Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
At A Glance
>> The average for the sale exceeded the $30,000 mark for the first time, at $30,568, up from $27,792 last year
>> For the first time the sale broke through the $3 million mark on aggregate, with $3,362,500 spent across 110 sold lots
>> Median also lifted substantially from $21,000 in 2019 to $26,000 in 2020
>> The surge was driven by demand for local stallions, with Armidale Stud pair Alpine Eagle and Needs Further responsible for $1.127 million of sales, or 33.6 per cent of gross
>> The clearance rate of 81.48 per cent was also up on last year where it was 78.1 per cent
Griffiths soars for Eagle
Robbie Griffiths conducted a fly-in, fly-out inspection of the Magic Millions Tasmania catalogue on Sunday and bidding over the phone on Monday secured the top lot, an Alpine Eagle filly, for $95.000.
Griffiths saw off several high-profile interstate buyers for the filly who was offered by Armidale Stud on behalf of breeder Geoff Hillier.
She is the first foal out of Must Be Mink (Musket), a four-time winner and daughter of Listed Tasmanian Guineas winner Di's Angel (Racer's Edge). Stakes-winners Grand Cavalier (Flying Spur), Cohort (Scenic {Ire}), Dark Choice (Redoute's Choice) and Churchill Dancer (Churchill Downs) also feature of the pedigree page.
Victorian trainer Griffiths said there was never any danger of her going anywhere else.
Lot 37 - Alpine Eagle x Must Be Mink (filly)
"She was always going to Cranbourne," Griffiths said. "I was always going to bring her back. She was the filly there that was exciting. She's got the muscle tone. She had the presence, the athleticism, the head and the jowl.
"We know so much about High Chaparral, Zabeel and Redoute's Choice, and that's what is in this filly's blood. She ticks the genetic nicks and crosses and he as a stallion ticks the performance category and she was the best filly of the Alpine Eagles there."
"She was always going to Cranbourne. I was always going to bring her back." - Robbie Griffiths
Griffiths said he didn’t have an order to buy the filly but backed his judgement and is confident he won't have any issues selling her.
"I didn't have a client signed. I bought her purely because I thought she was an outstanding horse, who will be a success," he said.
"She's pretty sharp when she walks around. I don't have any expectation of her being a 2-year-old, but it wouldn't surprise me if she was a late 2-year-old type. You would think as a 3-year-old filly, a Thousand Guineas or the Classic races would be perfect for her on pedigree and type."
Trainer Robbie Griffiths thought the filly was an outstanding horse
Eagle lands with impact
The result is a feather in the cap of Alpine Eagle, who stood for $7700 (inc GST) in his first season. He had 21 of his 23 lots on offer sell at an average of $35,000, a terrific return on his service fee.
Armidale Stud's Managing Director David Whishaw was rapt with how the day evolved for his young stallion.
"We're just thrilled to see him so well received in the marketplace. There was stock at all ends of the market to buy here, but they definitely came and picked the eyes out of the market," he said.
"That's the highest-ever average for a Tasmanian-based first-season stallion, so we are extremely pleased with that. He's got stock going to Melbourne and Adelaide, so we couldn't be happier with where he is situated at the moment."
Armidale Stud's David Whishaw
Griffiths had a very positive first impression of the Alpine Eagle stock.
"We know how good High Chaparral and Zabeel go together. We’ve seen that with Dundeel. This guy, when he won the Autumn Classic at Caulfield, he was out of this world," Griffiths said.
"I was very impressed with them. I was hoping I would be and I am."
"I was very impressed with them. I was hoping I would be and I am." - Robbie Griffiths
While Newgate's Dissident led the overall averages (3 or more sold) at $51,833, Armidale's Needs Further was second best with 10 lots sold at $39,200 on average, including a top price of $65,000.
"With Bold Star following on from Mystic Journey, and Deroche winning yesterday, he's very relevant not only locally, but nationally and it was lovely to see the buyers come out in force and buy them," Whishaw said of Needs Further.
"Unfortunately, there probably weren't enough Needs Furthers for the appetite that was there."
Armidale's big day out
Unsurprisingly, it was Armidale Stud that completely dominated the vendors' aggregate table, with $1.439 million sales across 35 lots, ahead of Grenville Stud with $727,500. C & K Mahoney of Weetah claimed the tile of the leading vendor on average, with $45,667 average across three lots.
The local buyers were also to the fore with John Blacker picking up 11 lots for $320,500 in total, while syndicators Prime Thoroughbreds and Star Thoroughbreds picked up four apiece, averaging $47,250 and $45,625 respectively. David Brunton purchased five horses while John Foote bought four.
The statistics all pointed to a successful day for Magic Millions and the Tasmanian industry.
"It’s a record day for the state in selling yearlings. To have a gross of over $3.3 million is a fantastic result," Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said. "All the indicators tell you it was a fantastic sale. The strength of the market was here and I feel there was money left on the table."
"There were a lot of people who are flying back to the mainland, who didn’t go home with a horse at all. Given that, I believe it shows the state will continue to get great results if support with quality bloodstock continues.”
Scanlon looks for double effect
It was little surprise to see Tasracing Chairman Andrew Scanlon as the winning bidder for Lot 36, the full-sister to Listed Thomas Lyons S. winner Mandela Effect (Turffontein), who he and a group of friends owns.
The dam, Morell (West Quest), has produced three winners from as many to the track and this filly, bred by Mandy Gunn and offered by her Motree Thoroughbreds, has significant residual value according to Scanlon.
Lot 36 - Turffontein x Morell (filly)
"We were very keen of purchasing this one," Scanlon said. "She's a bit different, being a filly of course. She's a well-put together horse, strong.
"The mother has produced several good ones and I think she has significant residual broodmare value."
Group 1 winner Mighty Manitou (Manihi), stakes-placed Royal Work (Matsqui) and stakes-winner Persian Saint (Rajah Sahib {NZ}) also feature on the page, but it was the prospect of her full-brother enhancing his black-type record as soon as Wednesday in the Listed Mowbray S. that ensured Scanlon stayed in the bidding race.
"He’ll be favourite on Wednesday and we hope he will perform well and there is still a hope for him to make the All-Star Mile," he said.
The filly will race in similar ownership as Mandela Effect and will also be trained by Scott Brunton.
Brown dreams, while Ellerton-Zahra secure a Star
The top-priced colts of the day were Lot 26, by Dream Ahead (USA) and offered by C & K Mahoney, and Lot 81, by Vinery first-season stallion Star Turn, which was part of Armidale Stud's draft. Both reached $75,000 and both are headed for Victoria.
Matthew Brown purchased the Dream Ahead colt, having purchased and raced his full-brother, the stakes-placed Firstclass Dreamer.
Lot 26 - Dream Ahead (USA) x Luloah (colt)
Simon Zahra, bidding on behalf of Ellerton Zahra, was the successful bidder on Lot 81, who is out of Smashing Mila (Authorized {GB}) from the extended family of Clang (Bellotto {USA}) and Strategic (Zeditave).
Queensland trainer Kelly Schweida swooped early to secure Lot 13 for $66,000, a Dissident colt out of Incrimination (Exceed And Excel), the three-quarter sister to Safeguard (Exceed And Excel), who was offered by Grenville Stud.
The top price for a yearling from the first and only crop of Grenville's Lionhearted was Lot 47, which went to John Foote, while Needs Further's top price was also $65,000, paid for Lot 69 from the Armidale Stud draft by Andrew Noblet.
Leaderboards
Top Lots
| 37 | Armidale Stud, Carrick, Tas (As Agent) | F | Alpine Eagle (AUS) | Must be Mink (AUS) | Griffiths Racing/Peter Ford T'breds (FBAA) | VIC | $95,000 |
| 36 | Motree Thoroughbreds, Waterhouse, Tas | F | Turffontein (AUS) | Morell (AUS) | Andrew Scanlon | TAS | $80,000 |
| 26 | C & K Mahoney, Weetah, Tas | C | Dream Ahead (USA) | Luloah (AUS) | Matthew Brown Racing | VIC | $75,000 |
| 81 | Armidale Stud, Carrick, Tas | C | Star Turn (AUS) | Smashin' Mila (AUS) | Ellerton Zahra Racing | VIC | $75,000 |
| 13 | Grenville Stud, Whitemore, Tas | C | Dissident (AUS) | Incrimination (AUS) | Kelly Schweida Racing | QLD | $66,000 |
| 47 | Grenville Stud, Whitemore, Tas (As Agent) | C | Lionhearted (AUS) | Peacock Sally (USA) | John Foote Bloodstock | HONG KONG | $65,000 |
| 69 | Armidale Stud, Carrick, Tas | F | Needs Further (AUS) | Saigon Moonlight (NZ) | Andrew Noblet Racing Pty Ltd | VIC� | $65,000 |
| 76 | Armidale Stud, Carrick, Tas | F | Alpine Eagle (AUS) | Sheez on Top (AUS) | Star Thoroughbreds/Randwick Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) | NSW | $65,000 |
| 72 | Armidale Stud, Carrick, Tas | F | Alpine Eagle (AUS) | Sh'bourne Spirit (AUS) | Bill Ryan | TAS | $61,000 |
| 7 | Grenville Stud, Whitemore, Tas | C | Charge Forward (AUS) | Harada's Girl (AUS) | Robert Schaeche | TAS | $60,000 |
| 92 | Armidale Stud, Carrick, Tas | C | Foxwedge (AUS) | Subsequential (AUS) | Rosemont Stud | VIC | $60,000 |
Top buyers
| John Blacker | 11 | $29,136 | $6,000 | $57,500 | $320,500 |
| John Foote Bloodstock | 4 | $47,250 | $33,000 | $65,000 | $189,000 |
| Star Thoroughbreds/Randwick Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) | 4 | $45,625 | $28,000 | $65,000 | $182,500 |
| Mark Ganderton | 4 | $39,875 | $17,000 | $50,000 | $159,500 |
| Griffiths Racing/Peter Ford T'breds (FBAA) | 2 | $63,500 | $32,000 | $95,000 | $127,000 |
| Bill Ryan | 3 | $40,333 | $16,000 | $61,000 | $121,000 |
| Matthew Brown Racing | 2 | $55,000 | $35,000 | $75,000 | $110,000 |
| David Brunton | 5 | $21,600 | $6,000 | $40,000 | $108,000 |
| Leon Wells | 4 | $26,625 | $14,000 | $42,500 | $106,500 |
| Prime Thoroughbreds | 2 | $47,500 | $40,000 | $55,000 | $95,000 |
Top vendors by aggregate
| Armidale Stud, Carrick, Tas | 35 | 4 | 3 | 92% | $41,114 | $6,000 | $95,000 | $1,439,000 |
| Grenville Stud, Whitemore, Tas | 26 | 1 | 14 | 65% | $28,519 | $5,000 | $66,000 | $741,500 |
| Motree Thoroughbreds, Waterhouse, Tas | 8 | 2 | 1 | 89% | $29,625 | $16,000 | $80,000 | $237,000 |
| Alva Stud Pty Ltd, Hagley, Tas | 8 | 0 | 0 | 100% | $28,438 | $16,000 | $50,000 | $227,500 |
| Waterford Livestock, Latrobe, Tas | 6 | 1 | 1 | 86% | $33,083 | $4,500 | $55,000 | $198,500 |
| Brooklyn Park, Evandale, Tas | 9 | 1 | 2 | 82% | $20,000 | $6,000 | $40,000 | $180,000 |
| C & K Mahoney, Weetah, Tas | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100% | $45,667 | $22,000 | $75,000 | $137,000 |
| V V Tu, Devonport, Tas | 1 | 0 | 1 | 50% | $50,000 | $50,000 | $50,000 | $50,000 |
| Kingsley Park, Cygnet, Tas | 2 | 1 | 1 | 67% | $20,000 | $20,000 | $20,000 | $40,000 |
| National Lodge, Latrobe, Tas | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100% | $9,667 | $3,000 | $20,000 | $29,000 |
Top sires by aggregate
| Alpine Eagle (AUS) | 21 | 3 | 2 | 91% | $35,000 | $6,000 | $95,000 | $735,000 |
| Needs Further (AUS) | 10 | 1 | 2 | 83% | $39,200 | $16,000 | $65,000 | $392,000 |
| Lionhearted (AUS) | 10 | 2 | 5 | 67% | $24,800 | $4,000 | $65,000 | $248,000 |
| Dissident (AUS) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100% | $51,833 | $32,000 | $66,000 | $155,500 |
| Magnus (AUS) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100% | $36,000 | $26,000 | $50,000 | $108,000 |
| Wordsmith (AUS) | 3 | 0 | 1 | 75% | $34,000 | $20,000 | $42,000 | $102,000 |
| Foxwedge (AUS) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100% | $45,000 | $30,000 | $60,000 | $90,000 |
| Palentino (AUS) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100% | $29,833 | $22,000 | $40,000 | $89,500 |
| Fighting Sun (AUS) | 2 | 0 | 3 | 40% | $43,000 | $36,000 | $50,000 | $86,000 |
| Charge Forward (AUS) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100% | $40,000 | $20,000 | $60,000 | $80,000 |
