Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
At A Glance
When selling concluded on the first day of an enlarged Book 2, $7,322,500 had been sold across the 223 lots offered.
The median decreased from $60,000 in 2023 and $55,000 in 2022 to $40,000 this year, with the 72.68 per cent clearance rate slightly below the 79.5 per cent in 2023.
The year-on-year average dipped from $68,721 to $49,144.
The top lot for the day was a colt by Star Turn who sold for $230,000 to Danny O'Brien Racing, in a landmark result for breeders Roona Lodge.
Bowditch hopeful of a rise to the clearance rate
The clearance rate hit 70 per cent just prior to the conclusion of selling at 4pm local time, in a market that provided value for buyers.
Managing Director of Magic Millions, Barry Bowditch, considers the results “close” to where he thought they would be at the conclusion of the first of two days of selling in the Book 2 catalogue.
“I think it’s close to being in line with my expectations leading into it,” he told The Thoroughbred Report.
“The clearance rate could have been a bit better, the average was in line with what I thought, and to sell two quality horses (for) above $200,000, with some dozen (14) making six-figures, it’s a pleasing start to the sale.
“If a good quality horse walked in that vetted well, they sold accordingly.
“If a good quality horse walked in that vetted well, they sold accordingly.” - Barry Bowditch
“There’s a lot of new faces that are playing in the market, and taking on some of the buyers that didn’t get all the horses they needed last week, it’s a positive.
“It’s not getting any easier at this end of town, but on the whole, I’m pretty pleased with how the day ended up, because at times there it looked pretty sticky.”
Turning his attention to Tuesday, Bowditch was insistent that the final day of selling from the Bundall complex can deliver some strong results.
“It’s a pretty well-balanced two days (of Book 2, there’s) quality horses tomorrow, that are very similar to what we offered today. I’d suggest that come tomorrow, the buyers that aren’t here or aren’t really competing yet will see value in what we’re offering and hopefully get in touch.
Barry Bowditch | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“We’ll check in with them to ensure they’re given every opportunity to participate and I think for the buyers here, they’d be happy with what they’re buying, and enticed to come back and do more tomorrow.
“With any luck (the clearance rate will increase), generally with clearance rates, they keep creeping up over a period, and we’ll be motivated to sell passed in lots between now and this time tomorrow, so with any luck the clearance rate will be in a better position than it is now. If it’s north of 75 per cent I’d be happy.”
Roona’s dream result
For Roona Lodge, a bespoke operation based at Warwick, Monday’s selling provided them a historic high, with Lot 1189, a colt by Star Turn, going to Danny O’Brien racing for $230,000, the highest price ever paid for a yearling they’ve bred.
Lot 1189 - Star Turn x Highly Geared (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
With just 10 broodmares calling the property home, the result was an emotional one for Tamara Rickert, who spoke with The Thoroughbred Report minutes after achieving an extraordinary result.
“I cried. This means everything. This is hard work, this is dreams, this is everything - $230,000, you look at Book 1, it's nothing, but to us, it's amazing.
“With our breeding partners, we've been striving just to improve all the time, it (this result) puts us on the map, it's not all about big farms and numbers.
“I cried. This means everything. This is hard work, this is dreams, this is everything - $230,000, you look at Book 1, it's nothing, but to us, it's amazing.” - Tamara Rickert
“You can produce small (volumes of) quality and that's what we're aiming for. Everything is just quality.
“We've heard that (there was speculation Lot 1189 would top the day), but as we've been around for a long time, you just never get your hopes up.
“Because when you think you're going to have a good sale, it's not a good sale, so we just try and stay a little bit grounded.
Tamara Rickert (right) with Lot 1189 | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“He was just a beautiful horse. Jimmy (nickname on the farm) was foaled in our place. We then sent him to Toolooganvale (who offered him as part of their draft) on the 31st of October to do the yearling prep. I couldn't have been more thrilled with the job that they've done with them all.
“We thought a reserve of $120,000 was fair. I thought that might've been the top end of the sale, so anything above that was just a bonus, but we were more than happy to keep him at $120,000 but $230,000, we’re thrilled, just thrilled.”
“We thought (a reserve of) $120,000 was fair. I thought that might've been the top end of the sale, so anything above that was just a bonus, but (we were) more than happy to keep him (Lot 1189) at $120,000 but $230,000, (we’re) thrilled, just thrilled.” - Tamara Rickert
The vote of confidence from top Victorian trainer Danny O’Brien also put a spring in Rickert’s step, who said, “I'm thrilled, I met Danny one day this week. We've actually bought a share in a horse with Danny in the last 12 months.
‘Jimmy’ is out of the 10-time winner Highly Geared (Ad Valorem {USA}), who achieved a second placing in the Listed Chief De Beers S., giving her some valuable black type. Her only foal to race, Tres Redoute (Dissident), has been successful on two occasions in short-course races.
“(He is) one of Australia's greatest trainers and just thrilled that he secured him. I didn't know until this week that he actually bred Star Turn, I knew he trained Star Turn, and he said it's the spitting image of him.
Danny O'Brien | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“So we thought, ‘Oh, I think Danny likes him’. I couldn't be more thrilled with Danny and very exciting times ahead for him.”
Dazzling D’Argento goes for $220,000
Charlotte Littlefield and her Hayfields Racing operation have enjoyed a rapid expansion as they seek to entrench themselves in a competitive Victorian training scene.
With bidding being done by Intel Bloodstock’s Ash Richards, the pair combined to secure Lot 1234, a colt by D’Argento with a striking tail, for $220,000.
Lot 1234 - D'Argento x Lift All Boats (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Arguably the most contested lot of the day, bidding went on a rapid ascension as soon as six figures were reached, with interest not slowing down until the $220,000 mark was breached. Speaking following the purchase being confirmed, Richards told The Thoroughbred Report of the process undertaken to secure the colt.
“We’ve been up here since the fourth, we’ve done a lot of the catalogue (and) it’s been tough. We got a filly (Lot 4, by Dirty Work) early, we got beat on one on Saturday night (so) we were determined to come to Book 2 and buy the best colt.
“I think out of all the horses we inspected in the catalogue, this was one of the best colts in the complex. He was a phenomenal moving horse, he has great shape.
“I think out of all the horses we inspected in the catalogue, this (Lot 1234) was one of the best colts in the complex. He was a phenomenal moving horse, he has great shape.” - Ash Richards
“There’s a bit of speed and precocity there (in the pedigree), the old man won three as a juvenile, I think physically he is a juvenile, he’s just a really good, strong, sharp colt.
Interest in Ole Kirk continues
One of the most coveted first-season sires of Book 1, Ole Kirk, had a continuation of the trend in Book 2, with Lot 1040 going to Network Bloodstock for $170,000 early on Monday.
The Baramul Stud-offered colt was one of the most intriguing prospects leading into selling, and his price lived up to the expectation, getting knocked down as the third-highest lot of the day.
Lot 1040 - Ole Kirk x Antonia (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
David Bourne, who operates Network Bloodstock, caught up with The Thoroughbred Report to give some insight into the purchase.
“First of all, on type, he was an outstanding type of a horse, so once we had done our due diligence it was a matter of working out a price point.
“Certainly, for a breeze-up sale, he’s a big, strong horse, and he looks like he’d cope with anything prior to Christmas time (as a 2-year-old), because he is by a fashionable first-season sire in Ole Kirk, it’s the racehorse for the Asian market.
David Bourne | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“This horse probably has a lot of domestic appeal, and also high-end Hong Kong (appeal), so that sort of gives you both markets (to on-sell to).
“I just rated him against Book 1, and he rated extremely highly on type, so if you put that price in Book 1, I think he fits in just fine, we chased a few very similar horses that went for way above that, so I thought that was about right.
“I just rated him (Lot 1040) against Book 1, and he rated extremely highly on type, so if you put that price in Book 1, I think he fits in just fine, we chased a few very similar horses that went for way above that, so I thought that was about right.” - David Bourne
“You always want to buy them at the cheapest point you can, but we just had to go that far to get him.”
Diversity of buyers evident
One of the most interesting elements of the day was the range of buyers eager to take one (or more) yearling home, with 120 individual buyers signing their names across the 149 horses sold.
David Ellis CNZM (BANZ) returned to pick up one of the first-crop of a stallion he knows very well, going to $55,000 to purchase a filly by Cool Aza Beel (NZ) from a mare from his former star Xtravagant (NZ) off the back of his spending spree in the five days of Book 1.
By far the most active buyers across the day were Marg and Adrian Harvey, who signed for no less than nine individual lots, spending $148,500 in the process.
Queensland buyers were happy to keep a number of horses local, purchasing 51, just over one-third, with New South Wales one behind, having bought 50. Hong Kong buyers also happy to invest, taking home nine.
Singapore, which has an expiration date of 10 months will also welcome a horse out of the sale, while four will ahead across the Tasman to New Zealand.
Top lots
| 1189 | C | Star Turn | Highly Geared | Toolooganvale Farm | Danny O'Brien Racing | $230,000 |
| 1234 | C | D'Argento | Lift All Boats | Bowness Stud | Intel Bloodsotck/Hayfields Racing | $220,000 |
| 1040 | C | Ole Kirk | Antonia | Baramul Stud | Network Bloodstock | $170,000 |
| 1217 | F | Maurice | Koonoomoo | Fernrigg Farm | Kendrick Racing | $140,000 |
| 1043 | C | Pierata | Artful Whisper | Kenmore Lodge | Munce Racing/Arthur Hoyeau, agent | $135,000 |
| 1048 | C | Zousain | Avocado | Widden Stud | Kelly Schweida Racing | $110,000 |
| 1060 | C | Star Turn | Bleue Pepite | Alexia Fraser Bloodstock | Kurrinda Bloodstock/Chris Anderson Racing | $110,000 |
| 1071 | F | Churchill | Calchris | Goodwood Farm | Roll The Dice Racing/John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA)/Mitch Freedman | $110,000 |
| 1194 | C | Spirit Of Boom | Indulgent | Eureka Stud | Michael Nolan | $110,000 |
| 1036 | F | Castelvecchio | Always Loyal | Valiant Stud | River Junction Stud Pty Ltd | $100,000 |
Top buyers
| Livistona Grazing Company | 4 | $60,000 | $85,000 | $240,000 |
| Danny O'Brien Racing | 1 | $230,000 | $230,000 | $230,000 |
| Intel Bloodstock/Hayfields Racing | 1 | $220,000 | $220,000 | $220,000 |
| Kendrick Racing | 2 | $110,000 | $140,000 | $220,000 |
| Flying Start Syndications/Pinhook Bloodstock International (FBAA) | 3 | $60,833 | $85,000 | $182,500 |
| Network Bloodstock | 1 | $170,000 | $170,000 | $170,000 |
| Brett Dodson | 2 | $77,500 | $85,000 | $155,000 |
| Adrian & Marg Harvey | 9 | $16,500 | $25,000 | $148,500 |
| Ezybonds No 1 Syndicate | 2 | $70,500 | $100,000 | $141,000 |
| Lor Bloodstock Ltd | 2 | $70,000 | $90,000 | $140,000 |
Vendors by aggregate
| Widden Stud, Widden Valley, NSW | 17 | $38,294 | $110,000 | $651,000 |
| Baramul Stud, Widden Valley, NSW | 5 | $91,000 | $170,000 | $455,000 |
| Bowness Stud, Young, NSW | 5 | $86,000 | $220,000 | $430,000 |
| Raheen Stud, Warwick, Qld | 8 | $41,125 | $75,000 | $329,000 |
| Toolooganvale Farm, Scone, NSW | 4 | $81,250 | $230,000 | $325,000 |
| Goodwood Farm, Murrurundi, NSW | 6 | $53,333 | $110,000 | $320,000 |
| Yarramalong Park, Kalbar, Qld | 4 | $80,000 | $100,000 | $320,000 |
| Murrulla Stud, Wingen, NSW | 5 | $57,500 | $90,000 | $287,500 |
| Eureka Stud, Cambooya, Qld | 4 | $71,250 | $110,000 | $285,000 |
| Kenmore Lodge, Wyreema, Qld | 3 | $86,667 | $135,000 | $260,000 |
Vendors by average (3 or more sold)
| Baramul Stud, Widden Valley, NSW | 5 | $91,000 | $170,000 | $455,000 |
| Kenmore Lodge, Wyreema, Qld | 3 | $86,667 | $135,000 | $260,000 |
| Bowness Stud, Young, NSW | 5 | $86,000 | $220,000 | $430,000 |
| Toolooganvale Farm, Scone, NSW | 4 | $81,250 | $230,000 | $325,000 |
| Yarramalong Park, Kalbar, Qld | 4 | $80,000 | $100,000 | $320,000 |
| Eureka Stud, Cambooya, Qld | 4 | $71,250 | $110,000 | $285,000 |
| Valiant Stud, Dartbrook, NSW | 3 | $65,000 | $100,000 | $195,000 |
| Yulong, Nagambie, Vic | 4 | $63,750 | $100,000 | $255,000 |
| Murrulla Stud, Wingen, NSW | 5 | $57,500 | $90,000 | $287,500 |
| Alexia Fraser Bloodstock, Warwick, Qld | 3 | $56,667 | $110,000 | $170,000 |
Sires by aggregate
| Better Than Ready | 6 | $74,167 | $100,000 | $445,000 |
| Spirit Of Boom | 6 | $71,250 | $110,000 | $427,500 |
| Star Turn | 3 | $126,667 | $230,000 | $380,000 |
| Trapeze Artist | 7 | $45,357 | $90,000 | $317,500 |
| Anders | 4 | $77,500 | $100,000 | $310,000 |
| Churchill | 5 | $61,700 | $110,000 | $308,500 |
| D'Argento | 2 | $137,500 | $220,000 | $275,000 |
| Tassort | 5 | $53,500 | $70,000 | $267,500 |
| Zousain | 4 | $62,500 | $110,000 | $250,000 |
| Ole Kirk | 2 | $122,500 | $170,000 | $245,000 |
Sires by average (3 or more sold)
| Star Turn | 3 | $126,667 | $230,000 | $380,000 |
| Anders | 4 | $77,500 | $100,000 | $310,000 |
| Better Than Ready | 6 | $74,167 | $100,000 | $445,000 |
| Spirit Of Boom | 6 | $71,250 | $110,000 | $427,500 |
| Zousain | 4 | $62,500 | $110,000 | $250,000 |
| Churchill | 5 | $61,700 | $110,000 | $308,500 |
| Pierata | 4 | $53,750 | $135,000 | $215,000 |
| Tassort | 5 | $53,500 | $70,000 | $267,500 |
| Admire Mars | 3 | $46,667 | $60,000 | $140,000 |
| Prague | 3 | $46,667 | $80,000 | $140,000 |
