Victorian champion-sire Written Tycoon enjoyed more sales ring success during the first session of selling at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale March 17, when a daughter of the sire was knocked down via an online bid to Chinese investor Wei Jiaoqi for AU$260,000 (approx. US$166,090, US$1=AU0.64), topping the day's trade in the process.
Yulong, who have had strong drafts at each of the yearling sales on Australia's east coast, reiterated their support of the sole South Australian yearling sale.
"We've got a lot of confidence in this sale bringing stock like (this filly) here. This is a sale we've had great success with in the past and today's result certainly solidified that and proved you can bring a good horse here and get good money," said Yulong's head of sales and nominations, Harry King.
"We've come here with 15 horses, our thoughts on the sale have been very positive. We've had a lot of foot traffic and that's a huge credit to the Magic Millions team for getting the buyers here, getting them keen and getting busy in the sales ring.
"The last couple of days we haven't had a quiet one, we're still continuing to show horses, people are very healthy and happy in the buying bench, and we're enjoying that for sure."
"It's well-documented that we are very active in both parts of the market. Mr Zhang has seen how healthy and vital the Australian breeding and sales market is here, and wants to be active in all parts of that, and we're getting great results in doing so."
Out of the unraced mare Saaryaa, the filly hails from a family that includes the Melbourne Cup (G1) winner Fiorente and listed scorer Tom Melbourne.
"She was a Written Tycoon through and through, out of a very lovely Dubawi mare as well. (Written Tycoon) goes from strength to strength, he could very well have another (Golden) Slipper winner to add to the tally in the coming weeks. This filly looks very sharp, and we saw great results with her in the sale ring."
At the end of trade, Magic Millions reported that 138 lots sold at a clearance rate of 73% and recorded an aggregate of AU$6,732,500 (US$4,300,776), a drop of 8.6% at the same point 12 months ago.
The average closed at AU$49,504 (US$31,624) compared with AU$51,208 (US$32,712) recorded at the same point last year, while the median jumped 14%, finishing at AU$40,000 (US$25,552).
Barry Bowditch, the managing director of Magic Millions, was pleased with the way trade picked up after a steadier start to proceedings.
"I think today started quite slowly and I think that would have a lot to do with the way the numbers fell today. I think the quality of horses picked up as the day went on and you could see, whether it be the clearance rate or the competition in the ring building, as the day went on.
"All in all a 72% clearance rate, an average of almost AU$50,000, they're reasonable numbers and something to build on for tomorrow," he said.
Bowditch expected tomorrow's trade to continue to pick up in similar fashion to the latter part of the first day of trade.
