Extreme colt highlights positive finish to Adelaide sale

A colt by Extreme Choice led the way on the final day of the Adelaide Yearling Sale selling for $360,000, as the market rallied to record a higher sale average than in 2023.

While the overall aggregate dropped by $1.6 million to $15.3 million, with a lower clearance rate (78 per cent to 82 per cent) than last year seeing 40 fewer horses purchased, those that did make the grade were purchased at an average of $50,754, up from $49,543.

Louis Mihalyka of Laurel Oak Bloodstock was the successful bidder on Lot 262, the son of Newgate’s freakish young stallion Extreme Choice, who has produced 12 stakes winners from just 86 runners.

The colt, offered by Rushton Park is the second foal out of Congrats mare Tiara Star, the half-sister of stakes winner Zoutenant and daughter of Listed victrix Tenant’s Tiara.

Mihalyka, who has raced stars such as Rebel Dane and Golden Slipper winner Fireburn, fought off stern competition from trainer Tony McEvoy to land the highest-priced colt of the sale for $360,000.     

“We are very, very happy, we hadn’t been to Adelaide for a few years and I went through the catalogue and there were a couple of horses we fancied,” Mihalyka said.

“We got the main one we wanted. I thought I was going to get it for a little less. I was a bit annoyed with Tony and he did offer to train him for us, but we did offer to Hayeses that we wouldn’t bid against them. It will go to the Hayes brothers.”

“I know the family well. It’s a good mating and good match for the mare and I just like the stallion. He’s got the highest strike-rate of Group winners to runners, certainly among the younger stallions and it’s hard to buy one by him.”

Late in the day, a colt by Justify, Lot 437, was purchased for the session’s second-highest price, $250,000, by the Australian Guineas-winning partnership of Bennett Racing and Ciaron Maher Racing.

That colt, offered by Bowness Stud, is out of Full Of Beans, the half-sister to Maher’s dual Group 1-winning mare Kenedna and ill-fated stallion Spill The Beans. Maher was involved in the purchase of four yearlings across the sale, all in partnership.

Interestingly, not one buyer spent more than the $400,000 that Kennewell Racing and Group 1 Bloodstock parted with for the top-priced I Am Invincible filly on Day 1.

The two vendors to both pass $1 million in sales were both interstate-based, Baramul Stud and Rushton Park, while Mill Park led the locals, falling just short of the seven figures.