Arrowfield resident Smart Missile (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) has been one of the most sought after first-season sires at the Australian yearling sales this year, and that trend continued yesterday when his colt from Goldin Farms topped the opening session of the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale when selling to trainer Tony McEvoy for A$220,000.
While that top price outpaced last year's day one topper of A$115,000, the rest of the key figures experienced slight decreases. A total of 67 horses sold from 97 offered for A$2,341,000, down from A$2,604,000 last year when 70 were sold. The average dropped 6% to A$34,940, while the median was down 9% to A$25,000. The buyback rate increased three points to 21.6%.
The top-priced lot kicked off a flurry of activity that saw three of the top four yearlings sell within six lots. The Smart Missile colt (lot 81), out of a half-sister to triple group winner Thump (Aus) (Red Ransom), was the first yearling ever to be offered by Goldin Farms, the former Lindsay Park property now owned by Hong Kong businessman Pan Sutong. McEvoy, who purchased the colt on spec, said, “I've looked at all of the Smart Missiles at the sales this year–I believe he's really going to make it as a stallion. He throws a tremendous type–good bodied horses–and this fellow was no exception. I thought he was very athletic, this one–he wasn't as heavy as a lot of the Smart Missiles I've seen. He's a good walking horse–a good style of horse. I had to fight a bit to get him, but I was very pleased we got him.”
Four lots sold for six-figures on the day, the first coming early in the session when Mark Pilkington and Melbourne trainer Andrew Noblet partnered to secure lot 11, a Choisir (Aus) filly from Mill Park Stud, for A$105,000, and shortly after the session topper went through the ring Matchem Racing went to A$100,000 for a colt by Artie Schiller (lot 86). The bay, consigned by the Victoria-based Rushton Park, is out of a daughter of multiple stakes winner Tonicity (Aus) (Blazing Sword {Aus}) who is also a half-sister to stakes winner Cecconi (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}).
One lot later, trainer Phillip Stokes went to A$110,000 to make lot 87 the second-highest price of the day. The colt from RJH Racing is by Al Maher (Aus) out of a half-sister to two stakes-placed winners.
“It's been a very good start,” Magic Millions Managing Director Vin Cox said. “A top price of A$220,000 for a Smart Missile colt in what was an outstanding result for South Australia. The breeders of the horse were Goldin Farms who are new investors in the business–Hong Kong based, but they purchased the old Lindsay Park breeding farm and now they are selling the top priced lot in the Adelaide Yearling Sale.”
The second of three sessions of the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale kicks off today at 10 a.m. local time.
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