Mithen: Digital sale ‘like speed dating’ as 93 lots sold
Rosemont Stud’s unreserved online sale, which provided the second big test of the new Magic Millions Online system after the Cornerstone reduction earlier this month, closed yesterday with vendor and operator both excited by the results.
The Rosemont Exclusive Online Sale rounded out with a gross of over $2.5 million for the 93 lots, with an average price of $30,945.
The sale received attention not just in Australia but abroad, too, with the Osarus team in France taking heart from the results as they prepare tonight (Australian time) to hold Europe’s first digital sale since the coronavirus pandemic was declared.
The Osarus Breeze Up Sale is being conducted entirely over the internet instead of at its original intended location, La Teste de Buch. As a sale of ready-to-run two-year-olds, which featured breeze-ups at a number of regional racecourses and bidding solely online, Osarus is touting the sale as a world first.
“We are talking about certainly a European and probably a world first because the Australians have already staged online sales for breeding stock and for yearlings but this will be a real departure with two-year-olds,” Osarus managing director Emmanuel Viaud told ANZ Bloodstock News and Racing Post yesterday. “It is exciting and at the same time, we know there will be a lot of people watching how it goes so we know there is no margin for error.
“When I’ve been there before, I’ve always found that the auctioneers in the US and Australia conduct business at greater speed than here in France and that is partly to do with their system of reserve prices. We take longer normally but because we are using reserve prices with this online sale that means we will be able to keep the pace up.
“The other difference here is that the hammer is dropped by the evaluator next to me, not the auctioneer themselves. I will be relying on him a lot tomorrow.
“I have watched the online sales from Australia and how they operate. Our sale is more like the Inglis Easter sale. I watched that and, rather than the technicalities of the bidding online, it was to study the pace of the auctioneer and their way of presenting the stock. They used a presenter who would intervene from time to time but it mostly falls to the auctioneer to talk, whereas we will be playing a bit of verbal ping pong.
“We are very satisfied that by Monday evening we had 70 registered bidders – owners, trainers and agents from France, Britain and Ireland as well as Spain, Belgium and the Czech Republic. There is a wide buying bench, just as you would want and I think that gives us a chance of achieving the best possible results for the vendors.”
While online sales are a novelty and still facing a struggle for market acceptance in Europe, they are now a crucial part of the trading framework in Australia. Inglis and Magic Millions both have digital platforms, as does New Zealand Bloodstock through Gavelhouse, while bloodstockauction.com is another popular platform.
And, as the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and the Inglis Chairman’s Sale demonstrated, there is an ability not just for online sales but also virtual sales as well, like that which will be offered by Osarus tonight.
Rosemont Stud principal Anthony Mithen is an advocate for online sales after a strong set of results yesterday.
“It was a day like no other,” Mithen said. “I’ve never put 93 horses through a sale ring through the course of a full day let alone a few hours. It was like speed dating on steroids.
“What an effort for the team at Rosemont. A real pat on the back to everyone here who put in a remarkable effort to make this sale happen and the support of Magic Millions, which has been incredible. To get a catalogue out and marketed in a way that inspired as much interest and inspections as it did is testament to all concerned.
“We are glad to have partnered with Magic Millions to provide the market with a strong catalogue with nice stock and contribute to the trade market.
“From the truck driver at Rosemont right up to the managing director at Magic Millions we’ve been one in, all in and in the end I’ve been proud of the efforts.”
“It was pleasing to see horses sold right around the country and indeed a number to international clients,” Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch said.
“The team from Rosemont Stud showcased their draft incredibly well and we received so much positive feedback from winning bidders and prospective buyers alike.
“The new Magic Millions Online platform worked well again for our second auction and we look forward to our next internet based sale from June 2 to 4.”
The top lot was Group-winning juvenile Gold Rush (So You Think), the half-sister to last week’s ANZ Bloodstock News Maiden of the Week Tommy Gold (Sacred Falls).
The Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) winner was purchased for $295,000 by New Zealand-based bloodstock agent Paul Willetts, in foal to star sire Savabeel (Zabeel).
“Her mother is virtually a blue hen,” Willetts said. “Everything she produces seems to run. The Sacred Falls out of Gold Rocks won impressively in Sydney last week as well.
“Gold Rush herself is a good two-year-old winning So You Think mare and she’s in foal to the best sire in New Zealand. She ticks a lot of boxes.”
The second highest-priced lot was Dequetteville Stakes (Listed, 1050m) winner Split Lip (Your Song), who was sold for $245,000 to Grand Parkview Stud.
She is due to produce her first foal this spring by Widden Stud’s Zoustar (Northern Meteor).
Zoustar was responsible for the top-priced weanling, a chestnut colt out of Nobody Gets (Forestry) from the family of Group 3 winners Musidora (Rock Of Gibraltar), Tulip (Pierro) and Sacred Eye (High Chaparral). He was purchased by FT Racing for $125,000.
Yarramalong Park went to $95,000 to secure the well-related filly Goldie River (I Am Invincible) in foal to Russian Revolution (Snitzel).