Armidale Stud’s half-sister (Lot 93) to the Melbourne stakes-winning filly Yum (Ghayyath ) – by another young Darley shuttle stallion Adult —sold to Yum’s trainer John McArdle’s Redgum Racing company for AU$170,000 (US$120,008, AU$1=US$0.71).
On a day that featured the top three (and five of the top six) fillies, Pinatubo’s price more than doubled last year’s high, breaking the nine-year-old sales record of AU$160,000, set for subsequent six-time winner and stakes-seeded Queen La Diva.
Nine lots sold for more than last year’s highest figure of just AU$80,000, with five reaching six figures, all sold by famed Tasmanian farm Armidale Stud.
On the evening of February 23, the average was AU$36,090 (US$25,477), a massive 53.5% increase on last year’s results. The gross price was AU$2,815,000 (US$1,987,193) – a 44% increase from twelve months ago, despite five fewer lots sold (78).
The clearance rate of 72% was down slightly from 74% in 2025, while the median rose 18% to AU$21,000 (US$14,825).
Overall, it was a sale that Magic Millions director Barry Bowditch responded with glowing comments, reasoning that the Tasmanian ship had been righted by a push to have fewer quality yearlings from the state sent to the mainland for sale, and a related attempt to attract more mainland buyers.
“It was a pleasant sale,” Bowditch told ANZ News. “We came from a low benchmark compared to last year, but it was nice to be back in line with 2024, or slightly better.”
The 2024 sale had a mean value of AU$29,984 and a median of AU$24,000, with only two six-figure lots, topped by one at AU$145,000.
“In most cases there has been a lot of interest in the quality horses in the catalogue, which is reflected in five six-figure yearlings and a new record sales topper,” Bowditch said.
The sale appeared to have benefited from lessons learned last year about the quality of horses for sale in Tasmania, as well as strategies such as greater involvement in the state’s south. Underlying that move was the decision to move the Magic Millions 2YO Classic, held earlier this month, from Launceston to Hobart.
Increased bonuses and incentives through Tasbred had also had a positive impact, Bowditch said, but more opportunities remained to translate this year’s sales result into an even stronger 2027 edition.
The star of Monday’s show was Lot 93, the daughter of Pinatubo out of Dream Food, a two-time winner and brother of two stakes winners, and dam of four winners from four runners.
All four were bred by octogenarian Ken Breese of Melbourne, who handed Yum to McArdle after she was accepted at the Tasmania Sale two years ago and who will reside on the Pinatubo filly.
“I’m very happy to get her,” McArdle told ANZ News after his only purchase at the sale.
“Obviously I train her half-sister Yum, so this filly was one that was always on the radar, and so to come here and pick her up was a really good result.
“She’s very similar to Yum, but probably a little edgier. Being from Pinatubo, that probably made her a little edgier.
“She is strong like her sister, probably a little more correct than Yum as a yearling, but she is very typical of the family, so once I saw her I really wanted to buy her.”
McArdle has trained other family members including double group winner I’ll Have A Bit and stakes-placed Eye Of The Eagle.
“Ken is a very good breeder and we have had a lot of success together. I bought I’ll Have A Bit from him and he gave me Yum to train, so it’s a relationship that has been going on for a long time,” said McArdle, impressed with the overall sales.
The sale was a great success for Armidale Stud, who not only sold the top five lots, but also eight of the top nine.
In second place came Lot 50, a filly by Capitalist out of the Tasmanian mare Speedonova, purchased for AU$120,000 by My Racehorse, trainer Stuart Gandy and Belmont Bloodstock.
The third highest priced yearling was Lot 62, a filly by Darley’s sire from the first season Paul outside-placed mare Ventura, a sister of group 1 winner and subsequent father Denman. She was sold to Prime Thoroughbreds for AU$115,000.
Armidale was the largest supplier on average, with the company selling 21 yearlings for an average of AU$68,238, while recording a gross of AU$1,433,000. Motree Thoroughbreds came second with gross AU$461,000, and Grenville Stud third with AU$364,000.
Armidale stallion Needs further was the leading sire, with 11 lots raising AU$503,000, ahead of Grenville’s Stratospherewhich had sold 16 lots for AU$471,500.
Armidale sold his two three-quarter sisters to Tasmanian legend Mystic Journey. Lot 26, a filly by Needs Further out of Oh So Gold, was bought for AU$100,000 by Star Thoroughbreds and Randwick Bloodstock Agency, while Lot 112, a filly by Needs Further out of Gold Phoenix, went to Victoria’s Ralph Zito for AU$65,000.
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