CONVENORS of the SA section of the Magic Millions Yearling Sales could not be happier with the results of last week's annual sale, held at the Morphettville sales complex following the Adelaide Cup Carnival.
The top selling price of $220,000 (twice) was the best price paid in Adelaide for a decade, and total sales topped the $8 million mark for the first time since 2007.
"We had nothing but good comments from vendors and buyers", Magic Millions consultant Adrian Hancock said.
"There were a number of new vendors from interstate, and they were all impressed with the venue, the organisation, and our attention to detail."
Lot 81 was the first to reach the $220,000 top.
The colt, by first-season sire Smart Missile, was the first yearling to be offered by Goldin Farms - the former 'homestead' section of the old Lindsay Park Stud now owned by Hong Kong businessman Pan Sutong.
He was bought by former SA and now leading interstate trainer Tony McEvoy.
That price was equalled the following day by a Master Of Design colt, offered by Mill Park Stud, Meningie, and bought by local trainer Lloyd Kennewell.
Mill Park, once again, was the most successful of the SA studs, selling 12 lots for a total of $910,500 and an average of $75,875.
In addition to its equal-top-price, Mill Park sold an I Am Invincible colt for $185,000, bought by Mark Kavanagh Racing, and a filly by Choisir, sold to Mark Pilkington for $105,000.
Little Hills Pastoral, Yorketown, averaged $38,250 with a top of $100,000 for a filly by Artie Schiller.
Cornerstone Stud, Angaston, had an average of $28,938 and sales totalling $694,500.
Ducatoon Park, Kadina, in its 61st year of selling through the Adelaide sale ring, averaged $28,833 with a top of $70,000.
The other SA stud to reach a six-figure sum was RJH Racing, Oakbank, with lot 87, an Al Maher colt, bought by Phillip Stokes for $110,000.
A total of 317 lots were sold for a gross total of $8,171,564, an average of $25,778 and a median price of $17,000.
"Overall, the results showed that vendors with good-quality, well-presented yearlings were well-rewarded for their efforts," Mr Hancock said.
