The all time record for a yearling sold at the Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale was achieved today when a well related Pinatubo filly sold for $170,000.
The Armidale Stud offering is heading to Victorian trainer John McArdle and will join her stakes winning half sister Yum.
The $170,000 price for today’s top seller tag broke the sale’s previous record of $160,000 for subsequent six time winner and stakes placed Queen la Diva who sold in 2017.
By Shamardal’s Dewhurst Stakes winner Pinatubo, the filly is from the twice winning Snitzel mare Dream Food – the dam of Jim Moloney Stakes winner Yum and former sale topper and $183,000 earner Bold Instinct.
“I obviously train the half sister Yum and she’s a stakes winner,” Redgum Racing’s John McArdle said.
“She (Yum) looks as though she is going to press on to the good races in the autumn and winter in Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane.”
“We are very happy to acquire her. She is very much like her sister. She probably looks a bit sharper by a speed horse like Pinatubo.”
“All in all we are delighted to be able to buy her,” McArdle added.
The filly’s dam Dream Food, who was Melbourne placed along with her two wins, is a three quarter sister to the stakes winning sprinter Snitz and is a half sister to another former McArdle trained star, Group Two winner I’ll Have a Bit.
The record breaking $170,000 filly was one of five youngsters to sell for $100,000 or more across the day at Quercus Park, outside Launceston.
MyRacehorse and Damon Gabbedy’s Belmont Bloodstock teamed up with powerful local trainer Stuart Gandy to buy the Capitalist filly (Lot 50) for $120,000.
The second top seller is from the stakes placed, seven time winner Speedonova. Her first foal is already a winner.
A filly from the first crop of Winterbottom Stakes winner Paulele was another of the day’s most popular lots when selling for $115,000 to Joe O’Neill’s Prime Thoroughbreds.
A half-sister to this season's stakes placed 2YO Milsons Point, the filly is from Ventura, a Lonhro sister to Denman and half sister to Preserve (dam of Safeguard and Archives) Rio Osa and the dams of Soul and Golden Slipper winner Kiamichi.
Tony and Calvin McEvoy and Belmont Bloodstock are strong supporters of the Tasmanian Yearling Sale and they secured the State of Rest colt from Falika for $110,000 from Armidale Stud.
The colt by the globetrotting star is a half brother to Melbourne winner Realika and is from a Pinker Pinker Plate winning Faltaat mare.
The other six figure seller was also sold by Armidale Stud, the Needs Further-Oh So Gold filly (Lot 26) was purchased by Denise Martin’s Star Thoroughbreds and Brett Howard’s Randwick Bloodstock Agency for $100,000.
The filly is a full sister to multiple stakes winner and a three quarter sister to another former sale graduate, superstar racemare Mystic Journey.
Star Thoroughbreds and Randwick Bloodstock have enjoyed much success with purchases from this sale that include current stakes-winners Durazzo, Mazzini and Sanniya.
Across the sale over $2.8 million was traded on 78 lots sold at an average price of $36,090. The clearance rate currently sits at 72 per cent.
Armidale Stud was leading vendor on all metrics – supplying the top five sellers and eight of the top 10. They were leading vendor by gross at $1.433 million and average at $68,238.
“It’s pleasing to see some solid increases,” Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said. “The average has increased significantly, the gross is strong and the clearance is improving and should continue to do so this afternoon.”
“The clearance rate is in line with expectations and is acceptable for this sale. The appetite for quality lots was there in most places.”
“There was a good spirit and vibe about the sale and to have five six-figure horses is the second most we’ve ever had down here which is outstanding.”
“To have a new record price and to have a number of fillies highly sought after was great and is again testament to the quality of the horse and for vendors giving us the opportunity to offer some quality horses in Tasmania.”
“I would like to thank Tasracing and the breeders for their continued support of the sale. We want to continue in making an effort to improve the quality of the sale and give buyers as much confidence as possible to engage with the market.”
“The graduates are doing an amazing job, not only here in Australia but internationally as well. We want to give a real push to continually improve the offering and give buyers the faith in this sale.”
“We look forward to continue working with Tasracing and TasBreeders in giving this sale the best possible opportunity for the breeders and vendors in Tasmania,” Bowditch added.
To view the results of the sale or to make an offer on a passed in lot click here.
SALE STATISTICS
(2025 in brackets)
Lots Catalogued: 125 (126)
Lots Sold: 78 (83)
Lots Passed In: 31 (29)
Lots Withdrawn: 16 (14)
Sale Gross: $2,815,000 ($1,949,500)
Top Price: $170,000 ($80,000)
Average Price: $36,090 ($23,488)
Median Prince: $21,000 ($18,000)
Sold %: 72 (74)
TOP SELLERS
$170,000 – Pinatubo-Dream Food filly (Lot 93)
Vendor: Armidale Stud (As Agent) / Buyer: Redgum Racing (Vic)
$120,000 – Capitalist-Speedonova filly (Lot 50)
Armidale Stud / Myracehorse/Stuart Gandy Racing/Belmont B’stock (Qld)
$115,000 – Paulele-Ventura filly (Lot 62)
Armidale Stud / Prime Thoroughbreds (Vic)
$110,000 – State of Rest-Falika colt (Lot 99)
Armidale Stud / McEvoy Mitchell Racing/Belmont B’stock (Vic)
$100,000 – Needs Further-Oh So Gold filly (Lot 26)
Armidale Stud (As Agent) / Star Thoroughbreds/Randwick B’stock Agency (NSW)
LEADING BUYERS
(ranked by total spend)
$346,500 – John Blacker – 12 lots
$295,000 – Star T’breds/Randwick B’stock Agency – 4 lots
$221,000 – Tasmanian Bloodstock Pty Ltd – 7 lots
$188,000 – John Keys – 5 lots
$170,000 – Redgum Racing – 1 lot
