Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
At A Glance
The Book 2 average ended on $57,676, just shy of the 2021 average of $60,024, while the clearance rate of 85 per cent was up on last year (84 per cent).
The median of Book 2 stayed at the same level as last year, $50,000, while the aggregate fell from $13.9 million to $12.5 million.
The overall Sale aggregate reached a record $242 million, powered by a sensational Book 1. There were 1004 horses sold over the seven days.
The most successful vendor in terms of gross in Book 2 was Newhaven Park, which sold 12 yearlings for a total of $981,000.
The leading Book 2 stallion in terms of aggregate was Better Than Ready, with $1.2 million in sales across 16 yearlings, while Smart Missile led all stallions with more than three sales when it came to averages on $120,000.
A Deep Field colt from the draft of Grandview proved the main drawcard on Monday, selling to Wattle Bloodstock (FBAA) for $270,000.
A $7500 broodmare investment in 2020 yielded a $210,000 return on Monday for Hopetoun Farm, who sold a colt by Performer to John Morrisey.
Twomey steps up for standout Deep Field
Wattle Bloodstock's Peter Twomey won the battle for Lot 1085, securing the sought-after Deep Field colt from Grandview that has been the talk of the sales ground in terms of Book 2, paying $270,000.
Lot 1085 - Deep Field x Brookton Flash (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Twomey, buying for a new client, had already secured a couple of colts through Book 1 by Capitalist and All Too Hard and was keen to hang around until the final day to secure the Deep Field colt, who was out of Brookton Flash (Spartacus) and is a half-brother to stakes-placed pair Nieta (Nicconi) and Tumbler (Time Thief).
"The quality of what we have seen in the last two weeks, he could have been in Book 1," Twomey said. "The stallion has been doing a really good job and had Big Parade do well through the spring carnival, and then between when the catalogue came out and this colt being sold, he has had Group 1 winner of the Hong Kong International Sprint (Sky Darci).
"From my perspective, being in Book 2 didn't put me off at all. The best racehorse I have ever bought in my short career was Bold Thruster up in Singapore and he was out of Book 2 down in Melbourne."
Peter Twomey | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
The fact that the Book 2 Sale-topper was bought just shy of the average for Book 1 gave an indication as to the colt's quality.
Grandview's Michael Grieve said the Deep Field colt has developed quickly over recent months and perhaps it played to his advantage to be one of only two by the Newgate stallion in the secondary book, as opposed to one of 56 in Book 1.
"He was a lovely colt and it is a lovely family. He was just one of those colts that just at the time that the catalogue came out, he was going through a bit of gangly stage and that sometimes happens," he said.
"He (Lot 1085) was a lovely colt and it is a lovely family. He was just one of those colts that just at the time that the catalogue came out, he was going through a bit of gangly stage and that sometimes happens." - Michael Grieve
"We were happy to sell him through Book 2 and have had a couple of good results from that part of the Sale before."
The colt was bred by Greg De Vries, who purchased Brookton Flash for $3500 in 2015 and has got several strong results from foals out of the mare.
"The client has bene a long-term client of ours. He has raced a lot of horses and has mares in the Hunter and up here," Grieve said.
"We walk mares onto farms down in the Hunter and bring mares back. This horse was conceived through us, we foaled this guy down, weaned him and kept and raised him hear at Grandview."
Michael Grieve | Image courtesy of Grandview Stud
Grieve said it was clear from when on-farm inspections were happening that the colt would be popular.
"We had Magic Millions come out to the farm prior to the Sale and he was really well received that day," he said.
"This fella struck a few chords. He was a good type of horse to trade as well, which bought in some different level of interest. We had a few people come and look for him before Book 2 horses even got on to the complex so we knew we were going to be alright. He was very popular."
"We had a few people come and look for him (Lot 1085) before Book 2 horses even got on to the complex so we knew we were going to be alright. He was very popular." - Michael Grieve
Brookton Flash is now based in the Hunter Valley and visited Cosmic Force last year.
Twomey said that a decision on where the colt would go would be made by the client, who wanted to keep a low profile, but that the colt would stay in Australia.
Performer colt's big return for Hopetoun Farm
Hopetoun Farm got an outstanding return for a Performer colt, Lot 1087, it offered on Monday, with local trainer John Morrisey going to $210,000 to secure him.
The colt's appeal was undoubtedly bolstered by the performances of his half-sister Perfect Mission (The Mission), who won on the Gold Coast on Boxing Day and ran an excellent fourth behind Coolangatta (Written Tycoon) in the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic on Saturday.
Lot 1087 - Performer x But Perfect (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
His burgeoning pedigree was a significant driver behind the interest in the colt from Aquis' first-season sire son of Exceed And Excel and he will remain on the Gold Coast at Morrisey's nearby stables.
Hopetoun Farm paid just $7500 for his dam, But Perfect (Lonhro), in foal with this colt at the 2020 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. At that stage, she was a two-time winning daughter of Group 3 winner Typhoon Billie (Rory's Jester) whose first two foals had yet to make the track.
"I bought her in foal to him at the broodmare sale for $7500. I liked her because she was a Lonhro mare and she ticked a lot of boxes for me. She was three-quarter to a stakes-performer as well (Eight Bills)," Hopetoun Farm's Murray Webster said.
But Perfect | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
"I thought Performer was a good enough 2-year-old and he was well-bred, so I thought I might be able get the foal into the QTIS Sale and get $50,000 for him if he was a good type."
But the foal was an even better type than anticipated and after opting not to trade him as a weanling, Webster set his sights on the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
"From when he was born, he was a beautiful foal, a cracking horse and he didn't owe me much from day one," he said.
"From when he (Lot 1087) was born, he was a beautiful foal, a cracking horse and he didn't owe me much from day one." - Murray Webster
"I was happy to have got him in Book 2 and Perfect Mission has just kept coming up. She's just a great little filly, a money-making machine for those owners, she has won $187,000 in five starts.
"But he had perfect x-rays that horse, good scope and he's a good, strong, athletic type, a nice walking horse. Everyone that looked at him through the Sale fell in love with him and it feels good to get a good result."
While But Perfect slipped a foal last year, she has now been mated to Aquis stallion Pierata, in what will be a 2 x 3 cross to Lonhro.
Murray Webster | Image courtesy of Hopetoun Farm
"It's exciting to have her in foal on an early cover to Pierata. A pedigree guru, Brad Thomas, suggested the mating and he's excited about it. It’s a bit of a radical mating, but when you look at Enable's pedigree, Sadler's Wells is in the exact same spot," Webster said.
"The mare is just a beautiful mare. She's got a really good nature and she's a pleasure to have on the farm. She'll be part of the family now."
Morrisey doubles up
Morrisey was also the successful bidder on the third top-priced of the day, paying $170,000 for Lot 1084, a Headwater colt from Kenmore Lodge.
The colt is out of Bring Me Love (Sebring), making him a half-brother to I've Bean There (Spill The Beans), who finished fourth in the G1 Champagne S. and was subsequently sold to Hong Kong.
Lot 1084 - Headwater x Bring Me Love (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
From the family of Hong Kong champion Sacred Kingdom (Encosta De Lago), Bring Me Love is proving a good commercial prospect, with her Winning Rupert filly selling for $80,000 at last year's Magic Millions National Yearling Sale.
Since foaling the Headwater, she has gone to Jungle Cat (Ire), producing a filly last October before also visiting Pierata.
Maher again leads buyers
With his two buys, Morrisey ended up the second biggest investor in Book 2 spending $380,000, with Ciaron Maher Bloodstock claiming the honour of being the biggest buyer on both Book 1 and Book 2, spending $420,000 on four lots on the final two days.
The most successful vendor in Book 2 was Newhaven Park, who sold 12 yearlings for a total of $981,000, just clear of Baramul Stud, who grossed $936,000.
John Morrisey | Image courtesy of Morrisey Racing
The leading stallion in terms of aggregate sales in Book 2 was Better Than Ready, with $1.2 million in sales across 16 yearlings, while Smart Missile led all stallions with more than three sales when it came to averages on $120,000.
Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said the trade across Book 2 was solid and had measured up to previous editions.
"It was a very similar Sale to last year, which I was really pleased about. It was a solid and healthy market, with quality horses," he said.
"We are clearing nearly 85 per cent and averaging nearly $60,000 and that was well and truly an adequate result for this Sale."
"We are clearing nearly 85 per cent and averaging nearly $60,000 and that was well and truly an adequate result for this Sale." - Barry Bowditch
Bowditch said the pleasing aspect of Book 2 was to see those vendors investing at the smaller end get their day in the sun.
"When you look through the vendors that had drafts here this week, there was quite a few new names that would normally be in Book 1 or 2 at the January Sale," he said.
"It was fantastic to expose them to this big market and achieve very solid results for them and in some cases give them reason to invest heavier and become a stronger part of this fantastic industry."
Top lots
| 1085 | Deep Field | Brookton Flash | C | Grandview | Wattle Bloodstock (FBAA) | $270,000 |
| 1087 | Performer | But Perfect | C | Hopetoun | John Morrisey | $210,000 |
| 1084 | Headwater | Bring Me Love | C | Kenmore Lodge | John Morrisey | $170,000 |
| 1156 | Encryption | I Am Poppy | C | Eureka Stud | Desleigh Forster | $170,000 |
| 1218 | Better Than Ready | Nahab | C | Emirates Park | Vandyke Racing | $140,000 |
Top buyers
| Ciaron Maher Bloodstock | 4 | $420,000 | $105,000 | $130,000 |
| John Morrisey | 2 | $380,000 | $190,000 | $210,000 |
| Kelly Schweida Racing | 3 | $310,000 | $103,333 | $130,000 |
| Desleigh Forster | 4 | $286,000 | $71,500 | $170,000 |
| Wattle Bloodstock (FBAA) | 2 | $285,000 | $142,500 | $270,000 |
| Kendrick Racing | 5 | $218,000 | $43,600 | $75,000 |
| Laming Bloodstock Pty Ltd | 2 | $210,000 | $105,000 | $110,000 |
| Mark Newnham Bloodstock | 2 | $210,000 | $105,000 | $125,000 |
| Golden River Investments/All Winners Thoroughbreds | 2 | $200,000 | $100,000 | $130,000 |
| Neville & Amanda Foley | 4 | $195,500 | $48,875 | $70,000 |
Top pinhooks
| 1173 | Smart Missile | Lady Trickster | R Smith | Network Bloodstock Pty Ltd/Belinda Bourne | $30,000 | $120,000 | $90,000 |
| 1193 | Lean Mean Machine | Main Chance | Otway Bloodstock | Kelly Schweida Racing | $40,000 | $130,000 | $90,000 |
| 1092 | Russian Revolution | Champagne Kisses | Avesta Bloodstock/ J McConnell | Mystery Downs | $40,000 | $110,000 | $70,000 |
| 1137 | Lean Mean Machine | Gibraltar Moon | Troy Hall | Ronstel Thoroughbreds | $48,000 | $110,000 | $62,000 |
| 1225 | Impending | Nightingales | M Le Guay | Payne Racing | $10,000 | $50,000 | $40,000 |
Top vendors by aggregate
| Newhaven Park, Boorowa, NSW | 12 | $981,000 | $81,750 | $46,000 | $130,000 |
| Baramul Stud, Widden Valley, NSW | 20 | $936,000 | $46,800 | $15,000 | $150,000 |
| Kenmore Lodge, Wyreema, Qld | 7 | $712,000 | $101,714 | $27,000 | $170,000 |
| Eureka Stud, Cambooya, Qld | 7 | $685,000 | $97,857 | $55,000 | $170,000 |
| Yarramalong Park, Kalbar, Qld | 10 | $634,000 | $63,400 | $12,000 | $110,000 |
| Arrowfield Stud, Scone, NSW | 15 | $540,500 | $36,033 | $15,000 | $75,000 |
| KBL Thoroughbreds, Beaudesert, Qld | 7 | $538,000 | $76,857 | $17,000 | $180,000 |
| Raheen Stud, Darling Downs, Qld | 8 | $478,000 | $59,750 | $38,000 | $110,000 |
| Telemon Thoroughbreds, Innisplain, Qld | 8 | $448,500 | $56,063 | $22,500 | $110,000 |
| Lyndhurst Stud Farm, Warwick, Qld | 6 | $401,000 | $66,833 | $30,000 | $160,000 |
Top vendors by average (3 or more sold)
| Murrulla Stud, Wingen, NSW | 3 | $110,667 | $332,000 | $180,000 |
| Kenmore Lodge, Wyreema, Qld | 7 | $101,714 | $712,000 | $170,000 |
| Eureka Stud, Cambooya, Qld | 7 | $97,857 | $685,000 | $170,000 |
| Twin Hills Stud, Cootamundra, NSW | 4 | $87,500 | $350,000 | $170,000 |
| Newhaven Park, Boorowa, NSW | 12 | $81,750 | $981,000 | $130,000 |
| Hopetoun Farm, Southbrook, Qld | 3 | $80,667 | $242,000 | $210,000 |
Top sires by aggregate
| Better Than Ready | 16 | $1,204,000 | $75,250 | $140,000 |
| Encryption | 7 | $545,500 | $77,929 | $170,000 |
| Spirit Of Boom | 8 | $501,000 | $62,625 | $125,000 |
| Headwater | 7 | $494,500 | $70,643 | $170,000 |
| Divine Prophet | 9 | $397,000 | $44,111 | $110,000 |
| Rubick | 8 | $397,000 | $49,625 | $115,000 |
| Star Turn | 5 | $391,000 | $78,200 | $150,000 |
| Heroic Valour | 7 | $378,000 | $54,000 | $110,000 |
| Russian Revolution | 5 | $375,000 | $75,000 | $110,000 |
| Grunt | 8 | $370,500 | $46,313 | $90,000 |
Top sires by average (3 or more sold)
| Smart Missile | 3 | $120,000 | $360,000 | $170,000 |
| Performer | 4 | $90,000 | $360,000 | $210,000 |
| Impending | 3 | $80,833 | $242,500 | $130,000 |
| Lean Mean Machine | 4 | $80,000 | $320,000 | $130,000 |
| Star Turn | 5 | $78,200 | $391,000 | $150,000 |
| Encryption | 7 | $77,929 | $545,500 | $170,000 |
| Better Than Ready | 16 | $75,250 | $1,204,000 | $140,000 |
| Russian Revolution | 5 | $75,000 | $375,000 | $110,000 |
| Headwater | 7 | $70,643 | $494,500 | $170,000 |
