A colt by Epaulette (Aus) reached six figures early in the day and lot 6, who was sold for A$100,000, held that position throughout the session. Consigned by Armidale Stud, he was one of four yearlings bought by the Flemington-based training partnership of Mat Ellerton and Simon Zahra, who were the leading buyers at the sale with a total outlay of A$245,000. The colt is a half-brother to three winners and is a son of the 11-time winner and black-type performer With Decorum (Aus) (Savoir Vivre {GB}).
The Wishaw family's Armidale Stud enjoyed another notable sale and were responsible for three of the four most expensive yearlings on the day. The auction completed a memorable 48 hours for the farm, as the Wishaws also sold both of the previous day's Magic Millions feature winners at Mowbray. Our Long Sali (Aus), winner of the Magic Millions Tasmanian 2YO Classic, and Magic Millions Tasmanian 2YO Classic, and Jubilance (Aus), who finished strongly to win the Tasbreeders Magic Millions 3YO Classic, are both by the Tasmanian-based sire Needs Further (Aus) (Encosta De Lago {Aus}).
“It's been a great couple of days,” said Robyn Whishaw said. “We are very happy with our sale results and we enjoyed a great clearance.”
The top-priced filly of the sale (lot 130) at A$95,0000 is a full-sister to Our Long Sali (Aus) and will be trained by Stuart Gandy, having been bought by Joe O'Neill's Prime Thoroughbreds.
“To have a sale that has produced a record gross and average is a phenomenal result for the Tasmanian breeders and vendors,” said Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch after the average rose 24% to A$29,729. “Credit to our vendors; over recent years their product and presentation has gone to another level. It was great to see so many familiar faces from the mainland participating at the sale, led by the likes of Ellerton Zahra Racing and Australian Bloodstock.”
The median rose 10% to A$22,000 on Thursday and Bowditch added, “Although we are disappointed with the clearance rate (74%), the overall result is unprecedented for the Tasmanian industry.”
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