Magic Millions has deliberately compiled a smaller catalogue for next year’s Tasmanian Yearling Sale in expectation the state’s breeders will face another challenging market in 2025.
The release of the 126-Lot catalogue, down from this year’s 140, coincides with Tasracing shifting the sale-eve Sunday race meeting at Mowbray in Launceston to the preceding Friday night.
The change of the race date will allow owners and trainers to spend the weekend at the Quercus Park sales complex at Carrick near Launceston inspecting horses rather than preparing for a Sunday race meeting.
Next year’s Tasmanian sale is scheduled for February 24, the Monday after the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale to be staged on February 20 and 21.
Magic Millions Victoria and Tasmania manager Tim Brown said the directive from auction house management was to endeavour to keep the quality of the horses as high as possible.
“We probably could have got to 135, but we wanted to keep it tight, so that’s what we're trying to do in what could be a relatively challenging year,” Brown told The Straight.
Progeny of more than 50 stallions will be represented at the Tasmanian sale, including those by first-season sires Extreme Warrior, Portland Sky, Quick Thinker, Acrobat, Tiger Of Malay, St Mark's Basilica, Wooded and Wild Ruler.
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Buyers will also have plenty of opportunities to purchase TASBred-eligible yearlings by stallions such as Stratosphere, Alpine Eagle and Needs Further, which provides local owners and trainers with extra incentives to support their home-state sale.
Ten mainland vendors are also supporting the sale, bolstering the depth of the catalogue of horses to go under the hammer.
Brown also applauded Tasracing for its decision to provide space between the weekend race meeting and the yearling sale.
“The trainers can come in and concentrate on the horses and give some more time to be there, more time to look at the horses and more time to get in touch with owners and bring them around instead of rushing off for a race meeting,” he said.
“I think it's a good ploy.”
Bren O’Brien
This year’s Tasmanian sale was hit hard by the tougher economic climate, with the gross of $2.76 million declining 33 per cent while the average of $30,750 was down 16 per cent while the median also fell $6,000 to $26,000.
The $85,000 Magic Millions Tasmanian 2YO Classic, a race which also carries a $10,000 Racing Women's Bonus, and the $75,000 Magic Millions Tasmanian 3YO & 4YO Classic will be run at Launceston on February 2.
