance draft, he is out of Magical Belle (Blackfriars), which makes him a half-brother to R. Listed Pinjarra Magic Millions 3YO Trophy winner Enchanted Dream (Patronize) and G2 Karrakatta Plate placegetter Mystic Maid (Patronize), while another half-brother, Winning Method (Deep Field), was a recent winner in Hong Kong.
Lot 21 - Russian Revolution x Magical Belle (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Darling View's Brent Atwell said before the Sale that the colt by Newgate's first-season stallion could be the star of the Sale and he certainly lived up to that reputation, as Miller won the battle for his services.
"I didn't think I'd have to go that much to be honest, but then just prior to the Sale, I knew Andy Williams was on it, and Upper Bloodstock from Hong Kong and basically, the three of us had a bit of a gun fight," Miller said.
"I knew Andy Williams was on it (Lot 21), and Upper Bloodstock from Hong Kong and basically, the three of us had a bit of a gun fight." - Simon Miller
"He's got an unbelievable temperament. Being so popular, he has been out all day, every day and his mannerisms have never deviated. He's out of a good family, which is throwing stakes winners and stakes performers already by Patronize, and then you have got the Deep Field in Hong Kong, Winner Method, who is clearly above average."
Miller said the group of owners in the colt were current stable clients.
It is the highest price yet for a yearling colt by Russian Revolution, whose 28 sales at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale averaged $152,339.
Barry Bowditch and Simon Miller | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Miller said the result was a measure of the value of leaving the best Western Australian stock in the Sale and was a reward for the Atwell family's decision not to take the colt across the border to sell.
"Hats off to Brent. He could have put it through the Coast and who knows what it might have brought, but he backed himself and left him here. It’s nice to reward them," he said.
Atwell was obviously rapt with the result, but also that the colt will remain in the west.
"I'm super happy that he stays here and that he goes to a great trainer in Simon. I always thought he would be the star of the Sale. I always thought he'd be near the top. Whether we thought we’d get that amount of money, it was a great thrill," he said.
"He's out of a super mare that has produced some really nice horses. Also, his sire may be the new horse on the block, but he's a multiple Group 1 winner in the Eastern States, so he's bred to be a good horse."
Miller purchased four horses in total, spending $640,000, including $140,000 for a colt by another young Newgate stallion in Winning Rupert, Lot 126.
Parnhams purchase nine
Miller was tipped out as the day's biggest spender by Parnham Racing Stables, who shopped strongly with nine purchases and $785,000 in spending.
Neville Parnham also led the bidding on behalf of Santo Guagliardo's Ridgeport Holdings for the day's equal second highest lot. They paid $220,000 for the third last lot of the day, Lot 161, a colt by Choisir out of six-time winner Hot Goods (Time Thief), again offered by Western Breeders Alliance.
The pedigree page features stakes winners Moet Magic (Second Empire {Ire}), Lusso (Prego {Ire}) and Laranto (Esperanto).
A day for the locals
Local buyers were very much to the fore buying 105 of the 119 lots sold, or around 88.2 per cent, compared to 73.5 per cent across the entire Sale in 2020.
Border closures, especially to Victoria, made it harder for interstate buyers to participate while the Western Australian investors took their chance to fill up on orders in a time where interstate travel can never be taken for granted.
"The local buyers got in and had a go, and rightly so, they have a lot of prizemoney to race for over here. They were able to fill that void that was left by the reduced interstate and international competition," Magic Millions Managing Director, Barry Bowditch, said.
"The local buyers got in and had a go, and rightly so, they have a lot of prizemoney to race for over here." - Barry Bowditch
Bowditch was broadly pleased given those circumstances that not only did many of the key metrics match the pace of last year, but it was also a more fluid market in terms of the percentage of horses sold.
"The clearance rate when we turned the lights off on Day 1 last year was 73 per cent and to get it near to 80 per cent is just fantastic. The gross is healthy, the average is in-line with last year," he said.
Beyond the raw numbers, Bowditch was also happy to see Darling View, and the Atwell family, who have stepped up and invested heavily in the Western Australian thoroughbred industry in recent years, were rewarded with such a good result for the Russian Revolution colt.
"What is really pleasing is for a horse like Lot 21 to top the Sale here today. It's where we are looking this Sale to head. We have got a farm which is investing heavily in mares in the East and stallions in the West in Darling View. These are the type of quality horses we want to sell here," he said.
Capitalist colt heads to Smith
Willow Dale Farm offered the only Capitalist in the Sale, Lot 31, and given the start that the sire's progeny have made on the track, with four winners, it was no surprise to see this colt in demand.
It was Lindsey Smith, who operates stables in both Western Australia and Victoria, who secured him for $220,000.
Lot 31 - Capitalist x Munjai (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Bred by Kingstar Farm, he is the first foal out of Munjai (Trusting), the three-quarter sister to Grandview Stud stallion Whittington, out of stakes-winning mare Maha Chakri (Beautiful Crown {USA}). It’s a good return on the $7000 Kingstar Farm paid for the dam at the 2018 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
Veteran trainer Vern Brockman went to $210,000 to secure Lot 147 from the draft of Yarradale Stud, the second highest ever price for a yearling by Willaview Park's Oratorio.
The brilliant form of his half-sister Time To Sizzle (City Place {USA}), who has won six of 12 starts for Ascot trainer Martin Allan, including two of them in January, helped the currency of this colt.
His dam, Frizzled (Dehere {USA}) has produced two other winners in Seconda Vita (Discorsi) and The Beach (City Place {USA}). It is the extended family of Group 3 winner Destino (Bletchley Park {Ire}).
Lot 147 - Oratorio x Frizzled (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The two top fillies of the day both went for $200,000, Lot 41 by Snippetson, and Lot 105 by Playing God.
Lot 41 was offered by Scenic Lodge and went to Millfields Park.
The filly's page was helped by the recent wins of her half-brothers Friaresque (Blackfriars) and King Cruzer (Universal Ruler). Another half-sibling, Friar Fox (Blackfriars), is a Listed winner.
Their dam, Pearlesque (Statoblest) is a sister to the multiple Western Australian-stakes winner Impressive Stats.
The Playing God filly, Lot 105, was offered by Willaview Park and was purchased by Michael Fagan.
Her family is well known to the local buying bench, with her dam, Boutique (Discorsi) a half-sister to multiple Group-winning mare Quilista (Scandal Keeper {USA}), the multiple stakes winner Red Can Man (Gingerbread Man) and the Sale-topping War Chant (USA) filly from last year's Perth Sale, now named Aitchdeetee and in work with Bjorn Baker.
Sires get chance to shine
Playing God ended the day with the highest aggregate sales of any sires, selling nine for a total of $945,000, clear of Snippetson (six for $475,000) and War Chant (eight for $380,000). Playing God also led the average (more than three sales) on $015,000, ahead of Oratorio ($104,167).
"It was a great mix of sires that were doing well in the market," Bowditch said.
"Whether it be the young hot stallions in the East or the ones that are doing well in the West, whether it be Playing God or Oratorio or Snippetson, they all had lots in the top 10. It’s a very well-rounded market."
Day 2 starts at 11am local time on Friday with 140 lots catalogued for sale.
Top lots
| 21 | Russian Revolution | Magical Belle | C | Western Breeders Alliance (Darling View Stud, Einoncliff Park and Westbury Park), WA | Simon Miller Racing | WA | $325,000 |
| 31 | Capitalist | Munjai | C | Willow Dale Farm, Waroona, WA (As Agent) | Lindsey Smith | WA | $220,000 |
| 161 | Choisir | Hot Goods | C | Western Breeders Alliance (Darling View Stud, Einoncliff Park and Westbury Park), WA | Ridgeport Holdings | WA | $220,000 |
| 147 | Oratorio | Frizzled | C | Yarradale Stud, Gidgegannup, WA | Vern Brockman | WA | $210,000 |
| 41 | Snippetson | Pearlesque | F | Scenic Lodge, Muchea, WA | Millfields Park | WA | $200,000 |
| 105 | Playing God | Boutique | F | Willaview Park, Narrikup, WA (As Agent) | Michael Fagan | WA | $200,000 |
| 61 | Zoustar | Scenes | C | Western Breeders Alliance (Darling View Stud, Einoncliff Park and Westbury Park), WA | Parnham Racing Stables | WA | $170,000 |
| 113 | Toronado | Cathay Belle | C | Alwyn Park Stud, Serpentine, WA (As Agent) | Thoroughbred Union | QLD | $160,000 |
| 122 | Playing God | Countess Of Tiba | C | Western Breeders Alliance (Darling View Stud, Einoncliff Park and Westbury Park), WA | Morton Racing | WA | $160,000 |
| 126 | Winning Rupert | Dalkeith | C | Western Breeders Alliance (Darling View Stud, Einoncliff Park and Westbury Park), WA | Simon Miller Racing | WA | $140,000 |
Top buyers
| Parnham Racing Stables | 9 | $785,000 | $87,222 | $170,000 |
| Simon Miller Racing | 4 | $640,000 | $160,000 | $325,000 |
| Ridgeport Holdings | 3 | $450,000 | $150,000 | $220,000 |
| Pearce Racing | 5 | $400,000 | $80,000 | $120,000 |
| Morton Racing | 5 | $375,000 | $75,000 | $160,000 |
| Millfields Park | 4 | $356,000 | $89,000 | $200,000 |
| Roy Rogers Racing | 5 | $325,000 | $65,000 | $130,000 |
| Luke Fernie | 3 | $290,000 | $96,667 | $135,000 |
| Lindsey Smith | 2 | $280,000 | $140,000 | $220,000 |
| Vern Brockman | 2 | $260,000 | $130,000 | $210,000 |
Top vendors by aggregate
| Western Breeders Alliance (Darling View Stud, Einoncliff Park and Westbury Park), WA | 17 | $1,526,000 | $89,765 | $325,000 |
| Yarradale Stud, Gidgegannup, WA | 11 | $728,000 | $66,182 | $210,000 |
| Scenic Lodge, Muchea, WA | 9 | $679,500 | $75,500 | $200,000 |
| Willaview Park, Narrikup, WA | 8 | $632,500 | $79,063 | $200,000 |
| Alwyn Park Stud, Serpentine, WA | 9 | $565,000 | $62,778 | $160,000 |
| Ruby Racing & Breeding, Kojarena, WA | 8 | $480,000 | $60,000 | $135,000 |
| Willow Dale Farm, Waroona, WA | 5 | $467,500 | $93,500 | $220,000 |
| Mogumber Park, Bullsbrook, WA | 7 | $456,000 | $65,143 | $100,000 |
| Geisel Park Stud, Myalup, WA | 5 | $385,000 | $77,000 | $130,000 |
| Gold Front Thoroughbred Breeding & Racing, Gingin, WA | 5 | $340,000 | $68,000 | $110,000 |
Top vendors by average (3 or more sold)
| Willow Dale Farm, Waroona, WA | 5 | $93,500 | $467,500 | $220,000 |
| Western Breeders Alliance (Darling View Stud, Einoncliff Park and Westbury Park), WA | 17 | $89,765 | $1,526,000 | $325,000 |
| Lynward Park Stud, Bullsbrook, WA | 4 | $81,875 | $327,500 | $120,000 |
| Willaview Park, Narrikup, WA | 8 | $79,063 | $632,500 | $200,000 |
| Forest View Farm, Jindong, WA | 4 | $78,750 | $315,000 | $115,000 |
| Geisel Park Stud, Myalup, WA | 5 | $77,000 | $385,000 | $130,000 |
| Scenic Lodge, Muchea, WA | 9 | $75,500 | $679,500 | $200,000 |
| Gervase Park Stud, Belhus, WA | 3 | $71,667 | $215,000 | $130,000 |
| Gold Front Thoroughbred Breeding & Racing, Gingin, WA | 5 | $68,000 | $340,000 | $110,000 |
| Yarradale Stud, Gidgegannup, WA | 11 | $66,182 | $728,000 | $210,000 |
Top sires by aggregate
| Playing God | 9 | $945,000 | $105,000 | $200,000 |
| Snippetson | 6 | $475,000 | $79,167 | $200,000 |
| War Chant | 8 | $380,000 | $47,500 | $100,000 |
| Russian Revolution | 1 | $325,000 | $325,000 | $325,000 |
| Oratorio | 3 | $312,500 | $104,167 | $210,000 |
| Universal Ruler | 4 | $292,500 | $73,125 | $130,000 |
| Awesome Rock | 5 | $278,500 | $55,700 | $130,000 |
| Magnus | 5 | $275,000 | $55,000 | $120,000 |
| I'm All The Talk | 3 | $265,000 | $88,333 | $120,000 |
| Winning Rupert | 2 | $260,000 | $130,000 | $140,000 |
Top sires by average (3 or more sold)
| Playing God | 9 | $105,000 | $945,000 | $200,000 |
| Oratorio | 3 | $104,167 | $312,500 | $210,000 |
| I'm All The Talk | 3 | $88,333 | $265,000 | $120,000 |
| Snippetson | 6 | $79,167 | $475,000 | $200,000 |
| Universal Ruler | 4 | $73,125 | $292,500 | $130,000 |
| Deep Field | 3 | $68,333 | $205,000 | $100,000 |
| Manhattan Rain | 4 | $62,500 | $250,000 | $100,000 |
| Awesome Rock | 5 | $55,700 | $278,500 | $130,000 |
| Magnus | 5 | $55,000 | $275,000 | $120,000 |
| Rommel | 5 | $49,200 | $246,000 | $80,000 |
