A colt from the last crop of Street Cry (Ire) notched the highest price of the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale on Wednesday when picked up by Wexford Stables for A$240,000. The conclusion of trade on Wednesday marked a successful end to the two-day yearling sale, with figures for the Book 1 portion of the sale well-up despite the fact that the number of yearlings offered was almost half of what it was last year. A total of 254 youngsters changed hands over the two days for A$12,203,500, compared to 428 sold for A$11,192,800 last year. The buyback rate was down almost 10 points to 14.5%, while the average climbed 83.7% to A$48,045.
“The sale powered on for day two of the National Yearling Sale and in fact got stronger and stronger as the day went on,” Magic Millions Managing Director Vin Cox said. “This sale has enormous potential and the credibility of the buying bench will encourage breeders to consider this sale as a premium selling option.”
“If you had told me that we will average over A$48,000 and clear at 86%, I would have told you that you were dreaming,” Cox added. “The depth and the strength of the sale was truly spectacular.”
Yearlings from Street Cry's last crop proved immensely popular at the Australasian sales throughout the year, averaging A$290,600 prior to this sale with a median of A$290,000, and the late Darley shuttler provided another high point on Wednesday when lot 1811 from Gerry Harvey's Baramul Stud topped the session–and the sale–when bought by New Zealand's Wexford Stables for A$240,000. The chestnut is the second foal out of the dual stakes winner and G1 Coolmore Classic-second Jersey Lily (Aus) (Catbird {Aus}).
That colt wasn't the only last-crop offering by a highly prolific sire offered by Baramul on Wednesday. Also drawing plenty of attention was lot 1810, a son of Encosta de Lago (Aus) who was eventually hammered down to New Zealand's Regal Farm for A$175,000. The chestnut is the first foal out of the winning Zabeel (NZ) mare Iron Rose (NZ), whose extended family includes the G1 Railway S. and G1 Galaxy S. winner Atomic Force (Aus) (Danehill Dancer {Aus}).
Despite plenty of competition from New Zealand, Australian-based buyers also had their say at the top of the market on Wednesday. Trainer David Vandyke partnered with Darby Racing to snap up the session's second-highest priced lot, a colt by the red-hot Written Tycoon (Aus), the country's leading 2-year-old sire. Lot 1832, from Attunga Stud in Scone and a half-brother to the Group 3-placed Baligari (Aus) (Purrealist {Aus}), was bought for A$220,000.
Vandyke also secured the day's top-priced filly when going to A$200,000 for a daughter of O'Reilly (NZ) from Bhima Thoroughbreds. Lot 1807 is the third foal out of Ininthree (Aus) (Generous {Ire}), a winning half-sister to Group 1 winners Tiger Tees (NZ) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Terravista (Aus) (Captain Rio {GB}); Group 2 winner Ball Of Muscle (Aus) (Dubawi {Ire}); Singapore Horse of the Year Super Easy (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}); and a full-sister to stakes winner Our Lukas (Aus).
Not A Single Doubt (Aus) has been a revelation on the racetrack and in the sales rings this year, and he made his presence felt again on Wednesday when lot 1748, a colt from Milburn Creek, was knocked down to the Victorian-based Redgum Racing for A$210,000. Not A Single Doubt's Arrowfield barnmate Snitzel (Aus), whose progeny have proven immensely popular over the last few years and whose daughter topped the opening session of this sale on Tuesday, enjoyed another six-figure sale on Wednesday when Blue Sky Bloodstock picked up lot 1792 for A$150,000. That filly from Newhaven Park is out of the stakes-placed Hairpin (Aus) (Octagonal {NZ}) and is therefore a half-sister to G3 Sportingbet Sprint winner Detours (Aus) (Ad Valorem).
The leading buyer at Book 1 of the National Yearling Sale was South African Adriaan Van Vuuren, who bought 11 yearlings for A$487,500. Van Vuuren attended the sale with trainer Mike Azzie, that duo having recently combined to win South Africa's Triple Crown with Abashiri (SAf) (Go Deputy).
Magic Millions's National Sale Series concludes on Thursday with the National Racehorse Sale.
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