A locally bred colt by former superstar international sprinter Harry Angel topped Day One of the 2023 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale at Morphettville today.
Leading Hong Kong based bloodstock agent George Moore teamed up with Group One trainer Lloyd Kennewell to secure the colt for $230,000.
The youngster was bred by the Satchell family of Woodside and sold through their Willow Grove Stud draft as Lot 152.
Moore, who placed the winning bid, was delighted to secure the colt, the first foal of the Exceed and Excel mare Kibibi - she a full sister to Godolphin's classy stakes winning sprinter Athelric.
"I think he's more of an Exceed And Excel than a Harry Angel," Moore said. "Being out of an Exceed And Excel mare.
"The pedigree suits for Hong Kong with Vengeance Of Rain in the fourth dam."
"We might need to give him a little bit of time before breaking him in, but I think he's going to develop into a really nice horse and we've got the trainer involved, so that's just a bonus."
Earlier in the day Moore went to $220,000 to secure the Capitalist-Figlmuller colt offered by Emirates Park.
"He's a three quarter brother to (Group Three winner) Sebonack, so hopefully the pedigree works now," Moore noted. "I'm really happy with the result because I thought he'd make more."
The stock of Ilovethiscity were popular today and this was headlined by the sale of the half brother to Group One sprinter Asfoora to her stable of Henry Dwyer for $180,000. The colt was presented by Noor Elaine Farm.
Armidale Stud's Shamus Award colt from Il Sogno also sold for $180,000, this time to the bid of TFI.
Meanwhile, the distinction of being the top selling filly on the day was shared by Lots 125 (the Saxon Warrior-Idyllic Mood from Sullivan Bloodstock to Proven Thoroughbreds and Kerry Parker) and 145 (the Strasbourg-Just Zerene from The Chase to Phillip Stokes Racing and Connolly Bloodstock. They both realised $170,000.
Across the day over $8.35 million was traded on 155 lots sold at an average price of $53,877 and clearance rate of over 77 per cent.
"I thought it was a solid day's trade," Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said. "We are keen to move the clearance rate up into the 80 per cent range or a bit better. Vendors are being very genuine about wanting to sell their horses here."
"A horse that came into the ring who had a lot of quality about it sold accordingly. There’s some good buyers here, you’ve a lot of the leading stables represented here, you’ve got good international participation."
"When you look at the buying bench and the demographic whether it be the domestic buyers from all the different states, or international buyers, I think it's a good spread and I'd think it will be something similar tomorrow.
"I think if anything tomorrow my expectation is it'll be very, very solid through the middle; buyers I've been speaking to are very happy with the quality of horses tomorrow and I expect more of the same, if not a touch better," Bowditch added.
To view the results of the sale or to make an offer on a passed in lot click here.
DAY ONE STATISTICS
(2022 Day One in brackets)
Lots Catalogued: 234 (227)
Lots Sold: 155 (167)
Lots Passed In: 46 (41)
Lots Withdrawn: 33 (19)
Sale Gross: $8,351,000 ($10,109,000)
Top Price: $230,000 ($300,000)
Average Price: $53,877 ($60,532)
Median Price: $40,000 ($46,000)
Sold %: 77 (80)
DAY ONE TOP SELLERS
$230,000 - Harry Angel-Kibibi colt (Lot 152)
Vendor: Willow Grove Stud / Buyer: Kennewell Racing/George Moore B'stock (Vic)
$220,000 - Capitalist-Figlmuller colt (Lot 87)
Emirates Park / George Moore B'stock (HK)
$180,000 - Ilovethiscity-Golden Child colt (Lot 100)
Noor Elaine Farm / Henry Dwyer Racing (Vic)
$180,000 - Shamus Award-Il Sogno colt (Lot 126)
Armidale Stud (As Agent) / TFI (Qld)
$170,000 - Saxon Warrior-Idyllic Mood filly (Lot 125)
Sullivan B'stock / Proven T'breds/Kerry Parker (NSW)
$170,000 - Strasbourg-Just Zerene filly (Lot 145)
The Chase (As Agent) / Phillip Stokes Racing/Connolly B'stock (Vic)