Motree’s money tree
• Motree’s Emma Broadhurst, of Nunamara, leading the stud’s top priced filly at the Magic Millions sale on Monday. Image by Sharon Lee Chapman.
By Tony Scott
February 24, 2021
The annual Magic Millions Tasmanian thoroughbred yearling sales proved a nice little earner for Waterhouse-based breeder Mandy Gunn and her Motree Thoroughbreds.
Nine horses of the 12 she offered were sold, grossing $342,500.
She was celebrating an exhausting few days the day after the sale.
“We did more than 100 parades over three days for potential bidders, so we’re plain worn out, but very happy too.
“Our whole team did a fantastic job.
“The results were very encouraging to keep going, especially the strong support we got from local trainers,” Mrs Gunn said.
Seven Mile Beach trainer Scott Bunton took three of her horses home and John Blacker, of Longford, bought two.
Her top priced filly, however was snapped up for $85,000 by a combined syndicate managed by Mathew Brown Racing and Red Rock Racing based at Cranbourne in Victoria.
“She’s a great story because she’s from my first broodmare White Yard, who really got my into racing in the first place thanks to my sister.”
She was sired by a winner at Caulfield, Alpine Eagle.
Motree’s average price of more than $38,000 was above the sale average.
The breeding operation has been going for six years, but was the third ranked vendor at the sales behind the long-established Armidale and Grenville studs.
Armidale sold the top price horse for $150,000.
The sale overall grossed $3,372,000, slightly down on last year’s total, from 94 lots sold with a clearance rate of 82 per cent.
Mrs Gunn said she might consider racing herself the three yearlings she had passed in.
State Racing Minister Jane Howlett said the sales showed that confidence was at record highs in Tasmania’s racing industry.
“Buyers have seen the big increases in stakes money available in Tasmania and the increase in the Tasbred bonuses on offer and have invested in the future of our industry.
“I congratulate Tasbreeders and those buyers who have invested in Tasmanian bred horses and thank Magic Millions for its continued support for the sales, despite the difficulties caused by the pandemic and the change of venue,” Ms Howlett said.
The sales were moved from Inveresk to the Quercus Park Agfest site at Carrick this year with about 300 people attending.
Some had to watch on monitors outside the auction pavilion, where numbers were capped at 250 due to Covid restrictions.
• L-R: Anton Ebbelaar, Hannah Viney, Sh’kyi Wadley, Mandy Gunn, Emma Broadhurst, Jessica Robertson and Stephanie Attwood.