Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
At A Glance
Zoustar dominated the top end of the sale with the three top sellers and the equal fourth highest priced yearlings all by him; three of those including the $400,000 No Evidence Needed (Shamardal {USA}) colt making their way through the ring on the first day.
Zoustar had another good result on day two with Omen Bloodstock and Wilbert Tan purchasing for $260,000 Riverstone Lodge's colt out of the Listed winner Hell Or Highwater (Not A Single Doubt). He also had the highest average of $302,500 and the highest gross at $1,210,000.
Admire Mars (Jpn) and Farnan were the most successful first season stallions; the former having three sell for an average of $98,667 and the latter seven with an average of $40,780.
The highest price was down on last year's The Autumn Sun x Bagalollies (Zabeel {NZ}) filly who fetched $750,000.
195 yearlings sold compared to last year's 207 with a better clearance rate of 71.43 per cent versus 68 per cent.
The average of $42,869 was down a little from $45,510 whilst the median dropped from from $30,000 to $28,000.
The sale grossed $8,359,500 compared to last year's $9,420,500 (12 less horses sold this year).
Book 2 grossed another $463,500 at a clearance rate of over 93 per cent.
Australian Bloodstock were the most prolific buyers, taking home six yearlings (and another three in partnership) up to $200,000 with an average of $67,888.
Purchasing $665,000 worth of horses (an average of $166,250), David Ellis was the biggest spender securing four lots (all on day one) including the sale topper.
Selling 18 horses, Riverstone Lodge was the most prolific vendor - also by average ($89,214) and gross ($1,249,000).
Buyers hailed from New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia, ACT, New Zealand, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Singapore and China. Queenslanders bought the most lots (52) but New South Wales had the largest expenditure ($2,132,500).
At $43,949 the colts had a slightly higher average than the fillies at $41,244.
Quite the buzz for Riverstone Lodge
Following on from his success on day one of the sale - selling 10 yearlings for up to $200,000, Riverstone Lodge’s Nick Taylor again fared well with the second day’s biggest seller being a member of his draft.
A Zoustar filly out of the the Listed Heatherlie S. winner Hell Or Highwater (Not A Single Doubt) was sold for $260,000 to Omen Bloodstock and Wilbert Tan, becoming the sale’s third highest priced yearling.
Her dam, a $210,000 yearling who has changed hands as a broodmare for $850,000 - won eight of her 27; successful at Flemington, Moonee Valley and Caulfield.
Her first three foals - all of whom have sold very well - are all winners including the promising 3-year-old Mafia (Written Tycoon), a Peter and Paul Snowden-trained $850,000 Inglis Easter yearling who has won two recent Randwick trials in preparation for his return to the track.
Lot 1524 - Zoustar x Hell Or Highwater (filly) was the top lot on Day 2 of the National Yearling Sale | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Her 2-year-old Boss ‘N’ Highheels (Written Tycoon) - a $275,000 Inglis Easter yearling - also has good talent, leading throughout at her debut in New Zealand before a Listed fifth at just her second outing.
Hell Or Highwater is one of the four winners (from as many to race) for the Listed winner Get Ready Bertie (USA) (More Than Ready {USA}) who is also grandam of the stakes winners Tamborera (Can) (Macleans Music {USA}) and Magic Grant (USA) (Good Magic {USA}).
Bred on the same Zoustar/Not A Single Doubt cross (one which provides for a 3 X 3 duplication of Redoute’s Choice) as the stakes winners Schwarz and Solar Star, this filly was bred by the Iskander Racing Syndicate.
“She is a beautiful filly,” Taylor enthused, “and a pleasure to work with. Like all the good fillies, she knows she is special and she handled everything so well - she never put a foot wrong.”
“Like all the good fillies, she knows she (Lot 1524) is special and she handled everything so well.” - Nick Taylor
“She commands attention and she got it!”
“Milburn Creek did a great job with her, she came to us in amazing condition and we were the lucky ones who got to present her. I am delighted for Sheriff (Iskander) and Suman (Hedge),” he said, adding that he got “quite a buzz” from selling her.
See and Tan team up
Omen Bloodstock’s Jayven See - who has enjoyed southern hemisphere success as part owner of the G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Tagaloa and the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas winner Rock ‘N’ Pop - teamed up with Wilbert Tan to purchase the filly who will remain in Australia with the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic the dream.
“I met Wilbert Tan in the Philippines,” said Magic Millions’ International Sales Director David Chester, “and he decided to come out to this sale just to have a look and see how it compares to Keeneland and the other sales in America.”
“... he (Wilbert Tan) decided to come out to this (National Yearling) sale just to have a look and see how it compares to Keeneland and the other sales in America.” - David Chester
“He owns broodmares in the US and is very American orientated in his bloodstock interests and he didn’t come here with the intention of buying a horse.”
“But he was very impressed by what he saw here and decided to have a crack at this filly with Jayven.”
Nick Taylor, David Chester, Jayven See and Ashley Glencross | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Jayven See described the filly as one who “fits the bill as the style of horse we like.”
“She is by a sire who is one of the best in Australia and she’s a really lovely type and at this time of year it is the last chance to buy a nice horse.”
“Ash Glencross will break her in and then we will make decisions after that,” he said, adding that the filly was purchased in mind for an all women’s syndicate.
Zoustar continues to achieve
Widden Stud’s Antony Thompson was proud of Zoustar’s achievements at the sale, noting that is one of those much sought after stallions who fares exceptionally well both in the sales ring and on the track.
Zoustar | Standing at Widden Stud
“He has always been an incredibly commercial stallion,” he said.
“In the sales ring there is a big premium paid for type and he is very well known for siring great types - he is renowned for the lovely big strides and great actions of his progeny.”
Pieratas also popular
Riverstone’s Nick Taylor was also happy with the Pierata x Warpath (Reset) colt bred by Kia Ora Stud and sold to Triple Crown Syndications for $110,000.
Lot 1512 - Pierata x Warpath (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The November born caught the eye of a number of good judges with Taylor noting that “everyone could see that he has a lot of improvement in him.”
“He is a lovely colt who just thrived out at the sales and it is great that Triple Crown bought him - they are really good judges and he is going to get every chance.”
“He (Lot 1512) is a lovely colt who just thrived out at the sales and it is great that Triple Crown bought him - they are really good judges and he is going to get every chance.” - Nick Taylor
He was the second of the Pierata yearlings at the sale to sell for six figures, earlier in the day Canning Downs selling a daughter of the stakes-placed Token Of Love (Al Maher) to Bartholomew and Co for $150,000.
Little wonder that the Pieratas are in demand - the Yulong-based stallion having made a most encouraging start to his stud career with eight debut-crop winners including the stakes winners Coleman (who went so close in the G1 Golden Slipper S.) and Tobeornottobe as well as three stakes placegetters.
Boasting three strains of the mighty Zabeel (NZ), the Riverstone colt is out of a Listed winner doing a great job with six of her seven foals to race being winners including the dual Group winner Positive Peace (Stratum) and the stakes-placed gallopers Rotator (Not A Single Doubt) and Alkaashef (Stratum) as well as the dam of the promising stakes placed 3-year-old Kind Words (Written Tycoon) who takes her place in Saturday’s G1 Queensland Oaks.
Lot 1491 - Pierata x Token Of Love (filly) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Warpath’s progeny have always sold well with her latest runner Cavalry Man (So You Think {NZ}) - who looks close to a win for the Moroney stable - fetching $320,000 as a yearling.
“He has a very attractive pedigree for syndication,” Triple Crown’s Chris Ward said.
“Pierata has made a great start with his 2-year-olds and Warpath was a very talented race mare and now a proven producer.”
Chris Ward | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“He is lovely colt with great movement and having pinpointed him as the horse we wanted we are really pleased to have got him.”
“He (Lot 1512) is lovely colt with great movement and having pinpointed him as the horse we wanted we are really pleased to have got him.” - Chris Ward
Ward was also happy with a bargain purchase on day one, a $20,000 Hellbent colt out of the Lismore Cup winner Fairlighting (Sebring) from the Attunga Stud draft.
“He is a big, strong, powerful sprinting type by a stallion who has been really good to us,” he said, noting the success Triple Crown have had with the likes of Miss Hellfire (a $60,000 Magic Millions purchase who has amassed over 10 times that amount in prizemoney) and the promising 2-year-old Aemelius who was purchased at this sale last year for $130,000 and who takes her place in Saturday’s Listed Phoenix S. at Eagle Farm.
Lot 1289 - Hellbent x Fairlighting (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Happy to see her shine
The Canning Downs Pierata heads to the stables of Tony Gollan with the stud’s Joy Mackay “very happy to see her shine in the June sale” having been disappointed not to have secured a January spot for her.
Joy Mackay | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“She is a really lovely filly, a great type with the temperament to go with it. Her dam Token Of Love (purchased online six years ago for $100,000) gives us lovely foals and like her they are all triers.”
“That is something you can’t see when you are looking at their shape and their walk but it is just as important,” she said.
“Token Of Love gives us lovely foals and like her they are all triers. That is something you can’t see when you are looking at their shape and their walk but it is just as important.” - Joy Mackay
Mackay is looking forward to the career of Token Of Love’s 3-year-old The Boom Box (Spirit Of Boom) who is showing promise for the Blake Ryan stable, winning a Hawkesbury trial just a couple of days ago.
Her 4-year-old Token Capitalist (Capitalist) is a Randwick winner for Annabel Neasham whilst her 2-year-old Fairfax Diamond (Written Tycoon) is a member of the Toby Edmonds stable.
A good seller for So You Think
Day two’s third best seller was a So You Think (NZ) colt sold by Burke Bloodstock to Skieda Investment and Mr Racing for $100,000.
Bred on the same So You Think/Fastnet Rock cross as last year’s G1 Tattersall’s Tiara winner Palaisipan, she is the third foal produced by the lightly raced Parkes maiden winner Santa Clara (Foxwedge).
That half-sister to the New Zealand Champion 2YO Anabandana (Anabaa {USA}) can certainly throw a good type, her 3-year-old Call Me Supreme (Justify {USA}) - who is nominated to run at Sha Tin on Saturday - a NZ$520,000 purchase at the 2022 New Zealand Ready to Run Sale.
Lot 1434 - So You Think (NZ) x Santa Clara (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Paying a return visit to So You Think last spring, Santa Clara hails from a prolific black-type family - Anabandana producing the stakes winners Packing Rockstar (Fastnet Rock) and Anavinci (I Am Invincible) whilst her dual Listed winning three-quarter sister Gybe (Fastnet Rock) is dam of the Listed winner Crosswinds (Written Tycoon).
Burke Bloodstock’s David Burke described the sale as “a good result” whilst admitting he was hoping for a little more - “but we met the market.”
“He is a beautiful colt,” he said, “probably a bit more compact and sharper than many of the So You Thinks.”
“He (Lot 1434) is a beautiful colt... probably a bit more compact and sharper than many of the So You Thinks.” - David Burke
“He is a November 22 foal which may have worked against him as he will take that bit longer to mature but he is a great type and an incredibly good mover.”
Big Figures
Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch had some big figures to report at the end of the National Sale series - one which grossed over $125.3 million with 1007 lots selling at a combined clearance rate of over 81 per cent.
Barry Bowditch | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“It’s been massive,” he said - “to have a broodmare sale that grossed nearly $100 million and a very, very solid National Weanling Sale around the $20 million mark and then to finish here with the National Yearling Sale - it’s been a really positive two weeks for the company and the industry.”
“... to have a broodmare sale that grossed nearly $100 million and a very, very solid National Weanling Sale around the $20 million mark and then to finish here with the National Yearling Sale - it’s been a really positive two weeks for the company and the industry.” - Barry Bowditch
“The last two days have gone reasonably well under the circumstances,” he added.
“Obviously this is the most viable sale for the later style horses and to sell over 70 per cent of them is a good result.”
“Obviously this (National Yearling Sale) is the most viable sale for the later style horses and to sell over 70 per cent of them is a good result.” - Barry Bowditch
“Around a third of the yearlings sold went to international buyers whether that be the Philippines, China, New Zealand, Singapore or Hong Kong and that is pleasing.”
Also happy about that was David Chester who is well-known for his hard work in the Asian market.
“The Asian buyers always like this sale,” he said - “it is a good time of year for them to come to the Gold Coast.”
Ancy Palma and David Chester inspecting yearlings | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
And the sale is, Bowditch said “always great value.”
“Generally the vendors are very willing to meet the market and we always look forward to following the horses on the racetrack.”
“We thank our buyers and our vendors and everyone who played a part,” he concluded - “the horse transport drivers, our drivers, the caterers and stud stuff - it’s been fantastic hosting everyone for the Southern Hemisphere’s leading breeding stock auction.”
“The effort from the whole Magic Millions team has been truly outstanding, they have worked tireless hours over the past two to three weeks and it has gone off without a hitch.”
Top lots
| 1388 | C | Zoustar | No Evidence Needed | $400,000 | David Ellis (BAFNZ) |
| 1297 | F | Zoustar | Fit And Ready | $350,000 | The Two Old Men Syndicate |
| 1524 | F | Zoustar | Hell Or Highwater | $260,000 | Omen Bloodstock/Wilbert Tan |
| 1347 | C | Zoustar | Ladybeetle | $200,000 | Australian Bloodstock |
| 1357 | C | I Am Invincible | Loretta | $200,000 | Prime Thoroughbreds |
| 1303 | F | So You Think | Fullazz | $180,000 | Eric Koh |
| 1398 | C | So You Think | Paris Match | $180,000 | Australian Bloodstock/Nick Ryan Racing |
| 1260 | F | Tassort | County Tale | $175,000 | Norman Gardner |
| 1491 | F | Pierata | Token Of Love | $150,000 | Bartholomew & Co |
| 1204 | C | Admire Mars | Al Pheroz | $140,000 | Strike Thoroughbreds |
Top buyers
| David Ellis (BAFNZ) | 4 | $166,250 | $400,000 | $665,000 |
| Eric Koh | 5 | $83,000 | $180,000 | $415,000 |
| The Two Old Men Syndicate | 1 | $350,000 | $350,000 | $350,000 |
| Australian Bloodstock | 6 | $55,167 | $200,000 | $331,000 |
| Omen Bloodstock/Wilbert Tan | 1 | $260,000 | $260,000 | $260,000 |
| Prime Thoroughbreds | 1 | $200,000 | $200,000 | $200,000 |
| Steven Cole Racing Stables/Bevan Smith Bloodstock | 2 | $92,500 | $110,000 | $185,000 |
| Australian Bloodstock/Nick Ryan Racing | 1 | $180,000 | $180,000 | $180,000 |
| Norman Gardner | 1 | $175,000 | $175,000 | $175,000 |
| Bing Tecson | 8 | $21,625 | $35,000 | $173,000 |
Vendors by aggregate
| Baramul Stud | 14 | $89,214 | $400,000 | $1,249,000 |
| Riverstone Lodge | 23 | $43,065 | $260,000 | $990,500 |
| Bowness Stud | 15 | $38,133 | $100,000 | $572,000 |
| Westbury Stud Ltd | 7 | $65,000 | $110,000 | $455,000 |
| Attunga Stud | 10 | $44,700 | $200,000 | $447,000 |
| Arrowfield Stud | 10 | $43,600 | $75,000 | $436,000 |
| Newhaven Park | 9 | $42,833 | $67,500 | $385,500 |
| Yulong | 7 | $54,857 | $140,000 | $384,000 |
| Widden Stud | 12 | $29,500 | $65,000 | $354,000 |
| Berkeley Park Stud | 5 | $70,400 | $140,000 | $352,000 |
Vendors by average (3 or more sold)
| Baramul Stud | 14 | $89,214 | $400,000 | $1,249,000 |
| Berkeley Park Stud | 5 | $70,400 | $140,000 | $352,000 |
| Canning Downs Stud | 5 | $69,900 | $150,000 | $349,500 |
| Westbury Stud Ltd | 7 | $65,000 | $110,000 | $455,000 |
| Yulong | 7 | $54,857 | $140,000 | $384,000 |
| Raheen Stud | 7 | $47,000 | $180,000 | $329,000 |
| Attunga Stud | 10 | $44,700 | $200,000 | $447,000 |
| Arrowfield Stud | 10 | $43,600 | $75,000 | $436,000 |
| Riverstone Lodge | 23 | $43,065 | $260,000 | $990,500 |
| Newhaven Park | 9 | $42,833 | $67,500 | $385,500 |
Sires by aggregate
| Zoustar | 4 | $302,500 | $400,000 | $1,210,000 |
| So You Think | 3 | $153,333 | $180,000 | $460,000 |
| D'Argento | 11 | $36,909 | $75,000 | $406,000 |
| Tassort | 8 | $49,563 | $175,000 | $396,500 |
| Admire Mars | 3 | $98,667 | $140,000 | $296,000 |
| Farnan | 7 | $40,786 | $75,000 | $285,500 |
| Pierata | 3 | $90,667 | $150,000 | $272,000 |
| The Autumn Sun | 6 | $42,667 | $55,000 | $256,000 |
| Written Tycoon | 3 | $75,000 | $140,000 | $225,000 |
| Exceedance | 7 | $30,714 | $50,000 | $215,000 |
Sires by average (3 or more sold)
| Zoustar | 4 | $302,500 | $400,000 | $1,210,000 |
| So You Think | 3 | $153,333 | $180,000 | $460,000 |
| Admire Mars | 3 | $98,667 | $140,000 | $296,000 |
| Pierata | 3 | $90,667 | $150,000 | $272,000 |
| Written Tycoon | 3 | $75,000 | $140,000 | $225,000 |
| Toronado | 3 | $60,000 | $80,000 | $180,000 |
| Tassort | 8 | $49,563 | $175,000 | $396,500 |
| The Autumn Sun | 6 | $42,667 | $55,000 | $256,000 |
| Farnan | 7 | $40,786 | $75,000 | $285,500 |
| Dundeel | 3 | $40,000 | $75,000 | $120,000 |