More withdrawals than expected impacted the gross at this year's Adelaide Yearling Sale, but Magic Millions organisers are satisfied with the results returned across Monday and Tuesday.
This year's catalogue of 452 contained two fewer lots than last year, but 14 more were offered last year, which saw $16,894,000 change hands compared to $15,379,500 this year.
A 79 percent clearance rate this year, compared to 82 percent last year, saw the average increase from $49,543 to $50,259, while the average remained the same at $40,000.
"At the end of the day, if we got within 10 percent of last year's result, we would have been delighted," Magic Millions SA Bloodstock Consultant Adrian Hancock said.
"Heavy scratchings have impacted on the gross, no doubt, but the clearance rate getting up over 79 percent, and climbing as we speak, that's got to be satisfactory in this market.
"There's no denying that the bottom end of the market is virtually non-existent. The market just doesn't support it and, even in the middle market, you have to have a horse by the right stallion at the time and go through all the x-ray and scoping tests to be in demand.
"To get through all that and finish up with a gross of $15 million, a $40,000 median and over a $50,000 average, you've got to be pleased."
The top lot was the I Am Invincible-Les Amoureux filly offered by Baramul Stud, which sold to a group headed up by Lloyd Kennewell for $400,000, while the top colt was Rushton Park's Extreme Choice-Tiara Star youngster who was bought by Laurel Oak Bloodstock for $360,000.
The I Am Invincible filly played a key role in Baramul being the leading vendor on aggregate, selling 21 yearlings for a total of $1,234,000, while Rushton Park was leading vendor by average with nine yearlings selling at $111,889 apiece.
Justify, the sire of raging Golden Slipper favourite Storm Boy, was the sale's leading stallion by both gross and average with three youngsters selling for a total of $700,000, which is $233,333 apiece.
SALE STATISTICS (2023 in brackets)
Lots Catalogued: 452 (454)
Lots Sold: 306 (341)
Lots Passed In: 81 (74)
Lots Withdrawn: 65 (53)
Sale Gross: $15,379,500 ($16,894,000)
Average Price: $50,259 ($49,543)
Top Price: $400,000 ($230,000)
Median Price: $40,000 ($40,000)
Clearance rate: 79 (82)
TOP LOTS
$400,000 – I Am Invincible-Les Amoureux filly (Lloyd Kennewell, G1 Bloodstock, Ridgeport Holdings)
$360,000 – Extreme Choice-Tiara Star colt (Laurel Oak Bloodstock)
$300,000 – Justify-Shop Til I Drop colt (Anthony Freedman/Dean Hawthorne)
$250,000 – Justify-Full of Beans colt (Bennett Racing/Ciaron Maher)
$225,000 – Toronado-Kabini (Shane McGrath)
