$95,000 Alpine Eagle Filly Tops MM Tasmania

Media Release - Monday February 24

Records tumbled across the board as a strong local and mainland buying bench led to the 2020 Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale reaching new heights.

Advertisement
$95,000 Alpine Eagle filly from Must Be MinkA filly by Armidale Stud's exciting freshman sire Alpine Eagle was the top seller for the day when purchased by trainer Robbie Griffiths in partnership with bloodstock agent Peter Ford for $95,000.

Catalogued as Lot 37, the filly is the first foal of the Melbourne winner Must Be Mink - a Musket daughter of Tasmanian Guineas winner Di's Angel.

The previous lot in the ring, the full sister to outstanding Tasmanian galloper Mandela Effect was purchased by local owner Andrew Scanlon for $80,000.

Presented by Mandy Gunn's Motree Thoroughbreds, the filly is the latest yearling from the 100 per cent winner producer Morell.

A pair of colts by Star Turn (Lot 81 to Ellerton Zahra Racing) and Dream Ahead (Lot 26 to Matthew Brown Racing) also proved popular when selling for $75,000.

Local trainer John Blacker was the leading buyer on the day with 11 lots purchased at a gross of over $320,000. 

Paul Eriksson, CEO of Tasracing, was delighted with how the day unfolded.

"The sale has been a wonderful success," he said. "To see the gross increase 10 per cent and to pass $3 million for the first time is a great endorsement of the Tasmanian breeding industry."

"We must thank and congratulate Magic Millions and Tasbreeders," Eriksson added. "It shows when good operators work together what results can be achieved." 

Across the afternoon over $3.36 million was traded on 110 lots sold at an average price of $30,568. The clearance rate rounded out an impressive 81.5 per cent. 

"We are absolutely delighted with the results," Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said. "The gross is up over 10 per cent on last year which is huge."

"The clearance rate is really healthy and the average price is a record."

"I thought the buyers really got into the action. The locals really stepped up and supported their local product."

"We are looking forward to the Adelaide Yearling Sale which is next on the schedule," Bowditch added. "It's always a great sale at Morphettville and we have a fantastic catalogue."

To view the results of the sale or to make an offer for a passed in lot click here.

SALE STATISTICS
(2019 in brackets)

Lots Catalogued: 146 (142)
Lots Sold: 110 (106)
Lots Withdrawn: 11 (5)
Lots Passed In: 25 (31)
Top Price: $95,000 ($115,000)
Average Price: $30,568 ($28,151)
Median Price: $26,000 ($21,000)
Sale Gross: $3,362,500 ($2,984,000)
Sold %: 81.5 (77) 

TOP SELLERS

$95,000 - Alpine Eagle-Must Be Mink filly (Lot 37)
Vendor: Armidale Stud (As Agent) / Buyer: Griffiths Racing/Peter Ford T'breds (Vic)

$80,000 - Turffontein-Morell filly (Lot 36)
Motree T'breds / Andrew Scanlon (Tas)

$75,000 - Star Turn-Smashin' Mila colt (Lot 81)
Armidale Stud / Ellerton Zahra Racing (Vic)

$75,000 - Dream Ahead-Luloah colt (Lot 26)
C & K Mahoney / Matthew Brown Racing (Vic)

$66,000 - Dissident-Incrimination colt (Lot 13)
Grenville Stud / Kelly Schweida Racing (Qld)
 
LEADING BUYERS
(ranked by total spend)

$320,500 - John Blacker - 11 lots
$189,000 - John Foote B'stock - 4 lots
$182,500 - Star T'breds/Randwick B'stock Agency - 4 lots
$159,500 - Mark Ganderton - 4 lots
$127,000 - Griffiths Racing/Peter Ford B'stock - 2 lots
 
MM Release
Advertisment
More Reading...
Golden Rose Colts – Sires of the Future
The $1million Group I ATC Golden Rose (1400m) this Saturday offers the winner far more than prizemoney and assuming it’s a colt he is given a golden ticket to a commercial stud career, so let’s take a look at this year’s contenders, who would you want on your stallion roster in 2026?
Sires With Winners - Friday September 26
Here is the full list of 60 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
€1.9million Sale-Topping Colt Wins G3 Somerville Stakes
The Group III Somerville Stakes (7f) was run at Newmarket overnight with the Godolphin blue carried by exciting Night of Thunder colt Distant Storm, who they purchased for a sale-topping €1.9million at the Arqana May Breeze Up Sale earlier this year.
La Dorada Chasing Redemption at Valley
Last season’s champion NZ two-year-old La Dorada will be out to prove her ability against her Australian counterparts on Friday night when she contests the Gr.3 Scarborough Stakes (1200m) at The Valley.
Expensive I Am Invincible Mare Wins G1 Manikato
The highest priced filly at the 2022 Magic Millions Yearling Sale when selling for $1.55million, I Am Invincible filly Charm Stone has been a star from day one and is now a two time Group I winner after landing her second victory at the top level with a dominant win in the $2million MVRC Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
Horse Trading Stock Issues to Avoid
One of the key areas in thoroughbred taxation is accounting for trading stock and ensuring the tax closing value is properly ascertained. You’d be quite surprised of the enormous difference to the tax position of any racing player where trading stock problems occur.
Wootton Bassett Colt Wins G2 Stutt Stakes
The racing and breeding world was shocked earlier this week by the passing of champion sire Wootton Bassett (GB), whose talented son West of Swindon picked the right race in which to break his maiden when scoring a bold front running victory in the $300,000 Group II MVRC Stutt Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
Ardrossan Filly Wins First Kiwi Juvenile Race of New Season
Otaki horseman Johno Benner has a good association with the Karaka Millions, and he could have another serious contender on his hands for January’s showpiece.
Manhattan Rain Gold Rush in WA
Geisel Park won’t be the only WA breeder on board when the first locally-conceived 2yo crop of its Group 1 sire Manhattan Rain get mobile this season.
Deserving Stakes Success For Splash Back (Fr)
Unlucky not to already has a stakes victory on her resume, the Grahame Begg trained French-bred Le Havre mare Splash Back (Fr) broke through on Friday night at Moonee Valley, winning the $300,000 Group 2 MVRC Stock Stakes (1500m).