Cover image courtesy of Inglis
From the Gold Coast in January, right through until Perth in late June, it was another frenetic sales season, with plenty of top-quality bloodstock changing hands. Yulong Investments was once again the major player, while the first yearlings by some exciting new stallions created plenty of optimism.
In total, 47 yearlings realised seven figures, with the top-seller across all sales being Lot 606 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale - a colt by I Am Invincible from Anaheed (Fastnet Rock). He was consigned by Segenhoe Stud and was knocked down to Tom Magnier for $2.7 million.
Lot 606 - I Am Invincible x Anaheed (colt) who sold to Tom Magnier for $2.7 million at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale (Book 1)
It didn’t take too long for the first yearling to fetch $1 million, with Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) going to $1.1 million for Lot 108 - a filly by Zoustar out of the Listed victress Members Joy (Hussonet {USA}) from the Newhaven Park draft. A half-sister to the dual Group 2 scorer Pure Elation (I Am Invincible), she has been named Crime Of Passion and is with Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr at Cranbourne.
In total, 20 yearlings made seven figures, which is a new record. The I Am Invincible-Anaheed colt topped the sale. He is the first foal of a five-time winner who triumphed four times in stakes class (three of those were at Group 2 level). The colt boasts an outstanding pedigree, with his grandam, Rostova (Testa Rossa), a Group 1 heroine, who has also thrown the Listed winner Farooq (Frankel {GB}).
Rostova when racing | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Yulong Investments spent $4,960,000 million on eight yearlings in its own right and co-signed another three yearlings. Yulong Investments’ most expensive purchase was Lot 399 - a sister to the brilliant filly-mare Sunlight (Zoustar) - a three-time elite-level victress. The filly, who is yet to be named, cost $2.6 million and was offered by Widden Stud. She is the ninth foal of the Group 3 winner Solar Charged (Charge Forward).
At the close of trade on Saturday evening, Book 1 of the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale had grossed $228,411,000, but that figure subsequently jumped to $230,161,000, which was slightly up on last year’s aggregate of $229,807,500. The average price was $291,343 (almost the same as last year), the median price was $210,000 (down on the 2022 figure of $230,000), while the clearance rate was a healthy 90.08 per cent (slightly less than 12 months earlier).
Newgate Farm was the leading vendor, with their 54 yearlings selling for a combined $17,225,000 at an average of $318,981.
The China Horse Club/Newgate/Go/Trilogy partnership was the top spender - they handed over $10,100,000 on 18 yearlings - an average spend of $561,111. Magnier purchased three yearlings at a sale-high average of $1,650,000, while Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing/Kestrel Thoroughbreds signed for 21 yearlings, spending $7,955,000 at an average of $378,810.
I Am Invincible was the dominant sire - his progeny grossed $32,390 at an average of $736,136. Zoustar finished second (by gross and average).
Blue Point (Ire) was at the head of the first-season sires, with his 16 lots selling for a combined $6,050,000 at an average of $378,125.
Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale
Arguably the highlight of two days of trade at Riverside Stables came very late in the piece when Silverdale Farm’s The Autumn Sun filly (Lot 440) sold to Arrowfield Stud/Hermitage Thoroughbreds for $1.8 million - breaking a record for her sire and Steve Grant’s relatively young farm. Silverdale Farm paid a sale-topping $600,000 for the filly from Via Africa (SAf) (Var {USA}) - South Africa’s Champion Sprinter in 2013/14 - at the 2022 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale. A triple Group 1 winner, Via Africa has produced the 2021 G1 Golden Rose S. hero In The Congo, who will stand his first season at stud at Newgate Farm this spring.
Lot 440 - The Autumn Sun x Via Africa (Saf) (filly) sold to Arrowfield Stud/Hermitage Thoroughbreds for $1.8 million at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale | Image courtesy of Inglis
Lot 440 was one of 26 yearlings to make at least $1 million and the filly just pipped Lot 117 as the sale topper. The latter - a filly by Pierro from Ennis Hill (Fastnet Rock) - was bought for $1,750,000 by Mick Wallace/Gandharvi from the Coolmore Stud draft. Her dam was a Group 3 winner and she has thrown this season’s brilliant juvenile Learning To Fly (Justify {USA}) - a Group 2 victress.
The top colt was Lot 427, which fetched $1.6 million. The son of Snitzel and Ultimate Fever (Gold Fever {USA}) was purchased by Coolmore Australia from the Lime Country Thoroughbreds consignment. The colt is out of a Listed winner who has produced the stakes winners Le Cordon Bleu (Snitzel) and Sprightly Lass (Snitzel).
The sale grossed $139,290,000, which is less than the corresponding figure from 2022 of $153,085,000, while the average was also down (from $399,700 to $386,917). The median dropped from $300,000 to $280,000 and the clearance rate from 87 to 85 per cent.
I Am Invincible topped the sale by both aggregate ($25,305,000) and average ($766,818). He had 33 yearlings exchange hands, with nine realising seven figures.
I Am Invincible | Standing at Yarraman Park
Too Darn Hot’s (GB) progeny proved popular - he had 14 yearlings sell for a combined $3,310,000 at an average of $236,429.
Arrowfield Stud was the leading vendor by aggregate, selling 54 yearlings for a total of $22,260,000.
Yulong Investments acquired 25 yearlings in its own right and one in partnership, with a total spend in excess of $12.5 million.
New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale (Book 1)
The pre-eminent yearling sale in New Zealand took place at Karaka between January 29-31, and before any horses were put through the ring, the industry paid homage to the great Sir Patrick Hogan. A special celebration of his life was conducted and the auditorium was named after him.
After three days of trade, the sale was deemed a raging success, with Book 1 aggregate finishing up at NZ$70,063,000 - up almost NZ$7 million on last year. The average rose from NZ$146,808 in 2022 to NZ$151,980, the median jumped from NZ$100,000 to NZ$130,000 and the clearance rate improved from 77 per cent to 79 per cent.
The sale-topper was Lot 586 - the Curraghmore-consigned filly by Fastnet Rock from the stakes performer Test The World (NZ) (Testa Rossa). She became the first filly to make seven figures at the sale since 2005, when BBA Ireland went to NZ$1.3 million for Lot 385 from the Pencarrow Stud draft.
Lot 586 was purchased by Te Akau’s David Ellis for NZ$1 million and it is the most he has spent on a filly a Karaka. Ellis was taken by the filly, saying: “This is the best filly since 1988 that I have seen on this ground. This complex was opened in 1988 and I have never seen a better filly.”
As has become the norm, the Te Akau Racing principal was the sale’s leading vendor. He bought 27 yearlings for a total of NZ$6,115,000 and an average spend of NZ$226,481.
The top colt was by Too Darn Hot (Lot 294). He was offered by Trelawney Stud and was knocked down to Melbourne-based agent Cameron Cooke Bloodstock for NZ$750,000. The colt is out of the winning Iffraaj (GB) mare Lady Sayyida (NZ). The mare, who has thrown the Group 2 victress Excelida (Exceed And Excel), is a half-sister to the Group 1 winner and Group 1-producing sire Ocean Park (NZ).
Lot 294 - Too Darn Hot (GB) x Lady Sayyida (NZ) (colt) was purchased by bloodstock agent Cameron Cooke for NZ$750,000 | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
Waikato Stud was once again the leading vendor by aggregate - it cleared 52 yearlings for a total turnover of NZ$7,742,500. Trelawney Stud finished the sale as the leading vendor by average, having sold all 12 of its yearlings at an average of NZ$248,333.
Coolmore Stud’s Pierro was the leading sire by average, with his five-yearlings averaging NZ$352,000 at an aggregate of NZ$1,760,000.
Given his recent run of success, there were high expectations placed on Proisir’s progeny and the Rich Hill Stud sire sensation finished the sale with 19 yearlings grossing NZ$3,590,000. His average of NZ$188,947 is close enough to 21 times his 2020 service fee of NZ$9000 (plus GST).
Inglis Premier Yearling Sale (Premier Session)
By the time the caravan rolled into Oaklands in early March, it appeared evident that there had been a market correction, with most metrics down. And that trend continued at Premier, with spending for the three days of the Premier Session stopping at $58,394,000 - considerably less than 12 months ago ($77,270,000).
The leading sire for the Premier Session on aggregate was, not surprisingly, I Am Invincible; he had 10 yearlings tally $3,368,000 at an average of $368,000 (also a sale-best), all on Day 1.
Toronado (Ire) had 25 yearlings (the most by any sire) sell for a combined $3,662,000 at an average of $146,480, while Written Tycoon also broke the $3-million mark (his aggregate for 16 yearlings was $3,375,000).
Blue Point’s progeny were again well sought-after; his 15 yearlings grossed $2,025,000 at an average of $135,000. Alabama Express also had a very strong sale, with the aggregate for his eight yearlings being $1,435,000 at an average of $179,375. And Brutal (NZ) had just the three yearlings in the sale, but they made a combined $565,000 - an average of $141,250.
Blue Gum Farm won its fourth top vendor title from the past five years, after it finished with an aggregate of $4,620,000 (28 yearlings sold for an average price of $165,000).
The sale-topper was Lot 159 - a ‘Vinnie’ filly from the Noorilim Park draft. TFI signed for the daughter of the stakes performer Special Lover (NZ) (Pins) for $1,100,000. The filly is a half-sister to the Group 3 scorer Miss Roseiano (Exceed And Excel).
Inglis Classic Yearling Sale (Book 1)
The aggregate of $56,878,500 was considerably lower than that of 12 months earlier ($66,823,500), but the healthy clearance rate of 86 per cent indicated an appetite for buying quality yearlings remained. The median and average also dipped.
Berkeley Park Stud consigned the top lot (130) - a colt by Written Tycoon from Sylvia’s Mother (Snitzel). TFI, Kia Ora Stud and Annabel Neasham teamed up to pay $550,000 for the first foal of the two-time Group 3 winner.
Extreme Choice was the leading sire by average - he had six yearlings sell at an average of $324,167, while Capitalist was the leading sire by aggregate - his 30 yearlings that sold tallied $3,680,000.
Newgate Farm sold 31 yearlings for a sale-best $3,786,000, while Tyreel Stud had six yearlings average $187,500.
Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale
Quercus Park again hosted another buoyant day of trade in February, with the sale grossing $3,969,500 at a clearance rate of 86.05 per cent.
Peter Morgan and Gall Bloodstock bought the top-seller, parting with $115,000 for Lot 131 - a Capitalist filly from the sale’s leading vendor - Grenville Stud. The filly - one of three yearlings to realise six figures - is from Sunrise Yellow (Fastnet Rock) and she herself is a sister to Ephesian - a placegetter in the 2016 R. Listed Inglis Banner on debut and three-time winner.
Lot 131 - Capitalist x Sunrise Yellow (filly) purchased by Peter Morgan and Gall Bloodstock for $115,000 at the Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Stratosphere was the leading sire by aggregate, with his 12 yearlings grossing $635,500 (an average of $52,958), while Needs Further’s five yearlings averaged a sale-best $60,100.
Top local Adam Trinder was the leading buyer; he forked out $329,000 on six yearlings.
Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale (Book 1)
The travelling road show went from Tasmania to Western Australia and shoppers handed over more than $13,500,000 on 148 yearlings, surpassing last year’s gross ($13,078,500). The clearance rate was most encouraging, finishing up at 91.93 per cent.
The sale-topper at Swan Valley was Lot 12 - a Blue Point filly out of the Listed-winning Not A Single Doubt mare Single Spice - which was offered by Yarradale Stud and sold to Grant and Alana Williams of Williams Racing, who were buying in partnership 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, signing for seven yearlings at a gross of $1,032,500.
Star local sire Playing God was the leading stallion across Book 1, selling 14 horses for an aggregate of $1,875,000. Blue Point’s two yearlings averaged $237,500, while So You Think’s (NZ) three averaged $163,333.
Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale (Book 1)
All major metrics were down compared to 2022, but the two-day sale still grossed $17,457,000 and 353 yearlings found new homes.
Lot 152 - a colt by Harry Angel (Ire) - led the sale. Offered by Willow Grove Stud, he was secured by Kennewell Racing/George Moore Bloodstock for $230,000. The colt is out of the winless Exceed And Excel mare Kibibi and is closely related to the stakes winners Athelric (Exceed And Excel) and Old North (Lonhro).
Lot 152 - Harry Angel (Ire) x Kibibi (colt) was purchased by Kennewell Racing/George Moore Bloodstock for $230,000 | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The leading sire by average (three or more lots sold) was Russian Revolution. His three yearlings sold averaged $103,333. The leading sire by aggregate, meanwhile, was Pride Of Dubai. He had 14 yearlings tally a combined $913,500.
The leading vendor by aggregate across the two days was Cornerstone Stud of Angaston. It sold 26 yearlings at a gross of $1,186,500 (an average of $45,635).
The leading buyer across the two days was Macdonald Gluyas Racing. They spent $490,000 on five yearlings.
Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale
Emerging young sire Dubious provided the sale-topper here, with his colt from the Waylon J Stud draft - (Lot 295) - fetching $170,000. The colt is from the unraced Rubick mare Care To Elaborate - a half-sister to the stakes performer Voilier (Beneteau) - and was knocked down to Gollan Racing/John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) for $170,000.
The two-day sale saw 292 yearlings exchange hands, with the gross excessing $10 million.
Gollan Racing/John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) was the leading buyer, spending $644,000 on eight yearlings.
Lyndhurst Stud farm shaded Eureka Stud as the leading vendor by gross, but the roles were reversed in terms of average. Lucas Bloodstock was the leading vendor by average.
Better Than Ready was the leading sire by gross, while Written By headed that category by average.
Magic Millions Gold Coast National Sale (Book 1)
Bundall hosted this sale at the end of May and a beautifully bred filly from the Arrowfield Stud draft stole the headlines. Consigned as Lot 1452, she is by their emerging star sire The Autumn Sun, from the brilliant producer Bagalollies (Zabeel {NZ}), making the filly a half-sister to the Group 1 winners Werther (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) and Toffee Tongue (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), as well as the Group 3 scorer Gobstopper (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}). Golden River Investments (as agent) had to go to $750,000 to secure the highly regarded filly and that made them the leading buyer by gross. TFI bought three yearlings at a sale-leading average of $209,167.
The Autumn Sun | Standing at Arrowfield Stud
Lot 1452 helped The Autumn Sun become the leading sire by gross and average.
The sale grossed a tick over $10 million.
Magic Millions Perth Winter Yearling Sale
The final live sale of the year was held last month at the Swan Valley sales complex and 47 yearlings were sold at a gross of $1,187,000.
Lot 65 - a colt offered by Willow Dale Farm - was the clear standout, according to the market, and he made $260,000. By Pride Of Dubai from More Aspen (USA) (More Than Ready {USA}), he is a half-brother to this year’s G1 JJ Atkins S. hero King Colorado (Kingman {GB}).
New Zealand Bloodstock National Online Yearling Sale
Once again, Proisir’s progeny were the headline act, and it was two of his fillies that battled it out for top honours.
In the end, Lot 39 - a Proisir filly out of the winning mare Khaseeb (New Approach {Ire}) - won the day. She was secured by Johno Benner for NZ$110,000 on behalf of Gary Harding from Fairdale Stud’s draft.
Lot 39 - Proisir x Khaseeb (filly) sold to Johno Benner for NZ$110,000 | Image courtesy of Trish Dunnell
Lot 70 fetched NZ$105,000. The daughter of Proisir and the unraced Rose’s Girl (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) was picked up by Ancroft Stud from the Curraghmore consignment.
A Super Seth colt from Camillino (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) realised NZ$90,000. Consigned as Lot 16 by Little Avondale Stud, he is from a sister to the Group 1 hero Dal Cielo (NZ) and was acquired by Darranda Pty.
Total turnover surpassed NZ$677,000
