Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
At A Glance
Book 1 of the 2023 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale wrapped up on Thursday night with an aggregate sitting at $13,380,000, which compares favourably to last year’s Book 1 figure of $13,078,500. It is significantly up on the 2021 figure of $8,911,000.
The clearance rate, which at this sale has consistently climbed since 2019, was 88.82 per cent, which was steady on the 2022 figure of 88.48 per cent. It was 86.67 per cent in 2021.
The 2023 average of $93,566 was up on last year’s average, which sat at a record $89,579. That 2022 figure was an unprecedented 30 per cent increase in average since two books were introduced to this sale in 2018.
Thursday’s median of $72,500 is consistent across the deck with last year, with the 2022 number sitting at $70,000. Both of these numbers are considerably up on the 2021 figure of $52,250.
Book 1’s top lot came early in trade. Lot 12 was a Blue Point (Ire) filly from the Yarradale Stud draft that sold to Grant and Alana Williams of Williams Racing, who were buying in partnership across the day with Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA). She was the only yearling to reach a $300,000-plus mark.
Williams Racing/Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) were the leading buyers across Book 1, going in for seven yearlings at a gross of $1.032,500.
Overall, Book 1 produced 49 six-figure yearlings, which represented just over 34 per cent of the 143 yearlings sold in the catalogue. Ten of these 49 realised a $200,000 or more result.
While east coast shuttler Blue Point landed the highest-priced yearling, local sire Playing God was the leading stallion across Book 1, selling 13 horses for an aggregate of $1,805,000. Locals I’m All The Talk, War Chant (USA), Maschino and Gingerbread Man rounded out the locally dominant top five. Toronado was the first non Wa-based stallion to feature, with four yearlings earning a gross of $565,000.
Book 1 of the 2023 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale flew the gates at its Swan Hill complex on Thursday, Lot 12 making an early bid for top lot and staying there right to the end of trade.
The Blue Point (Ire) filly reached a final sale figure of $350,000, which eclipsed any previous top price set at this sale since its two-book format was introduced in 2018. The previous record was set last year by a Playing God colt that sold for $330,000.
All up, of the 177 lots catalogued on Thursday, 143 were sold, 16 withdrawn and 18 passed in. It made for a very healthy clearance rate of 88.82 per cent, which is nearly identical to the 2022 figure.
Barring 2018, when the clearance rate was a staggering 96.38 per cent for Book 1, Thursday’s number was the sale’s highest clearance rate in recent history.
Across the board, the figures on Thursday were excellent and tracked steadily with those of last year.
The aggregate was $13,380,000 and that was some $300,000 ahead of 2022. The median too, at $72,500, was about steady on last year’s $70,000 for Book 1.
However, it was the average of $93,566 that was clearly up on last year’s figure of $89,579 for the equivalent session, and it’s the highest average posted yet for a Perth Yearling Sale.
“On last year, which was a record Book 1 for Magic Millions, every figure is up,” said Barry Bowditch, the company’s general manager speaking to TDN AusNZ in the shade of the sale. “The clearance rate is at some 88 per cent and the gross is at $13.2 million, and we’ve got an average of nearly $94,000, which is an increase on last year’s.
“So everything is marginally up on 2022, which was a tremendous sale in its own right. To be able to go to another level here in the west is fantastic and kudos go to the buyers who really supported the local product to a level they never have before.”
“On last year, which was a record Book 1 for Magic Millions, every figure is up.” - Barry Bowditch
According to Bowditch, the geographical spread of the buying bench was about what he expected this week.
Of the 143 lots that were sold in Book 1, 131 went to Western Australian buyers, which is a remarkable show of strength from the local contingent. It means that a tick under 92 per cent of the catalogue on Thursday was bought locally.
Eight lots were purchased from Victorian-based buyers and two from New South Wales, and both Queensland and South Australia were represented with one apiece.
“Interstate buyers definitely got in,” Bowditch said. “There were plenty here looking to participate but they were bidding against some strong locals.
Barry Bowditch | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“Locals dominated the market but the likes of Sheamus Mills, Lloyd Kennewell and Simon Zahra were all featuring among the horses that were making six figures, so there were probably plenty more of the interstate buyers that did so also.”
With such a positive and robust start to the sale with Book 1, Bowditch said Book 2 on Friday could commence with similar enthusiasm.
“I think there’ll be plenty of value to be found tomorrow but I think it will be a very genuine market,” he said. “There’ll be buyers that missed out on horses today that will have to fill their stables, especially here in the west.”
The talking points: Emotional results for Yarradale
While Magic Millions raised a glass on Thursday evening to what proved a superb opening session of the Perth Yearling Sale, the company also tipped its hat to Yarradale Stud, which was responsible for the day’s top lot.
The Blue Point filly (Lot 12) popped up so early in proceedings that it seemed inevitable her price would be bettered, but in the end it wasn’t and she was a very clear record-setter across the complex.
It was an emotional result for both Magic Millions and Yarradale Stud.
Last year, the farm’s long-time studmaster, Ron Sayers, died at the age of 70, ending a leviathan tenure in Western Australian breeding. Sayers had battled stomach cancer and a late onset of Alzheimer’s disease, and his death was still in the minds of those associated with Lot 12 on Thursday afternoon.
Ron Sayers | Image courtesy of Yarradale Stud
“With the passing of Ron last year, one of our great friends here, to have his draft in the ring was one thing, but to have him top the sale was fantastic for us and the family,” Bowditch said. “We’re really happy for them and this filly was the horse of the sale. It was a great result that really set the tone of the day.”
Yarradale Stud concluded Book 1 as the leading vendor, selling 16 lots for a gross of $1,494,500. The farm’s average was $93,406.
“With the passing of Ron (Sayers, Yarradale studmaster) last year, one of our great friends here, to have his draft in the ring was one thing, but to have him top the sale was fantastic for us and the family... It was a great result that really set the tone of the day.” - Barry Bowditch
The Western Breeders Alliance of Darling View Stud, Einoncliff Park and Westbury Park were only slightly behind with a gross of $1,451,500, while Willow Dale Farm, Mogumber Park and Amelia Park Racing & Breeding followed in that order.
The leading vendor by average proved to be Willow Dale Farm at $135,833.
Williams Racing/Suman Hedge alliance blossoms
One of the interesting facets of Book 1 was the buying alliance between the east coast-based bloodstock agent Suman Hedge and the Perth-based Williams Racing of trainers Grant and Alana Williams.
This pair of buyers was prominent across the day, signing for seven lots that kicked off with the sale-topping Lot 12 and ended almost at the back of the day with Lot 170, a filly by freshman sire Long Leaf.
Lot 170 - Long Leaf x Real Hi (filly) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Hedge and the Williamses have been buying horses together since last year, but this was the first sale that the duo was able to sit alongside each other in a sale ring and go hard on the shopping list.
“We started buying together last year and we were able to get a few horses through the season,” Hedge said, speaking to TDN AusNZ. “It ended up working really well, but we had to buy the horses individually and send them from the east coast over, so this is the first time we’ve been able to physically buy together.”
Five of the seven horses bought by the buying pair on Thursday reached six figures.
They were fillies by Blue Point (Lot 12), Long Leaf (Lot 170), Nicconi (Lot 44) and Pride of Dubai (Lot 123). They bought a colt by I’m All The Talk (Lot 152) and, in the five-figure bracket, they bought a Harry Angel (Ire) gelding and a Headwater filly.
Gallery: Lots purchased for six figures by Suman Hedge Bloodstock and Williams Racing
All up, the total spend was $1,032,500 and the buying duo ended up as Book 1's leading buyers, pipping Parnham Racing Stable at $1,015,000 for eight lots, and Ryan Hill Racing at $890,000 for six lots.
“We didn’t really know how it would all pan out at the beginning of the day with numbers, but it worked really well in the end,” Hedge said. “We were able to get all the targets we had, and while I don’t think we’ll be as active tomorrow, we’re happy with just what we got today.”
“We didn’t really know how it would all pan out at the beginning of the day with numbers, but it worked really well in the end. We were able to get all the targets we had....” - Suman Hedge
Thursday wasn’t the first foray by Suman Hedge into Western Australia. He’s bought a number of mares here on occasion, and he bought a Nicconi yearling here with Tony McEvoy and Damon Gabbedy a few years ago. Until Thursday, that was the only Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale he had attended.
“I really enjoyed that and wanted to come back, but then COVID hit and I couldn’t get here,” he said. “But I really like these smaller, niche sales. They’re enjoyable to do and you learn a lot, and you’re always meeting new people. It’s also a very nice city so I will definitely hope to keep coming back.”
Westspeed is still king
There was no doubt by the close of trade on Thursday that the Westspeed bonus scheme is still king of Western Australia’s racing and breeding industry.
A total of 94 per cent of the entire two days’ catalogue this week is Westspeed eligible, and that carrot hung firmly over results in Book 1, with every single yearling bar one in the top 20 nominated for the lucrative bonus scheme.
That one omission was Lot 114, a Russian Revolution yearling that was consigned by Willow Dale Farm and sold to Cranbourne trainer Lloyd Kennewell. The colt made $240,000.
Russian Revolution | Standing at Newgate Farm
Speaking to TDN AusNZ, Kennewell admitted it was the fact of Lot 114’s not being eligible for Westspeed that allowed him to buy the horse at that price. Locals, he said, were largely uninterested.
“It was like shooting fish in a barrel,” Kennewell said, and he was very pleased to get the colt at that price. “I thought he would have made that and then some if he’d gone to any of the eastern-state sales.”
It wasn’t just Kennewell who was feeling the pull of the Westspeed incentive. Each of the day’s top buyers happily admitted that the Westspeed eligibility was critical to them, particularly the trainers who were filling their quotas.
“For the local buyers, Westspeed is a huge incentive to stay local,” Bowditch said. “It gives them almost twice the reason to race them, and the prizemoney you can get out of it is enormous.
“It makes sense to me and it makes sense to most, if not all, of the people that were buying here today.”
Top lots
| 12 | Blue Point (IRE) | Single Spice (AUS) | F | Yarradale Stud, Gidgegannup, WA | Williams Racing/Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBBA) | $350,000 |
| 62 | Gingerbread Man (AUS) | Brocky's Ace (AUS) | C | Willow Dale Farm, Waroona, WA (As Agent for Korilya Stud) | Commercial Bloodstock Services P/L (FBAA) | $280,000 |
| 160 | Playing God (AUS) | Poverty Point (AUS) | F | Mogumber Park, Bullsbrook, WA (As Agent) | Ryan Hill Racing | $280,000 |
| 121 | Trapeze Artist (AUS) | Lady Cosmology (AUS) | C | Amelia Park Racing & Breeding Pty Ltd, Vasse, WA (As Agent) | Adam Durrant | $260,000 |
| 114 | Russian Revolution (AUS) | Jehannedarc (IRE) | C | Willow Dale Farm, Waroona, WA (As Agent) | Kennewell Racing/Ridgeport Holdings/Group 1 Bloodstock (FBAA) | $240,000 |
| 74 | Maschino (AUS) | Cosmah Domination (AUS) | F | Mungrup Pty Ltd (G R Williamson), Narrikup, WA | Parnham Racing Stables/Ridgeport Holdings | $235,000 |
| 161 | Toronado (IRE) | Prating (AUS) | C | Olive Hill, Brunswick, WA | Simon Zahra Racing/Cameron Cooke Bloodstock | $210,000 |
| 20 | Toronado (IRE) | Special Jewel (AUS) | F | Western Breeders Alliance (Darling View Stud, Einoncliff Park and Westbury Park), WA (As Agent) | Jim Taylor | $200,000 |
| 69 | Safeguard (AUS) | Coast to the Post (AUS) | F | Mogumber Park, Bullsbrook, WA | Ryan Hill Racing | $200,000 |
| 110 | So You Think (NZ) | I'm Feeling Lucky (AUS) | C | Lynward Park Stud, Bullsbrook, WA | John Chalmers Bloodstock (FBAA) | $200,000 |
Vendors by aggregate
| Yarradale Stud | 16 | $1,494,500 | $93,406 | $350,000 |
| Western Breeders Alliance (Darling View Stud | 15 | $1,451,500 | $96,767 | $200,000 |
| Willow Dale Farm | 9 | $1,222,500 | $135,833 | $280,000 |
| Mogumber Park | 8 | $945,000 | $118,125 | $280,000 |
| Amelia Park Racing & Breeding Pty Ltd | 9 | $860,000 | $95,556 | $260,000 |
| Alwyn Park Stud | 9 | $803,000 | $89,222 | $155,000 |
| Scenic Lodge | 10 | $785,000 | $78,500 | $130,000 |
| Gervase Park Stud | 7 | $635,000 | $90,714 | $160,000 |
| Forest View Farm | 6 | $555,000 | $92,500 | $155,000 |
| Lynward Park Stud | 4 | $505,000 | $126,250 | $200,000 |
Vendors by average (3 or more sold)
| Willow Dale Farm | 9 | $135,833 | $280,000 | $1,222,500 |
| Lynward Park Stud | 4 | $126,250 | $200,000 | $505,000 |
| Mogumber Park | 8 | $118,125 | $280,000 | $945,000 |
| Western Breeders Alliance (Darling View Stud | 15 | $96,767 | $200,000 | $1,451,500 |
| Amelia Park Racing & Breeding Pty Ltd | 9 | $95,556 | $260,000 | $860,000 |
| Yarradale Stud | 16 | $93,406 | $350,000 | $1,494,500 |
| Forest View Farm | 6 | $92,500 | $155,000 | $555,000 |
| Bellbridge Park | 4 | $92,500 | $170,000 | $370,000 |
| Gervase Park Stud | 7 | $90,714 | $160,000 | $635,000 |
| Alwyn Park Stud | 9 | $89,222 | $155,000 | $803,000 |
Sires by aggregate
| Playing God (AUS) | 13 | $1,805,000 | $138,846 | $280,000 |
| I'm All the Talk (AUS) | 10 | $813,500 | $81,350 | $160,000 |
| War Chant (USA) | 10 | $603,000 | $60,300 | $150,000 |
| Maschino (AUS) | 6 | $595,000 | $99,167 | $235,000 |
| Gingerbread Man (AUS) | 7 | $592,500 | $84,643 | $280,000 |
| Toronado (IRE) | 4 | $565,000 | $141,250 | $210,000 |
| Long Leaf (AUS) | 5 | $490,000 | $98,000 | $145,000 |
| So You Think (NZ) | 3 | $490,000 | $163,333 | $200,000 |
| Rommel (AUS) | 7 | $477,500 | $68,214 | $170,000 |
| Blue Point (IRE) | 2 | $475,000 | $237,500 | $350,000 |
Sires by average (3 or more sold)
| So You Think (NZ) | 3 | $163,333 | $490,000 | $200,000 |
| Toronado (IRE) | 4 | $141,250 | $565,000 | $210,000 |
| Playing God (AUS) | 13 | $138,846 | $1,805,000 | $280,000 |
| Nicconi (AUS) | 3 | $100,000 | $300,000 | $120,000 |
| Maschino (AUS) | 6 | $99,167 | $595,000 | $235,000 |
| Long Leaf (AUS) | 5 | $98,000 | $490,000 | $145,000 |
| Sessions (AUS) | 3 | $96,667 | $290,000 | $155,000 |
| Gingerbread Man (AUS) | 7 | $84,643 | $592,500 | $280,000 |
| I'm All the Talk (AUS) | 10 | $81,350 | $813,500 | $160,000 |
| Universal Ruler (AUS) | 5 | $73,000 | $365,000 | $110,000 |
| Magnus (AUS) | 6 | $72,083 | $432,500 | $130,000 |
| Rommel (AUS) | 7 | $68,214 | $477,500 | $170,000 |
| Shalaa (IRE) | 3 | $63,333 | $190,000 | $90,000 |
| Awesome Rock (AUS) | 4 | $63,125 | $252,500 | $75,000 |
| War Chant (USA) | 10 | $60,300 | $603,000 | $150,000 |
| Ducimus (AUS) | 5 | $56,600 | $283,000 | $85,000 |
Top buyers
| Williams Racing/Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBBA) | 7 | $1,032,500 | $147,500 | $350,000 |
| Parnham Racing Stables | 8 | $1,015,000 | $126,875 | $160,000 |
| Ryan Hill Racing | 6 | $890,000 | $148,333 | $280,000 |
| Adam Durrant | 5 | $610,000 | $122,000 | $260,000 |
| John Chalmers Bloodstock (FBAA) | 6 | $500,000 | $83,333 | $200,000 |
| Trevor Andrews | 6 | $487,500 | $81,250 | $105,000 |
| Commercial Bloodstock Services P/L (FBAA) | 3 | $485,000 | $161,667 | $280,000 |
| Simon Miller Racing | 5 | $437,500 | $87,500 | $175,000 |
| Jim Taylor | 3 | $420,000 | $140,000 | $200,000 |
| Peter & Luke Fernie | 4 | $340,000 | $85,000 | $100,000 |
