The appearance of the pony stratosphere could be the bright light Apple Isle’s livestock sector desperately needs, and demand for his shares in the Magic Millions Yearling Sale in Tasmania could play a key role in the overall success of the contest. annual prices of local industry.
The 140-lot sale on 20 February, which has seen year-on-year growth with the past five sales, is predicted to be “tougher than last year” as a group of Tassie patrons from the mainland have choose to skip this sale. discount of the day during the almost five-month Australian annual sales season.
Agents John Foote, Merrick Staunton, first-timer Dave Mee, Jeremy Rogers, and federal coaches Calvin McEvoy, Gavin Bedggood, Reece Goodwin, Chris Bieg, John Hyam, Dale Short, and Chantelle Jolly were present on the day. yesterday but, arguably in a sign of the times, regular guests like John McArdle, Robbie Griffiths, Mitch Freedman and Matt Cumani will not be in attendance this year.
Other Victorian coaches such as Charlotte Littlefield, Coral Feek and Ben Brisbourne would have made the trip to Tasmania, but due to an industry-wide staffing crisis, they were left with no choice but to stay home to manage run his stables. a busy time of year.
A List Stud, who spent A$540,000 on six pups in the 2022 Tasmania sale, will also be a notable absence from this year’s list of buyers after principal Chris Lee decided to rein in spending. his spending.
Last year’s sale, which brought in AU$4.344 million (US$2,986,934, AU$1 = US$0.6876), averaging AU$38,447 (US$26,436) and average is AU$30,000 (US$20,628), but Tim Brown, the Victorian and Tasmanian manager of Magic Millions, urged. Suppliers must be realistic about the risk appetite of buyers this year.
Brown’s stance mirrors that of Inglis’ Sebastian Hutch ahead of last week’s Classic drop in Sydney when he said using last year’s statistics as a reliable gauge of how the market might be taking place in 2023 is unrealistic.
“We are definitely looking for a little more local support. Tasmanian breeders are doing a great job with their bounty program and the supply they are producing and I believe local trainers should take advantage of more homegrown produce.”
One stallion likely to attract the attention of local and interstate buyers is the Stratosphere of Grenville Stud, whose 12 second-season stallions will be offered for sale at Quercus Park, near Launceston.
“The first 2 year old ratings have been a bit light for a few years, but Stratosphere is starting to fill that void. “So far, we’ve been delighted from a relatively small foaling of just over 50 ponies alive,” said Bart McCulloch of Grenville Stud.
“He had seven runners run for three winners and one runner-up, including two stake horses, so he took an equal lead with the stallions of the first season by the individual winner, and he’s off to a great start.
“It’s no surprise with the way they’re running their way with the types he’s leaving.”
The Stratosphere is raced by Newgate Horse Club-China, who finished second in the 2018 Canonbury Stakes (G3) run in his only competitive start, having nine calves in the 2023 Grenville draft.
“Certainly, mainland buyers were happy to buy them last year. Twelve months ago, people told us we had a stallion of the kind he was going to leave,” McCulloch said.
“We really feel that we’ve got a better roster of Stratospheres this year and I think they’ll be well received again this year.”
Another impressive feature win today for Tassie star Turk Warrior. His record is 11 wins, 5 ranks and 2 fourth places in 18 appearances.
Check out his half-sister by Stratosphere (pictured) is Lot 47 at the 2023 Tasmanian Annual Sale tomorrow for @grenvillestud. pic.twitter.com/QgkrJMfpzy– Millions of spells (@mmsnippets) February 19, 2023
McCulloch has urged mainland dealers and trainers to consider the Tasmanian stallions, with the state’s TasBred scheme matching bonuses for Super Vobis winners if those horses win a race. qualifying race in Victoria.
He also said coaches in his home state are benefiting from the TasBred program, Tasmania’s version of Vobis, NSW’s BOBS and Queensland’s QTIS.
The breeder said: “Certainly, Tasmania’s health stakes are much healthier than they used to be and the TasBred scheme makes a big impact and that’s what we want to develop.
“TasBred races are now so sought after that trainers are targeting them, so instead of applying it to about half of all girls in Tassie, we need it for all young women. , so we wanted to develop that plan.
“Stratospheres fall within the framework of what coaches are looking for with something that will get up and go and take profits back.”
Lot 47 of Stratosphere at Magic Millions Yearling Tasmania Sale
Trainer, stallion master and salesman Cameron Thompson of Brooklyn Park Stud has a mix of crossbreds and ponies in his 14 draft herd by stallions like Manhattan Rain , Fox , Vancouver And Grunt.
“I think having a draft of 14 people, you have to try to get quality because those are the lower numbers,” Thompson said.
“When we went to buy a few horses to crochet, we didn’t buy the lowest horses, we bought the ones that we thought would sell well locally and that’s what we did, but we also have some local hybrids. Stratosphere, Ambidexter and Alpine Eagle horses and I think they are a good representation of stallions.”
Grenville has also topped the draft Tasmanian sale of 24, including the males upstream, capitalistAnd Pride of Dubai father of Saturday Talindert Stakes winner maharbaAvondale Guineas (G2) winner Desert Lightning and runner-up Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (G1) Bella Nipotina.
The sale begins on February 20 at 11 a.m. local time.
