Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
At A Glance
At the close of trade, the sale average stood at $46,219, down slightly from last year’s comparable figure of $49,827, whilst the median remained constant at $30,000.
The aggregate was down significantly from $6,627,000 to $4,529,500.
This was reflected in the clearance rate. With 98 yearlings sold, the figure stood at 56.65 per cent, down from 62.74 last year.
Arrowfield Stud consigned the day’s top lot (1452) on behalf of Mr Edmund Wong. By The Autumn Sun, the filly sold to Golden River Investments for $750,000 to mark a record price for a filly sold at the National Yearling Sale.
The Autumn Sun also led the sires by both average ($230,500) and aggregate ($922,000) after Day 1, with four yearlings to sell.
Arrowfield was also the leading vendor by both metrics, sending nine yearlings through the ring, with six selling for an average of $162,833, totalling $977,000.
Buyer caution continues
With the metrics after Day 1 suggesting a selective market from the buying bench, Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch was realistic about the first day of trade.
“If you’ve got the right horse you get paid plenty, otherwise you’ve really got to look at your reserves and try to meet the market,” he told TDN AusNZ.
“I think that there were some quality colts and fillies that sold relatively well today.
“If you’ve got the right horse you get paid plenty, otherwise you’ve really got to look at your reserves and try to meet the market.” - Barry Bowditch
“We’re at the end of a long yearling sales series and we haven’t got as many domestic buyers as you have at the earlier sales. We’re very reliant on our traders and our international market, and the ones that are here are buying pretty well on the whole.”
Whilst Bowditch admits that we’ve most likely seen the sale-topper through the ring already, he’s looking forward to some more quality offerings before the sale concludes on Wednesday, not least the TFI Reduction, which follows the end of the National Sale.
Bleakley behind Arrowfield repeat
Leading the action on Day 1 of the sale was Lot 1452, a filly consigned by Arrowfield Stud and by their own The Autumn Sun, which sold to Golden River Investments for $750,000 to mark a record price for a filly sold at the National Yearling Sale.
Lot 1452 - The Autumn Sun x Bagalollies (filly) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
It’s not the first time this year that a filly by The Autumn Sun has made the headlines either, with the Silverdale Farm-consigned Via Africa (SAf) (Var {USA}) filly selling to Arrowfield Stud for $1.8 million at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale to become a record Australian pinhook.
Tuesday’s filly is also the highest-priced National Sale yearling of either sex since 2019, when a Dundeel (NZ) colt, also from Arrowfield’s draft, sold to Hawkes Racing for $850,000.
Highden Park’s Libby Bleakley, who manages the bloodstock interests of the filly’s breeder, Mr Edmund Wong, was still pinching herself when she spoke to TDN AusNZ on Tuesday afternoon. Although not at liberty to reveal the price, she is the one who steered Mr Wong towards purchasing the filly’s dam only a few years ago, and revealed that the filly’s sale paid not only for her but easily covered two subsequent service fees to The Autumn Sun.
Libby Bleakley | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
Now 19 years old, dual New Zealand Broodmare of the Year Bagalollies (Zabeel {NZ}), was a proven elite producer when acquired by Mr Wong. She had successfully been bred to Tavistock (NZ) six times, those siblings including multiple Hong Kong champion Werther (NZ), G1 Australasian Oaks winner Toffee Tongue (NZ), G3 New Zealand Cup winner Gobstopper (NZ) and Group 1 placegetter Milseain (NZ).
“It was during the great times of COVID and lockdowns that Mr Wong purchased a foal out of Bagalollies that he subsequently named Memoire Parfait, and raced in Australia,” Bleakley explained.
With the mare owned by the same connections as Tavistock, Bleakley knew that the stallion’s passing would leave her up for sale, and pounced on the opportunity.
Bagalollies | Image courtesy of Highden Park
“There was nothing really in New Zealand at the time for her that was of good enough calibre. Mr Wong sent her across to Arrowfield to access the best of the best,” she said.
“She was an older mare and I guess, commercially, that put a lot of operators off. That’s where I thought she would be a smart purchase for Mr Wong, and today it turns out it was.”
For the rest, Bleakley paid credit to the Arrowfield team not only for raising the filly so well, but also nudging them towards the National Sale despite her glittering pedigree.
“She (Bagalollies) was an older mare and I guess, commercially, that put a lot of operators off. That’s where I thought she would be a smart purchase for Mr Wong, and today it turns out it was.” - Libby Bleakley
“The family, as a general rule, are later maturing. That’s what we saw raising her foals here (in New Zealand).
“She was just a little bit behind, and hadn’t quite flourished. She had the pedigree for Easter but…the advice from Arrowfield was just to wait, and in the last couple of months she’s really flourished.”
Chan's bid heads to Baker
Purchased by Denys Chan’s Golden River Investments on behalf of a Hong Kong client, the agent admitted that he didn’t expect to have to stretch quite so far to secure the filly.
Denys Chan and Sally Gordon | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“I purchased her on behalf of a Hong Kong client who is going to race her locally in Australia and perhaps breed on later,” Chan told TDN AusNZ.
“There was such competition, but I just had to have her. Just her type, with that pedigree…Two Group 1 winners from the first dam alone, that tells you something.”
“There was such competition, but I just had to have her (Lot 1452). Just her type, with that pedigree…Two Group 1 winners from the first dam alone, that tells you something.” - Denys Chan
Revealing that she will head into training at Warwick Farm with Bjorn Baker, Chan added that it was the appeal of her half-brother, Werther, 2015/16 Hong Kong Horse of the Year, that really pushed him on.
“I was expecting to pay around four to five hundred (thousand), but whoever was the underbidder really gave me a run for my money,” he added.
Brief visit for Glentree
That underbidder was in fact Glentree Thoroughbreds’ Bloodstock Manager Luke Simpson, who was at the National Yearling Sale with only one filly on his list. Bidding on behalf of Glentree boss Bruce Wilson, he was forced to return to Victoria empty handed.
“She made a little bit more than we initially thought, but I’m not shocked at the same time,” he told TDN AusNZ of The Autumn Sun filly. “While she’s in the National Sale, she’s got a Sydney (Inglis) Easter or Magic Millions (January) pedigree, being out of a wonderful breeding mare who continues to throw stakes horses.
“She (Lot 1452) made a little bit more than we initially thought, but I’m not shocked at the same time. While she’s in the National Sale, she’s got a Sydney (Inglis) Easter or Magic Millions (January) pedigree...” - Luke Simpson
“She’s a lovely, leggy, scopey filly with an athletic walk that caught my eye. Just mixed with her pedigree, and being out of a Zabeel mare, it looked like she had the right ingredients physically.
“We thought it would be a reasonably strong sale for her, we knew we’d have to dig deep to get her, because of that pedigree page - she’s got a lot of residual value that we knew other people would be chasing.”
Lot 1452 - The Autumn Sun x Bagalollies (filly) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Despite the journey home being made that bit longer, Simpson reacted with typical Kiwi composure, adding, “We missed out so that’s it, back home.”
Kelly’s cool pays dividends
Lot 1450, a Pride Of Dubai colt bred and offered by Newhaven Park, was knocked down to John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) for $130,000. He’s the first foal from the Medaglia D’Oro (USA) mare Backflash (USA), a winning juvenile in the United States who was stakes-placed at three.
She herself was a US$200,000 (AU$306,800) purchase by Sheamus Mills Bloodstock on behalf of John Kelly at the 2019 Keeneland November Breeding Sale, and Tuesday provided a good start for the investment.
“They’re the sort of mares that we endeavour to buy,” Kelly told TDN AusNZ. “Early going, fast mares, by a Champion Sire and she’s got a nice female pedigree so she’s one that suited us.”
Lot 1450 - Pride Of Dubai x Backflash (USA) (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Although the colt has a strong pedigree, with Backflash a blood sister to Group 2 winner Majestic Eagle (USA) and multiple Group 1 winner Untapable (USA) (Tapit {USA}) on the page, it wasn’t the smoothest start.
After failing to meet his $100,000 reserve at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale in February, Kelly sat tight whilst a slew of results came in for the colt’s stallion, headed by Dubai Honour’s (Ire) Group 1 double.
“I think Pride Of Dubai is going a lot better now so it’s just something that worked in our favour,” Kelly added.
“He’s a lovely horse. He really was an attractive, beautiful yearling, a nice big, strong colt with a great nature. He was perfectly behaved and hence why he sold so well.”
“I think Pride Of Dubai is going a lot better now so it’s just something that worked in our favour. He’s (Lot 1450) a lovely horse. He really was an attractive, beautiful yearling, a nice big, strong colt with a great nature.” - John Kelly
With a Cool Aza Beel (NZ) weanling filly to follow and in foal to Stay Inside, Kelly is hopeful that there are plenty more results to come for the mare.
Arrowfield ahead after Day 1
Helped along by the record-breaking filly, Arrowfield Stud and their young sire The Autumn Sun each finished ahead of their rivals after the first day of the National Yearling Sale. Arrowfield was the leading vendor by both aggregate and average, sending nine yearlings through the ring, with six selling for an average of $162,833, totalling $977,000.
The Autumn Sun | Standing at Arrowfield Stud
The Autumn Sun, meanwhile, also led by both metrics, with his four yearlings to sell on Tuesday averaging $230,500 for net receipts of $922,000.
Boom colt proves popular
Secured for his client Francis Lee, Willie Leung picked out Lot 1569, a Spirit Of Boom colt from the draft of the stallion’s home, Eureka Stud. Bred by Plaintree Farms, he is the second foal from the O’Reilly (NZ) mare Jaunty (NZ), who was secured by Boomer Bloodstock (FBAA) for $80,000 at the 2018 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
The colt’s brother, Big Sky Country, was retained to race by Plaintree’s Heather and David Pascoe, whilst his dam is a three-quarter sister to Arenti, a multiple Listed winner in Singapore.
Lot 1569 - Spirit Of Boom x Jaunty (NZ) (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
A “precocious and very athletic type,” he was knocked down for $160,000.
“Spirit of Boom is doing well in Australia and we have a couple in Hong Kong that are doing well too,” Leung told TDN AusNZ.
“I think this one will suit Hong Kong. My client, Francis Lee, has a permit for next season so we will likely leave him here for another six months for breaking and pre-training before going to Hong Kong,” Leung said, adding that he will be placed there with Manfred Man.
Hong Kong buyers show strength
At last year’s National Yearling Sale, Hong Kong-based buyers accounted for six purchases across both days, averaging $104,167. On the first day alone of this year’s edition, they were responsible for nine purchases. Though the average of those dipped to $81,722, there was notable participation from the nation, and perhaps with good reason according to Leung.
“I think this sale suits Hong Kong because we have permits being released early next week,” he explained. “Hong Kong owners like to buy yearlings for their next permit, so we like to stock up some nice horses and then get them ready to bring to Hong Kong.
“I think this sale suits Hong Kong because we have permits being released early next week. Hong Kong owners like to buy yearlings for their next permit, so we like to stock up some nice horses and then get them ready to bring to Hong Kong.” - Willie Leung
“No doubt, the currency helps a lot, as it’s a bit weak, the Aussie Dollar, in the last couple of days, so it’s easier for us to spend the right money on the right type.”
Top lots
| 1452 | The Autumn Sun | Bagalollies | F | Arrowfield Stud | Golden River Investments As Agent | $750,000 |
| 1569 | Spirit Of Boom | Jaunty | C | Eureka Stud | Francis Lee | $160,000 |
| 1450 | Pride Of Dubai | Backflash | C | Newhaven Park | John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) | $130,000 |
| 1434 | Reliable Man | Always In Trouble | C | Westbury Stud Ltd | Tartan Meadow Bloodstock | $120,000 |
| 1498 | So You Think | Danoiserie | C | Baramul Stud | Roll The Dice Racing/ John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) | $120,000 |
| 1533 | Trapeze Artist | Fragrance | F | Newhaven Park | TFI | $120,000 |
| 1549 | The Autumn Sun | Hayley Grace | C | Lime Country Thoroughbreds | John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) | $120,000 |
| 1419 | Tarzino | Yugoslavia | C | Westbury Stud Ltd | Omen Bloodstock | $100,000 |
| 1489 | All Too Hard | Computer | C | Baramul Stud | John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) | $100,000 |
| 1512 | Hellbent | Dylan's Deeva | C | Bhima Thoroughbreds | John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) | $100,000 |
Top buyers
| Golden River Investments As Agent | 1 | $750,000 | $750,000 | $750,000 |
| John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) | 5 | $103,000 | $130,000 | $515,000 |
| Francis Lee | 1 | $160,000 | $160,000 | $160,000 |
| Dequan Wang | 3 | $46,833 | $100,000 | $140,500 |
| Roll The Dice Racing/John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) | 1 | $120,000 | $120,000 | $120,000 |
| Tartan Meadow Bloodstock | 1 | $120,000 | $120,000 | $120,000 |
| TFI | 1 | $120,000 | $120,000 | $120,000 |
| Omen Bloodstock | 1 | $100,000 | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| Import Racing Pty Ltd | 2 | $45,000 | $50,000 | $90,000 |
| Jason Tam | 1 | $90,000 | $90,000 | $90,000 |
Vendors by aggregate
| Arrowfield Stud, Scone, NSW | 6 | $162,833 | $750,000 | $977,000 |
| Baramul Stud, Widden Valley, NSW | 7 | $62,857 | $120,000 | $440,000 |
| Westbury Stud Ltd, Karaka, NZ | 6 | $67,083 | $120,000 | $402,500 |
| Eureka Stud, Cambooya, Qld | 6 | $54,000 | $160,000 | $324,000 |
| Newhaven Park, Boorowa, NSW | 4 | $75,000 | $130,000 | $300,000 |
| Lime Country Thoroughbreds, Blandford, NSW | 4 | $53,750 | $120,000 | $215,000 |
| Bhima Thoroughbreds, Scone, NSW | 3 | $54,000 | $100,000 | $162,000 |
| Evergreen Stud Farm, Heatherbrae, NSW | 5 | $32,000 | $60,000 | $160,000 |
| Alexia Fraser Bloodstock, Warwick, Qld | 6 | $24,333 | $60,000 | $146,000 |
| Kitchwin Hills, Scone, NSW | 5 | $28,200 | $85,000 | $141,000 |
Vendors by average (3 or more sold)
| Arrowfield Stud, Scone, NSW | 6 | $162,833 | $750,000 | $977,000 |
| Newhaven Park, Boorowa, NSW | 4 | $75,000 | $130,000 | $300,000 |
| Westbury Stud Ltd, Karaka, NZ | 6 | $67,083 | $120,000 | $402,500 |
| Baramul Stud, Widden Valley, NSW | 7 | $62,857 | $120,000 | $440,000 |
| Eureka Stud, Cambooya, Qld | 6 | $54,000 | $160,000 | $324,000 |
| Bhima Thoroughbreds, Scone, NSW | 3 | $54,000 | $100,000 | $162,000 |
| Lime Country Thoroughbreds, Blandford, NSW | 4 | $53,750 | $120,000 | $215,000 |
| Kingstar Farm, Denman, NSW | 3 | $40,000 | $60,000 | $120,000 |
| KBL Thoroughbreds, Beaudesert, Qld | 3 | $34,500 | $47,500 | $103,500 |
| Roona Lodge, Junabee, Qld | 3 | $34,333 | $90,000 | $103,000 |
Sires by aggregate
| The Autumn Sun | 4 | $230,500 | $750,000 | $922,000 |
| So You Think | 5 | $63,900 | $120,000 | $319,500 |
| Spirit Of Boom | 3 | $92,667 | $160,000 | $278,000 |
| Zousain | 6 | $41,667 | $100,000 | $250,000 |
| All Too Hard | 5 | $47,000 | $100,000 | $235,000 |
| Pride Of Dubai | 4 | $58,750 | $130,000 | $235,000 |
| Trapeze Artist | 3 | $70,000 | $120,000 | $210,000 |
| Tarzino | 2 | $68,750 | $100,000 | $137,500 |
| Reliable Man | 1 | $120,000 | $120,000 | $120,000 |
| El Roca | 2 | $55,000 | $65,000 | $110,000 |
Sires by average (3 or more sold)
| The Autumn Sun | 4 | $230,500 | $750,000 | $922,000 |
| Spirit Of Boom | 3 | $92,667 | $160,000 | $278,000 |
| Trapeze Artist | 3 | $70,000 | $120,000 | $210,000 |
| So You Think | 5 | $63,900 | $120,000 | $319,500 |
| Pride Of Dubai | 4 | $58,750 | $130,000 | $235,000 |
| All Too Hard | 5 | $47,000 | $100,000 | $235,000 |
| Zousain | 6 | $41,667 | $100,000 | $250,000 |
| Sooboog | 4 | $27,500 | $85,000 | $110,000 |
| Star Turn | 3 | $27,000 | $35,000 | $81,000 |
| Star Witness | 3 | $19,833 | $47,500 | $59,500 |
