WA buyers have purchased 27 yearlings at the Adelaide Magic Millions Yearling Sale this week for an overall spend of $1,021,500.
Trainer Lloyd Kennewell broke the local record for a filly on Monday when he bid $400,000 for a daughter of I Am Invincible on behalf of leading WA-based Ridgeport Holdings owner-breeder Santo Guagliardo.
Kennewell was born and bred in South Australia but is nowadays based in Cranbourne where he has prepared the likes of last year’s LR Cinderella Stakes (1050m) winner Show Royale (Showtime) for Guagliardo.
Kennewell and agent Mathew Becker secured the Baramul Stud-bred and consigned first foal of Les Amoureux (Redoute’s Choice) for a Day 1-high $400,000, which made her the most expensive filly ever sold at an Adelaide Sale. (Photo / Magic Millions)
“I thought she could have been at the Gold Coast or Easter,” Kennewell told ANZ Bloodstock. “She’s one of the best Vinnies I’ve seen all year and that says something as we see a lot of them. She looks perfect for the Magic Millions 2YO Classic next year.”
Kennewell and Becker held off a challenge from trainer Phillip Stokes. “I knew she would be expensive but we just didn’t know where that would be. It’s tricky to value horses like her in Adelaide.
“Santo was on the phone and I didn’t quote him that much money but we didn’t even start bidding or talking until she got to $340,000. I said that this is the one I really want for you. We had two bids and we were lucky to secure her.”
Agent Suman Hedge was the most active buyer at the Adelaide Magic Millions combining with various clients in 20 yearlings including an Xtravagant colt on Day 2 that’s heading to leading trainers Grant and Alana Williams for $170,000.
He was sourced from Newhaven Park and is the first foal out of the stakes-performed juvenile winner Written With Ease (Written Tycoon).
Hedge also cross-referenced the pre-sale notes of former leading WA breeder Michael Grant who is heavily involved in the Karnup-based stable. “The Xtravagant colt is a really attractive, fluent-moving colt from a fast family,” he told ANZ Bloodstock on Tuesday. “Grant and Alana had a reputation of being patient but that’s unfair because they had a lot of those types of horses when training for Bob Peters.
“We are trying to get a few more precocious horses in the stable, so they can show what they can do. I’m sure it’s just more about being given the opportunity.”
Team Williams is also taking home a filly by Alabama Express, a colt and filly by D’Argento and a colt by North Pacific. Other buyers from the west included Luke Fernie (Anders & Maurice colts, Exceed and Excel filly) and Tiarnna Robertson (Xtravagant colt & Star Witness filly).
