Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
At A Glance
Trading defied pre-Sale predictions, with strong increases in average and median on the 2020 and 2019 sales.
The average ended on $69,238, well up on the $52,838 of last year and the $60,822 of the last pre-COVID Sale in 2019.
The Sale median was a very healthy $45,000, up from $30,000 in 2020 and $41,000 the year prior.
The Sale aggregate of $5.8 million was down on last year and 50 per cent down on 2019 with 84 lots sold.
As of 6pm (AEDT) Monday night, the clearance rate sits at 72.4 per cent, with expectation of more lots being sold in the coming days.
Baystone Farm went to $350,000 to buy Lot 58, a colt by Extreme Choice, from the draft of A List Stud.
Ricky Yiu and Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) spent $775,000 across three lots, including $330,000 for Lot 26, a colt by Capitalist, and $325,000 on Lot 39, a colt by Smart Missile.
Baystone gets Extreme
The only 2-year-old by Champion First Season Sire Extreme Choice in the Sale was always going to be in heavy demand, and Lot 58, from A List Stud, is headed to Victoria's Baystone Farm, after selling for $350,000.
Lot 58 - Extreme Choice x Arnault (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The colt will join the stables of Troy Corstens after Baystone Farm's Dean Harvey had the confidence to bid from afar and get the 2-year-old he was most keen on.
"The stallion is proving to be elite, I haven't seen a stallion with stats like he has for a long time," Harvey said.
"I thought it was a good opportunity, with a lot of the stallion boys not playing at this Sale. If he goes to a yearling sale, I reckon he'd be double that which wouldn't allow me to buy him. I thought it was an opportune time to pounce."
"I thought it (Lot 58) was a good opportunity, with a lot of the stallion boys not playing at this Sale." - Dean Harvey
Initially a $25,000 weanling purchase by Gordon Richards, A List Stud had picked this colt up for $130,000 through the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale from Yarran Thoroughbreds and completed a nice bit of business by selling him for $220,000 more than it paid for him.
He has not only benefited from his own physical development, but the boom that has grown on his sire, who has produced six stakes winners from a first crop of just 48 foals.
The colt is out of Fastnet Rock mare Arnault, the half-sister to stakes winner Yesterday's Songs (Henrythenavigator {USA}), out of Sarah Vee (End Sweep {USA}), who was a Listed winner and twice placed in Group 1 races.
Dean Harvey | Image courtesy of Baystone Farm
"He's got a nice pedigree. He's a good sort, he vetted out well, and I love the stallion, so I thought I’d see if I can grab him and I have," Harvey said.
The colt will now go to Kolora Lodge for three or four weeks before heading down to Victoria to join Corstens' stables.
Harvey said he was familiar with the colt already, having seen him when he was offered in Melbourne and he had used Magic Millions' Managing Director Barry Bowditch to inspect him ahead of this Sale.
"Barry gave a him a big tick, he really liked him and we went from there," Harvey said.
"Barry (Bowditch) gave a him (Lot 58) a big tick, he really liked him and we went from there." - Dean Harvey
He confirmed that Baystone was the underbidder on a couple of other lots, but he was happy to walk away with the one that he wanted.
"I'm rapt, I'm really, really excited to get him."
Yiu's triple strike
Hong Kong trainer Ricky Yiu has been a strong supporter of this Sale historically and enlisted the help of Jim Clarke of Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) to secure a trio of colts by Capitalist ($330,000), Smart Missile ($325,000) and Rothesay ($120,000).
Dean Hawkes and Ricky Yiu | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
"They are three nice horses and horses that stood out in the catalogue," Clarke said. "Ricky picked them out by going through all the videos and photos online and by looking at their pedigrees. Thankfully he asked me to do all the due diligence on the ground.
"We got the ones we wanted, which was pleasing."
The duo won the day for the much-anticipated only 2-year-old by Capitalist to be offered on the day, seeing off substantial competition from over the phone to secure Lot 26, who was offered by O'Gorman Racing Stables.
It is not the first Capitalist that Yiu has purchased, having outlaid $155,000 for a colt from the Twin Hills Stud draft at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale earlier this year.
"Obviously, his sire is doing a phenomenal job at the moment. He is one of the more promising prospects in the country," Clarke said.
"Obviously, his (Lot 26) sire (Capitalist) is doing a phenomenal job at the moment. He is one of the more promising prospects in the country." - Jim Clarke
The colt is the first foal from city-winning Northern Meteor mare Solar Burst, who hails from an extended family which includes stallions Myboycharlie (Ire), Snowland and Snippetson.
Lot 26 was initially purchased by O'Gorman for $90,000 through the Murrulla Stud draft at Magic Millions' Gold Coast Yearling Sale, represented an excellent return.
"I remembered the horse from the yearling sale in January and he's done very well since. He was prepared by one of the best in the business, Mel O'Gorman, and she had him looking a million dollars," Clarke said.
Gallery: Lots purchased by Ricky Yiu and Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA)
"I saw him multiple times and he was impressive in all sorts of ways. He was very typical of Capitalist, a good strong-bodied horse with a good action. He had a lovely temperament which will help him in Hong Kong."
The result was a standout for O'Gorman, who sold all four of her 2-year-olds for a total of $592,000.
"I think it just proves if you take the right article there, even in a COVID year with very limited buyers able to attend the Sale, you can get the right result. Magic Millions have done a great job and there is still money for the right horses," she said.
"I think it just proves if you take the right article there, even in a COVID year with very limited buyers able to attend the Sale, you can get the right result." - Mel O'Gorman
O'Gorman was unable to attend the Sale, and relied upon Robyn Wise to present her draft, but said in the circumstances, the results were very positive.
"It just proved once again at that Sale if you take quality, there are the right buyers online and there at the complex to support good horses."
A Smart move
Yiu has been a fan of Smart Missile as a sire over the years, buying six of his progeny through Australasian sales over the journey and he added a seventh in Lot 39, who was offered by A List Stud.
"He's an outstanding individual physically. He is a really big, strong, scopey horse, he had a very nice temperament and his breeze was impressive," Clarke said.
"We certainly had to dig deep to be able to buy him, but again, he was one which Ricky had picked out after the breeze ups and he was keen to get him."
"We certainly had to dig deep to be able to buy him (Lot 39), but again, he was one which Ricky had picked out after the breeze ups and he was keen to get him." - Jim Clarke
The colt is a half-brother to three winners and his dam, Twin Star Rocket (Bel Esprit) is a half-sister to Listed winner Ever The Same (Canny Lad). That family extends down from this colt's fourth dam, Dancing Show (USA) (Nijinsky {Can}), who not only produced Group 1 winners Hurricane Sky and Umatilla (NZ), but also blue hen Shantha's Choice (Canny Lad).
A List had paid $230,000 for the colt as a yearling through the same Gold Coast sale ring back in January, where he was offered by his breeders at Gooree Park Stud.
Lot 39 - Smart Missile x Twin Star Rocket (colt) as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
A List ended up the leading vendor on both average ($221,000) and aggregate ($1.201 million).
The third of Yiu and Clarke's purchases was Lot 8, the colt by Rothesay, offered by Nolen Racing. He is out of Real Saga mare Rhodopis and cost $120,000.
Zoustar filly lures Cunninghams
Clarke has also been working closely with Cunningham Thoroughbreds of late and came together with them as well as one of his other major clients, Bjorn Baker, to pay $220,000 for Lot 60, a filly by Zoustar from Nolen Racing's draft.
Lot 60 - Zoustar x Avenue Whisper (filly) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
It was the highest price for a filly in the Sale and one which Clarke said his clients were happy to pay with a view to her long-term value.
"She was probably the filly in the catalogue which had the best pedigree. It was her pedigree that piqued our interest first and foremost," he said.
"From a pedigree point of view, the Cunninghams were very keen on her. Bjorn was keen to try and buy a really nice filly as well.
"From a pedigree point of view, the Cunninghams were very keen on her (Lot 60). Bjorn (Baker) was keen to try and buy a really nice filly as well." - Jim Clarke
"Neil Douglas, who is one of the partners at Ridgmont is going to own her with the Cunninghams and they will race her together with a view to retaining her as a broodmare down the track, with the hope she can get some black type of her own."
The Zoustar filly, who was purchased for $190,000 through the same ring in January by Slade Bloodstock and Redgum Racing, is out of the Street Cry (Ire) mare Avenue Whisper. She is a twice-winning daughter of multiple stakes winner Avenue (Anabaa {USA}), the sister of Group 1 winner Virage De Fortune (Anabaa {USA}).
"The Cunninghams and Ridgmont own Avenue, so it's a family that they are familiar with. They have bred mares to Zoustar in the past few years and it certainly seems to be working for them because he's flying at the moment," Clarke said.
Market strength pleases Bowditch
Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch was pleased with how the Sale evolved, considering that border restrictions had prevented many buyers from physically attending.
Barry Bowditch
"It had all the hallmarks of being a tough sale going into it, given the fact we had a very restricted market here on site. But what we have learned over the last 18 months is that we've been able to adapt, take advantage of technology and information and use agents and the like and get the job done," he said.
Australian investment contributed 75 per cent of the overall spend at the Sale, a massive change from pre-COVID times, where around 60 per cent of the spend came from overseas. That helped the market weather much of the uncertainty and vendors get much of their stock sold on Monday.
"The market here in Australia is in great shape, racing is phenomenal and I think what today proves is that vendors who provide quality horses that have got a bit of type and appeal on the page, that breeze up well, will be well sought-after," Bowditch said.
"I think what today proves is that vendors who provide quality horses that have got a bit of type and appeal on the page, that breeze up well, will be well sought-after." - Barry Bowditch
"To clear 70 per cent and with an average that is very strong in comparison at over $70,000 is pleasing and it is a result that we would have been pleased about at the start of the day.
"There are still people ringing now about passed in lots and that clearance rate will continue to increase and we will walk away with a pretty solid outcome."
Top lots
| 58 | Extreme Choice | Arnault | A List Stud Pty Ltd | Colt | $350,000 |
| 26 | Capitalist | Solar Burst | O'Gorman Racing Stables Pty Ltd | Colt | $330,000 |
| 39 | Smart Missile | Twin Star Rocket | A List Stud Pty Ltd | Colt | $325,000 |
| 106 | Deep Field | Hot Gossip | A List Stud Pty Ltd | Colt | $225,000 |
| 60 | Zoustar | Avenue Whisper | Nolen Racing | Filly | $220,000 |
| 65 | Deep Field | Bolossomo | Symphony Lodge | Colt | $210,000 |
| 102 | Caravaggio | Happy Pilgrim | Nolen Racing | Colt | $210,000 |
| 50 | Flying Artie | Zaria's Fire | Network Bloodstock | Colt | $180,000 |
| 47 | Dawn Approach | Wind Shift | KBL Thoroughbreds | Colt | $150,000 |
| 59 | Invader | Article | O'Gorman Racing Stables Pty Ltd | Colt | $150,000 |
Top Buyers
| Ricky Yiu/Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) | 3 | $258,333 | $120,000 | $330,000 | $775,000 |
| Baystone Farm | 1 | $350,000 | $350,000 | $350,000 | $350,000 |
| Darby Racing | 2 | $165,000 | $120,000 | $210,000 | $330,000 |
| Macau Jockey Club | 8 | $32,000 | $6,000 | $85,000 | $256,000 |
| Sandy Javier | 2 | $115,000 | $105,000 | $125,000 | $230,000 |
| Beamish Bloodstock International | 1 | $225,000 | $225,000 | $225,000 | $225,000 |
| Bjorn Baker/Cunningham Thoroughbreds/Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) | 1 | $220,000 | $220,000 | $220,000 | $220,000 |
| Mitchell Bloodstock (FBAA) | 1 | $210,000 | $210,000 | $210,000 | $210,000 |
| Ciaron Maher Bloodstock Pty Ltd | 1 | $180,000 | $180,000 | $180,000 | $180,000 |
| Darren Frame/Shailer Racing/Kestrel T'Breds | 2 | $85,000 | $80,000 | $90,000 | $170,000 |
Top Sires by aggregate
| Deep Field | 2 | $435,000 | $217,500 | $225,000 |
| Smart Missile | 2 | $375,000 | $187,500 | $325,000 |
| Extreme Choice | 1 | $350,000 | $350,000 | $350,000 |
| Invader | 3 | $350,000 | $116,667 | $150,000 |
| Capitalist | 1 | $330,000 | $330,000 | $330,000 |
| Zoustar | 2 | $320,000 | $160,000 | $220,000 |
| Flying Artie | 2 | $270,000 | $135,000 | $180,000 |
| Caravaggio | 1 | $210,000 | $210,000 | $210,000 |
| Rothesay | 2 | $210,000 | $105,000 | $120,000 |
| Spieth | 3 | $153,000 | $51,000 | $125,000 |
Top Vendors by aggregate
| A List Stud Pty Ltd, Baddaginnie, Vic | 5 | $1,105,000 | $221,000 | $350,000 |
| Nolen Racing, Benalla, Vic | 8 | $965,000 | $120,625 | $220,000 |
| Baramul Stud, Widden Valley, NSW | 26 | $822,000 | $31,615 | $100,000 |
| O'Gorman Racing Stables Pty Ltd, Tamworth, NSW | 4 | $592,000 | $148,000 | $330,000 |
| KBL Thoroughbreds, Beaudesert, Qld | 9 | $470,000 | $52,222 | $150,000 |
| Symphony Lodge, Oakey, Qld | 6 | $455,000 | $75,833 | $210,000 |
| Network Bloodstock, Seymour, Vic | 4 | $350,000 | $87,500 | $180,000 |
| Rosemont Stud, Gnarwarre, Vic | 4 | $285,000 | $71,250 | $110,000 |
| Gippsland Bloodstock, Garfield, Vic | 3 | $265,000 | $88,333 | $125,000 |
| Glencross Racing, Clagiraba, Qld | 3 | $146,000 | $48,667 | $90,000 |
Top Vendors by average
| A List Stud Pty Ltd, Baddaginnie, Vic | 5 | $221,000 | $350,000 | $1,105,000 |
| O'Gorman Racing Stables Pty Ltd, Tamworth, NSW | 4 | $148,000 | $330,000 | $592,000 |
| Nolen Racing, Benalla, Vic | 8 | $120,625 | $220,000 | $965,000 |
| Gippsland Bloodstock, Garfield, Vic | 3 | $88,333 | $125,000 | $265,000 |
| Network Bloodstock, Seymour, Vic | 4 | $87,500 | $180,000 | $350,000 |
| Symphony Lodge, Oakey, Qld | 6 | $75,833 | $210,000 | $455,000 |
| Rosemont Stud, Gnarwarre, Vic | 4 | $71,250 | $110,000 | $285,000 |
| KBL Thoroughbreds, Beaudesert, Qld | 9 | $52,222 | $150,000 | $470,000 |
| Glencross Racing, Clagiraba, Qld | 3 | $48,667 | $90,000 | $146,000 |
