Strong interest on a string of quality yearlings helped return an increased average price as the select three day section of the 2011 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale came to a close tonight.
At the close of the session the sale gross had passed $12 million – boasting an average price of $44,669 – up almost 10 per cent on last year’s auction.
Two yearlings, colts by Elusive Quality and Show a Heart, topped the day’s proceedings and rounded out at the sale at the top of the leaderboard when sold for $240,000 and $230,000 respectively.
Damon Gabbedy, buying under his Belmont Bloodstock Agency, was back in his home city from Melbourne and rounded out the sale as the leading buyer on spend.
He snapped up the sale topper meaning his spend for the three days rounded out at $725,000 for eight lots.
Darren McAuliffe from Impressive Racing snapped up the top seller of the auction today – the Elusive Quality-Born Priceless colt for $240,000.
“He’s a lovely colt,” McAuliffe said. “I looked after his mum when I was working as a strapper with Lou Luciani.”
“Of all her progeny so far this guy is probably the closest to her,” he added.
Magic Millions Acting Managing Director David Chester was pleased that the quality lots under the hammer today were well sought out.
“As has happened at all auctions around Australasia this year the quality lots proved popular and sold accordingly,” Chester said.
“The lower end of the market was tough and we obviously would have liked the clearance rate of 67 per cent to be higher.”
“The economy hasn’t helped – particularly the high Australian dollar. We had lower levels of visitors and trade from abroad – although we still had buyers from Malaysia, Singapore and South Africa.”
“Buyers, as we expected, were very selective and this has become the norm around the region over recent years,” Chester added.
The fourth session of the sale – the Westspeed Select Sale – will be held from 11am (WA time) on Sunday.
“We’re looking forward to the Magic Millions Raceday at Ascot tomorrow and then Sunday’s fourth session where a number of promising youngsters will go under the hammer.”
“This will be a great value session and buyers will be able to snap up a likely type for a bargain price,” Chester summed up.
SALE STATISTICS
(2010 in brackets)
Lots Catalogued: 445 (434)
Sale Gross: $12,060,500 ($13,152,000)
Average Price: $44,669 ($41,229)
Top Price: $240,000 ($230,000)
Lots Sold: 270 (319)
Lots Withdrawn: 39 (24)
Lots Passed: 136 (91)
Sold %: 67 (77)
SESSION THREE TOP SELLERS
$240,000 – Elusive Quality-Born Priceless colt
Vendor: Yarradale Stud / Buyer: Impressive Racing (WA)
$230,000 – Show a Heart-Card Queen colt
Durham Lodge (As Agent) / Belmont Bloodstock Agency (Vic)
$150,000 – Excites-Famous Painter colt
Alwyn Park (As Agent) / Andrew Noblet Racing (Vic)
$150,000 – Flying Spur-Forest Flight filly
Geisel Park Stud / Lindsey Smith (WA)
$120,000 – Not a Single Doubt-Hiavanna colt
Gervase Park Stud (As Agent) / World Wide Bloodstock (Sth Africa)
$100,000 – Dehere-Girl in a Storm filly
Yarradale Stud / Geisel Park (WA)
$100,000 – Key Business-Graceton filly
Rangeview Stud / Commercial Bloodstock (WA)
SALE TOP SELLERS
$240,000 – Elusive Quality-Born Priceless colt
Vendor: Yarradale Stud / Buyer: Impressive Racing (WA)
$230,000 – Show a Heart-Card Queen colt
Durham Lodge (As Agent) / Belmont Bloodstock Agency (Vic)
$200,000 – Street Sense-Jezabeel filly
Distinct Racing & Breeding Pty Ltd / Bahen Bloodstock (Vic)
$180,000 – Oratorio-Rancherpara colt
Toreby Park (for Mungrup Stud Clients) / Bridge Patrol Lodge (WA)
$150,000 – Exceed and Excel-No Questions colt
Distinct Racing & Breeding Pty Ltd / Donna Riordan (WA)
$150,000 – Excites-Famous Painter colt
Alwyn Park (As Agent) / Andrew Noblet Racing (Vic)
$150,000 – Flying Spur-Forest Flight filly
Geisel Park Stud / Lindsey Smith (WA)
LEADING BUYERS
$725,000 – Belmont Bloodstock Agency (Vic) – 8 lots
$692,500 – John Chalmers Bloodstock (WA) – 19 lots
$508,000 – Lou Luciani (WA) – 11 lots
$502,000 – Neville Parnham (WA) – 10 lots
$389,500 – Trevor Andrews (WA) – 8 lots
