Sale shapes up as best yet
THE 2019 Tasmanian Magic Millions Yearling Sale promises to be the best on record, with 142 lots to go under the hammer at the Inveresk Sales Complex in Launceston on February 25.
Last year’s sale eclipsed all others and this draft is as good if not better, with 68 sires represented, including 21 by Armidale Stud’s super sire Needs Further, the sire of Mystic Journey, last season’s top Tasmanian two-year-old who has gone on to be one of the best three-year-olds in Australia.
The Adam Trinder-trained filly is a multiple Listed and Group winner in Melbourne and her feats on home soil are outstanding, but she cost only $11,000 at the 2017 Tasmanian sale. Mystic Journey (Needs Further-White Gold) has so far won eight of her 11 starts for more than $400,000 in prizemoney and is favourite to win the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington early next month.
She is being touted as likely to make her way into the inaugural $5 million All-Star Mile two weeks later.
The many well-related yearlings in this year’s draft include a Needs Further colt from the Giants Causeway mare Step away. Lot 110, a striking colt who ticks all the boxes, is one of 37 lots to be offered by Armidale Stud at Carrick.
Armidale co-director Rob yn Whishaw said: “The Needs Further-Step away colt is a real athlete that is beautifully balanced and he is a lovely mover, so I would imagine he will attract plenty of interest at the sale.
“We have a fairly even draft at this year’s sale though Lot 6, a Husson-Swooper colt, is a cracking type and there is a Needs Further-Burnished filly that has already had interstate buyers show interest.”
Grenville Stud also has an even draft, with a Fighting Sun-In Harmony filly bound to create a bidding frenzy.
Some of the other stallions represented at the yearling sale are Dundeel, the sire of another star Tasmanian threeyear-old The Inevitable, plus Squamosa, Toronado and another local sensation Wordsmith, who has been the state’s leading sire for many years.
All the yearlings will be available for inspection at Inveresk from next Friday at noon and right up until the sale the following Monday at 1pm.
The Tasmanian Turf Club opens its gates the day before the sale to host the Tasmanian Oaks meeting, which includes the $75,000 Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) and for the first time, a combined Magic Millions 3 & 4YO Classic over 1400m worth $65,000.