Images courtesy of Magic Millions
At A Glance
>> The clearance rate battled for much of the day, but lifted to 75.95 per cent by day's end up from the Day 1 figure of 75 per cent last year
>> Day average fell slightly to $39,617 from an opening day mark of $41,289 last year
>> While the top lot went for a higher price than last year, at $270,000, there were only nine six-figure lots compared to 16 on the first day in 2019.
>> The middle of the market remained very solid reflected in a median of $30,000, up from $28,000 last year
>> SA vendor Squillani Park achieved a new benchmark price for a yearling, with their session-topping Kermadec colt on its way to Victoria to be trained by Clinton McDonald
>> Tony and Calvin McEvoy and Belmont Bloodstock threw their support behind the Sale, with four purchases to lead all buyers
McDonald, Bahen reach for Kermadec colt
Clinton McDonald and Justin Bahen of Bahen Bloodstock lifted the top of the market late in the day when they went to $270,000 for Lot 211, a colt by Kermadec offered by Squillani Park.
Clinton McDonald and Justin Bahen with Lot 211 and the Squillani Park team
It was the fourth highest price ever paid for a colt by the Darley stallion, and the highest price for a yearling at the Adelaide Sale in two years. He is a half-brother to Listed winner Falcool (Falvelon) and stakes-placed I'm Cool (Falvelon) from Bay Breeze (Belong To Me {USA}), who has produced a perfect five winners from five to the track.
"I thought he was one of the nicest colts on the complex," Bahen told Racing.com. "We got pushed pretty hard on him. He was a nice relaxed colt and I've got a good opinion of Kermadec."
"Clinton was very keen on him, he popped over and looked at him over the past couple of days and said just buy him."
Justin Bahen signs for Lot 211
The extended family includes G1 Queensland Derby winner Toulouse Lautrec (Danewin) and Listed winner Flouro (Rory's Jester).
McDonald, who is set to form a training partnership in the near future and relocate away from Caulfield, spent up at the recent Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale, paying $1.045 million across six purchases.
It was an amazing result for Echunga-based Squillani Park, whose previous best result at the sale was $95,000 for this colt's half-sister by Casino Prince three years ago.
"It’s just fantastic, it’s absolutely brilliant. It definitely exceeded our expectations and we are thrilled to bits," Squillani Park's Kerrie van Tijn said.
"He spent more time out of his box than in it over the past few days. He was extremely popular and he sold himself. He's a nice colt. He is impressive to look at from a good family, so there wasn't a lot not to like about him."
Market recovers from sticky start
Trading was a little sluggish early on in the session, with the early clearance rate hovering at 60 per cent, before lifting late to 75.95 per cent. As that lifted, so too did the average, which ended up just short of $40,000, down on 2019 day one, and the median, which ended the day at $30,000, up slightly on last year.
"As the day went on, vendors met the market and buyers got a little more confidence to bid up and the sale gathered speed." - Barry Bowditch
"It was a really sticky start to the sale. It was really tough out here and a very soft clearance rate, but as the day went on, vendors met the market and buyers got a little more confidence to bid up and the sale gathered speed," Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said.
"Horses that meet the criteria, that are well-prepared, look the part and vet out well are selling particularly well, but on the whole, it’s a very selective market."
McEvoys step up
McEvoy-Mitchell Racing and Damon Gabbedy's Belmont Bloodstock combined to be the day's biggest buyers, spending $425,000 across four lots, including the top filly, Lot 35, for $160,000.
Tony McEvoy has a strong affinity for Zoustar fillies, having trained the Widden stallion's triple Group 1 winner Sunlight, and it was not surprising to see him prevail in bidding for this filly.
Lot 35 - Zoustar x Phyl’s Choice (filly)
"Zoustar I love of course and she was very different to my star Sunlight. She had a lot more scope and reminded me of a filly that I trained called Zoulah, that won the other day and I think is up to black type standard," he said.
"She is just beautiful filly with a lot of scope and looked to have a lot of class. I've seen her five times and her temperament has stayed the same all the way through. Zoustar fillies can be a bit feisty and I thought this filly was just gorgeous."
"She is just beautiful filly with a lot of scope and looked to have a lot of class. I've seen her five times and her temperament has stayed the same all the way through." - Tony McEvoy
She is out of Phyl's Choice (Savoire Vivre {GB}), who has produced three winners, including Appraise (Needs Further), who was recently second in the Tasbreeders Magic Millions 3YO & 4YO Classic and has won three races.
A generation further back are stakes-placed mares With Decorum (Savoire Vivre {GB}) and Royal Rapture (Clangalang).
"Armidale Stud do a tremendous job and I'm really happy to support those guys and they have delivered this filly I think in tremendous order and I am very pleased to be taking her home," McEvoy said.
Lot 126 - Smart Missile x Take All Of Me (colt)
Another Armidale Stud offering, Lot 126, a full-brother to Group 2 winner and Group 1 placegetter I'll Have A Bit (Smart Missile) was always going to attract plenty of interest and he finds himself headed to Naracoorte and to the stables of Sue Murphy, who paid $140,000 for him.
Murphy had never spent more that $52,500 previously at the Adelaide Sale, but was prepared to go the extra mile for a colt she has a very high opinion of.
"He was a lovely type and he attracted us as soon as he came out. The full brother has done very well," she said. "There's a limit you have for yourself, but we thought we’d go just a bit higher to try and purchase him."
"That's the gamble you have to take to go the next level and buy a nice yearling and we are happy with what we've got."
Sue Murphy
Armidale Stud presented five yearlings on the day and topped the day's averages on $88,500, just tipping out Squillani Park, whose four sales averaged $87,500.
Baramul Stud led all vendors on gross with $550,000 returned on its 15 sales, ahead of Rushton Park, who had 10 sell for a combined $538,000.
Moores in action early
John Moore's impending return to Australia has seen him stocking up on quality yearlings and Symphony Lodge picked up the opening lot of the sale for him for $140,000, with his brother Gary overseeing the sale.
The colt, by Starcraft (NZ) out of Nadeem's Melody (Nadeem), was offered by Miranda Park.
Lot 1 - Starcraft (NZ) x Nadeem’s Melody (colt)
"We have to get going, brother John is coming back to train in Australia, that's the latest but that can change every week. He's going to be a nice addition to his table with my assistance," Moore said.
"I thought he presented well and had a lovely temperament. Looks like he will go early when you see that the dam has won six races."
"I thought he presented well and had a lovely temperament. Looks like he will go early when you see that the dam has won six races." - Gary Moore
The dam Nadeem's Melody was a prolific winner for Cameron Templeton in country Victoria and is out of the family of stakes-winning trio Vivacious Spirit (Bel Esprit), Costa Viva (Encosta De Lago) and Audacious Spirit (Bel Esprit). It was the broodmare sire that caught the Moores' eye.
"We've had a lot of luck with Nadeem through Happy Galaxy and we felt this colt was the best horses on the grounds."
The Symphony Lodge team inspecting yearlings
Street Boss shines again
Street Boss (USA) and Zoustar ended the day as the leading sires on average (3 or more sold) at $90,000. Street Boss's strong sales season continued, with the headline yearling, Lot 146, a colt offered by Rushton Park.
Emboldened by their success with sourcing G1 Victoria Derby winner Warning (Declaration Of War {USA}) from this sale two years ago, Will Johnson and Freedman Racing came together with Bahen Bloodstock and Blue Sky Bloodstock to buy the Street Boss colt for $140,000.
Lot 146 - Street Boss (USA) x Truffle (colt)
He is out of Truffle (Testa Rossa), a half-sister Mega Lass (Bite The Bullet {USA}), with the third dam the Group 1-placed stakes winner The Cloisters (Godswalk {USA}).
Goldin Farms secured a strong result from its former resident stallion Akeed Mofeed (GB), with the full-sister to stakes-placed Sunset Watch selling to Suman Hedge and Mick Price for $140,000. The dam, Saramenha (Snitzel), was stakes-placed herself and is a half-sister to Singapore Listed winner In Bloom (Brocco {USA}).
Lot 73 - Akeed Mofeed (GB) x Saramenha (filly)
Book 1 resumes at 10am local time on Wednesday with Lots 261 to 401 to go under the hammer before Book 2, featuring Lots 402-521, takes centre stage,
Top Lots
| 211 | Kermadec (NZ) | Bay Breeze | Colt | Squillani Park Thoroughbreds, Echunga, SA | Bahen Bloodstock/McDonald Racing, VIC | $270,000 |
| 35 | Zoustar | Phyl’s Choice | Filly | Armidale Stud, Carrick, Tas | McEvoy Mitchell Racing/Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) | $160,000 |
| 1 | Starcraft (NZ) | Nadeem’s Melody | Colt | Miranda Park, Hesket, Vic (As Agent) | Symphony Lodge Pty Ltd, NSW | $140,000 |
| 73 | Akeed Mofeed (GB) | Saramenha | Filly | Goldin Farms, Angaston, SA | Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA)/Mick Price Racing, VIC | $140,000 |
| 126 | Smart Missile | Take All Of Me | Colt | Armidale Stud, Carrick, Tas | Sue Murphy, SA | $140,000 |
| 146 | Street Boss (USA) | Truffle | Colt | Rushton Park, Tatura, Vic (As Agent) | Bahen Bloodstock/Blue Sky Bloodstock (FBAA)/Will Johnson/Freedman Racing, VIC | $140,000 |
| 200 | Brazen Beau | Arizona Rose | Colt | Edinburgh Park, Wingham, NSW (As Agent) | McEvoy Mitchell Racing/Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA), SA | $110,000 |
| 214 | Vancouver | Belavynshi (NZ) | Colt | Rosden Park, Wellington, SA (As Agent) | Mark Kavanagh Racing, VIC | $110,000 |
| 218 | Zoustar | Black Bess | Colt | Rathmore Lodge, Rockleigh, SA | Graebar Park, VIC | $100,000 |
| 80 | American Pharaoh (USA) | Secret Venture | Filly | Kambula Stud, Kadina, SA (As Agent for Widden Stud) | Mark Kavanagh Racing, VIC | $90,000 |
Top Buyers
| McEvoy Mitchell Racing/Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) | 4 | $425,000 | $106,250 | $160,000 |
| Mark Kavanagh Racing | 5 | $400,000 | $80,000 | $110,000 |
| Bahen Bloodstock/McDonald Racing | 1 | $270,000 | $270,000 | $270,000 |
| Patrick Payne | 6 | $237,500 | $39,583 | $67,500 |
| Leon Macdonald | 5 | $237,000 | $47,400 | $80,000 |
| Kennewell Racing/Group 1 Bloodstock (FBAA) | 4 | $220,000 | $55,000 | $70,000 |
| Graebar Park | 2 | $180,000 | $90,000 | $100,000 |
| Byron Cozamanis | 3 | $160,000 | $53,333 | $60,000 |
| Tartan Meadow Bloodstock/Kaipira Lodge | 2 | $145,000 | $72,500 | $75,000 |
| Upper Bloodstock | 2 | $145,000 | $72,500 | $75,000 |
Top Vendors (by average 3 or more sold)
| Armidale Stud, Carrick, Tas | 5 | $88,500 | $160,000 | $442,500 |
| Squillani Park Thoroughbreds, Echunga, SA | 4 | $87,500 | $270,000 | $350,000 |
| Miranda Park, Hesket, Vic | 3 | $68,333 | $140,000 | $205,000 |
| Mill Park Stud, Meningie, SA | 6 | $55,000 | $75,000 | $330,000 |
| Rushton Park, Tatura, Vic | 10 | $53,800 | $140,000 | $538,000 |
| Cannon Hayes Stud, Scone, NSW | 3 | $51,667 | $72,500 | $155,000 |
| Goldin Farms, Angaston, SA | 7 | $50,643 | $140,000 | $354,500 |
| Glastonbury Farms, Scone, NSW | 5 | $49,700 | $80,000 | $248,500 |
| Noor Elaine Farm Pty Ltd, Euroa, Vic | 3 | $48,333 | $70,000 | $145,000 |
| Willow Grove Stud, Woodside, SA | 4 | $45,250 | $75,000 | $181,000 |
Top Vendors (by aggregate)
| Baramul Stud, Widden Valley, NSW | 15 | $580,000 | $38,667 | $90,000 |
| Rushton Park, Tatura, Vic | 10 | $538,000 | $53,800 | $140,000 |
| Armidale Stud, Carrick, Tas | 5 | $442,500 | $88,500 | $160,000 |
| Goldin Farms, Angaston, SA | 7 | $354,500 | $50,643 | $140,000 |
| Squillani Park Thoroughbreds, Echunga, SA | 4 | $350,000 | $87,500 | $270,000 |
| Mill Park Stud, Meningie, SA | 6 | $330,000 | $55,000 | $75,000 |
| Bowness Stud, Young, NSW | 8 | $302,000 | $37,750 | $80,000 |
| Glastonbury Farms, Scone, NSW | 5 | $248,500 | $49,700 | $80,000 |
| Cornerstone Stud, Angaston, SA | 8 | $231,500 | $28,938 | $67,500 |
| Miranda Park, Hesket, Vic | 3 | $205,000 | $68,333 | $140,000 |
Top Sires (by average 3 or more sold)
| Street Boss (USA) | 3 | $90,000 | $140,000 | $270,000 |
| Zoustar | 3 | $90,000 | $160,000 | $270,000 |
| Choisir | 3 | $54,000 | $67,500 | $162,000 |
| Starcraft (NZ) | 5 | $53,800 | $140,000 | $269,000 |
| Akeed Mofeed (GB) | 6 | $53,667 | $140,000 | $322,000 |
| Star Turn | 3 | $53,667 | $75,000 | $161,000 |
| Rich Enuff | 7 | $48,714 | $75,000 | $341,000 |
| Alpine Eagle | 3 | $43,333 | $80,000 | $130,000 |
| Real Impact (Jpn) | 4 | $41,750 | $90,000 | $167,000 |
| Deep Field (AUS) | 3 | $40,000 | $60,000 | $120,000 |
Top Sires (by aggregate)
| Rich Enuff | 7 | $341,000 | $48,714 | $75,000 |
| Akeed Mofeed (GB) | 6 | $322,000 | $53,667 | $140,000 |
| Kermadec (NZ) | 2 | $294,000 | $147,000 | $270,000 |
| Street Boss (USA) | 3 | $270,000 | $90,000 | $140,000 |
| Zoustar | 3 | $270,000 | $90,000 | $160,000 |
| Starcraft (NZ) | 5 | $269,000 | $53,800 | $140,000 |
| All Too Hard | 6 | $235,500 | $39,250 | $85,000 |
| Foxwedge | 6 | $197,000 | $32,833 | $62,000 |
| Nicconi | 5 | $177,000 | $35,400 | $60,000 |
| Brazen Beau | 2 | $170,000 | $85,000 | $110,000 |
