Capitalist Approach Pays Off for Grenville Stud

Graeme McCulloch's persistence and his son Bart's innovation and willingness to think outside the square paid off at the Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale, with the family's Grenville Stud selling the top four lots and the draft grossing more than AU$1 million.

Grenville Stud had three of its 19 yearlings to sell Feb. 20 reach the AU$100,000 mark as progeny of the McCullochs' resident stallion Stratosphere proved popular, averaging almost AU$54,000, but it was a filly by Newgate Farm's Capitalist who held sway, fetching a sale-high of AU$115,000 (US$79,068, AU$1.00=US$0.6875).

The filly is the third foal out of Sunrise Yellow, but is the mare's only living foal: her first, by Pride Of Dubai  died in training, while the second, by Capitalist, was sadly struck by lightning.

Retired trainer Peter Morgan, who was acting for I Am Invincible 's co-owner Ray Gall, heeded McCulloch senior's calls to make the trip to Quercus Park, near Launceston, to buy the daughter of Capitalist who was sold as Lot 131 in the 140-lot sale.

"I have waited all day for her—I'll probably miss my plane, but they said they'd give me a bed. She was all I was coming for as I wasn't coming to the sale, but Graeme McCulloch rang me three times and said, 'You've got to come for this filly,' so I thought I'd come down and have a look," Morgan said.

"I jumped on the plane, had a look and we've ended up with her. This is my first time in about five years that I've come down for the sale."

Randwick trainer Ron Quinton is likely to be given the filly to prepare.

Turk Warrior's Half Sister Joins Star Thoroughbreds

The half sister to Tasmania's cult hero Turk Warrior will remain in the state after leading syndicator Denise Martin earlier in the session paid AU$105,000 for the daughter of Stratosphere.

The filly (Lot 47) was the second-highest-priced lot sold at the one-day Tasmanian sale with Devonport trainer Barry Campbell to take charge of the Grenville Stud-bred-and-sold yearling for the Star Thoroughbreds' principal.

Sydney-based Martin, a native of Tasmania, was one of a throng of mainland buyers who bought the seven most-expensive horses, once again underlining the importance of interstate trainers and owners participating in the local market.

The Stratosphere filly is the seventh live foal of 2-year-old stakes winner Ehor, who has produced six winners from as many foals to race, led by the Glenn Stevenson-trained Turk Warrior, who brought up his 11th win from 18 starts Feb. 19.

Randwick Bloodstock's Brett Howard, Martin's trusted adviser, said the filly was their "pick of the sale."

"Not just on the pedigree page, but physically as well," Howard said. 

"Barry Campbell will train her and both Barry and I think she's the best-looking foal out of Ehor, so hopefully she's the best racehorse."

Star Thoroughbreds races a first-crop 2-year-old filly called Cairns by Grenville's Stratosphere. Trained by Martin's brother-in-law Campbell, Cairns was runner-up in Sunday's $85,000 Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) at Launceston.

Howard said: "She is a nicer filly than Cairns and her price reflects that, but she is also out of a better mare, too, so hopefully we can go one better next year with this filly in the Magic Millions 2-year-old race."

Star Thoroughbreds is affiliated with premier Sydney trainer Chris Waller, with group 3 winner and group 1-placed mare Espiona sporting the distinctive purple with white star silks, but Martin has also remained fiercely loyal to Tasmania and its racing industry.

"She has something like 15, 16, or 17 horses in training at the moment down here. They're all trained by Barry Campbell; and Barry is married to Denise's sister Anne, so that's the connection there," Howard said.

"Unfortunately, she's not here at the sale, but she is coming down (today) for the Launceston Cup as she has a runner in that called Assaranka. She is a filly Denise purchased here at the sale a few years ago, so hopefully she runs nice for her connections.

Grenville Stud averaged AU$56,000 and grossed AU$1.064 million, while Armidale Stud sold 21 yearlings for AU$922,000 to be the second-leading vendor.

Tasmanian trainer Adam Trinder, with the backing of owner Wayne Roser, bought five yearlings for AU$284,000, Longford trainer John Blacker bought seven, while Tanya Hanson, and Leanne Gaffney bought five each. Victorian trainer Andrew Bobbin bought six yearlings.

"Obviously, it was a little bit patchy in places during the sale, but we are really happy with our results. We felt, coming into the sale, that we had a really good draft. They prepped up really nicely and the feedback over the past few days was positive. 

"You always hope that transpires into a good sale and fortunately it has. It is a nice reward for continuing to upgrade mares and the like, and at the end of the day, the thing that really stood out was how well the Stratospheres sold. 

"It is no surprise with how well they are going, but it is really nice to have a stallion who is so sought after by local and interstate buyers."

The aggregate was AU$3.187 million ($2,191,225), down AU$500,000 on the corresponding sale in 2022, while the average was AU$36,702 ($25,234) and the median at AU$30,000 ($20,626), which was the same as last year.

While the sale's turnover was down year-on-year, which was strongly predicted in the lead-up to the sale with the absence of a number of interstate buyers, Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch said it was a "terrific day" with the local trainers' spending exceeding expectations.

"It was really positive for Tasmania. There was a good spread of buyers—no one really got in and dominated the market—and there was great equilibrium with the interstate participants and the local buyers. It felt fairly good throughout the day," Bowditch said.

"At the end of the day, Tasmanians bought 48 horses, which is great. They bought half the catalog and the leading two buyers are local. It is great they have been able to participate (so strongly)."

Magic Millions, TasBreeders, and Tasracing recently signed a five-year agreement to run the Tasmanian sale and Bowditch reaffirmed the company's commitment to the local thoroughbred breeding and racing industry.

"We will work closely with TasBreeders and Tasracing to continue to strengthen the industry down here," he said.

"It is just about stimulating participation down here, giving them (trainers) a reason to come to the sale with confidence and taking horses home with owners for them.

"The quality of the horses being bred down here continues to get stronger and, from a Magic Millions perspective, we're here for the long haul and we'll continue to do our best to strive for a vibrant industry down here."