Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
At A Glance
Whilst trade continued post-sale, the key metrics were all down on Day 1 of last year’s sale. At 7pm AEDT on Tuesday evening the average sat at $53,877 compared to $60,533 last year, and $55,790 in 2021.
A median of $40,000 matched the comparable 2021 figure, though it was down on last year’s $46,000.
With 155 lots sold the clearance rate stood at 77.11 per cent, down from 80 per cent last year and 84 per cent in 2021.
The aggregate was $8.35 million against $10.1 million after Day 1 last year and $9.15 million in 2021.
The day's top lot was the Harry Angel (Ire) colt (Lot 152) consigned by Willow Grove Stud who went to Kennewell Racing and George Moore Bloodstock for $230,000.
Capitalist was the leading sire by aggregate and average (with three or more sold), after four of his progeny made a total of $510,000 for an average of $127,500.
The leading buyers from Day 1 were Matthew Williams Racing and Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) who teamed up on two youngsters for a total of $295,000, to also lead the buyers by average (two or more bought).
Leading vendor by aggregate went to locals Mill Park Stud, who sold eight for a total of $692,500 at an average of $86,563. Tasmania’s Armidale Stud led the vendors by average, however, having sold three at a rate of $125,333 apiece.
Mixed results
In line with the other ‘type’ sales seen so far this year, Day 1 saw mixed results that were overall slightly down on last year’s market - which continues to stand out as exceptional.
The $300,000 barrier, broached three times at last year’s sale (once on Day 1), wasn’t challenged on Tuesday, but Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch drew confidence from plenty of “quality athletes” making good money for their vendors.
“I think it was a really solid day’s trade,” Bowditch told TDN AusNZ. “There was a really good cross-section of buyers across the board, a lot of buyers from a range of demographics - whether they were traders, internationals, inter-staters, the locals - it had a good feel to it.
“I think it was a really solid day’s trade. There was a really good cross-section of buyers across the board... whether they were traders, internationals, inter-staters, the locals - it had a good feel to it.” - Barry Bowditch
“Vendors were very genuine, and that’s the beauty of Adelaide, vendors bring their horses here to sell and the buyers bid with confidence.
“The clearance rate of 77 per cent is probably slightly less than we’re trying to achieve but over the next 24 hours we expect it to improve and I think we’ll have another very solid day tomorrow (Wednesday).”
Strasbourg strikes amongst first-season sires
The Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale continued this year’s theme of strong demand for first-season sires and saw notable demand for a couple of stallions whose results have previously been eclipsed by sexier contemporaries. Sneaking into a joint top-fifth place from Day 1 - and topping results for first-season sires - was a filly by Rosemont Stud’s Strasbourg, a juvenile Group 2-winning son of reigning Champion Sire I Am Invincible.
Lot 145 - Strasbourg x Just Zerene (filly) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Bred by China Horse Club and consigned by their farm, The Chase, Lot 145 is out of the Zoustar mare Just Zerene and went the way of Phillip Stokes Racing and Connolly Bloodstock for $170,000. Stokes’ son Tommy, who runs the Adelaide stable, was delighted with the purchase.
“She was the filly we really liked out of the sale, we were rapt to get her, from the moment we saw her she oozed class,” he said.
The second of two Strasbourg yearlings to sell on Tuesday, the young sire has now had 14 lots sell at the major sales this year, but The Chase’s latest filly couldn’t quite claim the top spot.
Strasbourg | Standing at Rosemont Stud
That remains with the single Strasbourg yearling sold at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in January - also from The Chase - who was purchased by Duncan Ramage’s DGR Thoroughbred Services (FBAA) and Chris Anderson Racing for $220,000.
Strasbourg headed into this week with 12 yearlings sold at physical auctions at an average of $54,333, boosted now to $63,714 - not bad for his $11,000 (inc GST) service fee.
Whilst he’s had a flurry of such results in his native United States, Vino Rosso (USA), a former shuttler to the now-closed Spendthrift Australia Farm, was also handed his second six-figure result on Tuesday. Lot 5, consigned by Angas Bank went to Clarken Bloodstock, Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) and Rob Chapman for $100,000. The filly is first foal from Casa De Lago (Delago Deluxe), a five-time winner who was Listed placed.
Lot 5 - Vino Rosso (USA) x Casa De Lago (filly) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Vino Rosso was left with 67 live foals from his first season standing in Australia and with four through the ring on Tuesday he doubled his tally of Southern Hemisphere-breds to have sold. The four sold on Day 1 did so at an average of $43,000, and his total yearling average in Australia now sits at $61,875. He has one more to sell on Day 2.
Armidale back with a bang
Things have been going well for the Tasmanian-based Armidale Stud. Fresh from finishing their local Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale in second spot as vendors both by average and aggregate, they carried the momentum into Tuesday.
This year’s Adelaide sale is the fourth time Armidale has brought yearlings to South Australia, and their three to sell on Tuesday left them at the top of the vendors by average. They finished the sale in third position at their first attempt in 2019, and since finished in fourth spot in both 2020 and 2021 - but they didn’t bring a draft last year.
Lot 126 - Shamus Award x Il Sogno (colt) with José Arriagada, David, Isabella and Rhiannon Whishaw | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Called for an explanation, Armidale Stud’s Racing and Bloodstock Manager Rhiannon Whishaw had a pretty good excuse…
“We’d just had our second child on the 10th of February so we opted to sell our whole draft in Tasmania - it was just logistically too hard,” she told TDN AusNZ.
“We’ve always brought a really nice draft over that have sold well,” she added. “It’s obviously a long way to come, so we like to bring really good pedigrees and lovely types and they seem to sell well.
“We’re very happy. Especially the Shamus Award… he’s a lovely colt and we were hoping he could bring what he did.”
“We’re very happy. Especially the Shamus Award (Lot 126)… he’s a lovely colt and we were hoping he could bring what he did ($180,000).” - Rhiannon Whishaw
Leading their consignment on Tuesday was Lot 126, the aforementioned Shamus Award colt. He was knocked down to TFI for $180,000 - the third-top lot of the day. He is out of the dual-winner Il Sogno (Elvstroem), a half-sister to Listed winner Snitz (Snitzel), and he, his dam and grandam were all bred by Ken and Jenny Breese, long-term supporters of Armidale.
The Breese’s were also responsible for Armidale’s other standout result on Tuesday, a Toronado (Ire) colt (Lot 56) which went to Matthew Williams Racing and Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) for $160,000.
Armidale will send two lots through the ring on Wednesday.
Gallery: Armidale Stud's top-selling lots at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale, images courtesy of Magic Millions
Bellevue brings big reward for Rathmore
‘Her Brave Smash colt from 2020 was an outstanding type!’ read the ending to the 2021 Inglis Digital April Sale (Late) catalogue page of the Sebring mare Danish Bingo. With that, the mare’s second foal, on the ground, she was sold by Gooree Park Stud as agent for Aquis Farm, in foal to their freshman Bellevue Hill.
Paying attention was Max Schofer, who only had to go as far as $1250 to secure her and could then watch in delight as that Brave Smash (Jpn) colt embarked on his 2-year-old career. Named Brave Halo, he won his first three starts for Sean and Jake Casey and was recently fourth in the G1 Blue Diamond S.
Danish Bingo | Image courtesy of Inglis Digital
Those updates contributed to a huge result for Rathmore Lodge, run by Schofer and her partner Ross Hatton, as Tuesday saw their Bellevue Hill colt (Lot 36) make $110,000. Secured by Adrian Hancock signing on behalf of Wally Daly’s Yenrise Pty Ltd, he went to the same connections as Brave Halo who cost $135,000 at the 2021 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale.
Explaining the story, Hatton told TDN AusNZ:
“I went to the weanling sale on the Gold Coast about three weeks after Max bought the mare and I saw him (Brave Halo) there as a weanling. I thought he was an exceptional physical at the time, and I tried to buy him but I didn’t have enough dollars…
“I’ll give Max the credit… It was a bit of a sentimental purchase as she’d worked for a bloke here in South Australia many years ago named Ian Barton and he had some of the family there.”
Lot 36 - Bellevue Hill x Danish Bingo (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Dashing Bingo’s third dam Aptitude (Salieri {USA}) left a lasting impression on Schofer when working for Barton years ago, and the family knowledge has certainly paid dividends.
Providing a new record for the stallion, the colt was the sixth yearling to sell this year for Aquis Farm’s first-season sire Bellevue Hill, a Group 3 winner and runner-up in the G2 Todman S. who was trained by Gai Waterhouse and is by her champion Pierro.
Lot 152 - Harry Angel (Ire) x Kibibi, colt - $230,000
Another beneficiary of a significant post-mare-purchase update on Tuesday was Willow Grove Stud. They consigned Lot 152 a son of Darley’s Harry Angel (Ire), whose first crop of 2-year-olds are making a great impression this season.
Kennewell Racing and George Moore Bloodstock teamed up to take him home at a cost of $230,000. He is the first foal from the Darley bred Exceed And Excel mare Kibibi, who was a $130,000 purchase (in-foal to this colt) for Willow Grove at the 2021 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
Lot 152 - Harry Angel (Ire) x Kibibi (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
At that point Kibibi’s brother Athelric had broken his maiden as a 2-year-old, and would go on to win the Listed Queensland Day Plate the following season, whilst his second placing in last weekend’s G2 Maurice McCarten S. won’t have done any harm to this colt’s price either - and his new trainer revealed that there was a determined force behind the purchase.
“George and I identified him as one of the nicest colts on the complex, we felt he would be on the sharper side, he has a lot of his grandsire Exceed And Excel about him,” Lloyd Kennewell told TDN AusNZ.
“George (Moore) and I identified him (Lot 152) as one of the nicest colts on the complex, we felt he would be on the sharper side, he has a lot of his grandsire Exceed And Excel about him.” - Lloyd Kennewell
“Testament to his type, George and I had to work a little bit harder than we anticipated for him, but when George wants a horse he doesn’t often get beaten.”
Bloodstock agent George Moore recently launched a private investment fund focusing on trading horses to the lucrative Hong Kong market, limiting purchases between $80,000 and $250,000 with an aim of racing in Australia before selling to Hong Kong.
Moore felt that the Harry Angel colt met all the prerequisites he set for the fund, telling TDN AusNZ: “We are going to race him in Victoria with Lloyd and see how he progresses. Hopefully we can win a couple of races, qualify for Hong Kong and ultimately sell him as a 63 rater to Hong Kong.”
George Moore and Lloyd Kennewell | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Lot 87 - Capitalist x Figlmuller, colt - $220,000
The Hong Kong-based George Moore Bloodstock paid $220,000 for Lot 87, a colt by Newgate Farm’s leading young sire Capitalist. The son of Written Tycoon has been in good form of late, siring stakes-winner 11 last Saturday when 3-year-old colt Cannonball led all the way in the G3 Maurice McCarten S. at Rosehill Gardens.
Lot 87 - Capitalist x Figlmuller (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“We expected this colt to make a little more, but he is for a new client in Hong Kong who was looking for an unraced horse,” Moore told TDN AusNZ. “In fact, he is on the truck to Muskoka Farm to be educated, and hopefully in 12 months' time he will be racing in Hong Kong.
“We’ve had a lot of luck with Capitalist,” he added. “He (Lot 87) is a short-coupled, speedy type. There are plenty of races around the sprint trips in Hong Kong that suit the breed and we hope to have him competing in the Griffin races.”
“He (Lot 87) is a short-coupled, speedy type. There are plenty of races around the sprint trips in Hong Kong that suit the breed and we hope to have him competing in the Griffin races.” - George Moore
This chestnut colt, offered by Emirates Park Stud, is the fourth foal from the unraced Snitzel mare Figlmuller, and both she and her own dam were also bred by Emirates Park. Figlmuller is a half-sister to the young Aquis Farm stallion Santos, and the Fastnet Rock mare Melagrana, a Group 3 winner in Japan.
Figlmuller is also a half-sister to Profound Wisdom (Al Samer), who produced last year’s G3 Chairman’s S. winner Sebonack, a three-quarter brother to this colt.
Lot 100 - Ilovethiscity x Golden Child, colt - $180,000
Ballarat-based trainer Henry Dwyer went to $180,000 for Lot 100, an Ilovethiscity half-brother to his brilliant sprinter Asfoora (Flying Artie), who’s won six races from only nine starts including the G2 Caulfield Sprint and G3 Furphy Sprint - not to mention her recent third in the G1 Oakleigh Plate.
Lot 100 - Ilovethiscity x Golden Child (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Offered by Noor Elaine Farm, who stand Ilovethiscity, this colt is the third foal from the I Am Invincible mare Golden Child, who was placed in her racing career. Golden Child hails from the family of Big Chill, a daughter of Artie Schiller (USA) who was a winner of the G3 Breeders’ S.
Noor Elaine Farm’s Tim Jackson was delighted with the sale.
“Fantastic result for the farm,” he told TDN AusNZ. “He was popular during inspections, he’s a very attractive colt and ticked a lot of boxes.”
“Fantastic result ($180,000) for the farm. He (Lot 100) was popular during inspections, he’s a very attractive colt and ticked a lot of boxes.” - Tim Jackson
Asfoora was the first produce from Golden Child to hit the track. The mare’s second foal, a 2-year-old colt by Goldin Farm’s Akeed Mofeed (GB), has been named Moaksun and is currently unraced. Golden Child delivered a colt by Widden Stud’s Dirty Work in October last year.
Lot 125 - Saxon Warrior (Jpn) x Idyllic Mood, filly - $170,000
Sullivan Bloodstock sold Lot 125 for $175,000 to Jamie Walter’s Proven Thoroughbreds. The filly is a daughter of the regally bred Coolmore shuttler Saxon Warrior (Jpn), whose oldest Southern Hemisphere-bred progeny are just 2-year-olds.
Bred by Burnewang North, the filly is from the High Chaparral (Ire) mare Idyllic Mood, who was placed during her career. Idyllic Mood is a three-quarter sister to Whispered Secret, who was placed in the G1 Champagne S. and won the Listed Fernhill H.
Lot 125 - Saxon Warrior (Jpn) x Idyllic Mood (filly) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
It’s a stakes-winning family with depth, and her third dam is the Danehill (USA) mare Tropical Affair, a winner of Listed Maribyrnong Trial S. She was the dam of 10 winners. Among Tropical Affair’s progeny was Prized Icon, a winner of the G1 Victoria Derby and the G1 Champagne S.
Top lots
| 152 | Harry Angel | Kibibi | C | Willow Grove Stud | Kennewell Racing/George Moore Bloodstock | $230,000 |
| 87 | Capitalist | Figlmuller | C | Emirates Park | George Moore Bloodstock | $220,000 |
| 100 | Ilovethiscity | Golden Child | C | Noor Elaine Farm | Henry Dwyer Racing | $180,000 |
| 126 | Shamus Award | Il Sogno | C | Armidale Stud | TFI | $180,000 |
| 125 | Saxon Warrior | Idyllic Mood | F | Sullivan Bloodstock | Proven Thoroughbreds/Kerry Parker | $170,000 |
| 145 | Strasbourg | Just Zerene | F | The Chase | Phillip Stokes Racing/ Connolly Bloodstock | $170,000 |
| 56 | Toronado | Dream Food | C | Armidale Stud | Matthew Williams Racing/Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) | $160,000 |
| 204 | Deep Field | Mazurek | F | Mill Park Stud | Anthony Freedman/Julian Blaxland Bloodstock (FBAA)/ Roll The Dice Racing/ Rogers Bloodstock | $140,000 |
| 12 | So You Think | Catena | C | Glen Lee Thoroughbreds | Matthew Williams Racing/Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) | $135,000 |
| 140 | Zoustar | Itza Snitzi | F | A List Stud Pty Ltd | McKeever Bloodstock | $130,000 |
Top buyers
| Matthew Williams Racing/ Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) | 2 | $295,000 | $147,500 | $160,000 |
| George Moore Bloodstock | 2 | $280,000 | $140,000 | $220,000 |
| Kennewell Racing/George Moore Bloodstock | 1 | $230,000 | $230,000 | $230,000 |
| Tartan Meadow Bloodstock | 4 | $211,000 | $52,750 | $110,000 |
| MattMartin Global Pty Ltd | 2 | $195,000 | $97,500 | $105,000 |
| Henry Dwyer Racing | 1 | $180,000 | $180,000 | $180,000 |
| TFI | 1 | $180,000 | $180,000 | $180,000 |
| Phillip Stokes Racing/Connolly Bloodstock | 1 | $170,000 | $170,000 | $170,000 |
| Proven Thoroughbreds/Kerry Parker | 1 | $170,000 | $170,000 | $170,000 |
| Clarken Bloodstock | 4 | $168,500 | $42,125 | $80,000 |
Vendors by aggregate
| Mill Park Stud, Meningie, SA | 8 | $692,500 | $86,563 | $140,000 |
| Cornerstone Stud, Angaston, SA | 11 | $584,000 | $53,091 | $120,000 |
| Glenn Lee Thoroughbreds, Meroo Meadow, NSW | 8 | $432,500 | $54,063 | $135,000 |
| Willow Grove Stud, Woodside, SA | 5 | $427,000 | $85,400 | $230,000 |
| Armidale Stud, Carrick, Tas | 3 | $376,000 | $125,333 | $180,000 |
| Rathmore Lodge, Rockleigh, SA | 6 | $370,000 | $61,667 | $110,000 |
| Willow Park Stud, Scone, NSW | 7 | $367,000 | $52,429 | $85,000 |
| The Chase, Sutton Forest, NSW | 3 | $365,000 | $121,667 | $170,000 |
| Emirates Park, Murrurundi, NSW | 3 | $320,000 | $106,667 | $220,000 |
| Sullivan Bloodstock, Kialla East, Vic | 4 | $310,000 | $77,500 | $170,000 |
Vendors by average (3 or more sold)
| Armidale Stud, Carrick, Tas | 3 | $125,333 | $180,000 | $376,000 |
| The Chase, Sutton Forest, NSW | 3 | $121,667 | $170,000 | $365,000 |
| Emirates Park, Murrurundi, NSW | 3 | $106,667 | $220,000 | $320,000 |
| Mill Park Stud, Meningie, SA | 8 | $86,563 | $140,000 | $692,500 |
| Willow Grove Stud, Woodside, SA | 5 | $85,400 | $230,000 | $427,000 |
| Sullivan Bloodstock, Kialla East, Vic | 4 | $77,500 | $170,000 | $310,000 |
| A List Stud Pty Ltd, Baddaginnie, Vic | 3 | $76,667 | $130,000 | $230,000 |
| Noor Elaine Farm, Euroa, Vic | 4 | $66,750 | $180,000 | $267,000 |
| Rathmore Lodge, Rockleigh, SA | 6 | $61,667 | $110,000 | $370,000 |
| Glenn Lee Thoroughbreds, Meroo Meadow, NSW | 8 | $54,063 | $135,000 | $432,500 |
Sires by aggregate
| Capitalist | 4 | $127,500 | $220,000 | $510,000 |
| Toronado | 5 | $95,000 | $160,000 | $475,000 |
| Pride Of Dubai | 6 | $61,250 | $85,000 | $367,500 |
| Hellbent | 6 | $58,500 | $105,000 | $351,000 |
| Ilovethiscity | 4 | $66,750 | $180,000 | $267,000 |
| Harry Angel | 2 | $130,000 | $230,000 | $260,000 |
| Strasbourg | 2 | $120,000 | $170,000 | $240,000 |
| Shamus Award | 2 | $115,000 | $180,000 | $230,000 |
| Puissance De Lune | 3 | $73,333 | $120,000 | $220,000 |
| Impending | 5 | $42,600 | $110,000 | $213,000 |
Sires by average (3 or more sold)
| Capitalist | 4 | $127,500 | $220,000 | $510,000 |
| Toronado | 5 | $95,000 | $160,000 | $475,000 |
| Puissance De Lune | 3 | $73,333 | $120,000 | $220,000 |
| Ilovethiscity | 4 | $66,750 | $180,000 | $267,000 |
| Pride Of Dubai | 6 | $61,250 | $85,000 | $367,500 |
| Hellbent | 6 | $58,500 | $105,000 | $351,000 |
| Epaulette | 3 | $58,167 | $100,000 | $174,500 |
| Dundeel | 3 | $50,833 | $57,500 | $152,500 |
| Blue Point | 3 | $46,667 | $75,000 | $140,000 |
| Showtime | 3 | $44,667 | $100,000 | $134,000 |
