They were the numbers South Australian racing richly deserved.
Record numbers across the two days at the 2021 Adelaide Magic Millions Yearling Sale which exceeded all expectations as four horses sold above the previous record price.
Tony Fung Investments and Annabel Neasham Racing walked away with the sale-topper: a $525,000 Fastnet Rock colt sold by Goldin Farms out of former SA Oaks winner Small Minds.
And the success for SA breeders continued when Cornerstone Stud sold a Capitalist colt for $425,000 on the second day.
"I am still bit overwhelmed actually,” Cornerstone Stud’s Sam Hayes said.
“It’s been incredible. The average was up 40 per cent, the gross up 27 per cent.
“The last week has been transformational. It’s just sinking in to be honest. We were selling horses for prices we’ve never sold them for before. It was hugely exciting and really big help for our local racing and breeding industry.”
The sale success couldn’t have some at a better time according to Hayes.
“It’s made me re-think my business. The support that the (State) Government and Racing SA has put back into our industry, especially with the bonus scheme, it’s made our job viable again.
“This industry employs thousands of people and all of their jobs got a lot safer this week.”
Young trainer Ryan Balfour picked up the highest-priced filly ever sold in Adelaide, a Palentino half-sister to his smart three-year-old Outlaws Revenge.
"When I came to the sale, I just said we weren't going to leave without her,” Balfour said.
Craig Rounsefell, of Boomer Bloodstock, wasn’t far away, parting with $360,000 for a Merchant Navy filly also from Goldin Farms.
The partnership of Will Clarken, Suman Hedge Bloodstock and David Jolly rounded out the sale as leading buyer on gross, paying $751,000 for eight youngsters while former local horseman Mark Kavanagh snapped up 11 lots over the two days.
SA’s Goldin Farm finished as leading vendor by average with their seven lots averaging $171,286, while Cornerstone Stud was the leading vendor by gross with almost $1.4 million spent on their 20 yearlings.
