| The Adelaide Magic Millions
Select Yearling Sale has held its place as the third best in the country after a mixed
session at Morphettville today. The premier South
Australian thoroughbred sale was under threat from a position it claimed last year when
last week's Melbourne Premier Sale bounced back from its disastrous sale twelve months
beforehand.
As they did at last year's Inglis Easter Yearling Sale in
Sydney is looked as though leading nursery Collingrove Stud were set to top another of the
country's leading sales.
But Collingrove's star attraction, a Danehill filly from
the stakes winning Ahonoora mare Cult Figure, fell agonisingly close to its reserve. The
striking youngster was knocked down for $185,000, just $5,000 short of her $190,000
reserve.
Three youngsters sold for over $100,000 during today's
second session. The top price was $135,000 for the full sister to Sunday's Melbourne
winner Fuji Dancer, already a stakes performer at two. The filly was sold to Perth based
bloodstock agent John Chalmers.
Chalmers was one of the most prolific buyers during the
first two session of the sale. In all he picked up 14 yearlings for a total of $625,500.
His most expensive purchase was a Strategic colt from Zoa for $105,000.
Strategic himself was one of the highlights of the auction.
His four yearlings on offer all sold for an average price of just $250 short of $70,000.
The local buying bench was led by Cheltenham Park based
trainer Gary Kennewell. He paid out $210,500 for his seven sales.
While there were a number of yearlings which made good
money there were many bargains to be had. West Coast farmer and owner Ian Kelsh couldn't
believe his luck when he was the successful bidder of a Red Ransom colt for $6,000. The
American siring star has been standing in Australia for eleven times what the colt
realised today.
There were mixed emotions for Adelaide Hills based breeder
Josie Hittman. She stunning colt by Encosta de Lago from El Jauhara realised $110,000. But
Hittman won't be back at the sales with another member of the famous black type winning
family.
"Sadly El Jauhara died after producing this Encosta de
Lago yearling, so it's mixed feelings today. I'm just thankful we were able to get a good
price today," Hittman said.
One of the other highlights of today was when Macedon
Lodge, headed by trainer John Symons, head hunted the full sister to the brilliant Group
winner Nina Haraka.
Offered by Henry Vogel's Gawler Park Stud the bay filly's
bidding duel kicked off at $20,000 and rose by two $10,000 increments before the remainder
of the selling took place with $5,000 bids.
Symons said moments after he purchased the yearling he was
keen to inspect the yearling when arriving in Adelaide over the weekend and was taken with
what he saw.
"She had plenty to like on paper and when I saw her I
was desperate to get her," Symons said.
So desperate was he that if required Symons was willing to
go to $150,000 to purchase the filly. |
