Written by Jessica Owers
Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
Magic Millions has released its catalogue for the 2023 Tasmanian Yearling Sale and, with 140 horses spread across the single day of selling on Monday, February 20, it’s on-par by the numbers with last year’s 145-strong book.
A record of 68 individual sires are represented across 19 respective vendors, and they include the likes of Australian mainstays Pride Of Dubai, Reward For Effort, Shalaa (Ire), Rubick and Capitalist, while first-season sires Alabama Express, Brutal (NZ), Calyx (GB), Yes Yes Yes and Zousain are among the 12 first-season sires on show.
However, the catalogue has remained typically loyal to showcasing the fruits of the Tasmanian breeding industry.
The bulk of the catalogue represents locally based stallions, including Armidale Stud’s Alpine Eagle and Needs Further, and Grenville Stud’s Zululand and Stratosphere.
Gallery: Tasmanian-based stallions being represented at the Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale
In fact, Stratosphere, who stands at Grenville for $4400 (inc GST), has the second-largest representation in the catalogue with 12 yearlings, bettered only by Alpine Eagle with 23. Stratosphere posted his first winner last weekend when Encounter Sphere, a 2-year-old from the Incumbent mare Flying Dami, won on debut at Hobart.
“It’s a very good catalogue this year,” said Tim Brown, Magic Millions’ Victoria and Tasmania manager. “We’re very happy with it. We’ve got the second crop of foals from an excellent first-season sire in Stratosphere, and he actually got the quinella in that race last Sunday. We’re quite looking forward to seeing his stock again and I think they’re going to be quite popular.”
Nine of Stratosphere’s offerings will be in the draft of Grenville Stud, with the other three offered by Brooklyn Park Stud and Motree Thoroughbreds.
“It’s a very good catalogue this year. We’re very happy with it. We’ve got the second crop of foals from an excellent first-season sire in Stratosphere, and he actually got the quinella in that race last Sunday.” - Tim Brown
Stratosphere is a son of Snitzel from the Gold Fever (USA) mare Ultimate Fever, who was a Listed Gosford Slipper winner and who has since proved a tremendous breeder. Stratosphere is a full brother to both the Listed winner Le Cordon Bleu and the Group 3 and Listed winner Sprightly Lass.
Punching above its weight
Traditionally, the Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale has been one of the best, if not the best, return-on-investment sales on the Australian yearling calendar.
In its past, it hasn’t just provided astute buyers with brilliant returns, but it has also unearthed the likes of G1 Australian Guineas and The All-Star Mile winner Mystic Journey (Needs Further), the dual Group winner Still A Star (Toronado {Ire}) and the G2 Moonee Valley Vase winner Soul Patch (Shamus Award).
Mystic Journey, winner of the G1 Australian Guineas
Respectively, these racehorses were purchased at this sale for $11,000, $13,000 and $45,000. In the case of Still A Star, who won over $870,000 on the track, her $13,000 price-tag turned into a further $700,000 when she was sold this year at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale via the Newgate Consignment to Widden Stud.
Mystic Journey won close to $4.2 million during her career, which was close to 382 times what she cost at the Tasmanian Yearling Sale.
Mystic Journey won close to $4.2 million during her career, which was close to 382 times what she cost at the Tasmanian Yearling Sale.
“They breed very good yearlings in Tasmania,” Brown said, speaking to TDN AusNZ. “Armidale, Motree and Grenville are the largest consignors in this catalogue and they, along with most of the vendors, breed very good winners week after week, and a lot of the stock can hold their own on the mainland.”
This faith was on plain show earlier this year when the 2022 Tasmanian Yearling Sale posted record results. Sale average, median and aggregate were each new highs and well-up on 2021 equivalents. Nearly all states and territories of Australia were represented on the buying bench, continuing the sale’s ability to fly under the radar as a very high achiever season in, season out.
This year, Magic Millions has furthered its strong ties with Tasracing and Tasbreeders in announcing a further five years of hosting its Tasmanian sale. Previous to this, the partnership was reviewed every three years, but Magic Millions worked closely with Blayne Hudson and Andrew Jenkins at Tasracing to extend its partnership to five years.
Tim Brown | Image courtesy of Darren Tindale
This alliance is an important boost for local breeders as the Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale is the only sale of its kind for the island state.
“It’s a very important sale for Tasmania because it’s the only sale for local breeders that doesn’t require them to send stock to the mainland,” Brown said. “And it’s a select sale, believe me. There are 140 horses in this catalogue and they’ve each been selected. They haven’t just got in because they’re Tasmanian.”
Brown is expecting a usually good turnout by buyers on February 20.
“There are 140 horses in this catalogue and they’ve each been selected. They haven’t just got in because they’re Tasmanian.” - Tim Brown
“We’ve had Jason Coyle down before, and we’ve had agents from all around Australia,” he said. “John Foote comes down from Queensland, and he’s a great judge so it’s been great to have him here the last few years and he’s already booked to come down again.
“Damon Gabbedy has been here, John McArdle, Simon Zahra, the Ellertons, Nigel Blackiston… there’s too many to mention that frequent the sale. James Mitchell and Bill Mitchell come out from Sydney, and it’s an enjoyable weekend for all of them. We have the races on the Sunday night and the sale is on the Monday.”
The Magic Millions 2YO Classic is worth $85,000 on Sunday’s race card, with a $10,000 Racing Women’s Bonus on offer, while the $75,000 Tasbreeders Magic Millions 3YO and 4YO Classic will follow it.
The two races will be held at Mowbray Racecourse as part of Tasmanian Oaks Day, while the sale will once again occur at Quercus Park in Carrick, close to Launceston, the location’s third year of hosting.
