Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
At A Glance
The Book 1 Sale concluded with 247 lots sold for an increased aggregate of $14,591,500, the average rose to $59,075, median was up $40,000 and a clearance rate of 65.17 per cent.
The single day Book 1 session 12 months ago sold 196 lots for $9,907,500 at an average of $50,548, the median was $35,000 and an 80.66 per cent clearance rate.
The Scott Seamer-offered Capitalist filly topped the session when she sold to Kacy Fogden for $340,000.
Suman Hedge was again prominent at the top end of the market when he outlaid $300,000 for a daughter of More Than Ready (USA) from the Vinery Stud draft.
Shane McGratth bought a Capitalist colt out of the Lustre Lodge consignment on behalf of Tony Fung Investments for $260,000.
Milburn Creek was the leading vendor by average for three or more lots sold with six yearlings sold for $820,000 at an average of $136,667.
Arrowfield Stud’s Snitzel was the leading sire by average for three or more sold with six lots traded for $1,290,000 at an average of $215,000.
Fogden, who trains at Canungra, first laid eyes on the Capitalist filly on Tuesday and didn’t see her again until the filly arrived in the ring as the fourth to last offering as Book 1 of the Sale drew to a close.
“I was too scared to go back, but one look was enough,” said Fogden.
“I was hoping not to have to pay that much, but she is a queen. I’ll syndicate her myself and she’s from a great family and I’m hoping she’ll go early.”
“I was hoping not to have to pay that much, but she (Lot 1828) is a queen. I’ll syndicate her myself and she’s from a great family and I’m hoping she’ll go early.” - Kacy Fogden
The Capitalist filly is out of the unraced Kimigayo (Show A Heart) and she is a half-sister to the dam of the Champion domestic and international sprinter and successful Rosemont Stud sire Starspangledbanner.
The second dam National Song (Vain) is a half-sister to the G1 Australian Oaks winner Circles Of Gold (Marscay), whose sons Elvstroem and Haradsun were multiple Group 1 winners and sires.
Circles Of Gold’s daughter Hveger (Danehill {USA}) is the dam of the globe-trotting multiple Group 1 winner and sire Highland Reel (Ire) and his half-brother Cape Of Good Hope (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was successful in the G1 Caulfield S.
“It is a hell of a pedigree and when you buy these fillies you know you’re getting the residual value,” said Fogden, who currently prepares a stable of 30.
“It is a hell of a pedigree and when you buy these fillies you know you’re getting the residual value.” – Kacy Fogden
The Capitalist filly was offered by former Group 1-winning jockey Scott Seamer, who has a lengthy involvement with the family.
“I bought National Song when she was about 12 or 13, and we bred a few fillies out of her and kept nearly all of them,” Seamer told TDN AusNZ. “We had a full brother to this filly sell last year, and Greg Hickman has him at Warwick Farm.
“Capitalist has done everything he’s been asked to do so far with his progeny on the track, and it looks a pretty bright future for him.”
Kacy Fogden | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Market momentum
Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said the market gained ground during Day 2 and he was delighted with the overall turnover.
“This is not a Sale where we ever kick it out of the park from a clearance perspective, but to have the highest gross since 2017 and a very healthy average was great,” Barry Bowditch said.
“Clearly, the horses that were well sought-after made prices that exceeded the vendors’ expectations.
“I thought today had a little bit more momentum to it than yesterday and the vendors who were very willing to meet the market were achieving results and getting their horses sold.”
“I thought today had a little bit more momentum to it than yesterday and the vendors who were very willing to meet the market were achieving results and getting their horses sold.” - Barry Bowditch
Book 1 concluded on Wednesday with 247 lots sold for an aggregate of $14,591,500 over the two days at an average of $59,075, median of $40,000 and at a clearance rate of 65.17 per cent.
The single day Book 1 session 12 months ago sold 196 lots for $9,907,500 at an average of $50,548, the median was $35,000 and an 80.66 per cent clearance rate.
“Obviously, we’ve sold a lot of yearlings all over Australia, probably more than ever before. At some stage given the borders were shut, the market was going to become more selective and that’s become apparent over the last couple of days,” Bowditch said.
“For a lot of these vendors this is the Sale where it’s the last possible chance to sell these yearlings and it’s important to us, albeit the clearance rate was less than satisfactory.
“We’re looking forward to Book 2 and there are some nice horses there and then the highly competitive Godolphin racehorses at the end of tomorrow will finish it out. All in all it’s been a very successful two weeks for the Australian racing industry and Magic Millions.”
Hedge shops well again
Victorian agent Suman Hedge has been active at the top end of the market during the Sale and without trading a blow in the ring on Wednesday again, landed a highly sought-after youngster.
Hedge didn’t initially bid on the Vinery Stud-offered More Than Ready (USA) filly, Lot 1654, preferring to see what unfolded and when she was passed in at $280,000, he was later able to secure her for $300,000.
The chestnut was purchased on behalf of John Muir’s Milburn Creek, who had on Tuesday sold the Day 1 session-topping Snitzel colt, Lot 1619, to Hedge for $500,000.
“She is a filly that we think has all the hallmarks of a nice race filly and a broodmare to go on with. She is by a leading broodmare sire out of a Group 1 winner and the mare has done a really good job at stud,” Hedge said.
Suman Hedge | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
She is a daughter of the G1 Toorak H. winner and G1 VRC Oaks placegetter Allez Wonder (Redoute’s Choice) and she is a half-sister to the G3 Chairman’s H. winner Pretty Pins (NZ) (Pins) and to the dam of the G1 All Aged S. winner and sire Tivaci.
Allez Wonder has made her mark in the broodmare role with Kooweerup (More Than Ready {USA}) successful in the G3 SAJC Breeders’ S. and her brother Prompt Prodigy is a winner and finished runner-up in the G2 Tulloch S.
“More Than Ready has been such a good and versatile sire for a long time and they’re not making any more of them (in the Southern Hemisphere),” Hedge said.
“More Than Ready has been such a good and versatile sire for a long time and they’re not making any more of them (in the Southern Hemisphere).” – Suman Hedge
Given the filly’s background, he was happy to complete the deal at the filly’s reserve price of $300,000.
“It’s hard to get these quality horses with a good pedigree. There is a lot of competition on them and she’s a lovely horse so I can see why Vinery wanted to protect her,” Hedge said.
“Greg Bennett will break her in and we’ll get through that process and then think about a trainer.”
Later in the session, Hedge added the only Almanzor (Fr) yearling, Lot 1803, in the Sale to his collection when he went to $200,000 for a filly presented by Bhima Thoroughbreds.
She is out of the winning Savabeel mare Hi Gorgeous (NZ) and she is a daughter of the G1 Easter H. winner Calveen (Canny Lad), a half-sister to the G2 Emancipation S. winner Kosi Bay (Spinning World {USA}).
Pedigree plus looks
As a son of successful first-season sire Capitalist, Lot 1663 had plenty going for him and his female line sealed the deal for Tony Fung Investments who went to $260,000 for the colt.
Fung’s Racing Manager Shane McGrath was on the ground to execute the deal on the youngster, who was offered as part of the Lustre Lodge consignment.
“I love the fact that he is out of an Anabaa mare, he’s got a lovely pedigree and he's a really nice colt to take home,” McGrath said.
“He’s an October foal so he should be up and running early and looks a really nice one for the racing team.”
“He’s (Lot 1663) an October foal so he should be up and running early and looks a really nice one for the racing team.” – Shane McGrath
The colt is out of Anabaa’s Legacy (Anabaa {USA}), who was a capable performer and won three races and earned black type with a third placing in the G3 Cockram S.
Her first foal to race is the promising Wolf Moon (Wandjina), who has been successful in three of his six appearances.
Anabaa’s Legacy is a three-quarter sister to the G2 Yallambee Classic winner Danabaa (Anabaa {USA}) with the dual Group 1 winner Ball Park (NZ) (Ahonoora {GB}) and the G2 Victory S. winner Victorem (I Am Invincible) also members of this family.
Lot 1663 - Capitalist x Anabaa’s Legacy (colt)
“The mare’s already left one good one by Wandjina so we’re looking forward to this one by Capitalist,” McGrath said.
A trainer has yet to be confirmed for the future, but it will either join the Warwick Farm stable of Annabel Neasham or Kacy Fogden’s Canungra yard.
“We’ll get him broken in first and then take it from there – we’ll see who loves him as much as we do,” McGrath said.
“It’s been a very tricky market and I would have liked to have bought him a bit cheaper, but that’s where we’re at.”
Early return tipped
Sydney trainer John O’Shea isn’t expecting his top-priced Gold Coast purchase to waste any time showing his quality.
O’Shea parted with $230,000 to secure a well-related Zoustar colt, Lot 1777, who was offered by Widden Stud.
“He’s a beautiful type and a neat-running 2-year-old. He looks an early type of horse,” he said. “You’ve got to have a good horse here to make good money, the market is transparent.”
Lot 1777 - Zoustar x French Emotion (colt)
The colt is the first foal of the two-time Group 2 winner French Emotion (Snitzel), who also finished runner-up in the G1 Myer Classic. She foaled an I Am Invincible filly last year and is in foal to Pierro.
Black type runs deep in the family with the third dam My Brilliant Star (Copper Kingdom) the winner of the G1 AJC Oaks and produced the G1 Toorak H., winner Shot Of Thunder (Thunder Gulch). Dual Group 1 winner and sire Sudurka also features on the pedigree page.
The Zoustar colt had originally been entered in the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, but injury forced his withdrawal.
Colt an easy sell
Sunshine Coast trainer Stuart Kendrick stayed within budget to secure the only son of sire on fire Extreme Choice and believes he should prove to be an easy sell to stable clients.
Kendrick went after the Extreme Choice colt, Lot 1630, without a pre-Sale order and secured the youngster on the positive side of his budget with the hammer falling on the Kitchwin Hills offering at $90,000.
“Hopefully, he will be a unique horse in 12 months’ time. I had $100,000 to spend on him and the stallion is just doing such an outstanding job,” he said.
“I bought him on spec – he’s got four legs and the stallion sells himself so I don’t think I’ll have any trouble splitting him up.”
“I bought him (Lot 1630) on spec – he’s got four legs and the stallion (Extreme Choice) sells himself so I don’t think I’ll have any trouble splitting him up.” – Stuart Kendrick
The colt is a son of the winning Magic Albert mare Wilde Irish Song and all three of her foals to race have been successful.
The dam is a half-sister to the G1 Australian Oaks winner Once Were Wild (Johannesburg {USA}) and the G3 Summoned S. winner Long Time Ago (Redoute’s Choice).
The G1 Western Australian Oaks winner Contwig (Twig Moss {Fr}) and the G1 Ellerslie Sires’ Produce S. winner Do Si Do (NZ) (Take Your Partner) also feature on the pedigree page.
Lot 1630 - Extreme Choice x Wilde Irish Song (colt)
Kendrick will take the colt along slowly before finding out if he has the talent to match his pedigree and looks.
“He’s got plenty of presence about him and happy to get him for that price. I’ll give him a month off before he gets broken in and then see what he can do,” he said.
Kendrick also purchased Lot 1667, a Shalaa (Ire) colt from Lustre Lodge’s draft for $25,000. He is a half-brother to a pair of winners with their dam Annlea (Canny Lad), successful four times.
Black type is absent within the first two generations, but further back in the pedigree is the G1 Australian Guineas winner Rock Classic (Fastnet Rock) and the G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Midnight Fever (Luskin Star).
Top lots
| 1619 | Snitzel | Walk With Attitude | C | Milburn Creek, Wildes Meadow, NSW (As Agent) | Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) | VIC | $500,000 |
| 1828 | Capitalist | Kimigayo | F | S Seamer, Fernleigh, NSW (As Agent) | Kacy Fogden Racing | QLD | $340,000 |
| 1547 | I Am Invincible | Serena Miss | C | Torryburn Stud, Torryburn, NSW (As Agent) | Waller Racing/Mulcaster Bloodstock | NSW | $320,000 |
| 1573 | Snitzel | Soriano | F | Yulong, Nagambie, Vic (As Agent) | Gerald Ryan | NSW | $300,000 |
| 1654 | More Than Ready | Allez Wonder | F | Vinery Stud, Scone, NSW (As Agent) | Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) | NSW | $300,000 |
| 1663 | Capitalist | Anabaa's Legacy | C | Lustre Lodge, Alison, NSW (As Agent) | Tony Fung Investments | QLD | $260,000 |
| 1675 | Maurice | Arleigh | C | Arrowfield Stud, Scone, NSW (As Agent) | Legend Racing Pty Ltd | NSW | $235,000 |
| 1687 | Snitzel | Bariloche | F | Arrowfield Stud, Scone, NSW (As Agent) | Nat McCall Racing Pty Ltd | QLD | $230,000 |
| 1777 | Zoustar | French Emotion | C | Widden Stud, Widden Valley, NSW (As Agent) | International Thoroughbred Solutions (FBAA) | VIC | $230,000 |
| 1512 | Dundeel | Quizzed | C | Kenmore Lodge, Wyreema, Qld (As Agent) | Mulcaster Bloodstock | NEW ZEALAND | $220,000 |
Top buyers
| Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) | 3 | $1,000,000 | $333,333 | $500,000 |
| David Ellis/Andrew Williams Bloodstock Pty Ltd (FBAA) | 5 | $577,000 | $115,400 | $165,000 |
| Waller Racing/Mulcaster Bloodstock | 2 | $530,000 | $265,000 | $320,000 |
| John Foote Bloodstock | 3 | $470,000 | $156,667 | $200,000 |
| Tony Fung Investments | 2 | $350,000 | $175,000 | $260,000 |
| Kacy Fogden Racing | 1 | $340,000 | $340,000 | $340,000 |
| Legend Racing Pty Ltd | 2 | $325,000 | $162,500 | $235,000 |
| Australian Bloodstock | 6 | $308,000 | $51,333 | $100,000 |
| Gerald Ryan | 1 | $300,000 | $300,000 | $300,000 |
| Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA)/Mick Price Racing | 2 | $300,000 | $150,000 | $220,000 |
Top vendors by aggregate
| Arrowfield Stud, Scone, NSW | 17 | $1,265,500 | $74,441 | $235,000 |
| Milburn Creek, Wildes Meadow, NSW | 6 | $820,000 | $136,667 | $500,000 |
| Yarraman Park Stud, Scone, NSW | 9 | $692,500 | $76,944 | $150,000 |
| Kenmore Lodge, Wyreema, Qld | 8 | $642,000 | $80,250 | $220,000 |
| Widden Stud, Widden Valley, NSW | 7 | $640,000 | $91,429 | $230,000 |
| Bhima Thoroughbreds, Scone, NSW | 8 | $588,000 | $73,500 | $200,000 |
| Baramul Stud, Widden Valley, NSW | 9 | $579,000 | $64,333 | $200,000 |
| Westbury Stud Ltd, Karaka, NZ | 12 | $550,000 | $45,833 | $75,000 |
| Lustre Lodge, Alison, NSW | 6 | $452,000 | $75,333 | $260,000 |
| Yulong, Nagambie, Vic | 5 | $447,500 | $89,500 | $300,000 |
Top vendors by average (3 or more sold)
| Milburn Creek, Wildes Meadow, NSW | 6 | $136,667 | $820,000 | $500,000 |
| Torryburn Stud, Torryburn, NSW | 4 | $94,125 | $376,500 | $320,000 |
| Widden Stud, Widden Valley, NSW | 7 | $91,429 | $640,000 | $230,000 |
| Yulong, Nagambie, Vic | 5 | $89,500 | $447,500 | $300,000 |
| Noralla Stud, Gladfield, Qld | 3 | $86,667 | $260,000 | $130,000 |
| Newhaven Park, Boorowa, NSW | 5 | $81,000 | $405,000 | $160,000 |
| Kenmore Lodge, Wyreema, Qld | 8 | $80,250 | $642,000 | $220,000 |
| Bell River Thoroughbreds, Glen William, NSW | 3 | $77,667 | $233,000 | $200,000 |
| Yarraman Park Stud, Scone, NSW | 9 | $76,944 | $692,500 | $150,000 |
| Lustre Lodge, Alison, NSW | 6 | $75,333 | $452,000 | $260,000 |
Top sires by aggregate
| Snitzel | 6 | $1,290,000 | $215,000 | $500,000 |
| Capitalist | 8 | $1,185,000 | $148,125 | $340,000 |
| Deep Field | 9 | $885,000 | $98,333 | $200,000 |
| Maurice | 9 | $781,500 | $86,833 | $235,000 |
| Zoustar | 9 | $642,500 | $71,389 | $230,000 |
| More Than Ready | 3 | $400,000 | $133,333 | $300,000 |
| Spirit Of Boom | 6 | $400,000 | $66,667 | $150,000 |
| Pierro | 4 | $365,000 | $91,250 | $130,000 |
| So You Think | 5 | $360,000 | $72,000 | $165,000 |
| Spieth | 10 | $349,000 | $34,900 | $87,500 |
Top sires by average (3 or more sold)
| Snitzel | 6 | $215,000 | $1,290,000 | $500,000 |
| Capitalist | 8 | $148,125 | $1,185,000 | $340,000 |
| More Than Ready | 3 | $133,333 | $400,000 | $300,000 |
| Deep Field | 9 | $98,333 | $885,000 | $200,000 |
| Pierro | 4 | $91,250 | $365,000 | $130,000 |
| Toronado | 3 | $87,000 | $261,000 | $150,000 |
| Maurice | 9 | $86,833 | $781,500 | $235,000 |
| Hellbent | 4 | $86,250 | $345,000 | $110,000 |
| So You Think | 5 | $72,000 | $360,000 | $165,000 |
| Zoustar | 9 | $71,389 | $642,500 | $230,000 |
