A colt by exciting Darley stallion Epaulette topped today’s record-breaking 2018 Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale at Launceston.
Offered early in the afternoon as Lot 6, the Armidale Stud consigned youngster was knocked down to Melbourne horseman Simon Zahra and will join Ellerton Zahra Racing at Flemington.
The colt is a half-brother to three winners and is from the eleven-time winning and stakes performed Savoire Vivre mare With Decorum.
The colt inspired a bidding frenzy but when Zahra entered his six-figure bid it shut out the opposition.
“I was very impressed with this colt because he walked out well and was very correct but he had a presence about him that set him apart from all the others I inspected,” Zahra said.
“He is by a very fashionable sire so I’m sure I won’t have any trouble finding owners.”
Ellerton and Zahra have been regulars at the Tasmania sale for the past five years.
“We make a point of coming to the Tasmanian sale because it offers great value and today was no exception.”
Ellerton Zahra Racing rounded out the sale as leading buyer on spend with four purchases at an outlay of $245,000.
Three of the top four sellers on the day were on the account of the Whishaw family’s Armidale Stud – the farm which sold both of Wednesday night’s Magic Millions feature winners in Launceston.
“It’s been a great couple of days,” Armidale’s Robyn Whishaw said. “We are very happy with our sale results and we enjoyed a great clearance.”
The top-selling filly was the sister to last night’s Magic Millions Tasmanian 2YO Classic winner Our Long Sali, also offered by Armidale.
The Needs Further filly was purchased by Joe O’Neill’s Prime Thoroughbreds for $95,000 and will join the stables of her exciting sister with trainer Stuart Gandy.
Today’s sale returned a record gross of almost $2.8 million – a remarkable result considering the 2014 figure was $1 million. Today’s average price of $29,729 is up 24% on last year’s record. The clearance rate rounded out at 74%.
“To have a sale that has produced a record gross and average is a phenomenal result for the Tasmanian breeders and vendors,” Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said.
“Credit to our vendors because over recent years their product and presentation have 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.”
“Although we are disappointed with the clearance rate, the overall result is unprecedented for the Tasmanian industry.”
“We thank Tasracing for their continued support and we look forward to the new TasBred incentive scheme taking shape and rewarding those who support local breeders,” Bowditch added.
Click Here for the full results of today’s sale.
SALE STATISTICS
(2017 in brackets)
Lots Catalogued: 137 (133)
Lots Sold: 94 (96)
Lots Withdrawn: 10 (10)
Lots Passed In: 33 (27)
Top Price: $100,000 ($160,000)
Average Price: $29,729 ($24,062)
Median Price: $22,000 ($20,000)
Sale Gross: $2,794,500 ($2,310,000)
Sold %: 74 (78)
TOP SELLERS
$100,000 – Epaulette-With Decorum colt (Lot 6)
Vendor: Armidale Stud / Buyer: Ellerton Zahra Racing (Vic)
$95,000 – Needs Further-Tycoon Sali filly (Lot 130)
Armidale Stud / Prime Thoroughbreds (Vic)
$90,000 – Dundeel-Dineeta colt (Lot 36)
Grenville Stud / Kennewell Racing Pty Ltd (SA)
$80,000 – Toronado-Il Sogno colt (Lot 56)
Armidale Stud (As Agent) / Wylie Dalziel Racing/Peter Moody/Darren Weir (Vic)
$80,000 – Husson-Vintage Blend filly (Lot 135)
Alva Stud / Kelly Schweida Racing (Qld)
LEADING BUYERS
(ranked by total spend)
$245,000 – Ellerton Zahra Racing (Vic) – 4 lots
$171,500 – John Blacker (Tas) – 7 lots
$163,000 – Australian Bloodstock (NSW) – 5 lots
$161,000 – Kennewell Racing Pty Ltd (SA) – 3 lots
$139,000 – Prime Thoroughbreds (Vic) – 2 lots
$138,500 – Star Thoroughbreds (NSW) – 2 lots
$110,500 – Adam Trinder (Tas) – 6 lots
$106,000 – Matthew Brown (Vic) – 3 lots
$100,000 – Ken Keys (Vic) – 2 lots