Exceed Colt Tops National Yearling Opener

[Wandering Eyes]

The three-day Magic Millions National Yearling Sale kicked off on the Gold Coast on Tuesday, with figures taking a dip from the same day 12 months ago. A total of 103 youngsters changed hands for A$4,249,500, at a clearance rate of 62.4%; it was 66.8% last year. The average dipped 30.1% to A$41,257, while the median was down 20% to A$30,000.

“The clearance rate is far from satisfactory and we’re disappointed in that,” Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said. “During the day there were some extremely impressive results and it was great to have Nick Columb and his team from the Hong Kong Jockey Club back on the Gold Coast.”

Bowditch said the robust yearling trade already experienced Down Under throughout the year could have contributed to fewer sales being completed on Tuesday.

“We’ve had a record yearling sale series around Australia with an extra $60-million spent this year, which could have attributed to the results of today,” he said. “Given that, there’s plenty of opportunities to buy well-bred and conformed horses over the coming two days.”

The highlight on day one was provided by lot 1817, a son of champion sire Exceed and Excel (Aus) who was offered by Gerry Harvey’s Baramul Stud and purchased by John Crowley of Cheveaux Bloodstock for A$250,000. The bay is out of the General Nediym (Aus) mare Empress Wu (Aus), who is a half-sister to the G1 Australian Oaks winner Royal Descent (Aus) (Redoute’s Choice {Aus}). Empress Wu has already produced the G3 Widden S.-second Mystic Empire (Aus) (All Too Hard {Aus}). Crowley said it may not be long before the colt is back in this ring, with a date in the Magic Millions 2YO sale in October in mind.

“He’s a very nice colt,” Crowley said. “He’s beautifully balanced, a precocious type with good legs, good body and a good temperament. We will break him in and then decide what to do. We could possibly bring him back here for the 2-year-old sale.”

Arrowfield’s successful, longstanding relationship with the Yoshida family has been very much on display this year, with the G1 Golden Slipper winner Estijaab (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}) the highlight, and on Tuesday Arrowfield sold a colt by Shadai stallion Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) (lot 1716) for A$230,000 on the Gold Coast. That bay, a son of African Piano (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), an unraced full-sister to Group 2-winning miler World Ace (Jpn), was bought by Dermot Farrington.

A trio of colts brought A$150,000 on Tuesday, including a pair bought by the Hong Kong Jockey Club: lot 1874, a son of Hinchinbrook from Bhima Thoroughbreds, and lot 1704, a Mossman (Aus) colt from Tartan Fields. Trainer Gary Moore picked up a son of Not A Single Doubt (Aus) (lot 1736) from Raheen Stud for A$150,000.

Three fillies made A$100,000 to be the highest-priced of their sex for their session: daughters of Fastnet Rock (Aus) (lot 1811), Ocean Park (NZ) (lot 1755) and Written Tycoon (Aus) (lot 1726).

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