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Adelaide Yearling Sale's Cautious Opening |
18/02/2002 |
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Buyers seemed to take a cautious approach during the first session of the Adelaide Magic Millions Yearling Sale at Morphettville today with a shaky start leading to a drop on last year's record figures.
The sale looked in danger of recording a big decline with a number of low prices and passed in lots during the early stages of the sale.
When the final horse catalogued for sale in the opening session was knocked down for $50,000 the total gross of the 155 lots sold had reached an impressive $5,863,000. This gave the session an average price of $37,826, about $3,000 down on last year's select sessions average.
However, Magic Millions will be hoping to make ground tomorrow with what is expected to be a more competitive bidding session.
The early stages of the sale also had local MM manager Rob Monsma feeling a little shaky. The clearance rate for the first 100 sales was down in the low 60s, but it managed to make ground in the middle and latter stages to climb to a more healthy 74.16%.
The honour of being the session topping yearling today was shared between a Rubiton filly and Desert Prince colt. Both were sold in the final half hour of selling this evening.
John Foote, acting as agent for Port Lincoln based millionaire Tony Santic, grabbed the Desert Prince colt (ex Bella Serata) for $130,000, while Brian Mayfield-Smith paid the same amount in the final moments for the full sister to his flying filly Innovation Girl.
Queensland based Foote was one of the most active buyers today, with seven purchases totalling $403,000. Other major buyers included Mick Price (five for $249,500), Mark Kavanagh (three for $138,000), Rick Worthington (six for $276,000), Rick Hore-Lacy (four for $217,500) and Graeme Rogerson (six for $331,000).
By Greg Irvine
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| 143.
Mayfield-Smith
Hunts Out Innovation Girl's Sister
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18/02/2002 |
Not surprisingly leading Melbourne based trainer Brian Mayfield-Smith has snapped up the full sister of his star juvenile Innovation Girl during the final stages of today's first session of the Magic Millions Select Yearling Sale in Adelaide.
Mayfield-Smith who saddled up the filly to her first defeat in Melbourne on Saturday, was sitting comfortably at the rear of the sales complex and chimed into the bidding duel as her price raced towards the six figure mark.
After a tense few minutes of auctioneering the brown filly was knocked down the Mayfield-Smith for a session topping $130,000, an honour she shared with another youngster.
The Flemington trainer hoped he could snap up the youngster and said he was willing to pay a little extra than what was required.
"I had a syndicate of owners ready to buy her and I would have went to $150,000 to buy her without any problems," he said.
Mayfield-Smith said this yearling and Innovation Girl were both different types when compared at the same times of their respective lives.
"This filly this year seemed a better type."
"She could be a different type and she may put on some growth spurts and may just need extra time. Whereas, Innovation Girl was an early runner and capable of performing at two," he added.
The filly was offered by Des Pope's Rubiton Bloodstock operation which is based at Oakbank in the Adelaide Hills.
Pope retained Innovation Girl, who was the first runner for his former smart city performer Bright Gleam.
Mayfield-Smith reported that his current star of his youngsters had pulled up well after tasting her first defeat.
"She's come through the race in great fashion. We'll send her to the paddock now for a well earned break," he said.
Connections of Innovation Girl won't be pressured into running for over a million dollars in Saturday's Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield.
"It just wouldn't be good on her at all really. We could have backed her up again on Saturday but I think it would be just too taking on her," Mayfield-Smith added.
The purchase of the Rubiton filly was the third yearling picked up by Mayfield-Smith during today's first session at Morphettville.
In the space of three minutes the astute mentor purchased another two fillies - lots 20 and 21.
He paid $55,000 for a chestnut filly by last year's Champion American sire Thunder Gulch from the mare Phar Lite.
There was no resting for Mayfield-Smith when he then snapped up the following lot - a Last Tycoon filly for $35,000.
And there's a great chance of seeing his name among the results during tomorrow's second session.
"I've got my eye on a couple of colts for tomorrow," Mayfield-Smith said.
By Greg Irvine
| 144.
Encosta's Filly Definitely a Wednesday Winner
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18/02/2002 |
Potential buyers on the look out for this year's "Milkshake" may have found their "match" in one of the quality lots during Wednesday's summer select session of the Adelaide Magic Millions Yearling Sale.
Closely related to Encosterino, the chestnut filly is by Australia's hottest young siring sensation Encosta de Lago.
No young stallion is enjoying such a great run than the Blue Gum Farm based Encosta de Lago. A Group One winner of the VicHealth Cup on the track, the son of Fairy King is now establishing himself as a star of the future in the breeding scene.
During today's first session of the Select Sale, youngsters by the stallion were eagerly sought out by many of the leading buyers. Two of the yearlings purchased today are headed for careers with leading Melbourne based trainers Rick Hore-Lacy and Leon Corstens.
The popularity of yearlings by Encosta de Lago was already assured before the sensational Magic Millions Classic win of his grey colt Milkshake at Cheltenham Park. Milkshake joins some of his other impressive youngsters including Delago Brom, Gold Lottey, Chong Tong, Dragila, Betula, Circumnavigating, Tuscanos, Grand Falls and Malapert, who have quickly made a name for themselves on the track.
Fans of the Northern Dancer blood will be excited by the strong presence of the breeding king in the filly's pedigree. Encosta de Lago's grand sire is Northern Dancer, while Orbitino, the filly's dam is a daughter of Bluebird. Like Encosta de Lago, Bluebird's grand sire is none other than Northern Dancer.
Orbitino, herself a four time winner of races from 1200 to 1400 metres, is a half sister to the recent Sydney stakes placed and multiple winner Skaddam. Other members of the immediate family include the stakes winners Come On Up, Warwick Castle, Bold Alliance, Great Wall, Ben's Rocket, Zamia and Johnny Apollo.
Catalogued as lot number 420, the filly is eligible to race for millions of dollars in bonuses around the country as she is SABIS and Super Vobis qualified for South Australian and Victorian buyers.
Another added attraction is the fact the filly is an early foal. Born on August 14, 2000, she looks likely to be an early runner and has already developed into a lovely mover.
The chestnut filly is a member of the huge and quality packed Mill Park draft which has numerous horses being sold on each of the three days of the Adelaide Magic Millions Yearling Sale.
By Greg Irvine
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