Hobart based thoroughbred owner Paul Geard made his presence felt at today's 2010 Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale by purchasing the top two priced lots of the auction.
Early in the sale Geard and his wife Elizabeth paid $67,500 for the Dash for Cash half brother to recent Flemington stakes winner Silver Bullion. That price held top spot on the day's leaderboard until they went to $90,000 to secure the half brother to recent stakes winning juvenile Radhi Rani. The colt, catalogued as lot number 153, is by Clangalang - the sire of the Geard's recent Tasmanian Derby winner Geegees Blackflash. Geegees Blackflash's trainer John Luttrell will train the sale topper. "We've had some good success in recent weeks with progeny by the sire and this colt was a really nice youngster." "He's very athletic and looks as though he will grow into a really nice racehorse," Geard added. "We are hoping he could win a Derby in a couple of years or even win the Magic Millions (2YO Classic) next year."
The Hobart based dairy farmer and his wife are leading owners in Tasmania and have horses with a select group of trainers. "We have about 23 or 24 in work with a few trainers. This colt will go to John who trained the Derby winner for us."
There were healthy increases across at all levels at the sale with the average price of $14,193 up 44 per cent on last year's auction. The aggregate of $1,490,250 was up over 66 per cent on the 2009 sale. And the clearance rate was over 70 per cent - last year it was a tick over 63 per cent. This figure is expected to improve significantly as many buyers where still negotiating with vendors on passed in lots following the completion of the sale.
Magic Millions Managing Director David Chester was happy with the final results after a slow start to the auction earlier in the day. "Things were tough early," Chester said. "But the bidding got stronger as the sale went and the nice horses in the sale certainly had plenty of admirers." "For the figures to be up significantly across the board is very pleasing," Chester added. "The average is up 44 per cent and the gross over 66 per cent - that is very positive." There was a large group of buyers from the mainland at the sale and they included Denise Martin (Star Thoroughbreds), Darren Weir, John McArdle (Redgun Racing), Bruce and Jean Purcell, Ken Keys and Bryan Muschialli
SALE TOP SELLERS
$80,000 - Clangalang-Genuine Blonde colt Vendor Armidale Stud (As Agent) / Buyer: Paul Geard (Tas)
$67,500 - Dash for Cash-Silver Barbie colt Guthrie Performance Horses (As Agent) / Paul Geard (Tas)
$60,000 - West Quest-Entally colt R Foster / Star Thoroughbreds (NSW)
$50,000 - Strada-Private Nip colt Springfield Stud (As Agent) / Gary White (Tas)
$46,000 - Canny Lad-Stop the Show filly Armidale Stud / Bruce & Jean Purcell (Vic)
$40,000 - Savoire Vivre-Rule Britannia filly Armidale Stud / Redgum Racing (Vic)
$40,000 - Churchill Downs-Seranita filly Guthrie Performance Horses / Star Thoroughbreds (NSW)
SALE STATISTICS (2009 in brackets)
Lots Catalogued: 160 (158)
Sold: 105 (91)
Withdrawn: 11 (14)
Passed: 44 (53)
Sold %: 70 (63.2)
Sale Aggregate: $1,490,250 ($893,500)
Average Price: $14,193 ($9,819)
Top Price: $80,000 ($37,000)
