Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions

At A Glance

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Nine million-dollar mares sold on Tuesday, bringing the aggregate up to $50,732,000 at the close of trade, up from $44,935,500 last year.

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The average was also improved at $264,229, compared to $249,642 in 2022.

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The median was down slightly, from $120,000 last year to finish at $110,000 at the end of Day 1 on Tuesday.

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By the close of trade, 192 had sold for a clearance rate of 86.1 per cent, down fractionally from 87.38 per cent.

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Forbidden Love emerged from the Newgate Consignment to top the day’s trade at $4.1 million. She sold to Yulong, who saw off competition from Tom Magnier and Katsumi Yoshida.

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In total, Yulong added 35 mares to its arsenal, spending a gross of $19,031,000 to lead the buyers, including four millionaires. Tom Magnier was the leading buyer by average, spending $2,033,333 apiece on three mares.

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The Newgate Consignment was the day’s leading vendor, selling 30 for a total of $16,414,000.

Bowditch hails ‘unbelievable theatre’

Traditionally a strong day of selling, in which retiring race mares come to market, Day 1 of this year’s Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale had the added twist of Edinburgh Park’s Unreserved Dispersal Sale as its conclusion, and a host of star mares along the way.

Not for the first time, Yulong emerged as the day’s leading buyer, and matched last year’s Day 1 haul of four seven-figure mares. The overall improved metrics were a source of jubilation for Magic Millions' Managing Director Barry Bowditch, who said his expectations had been surpassed.

“It was an unbelievable day, I think it was unbelievable theatre,” he said. “Slightly unpredictable at times, which is never a bad thing. We had some very pleasant surprises. All in all, I think there was great participation at the top end of town.

“I think most vendors were very, very happy going off the number of inspections they had and it translated into sale prices in the ring.

“I thought we’d have eight million-dollar horses at the start of the day, we’ve had nine. I thought we’d have two, maybe three above $2 million, we’ve had five. They’re big numbers in any horse sale around the world.”

Welcoming Yulong’s strong participation on Day 1, Bowditch also noted that Mr Zhang’s operation purchased horses at a complete range of price points.

“They’re buying mares that are high-premium… Obviously, we had a great yearling sale for them in 2023, and the yearling market will see Yulong yearlings as a force to be reckoned with for years to come.”

Although expressing confidence that we’ve seen the sale-topper through the ring already, Bowditch said he’s looking forward to more ‘fireworks’ over the next two days of selling.

Powerhouse operations lock horns

At the very first opportunity, Tom Magnier made a splash in securing Lot 502, Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott’s Group 2 winner Vangelic (Vancouver), for $1.5 million from the Newgate Consignment.

Though he was taken to his final bid by James Harron, Magnier told TDN AusNZ that he expects a strong challenge from Yulong Stud throughout this year’s sale, as the two behemoths likely land on the same high-profile mares.

Predicting that ‘the good mares will meet their mark’, after signing for Vangelic Tom Magnier told TDN AusNZ that, “We’ll take it day by day, and lot by lot.”

However, it wasn’t long before Magnier found himself playing not second but third fiddle when Katsumi Yoshida, bidding online, was the one to press Yulong all the way to $4.1 million on three-time Group 1 winner Forbidden Love (All Too Hard), consigned by Newgate Consignment as Lot 568.

Later in the day, Yoshida was again underbidder to Yulong, this time on dual Group 1 winner Snapdancer (Choisir). Consigned by Sullivan Bloodstock as Lot 645, the daughter of Choisir went for $3.2 million.

Despite his earlier caution, Magnier appeared to be left in relative isolation as Lot 676 was sold his way late on Tuesday afternoon.

Consigned by Milburn Creek on behalf of John Warren, Piping Hot (More Than Ready {USA}) is the dam of Group 1 winner Coolangatta (Written Tycoon), carries a pregnancy to Champion Sire I Am Invincible and a half-sister to G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Reaan (Hussonet {USA}) - a huge profile, and one which might have been expected to garner even more competition, her final price termed “unbelievable value” by Barry Bowditch.

Overall, Magnier spent $6.1 million on three mares on Tuesday, whereas on the first day of last year’s sale, Magnier had secured just one - Listed Cap d’Antibes S. winner Crystal Bound (Not A Single Doubt) - for $1.05 million.

After securing G2 Percy Sykes S. winner Paris Dior (Pierro) (Lot 693) from Yarraman Park Stud for $1.6 million early on Tuesday evening, Magnier put his strike rate on Day 1 down to luck.

Gallery: Some of the top lots at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale sold to Coolmore, images courtesy of Magic Millions

“The sale is unbelievable for those top mares,” he told TDN AusNZ. “We’re very fortunate that we’ve got the ones that we’ve wanted. There’s another two days to go after this, but it’s very strong at the top.”

Top buyers by aggregate

Top buyers by average (2 or more sold)

Harron holds tight for sole purchase

The first current 3-year-old Australian Group 1 winner in a decade to be sold at the National Broodmare Sale, last-start G1 Surround S. winner Sunshine In Paris (Invader) (Lot 700) sold to James Harron for $3.9 million from the Newgate Consignment.

With Harron conducting bidding on the phone via Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch, the deliberated bids of Coolmore were returned with no delay from the opposite wing of the Bundall auditorium.

Beaten on several occasions throughout the first day of trade, Sunshine In Paris was Harron’s only purchase on Day 1 and was bought for an as yet undisclosed group of owners. Despite the considerable expense, Harron argued she might just be good value.

Annabel Neasham has previously pinpointed next season’s $10 million Golden Eagle as Sunshine In Paris’ primary 4-year-old target and, although he couldn’t yet confirm that she’ll remain with Neasham, Harron did cite the huge upside she offers as a racing prospect in general.

“So many options and we’re so lucky here in Australia with the amazing prizemoney we’ve got on offer,” he said.

“If she maintains the form she’s shown and looks to even have improvement in her, I think the owners are going to have a lot of fun and potentially pick up a lot of prizemoney and we’ve got that fallback of that Group 1 already on the board.”

Forbidden farewell for Fleming

For Bhima Thoroughbreds’ Mike Fleming, Forbidden Love’s eventual price-tag was a fairytale ending for one of the star graduates of his and his wife Kate’s Hunter Valley nursery.

“It’s huge,” he told TDN AusNZ. “Not only for her breeder, Kerry O’Brien, but for Bhima and the brand. To have a horse that’s foaled down, reared, sold as a yearling to perform at that level and then come back through and make that sort of money…

“It’s just a huge effort from everyone on every little part of her journey along the way,” he summed up.

Top vendors by aggregate

Top vendors by average (2 or more sold)

Frankel factor draws exception from Yulong

Not long after Forbidden Love had set the ring alight, Yulong was back in action to land Isotope (Deep Field), the well-related multiple Listed winner and Group 2-placed 5-year-old from Eureka Stud. Consigned as Lot 575, she raced for a syndicate led by Brian Siemsen, partner in Black Soil Bloodstock with Eureka Stud’s Harry McAlpine.

“To get those good mares, you’ve got to front up and buy them, and Mr Zhang is adamant on what he wants to achieve,” said Yulong’s Chief Operating Officer Sam Fairgray.

Revealing that they will “probably send none” to outside stallions, Fairgray added the caveat that a selection of mares may be considered for a European trip to be covered by Juddmonte Farms’ Frankel (GB) on Southern Hemisphere time this spring - including Isotope.

“That’s why we’re waiting until after the sale to see what we end up with and see what we do,” he explained. “You never know, these mares could end up going there…”

Yulong principal Mr Zhang’s predilection for Frankel was made plain last week when he spent $1.65 million on a pair of colts by the global superstar to provide a late flourish at the close of the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale.

On Tuesday, Yulong also took home Romantic Road (GB) (Lot 624), the unraced Frankel mare out of Canadian Group 1 winner Miss Keller (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}). Consigned by Bhima Thoroughbreds, she cost them $200,000.

Top sires by aggregate

Top sires by average (2 or more sold)

Yulong highlights global mare value

Speaking at lunchtime on Tuesday afternoon, Yulong’s Chief Operating Officer Sam Fairgray reiterated Mr Zhang’s vision.

“Mr Zhang is set on building a really nice broodmare band,” he said. “We’re getting up there in numbers now, but he still wants to add a few more and keep supporting our stallions.”

More than a few more had been added by the close of trade on Tuesday, Yulong spending a touch over $19 million on 35 mares on Day 1 of the sale, at an average of $543,743 apiece - up from their Day 1 spend last year of $16.48 million.

Their purchases weren’t only at the top end; six cost less than $100,000, the cheapest being the $36,000 winning I Am Invincible mare (Lot 551) Data, from the family of Castelvecchio and consigned by Newhaven Park.

However, the headlines were made with four millionaire mares, led by Forbidden Love at $4.1 million. That puts the three-time Group 1 winner in second place in the list of Australia’s most expensive mares in the last five years, trailing only Sunlight (Zoustar), and by only $100,000. However, neither make it into the global top 10 for the last five years.

As TDN AusNZ highlighted on Sunday, Australia’s elite mares appear to offer excellent value on the global scale and, on Tuesday, Fairgray seemed inclined to agree.

“I think Australia, probably for that very top end, has been conservative, and now it’s recognised…worldwide with those top-end mares,” he said. “Obviously, the quality of bloodstock in Australia is world-renowned and you’re starting to see that effect.”

Holland Family fundraiser

Fifteen stallion nominations went under the hammer ahead of the sale kicking off on Tuesday morning, with all proceeds donated to the Holland Family and the National Jockeys Trust. The majority (eight) fetched less than their 2023 advertised fee, with the remainder tipping no more than a couple of thousand over - bar Aquis Farm’s freshman Stronger.

A son of Not A Single Doubt, he was a Group 3 winner in Australia who scored in last year’s G1 The Centenary Sprint Cup at Sha Tin. His fee was announced by Aquis just days ago as $13,750 (inc GST), with his nomination on offer on Tuesday selling to Kenmore Lodge for $20,000.

The 15 nominations sold for a total of $323,500.

“It’s an extraordinary outcome, (an) absolutely unbelievable outcome of generosity and support from Magic Millions and from all the farms involved and, of course, from the bidders as well,” said Des O’Keeffe of the Australian Jockeys Association.

“The amount raised is just over $320,000 and for Lucy, Dean’s partner, and importantly for her four children – Harley, Luca, Franklin and Lily – there’s a 20-year plan that’s in place for their future.”

Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions

Lot 568 - Forbidden Love (All Too Hard x Juliet’s Princess {USA} {More Than Ready {USA}}) - $4.1 million to Yulong Stud

Hailed as potentially the ‘brightest star of them all’ by Magic Millions auctioneer Steve Davis, Forbidden Love, a daughter of the Vinery Stud-based All Too Hard, was knocked down to Yulong for an incredible $4.1 million after they outlasted Katsumi Yoshida, who was bidding online.

Trained by Michael Freedman, Forbidden Love counts three Group 1s among her eight career wins. Successful in the G1 Surround S. as a 3-year-old, she trained on to record victories in the G1 George Ryder S. and the G1 Canterbury S.

The 5-year-old mare is the second foal from the More Than Ready (USA) mare Juliet’s Princess (USA), a five-time winner and most notably placed in the Listed Laelia S.

Forbidden Love predominantly hails from a North American family, counting the G3 Saranac S. winner River Squall (USA) and the Group 3-winning mare Better Now (USA) (Thunder Gulch {USA}), who in turn has produced the G2 Elkhorn S. victor Dark Cove (USA).

Henry Field, whose Newgate Consignment offered the star mare, said he was delighted with the result, though he wasn’t totally surprised at her hefty price-tag given how rare a proposition Forbidden Love is.

“We knew that she was going to sell well,” he said. “She’s a triple Group 1 winner and beautiful.

“She had all the hallmarks of a top-end-of-town mare. It was an international bidding duel between the three most prominent players on the planet, and Mr Zhang from Yulong was the victor.

“He’s bought himself a rare entity.

“She’s a special mare, and they’ll have a lot of fun with her for many years to come. She’ll be a foundation mare. She’ll stack up at the top of any broodmare band anywhere in the world, and he’s been buying the best of the best.”

Lot 700 - Sunshine In Paris (Invader x Zenaida {NZ} {Zabeel {NZ}) - $3.9 million James Harron Bloodstock

Group 1-winning 3-year-old filly Sunshine In Paris (Invader) was offered as part of the Newgate Consignment, and it was a fresh face on the scene, James Harron of James Harron Bloodstock, who signed the cheque for $3.9 million.

Trained by Annabel Neasham, who was open to admit she would love to see the filly train on under her name.

Sunshine In Paris is a veteran of only five starts and has had a meteoric rise through the classes. Breaking her maiden at the first time of asking in Canberra, by her fifth start, the daughter of Invader would claim the scalps of some of the best fillies in the land in the G1 Surround S., denying Ruthless Dame (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) who was recently crowned a Group 1-victress in the G1 Robert Sangster S.

Sunshine In Paris is the third foal from the Zabeel (NZ) mare Zenaida (NZ). She is a half-sister to the multiple Group 1 winner Vosne Romanee (NZ) (Electronic Zone {USA}).

Sunshine In Paris is a half-sister to the G3 Typhoon Tracy S. winner Macroura (Snitzel).

James Harron shared that the purchase of Sunshine In Paris was something James Harron Bloodstock had been working towards.

“It’s been something we’ve put together, we’ve got some clients, and we’ve been working on it for a while.

“Basically, we feel like she’s such a wonderful racing prospect. Very rarely do these sort of fillies come onto the market; we see the prices of yearlings these days and the costs of some of these yearling fillies.

“She’s already got a big win on the board, but she’s only had a handful of starts and has a massive future ahead of her.

“We’re going to enjoy racing her for the time being, and then she’ll be into the broodmare barn later on down the track.”

Lot 645 - Snapdancer (Choisir x Snapdragon {Ire} {Galileo {Ire}}) - $3.2 million to Yulong Stud

Consigned by Sullivan Bloodstock, the star race mare Snapdancer (Choisir) was expected to attract attention due to her lofty achievements on the racetrack, that she did, selling to $3.2 million to Yulong Stud.

Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace in the colours of Brad Spicer’s Spicer Thoroughbreds, Snapdancer was a seven-time winner; amongst those seven victories was the G1 CF Orr S. and the G1 Robert Sangster S.

She also claimed the Magic Millions Fillies and Mares H. on the Gold Coast’s marquee day.

Snapdancer is the eighth foal from the Galileo (Ire) mare Snapdragon (Ire). Snapdancer is a half-sister to Drago (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who was placed in the G3 Up And Coming S. and finished fourth in the G1 Sires’ Produce S., and G1 Champagne S.

Darren Weir Racing and Brad Spicer of Spicer Thoroughbreds, who purchased Snapdancer as a yearling from the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $180,000, was pleased with the international participation on his star mare.

“Quite excited. We knew that the bigger players were going to be on the horse at that level. We were hoping Yulong, Coolmore and Mr Yoshida were all there, and they were.

“Sherah, a lot of credit must also go to her. It has just been an incredible journey.

“Everyone would be relieved that it has put a full stop to her career.

“Bit sad as well but excited because we’re going to see her progeny go through the run year after year.

“She showed form early on, and she kept improving, and the excitement (of the owners) kept growing.

“She’s a dream horse for what we go and source at yearling sales. To see her on a racetrack and to see her here today, she’s ticked every box along the way.

“We’re grateful to be involved in a horse like her.”

For Sherah Sullivan of Sullivan Bloodstock and Snapdancer, it was a reunion. Sullivan was previously the manager of Noorilim Park, where Snapdancer was raised, Sullivan was honoured to sell the daughter of Choisir.

“Unbelievable to see. I'm very emotional; I’ve only just ventured out on my own, and to have the honour of selling a mare like Snapdancer has been magnificent.”

Lot 676 - Piping Hot (More Than Ready {USA} x Ribe {Danehill {USA}}) - $3 million to Tom Magnier

The only proven producer amongst the top lots on Day 1 of the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, Piping Hot (More Than Ready {USA}) is a truly rare prospect to be offered to the open market by Milburn Creek.

Sensing the opportunity to be had, Tom Magnier of Coolmore Stud went to $3 million to secure the dam of the star 3-year-old filly Coolangatta (Written Tycoon).

Piping Hot, at only nine years old and dam of three foals to date, is carrying a pregnancy to Champion Sire I Am Invincible and has an unraced half-sister to Coolangatta.

Piping Hot’s second foal, Coolangatta, has had just eight starts for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace but has twice won at the elite level against the older horses in the G1 Moir S. and the G1 Lighting S.

Coolangatta also claimed the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic on the Gold Coast and was third in the G1 Golden Slipper, and is currently being prepped for a Royal Ascot trip next month, where she’ll take on the G1 King’s Stand S.

Magnier expressed his confidence in buying Piping Hot, having bought Samaready, by the same sire in More Than Ready (USA), when carrying to Snitzel - the resultant foal being this season’s G1 Golden Slipper S. winner Shinzo.

“She’s in foal to I Am Invincible, Coolangatta is a champion, and she’s a gorgeous-looking type, so we’re delighted to get her,” he said.

“The roster at home couldn’t be going any better with Wootton Bassett, Justify, So You Think, all those stallions, so we can just take her home and see what the foal looks like.

“Obviously, we were very fortunate with Samaready, so I suppose that gives you the confidence to buy these kinds of mares.

“We have the stallions, and we’ve obviously been trying to buy some nice mares over the last couple of years, and the market is very strong in Australia, and that gives us confidence.”

Lot 575 - Isotope (Deep Field x Great Dansaar {Choisir}) - $2.3 million to Yulong Stud

It was the expectation that 5-year-old mare Isotope (Deep Field) would be one of the highlights of a catalogue packed with class, and she didn’t disappoint.

Purchased back in 2019, Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale by her trainer Tony Golan, John Foote Bloodstock and Black Soil Bloodstock, the latter run by the partnership of Eureka Stud’s Harry McAlpine and Brian Siemsen.

Offered by Eureka Stud on Tuesday, the star mare was knocked down at $2.3 million selling to the usual suspects, Yulong.

As described by McAlpine, “You would be hard-pressed finding a better type of mare than Isotope.”

Isotope brought looks, race record and pedigree to the Magic Millions Bundall complex.

She was a triple Listed winner on the track who placed at Group 2 level and ran a gallant fourth in the G1 Stradbroke H.

Isotope has significantly benefited from the exploits of the former star mare Yankee Rose (All American) and her daughter Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}).

Yulong Stud’s Chief Operating Officer Sam Fairgray commented, “Isotope is obviously a fast mare, but she was just a beautiful mare and the recent pedigree update of Liberty Island helps things.”

Liberty Island is fast becoming a star in her native Japan, claiming the first two legs of the Japanese Fillies' Triple Crown in the G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) and the G1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) on Sunday.

“Physically, Isotope was just a beautiful mare, so we’re really pleased we’ve ended up with her.”

As for who Isotope will visit in her first season at stud is still up in the air, although Fairgray concedes it would likely be a Yulong-based stallion.

“We’ll try and weigh it up once we see what we end up with and then we can decide where they go,” Fairgray said.

“The likelihood is we’ll support our stallions with the mares we buy.

“We potentially could send some mares over to Frankel to get bred to Southern Hemisphere time, but that’s why we’re waiting till after the sale to make plans.”

Lot 693 - Paris Dior (Pierro x Entrancing {Exceed And Excel} - $1.6 million to Tom Magnier

Paris Dior was offered by Yarraman Park Stud as a breeding proposition only, and it was Tom Magnier of Coolmore Stud who secured the daughter of Pierro, who Coolmore Stud stands at their Jerrys Plains property.

Trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, Paris Dior was a dual-winner, including the G2 Percy Sykes at Randwick.

Paris Dior is the first foal from the Exceed And Excel mare Entrancing. She was a five-time winner.

Paris Dior is a full sister to Queen Of Dragons, who was fourth in the Listed Bill Carter S. last Saturday at Doomben and from the same family as To Catch A Thief (NZ) (U S Navy Flag {USA}), who placed in the Listed Champagne S.

Magnier was keen to point out the impression Pierro is making as a broodmare sire despite being at a young age.

“I think Pierro as a broodmare sire has become a real talking point. He’s doing a great job as a broodmare sire, and he’s doing a great job on the racetracks.

“She’s very good-looking, and we’ll take her home, but the Pierro factor was a big part of the play there.”

“We really are going to sit back, and the big thing is that we’re trying to find those Pierro fillies.

“I think she could suit Justify. I think she could suit Home Affairs. We’ll have a think about it.

“It is a pedigree that has a lot of upside.”

Lot 638 - Shades Of Rose (Rubick x Rose Of Mulan {More Than Ready {USA}}) - $1.6 million to Arrowfield Stud

Offered as part of the Yarraman Park Stud draft was the Group 2-winning daughter of Rubick, Shades Of Rose, was purchased for $1.6 million by Arrowfield Stud.

Trained by the Warwick Farm-based Bjorn Baker, Shades Of Rose has won seven and four races in succession.

Shades Of Rose is the third foal from the unraced More Than Ready (USA) mare Rose Of Mulan.

Rose Of Mulan is proving quite the broodmare; her first foal Scallopini (Snitzel) has won 13 races, including the G3 Shaftesbury H. and her daughter Red Rubi a full sister to Shades Of Rose was a six-time victress.

Shades Of Rose’s second dam is the Bigstone (Ire) mare Lady Of Mulan (NZ), who won the G2 Light Finger S. and the G3 Adrian Knox S.

Lady Of Mulan, in addition, was placed twice at the elite level.

Arrowfield Stud’s Jon Freyer was thrilled to secure the mare commenting on what a magnificent physical Shades Of Rose and hinted at a potential partner for her first season at stud.

“We thought Shades Of Rose was a magnificent physical, and she was just a super-talented, a very fast filly, and they’re the sorts we want to have in our broodmare band.

“She’s a half to a really good horse by Snitzel (Scallopini), so we’ll either mate her to Snitzel or The Autumn Sun.

“She was just a filly that we admired for so long. It’s a family we like, and we think she’ll match really well with our stallions.”

Freyer was confident that Shades Of Rose’s effort in The Everest would hold her in good stead for the next part of her career.

“The Everest is a great race and she was right up with the very best horses in the country, colts and geldings as well, so when you get fillies that are competitive against the male sex, it augurs well and I think she’s the perfect specimen for a number of our stallions.”

Lot 502 - Vangelic (Vancouver x Angel Bee {NZ} {Pins}) - $1.5 million to Tom Magnier

Starting with a bang, the 5-year-old mare Vangelic, a daughter of Woodside Park Stud’s recent acquisition Vancouver, was knocked down to Tom Magnier of Coolmore Stud for $1.5 million.

Vangelic, trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, was a dual winner on the track counting the G2 Golden Pendant on her CV and placings in the G1 Surround S., and the G1 Flight S.

The mare is the third foal from the Pins mare Angel Bee (NZ). She was a four-time winner and placed in the G3 Toy Show H. and the Listed Mona Lisa S.

Vangelic’s second dam Zabeels Angel (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), was a durable race mare winning nine times. She was victorious in the G3 Winter Cup and was placed in the G2 Chelmsford S.

Furthermore, this is the family of the stakes-placed Revolving Door (Sebring) and Golden Spin (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}).

Magnier provided insight on who Vangelic is likely to visit for her first season at stud, “I suppose the way things are going for us at the moment, Justify is going very well, Wootton Bassett obviously has the favourite for the 2-year-old race at home, he’s going very well, Home Affairs has best the mares in foal (and we’ve got) Shinzo.

“But we’ll take her home, she’s a mare that has a lot of quality, Vangelic is very good-looking, so she’d be an asset to any stallion.

“Vangelic hails from a good pedigree, she was just a lovely physical – she was one of the nicest physicals we saw – and she was well-rated by all the team at Coolmore.

“Whatever the offspring out of her will sell very well, so we can be excited by that.”

Lot 620 - Promise Of Success (GB) (Dansili {GB} x Summer School {Ire} {Street Cry {Ire}}) - $1.3 million to Yulong Stud

Bringing a European flavour to the Bundall complex was the 6-year-old mare Promise Of Success (GB) (Dansili {GB}) was purchased for $1.3 million by Yulong.

Trained by John O’Shea, Promise Of Success has won five races, including the G2 Emancipation S. and the $2 million The Invitation.

Offered as a racing and breeding proposition, Promise Of Success is due to take her place in Saturday’s G1 Kingsford-Smith Cup at Eagle Farm if her new owner elects to.

Sam Fairgray cautioned her followers that Promise Of Success may head straight to the G1 Tatt’s Tiara where she will sport the colours of Mr Yuesheng Zhang’s Yulong Stud.

“John’s (O'Shea) mapped out a program, I think, where she races Saturday, and then the Tatt’s Tiara is what he was aiming for.

“We’ll just see how she looks for Saturday and whether we run or whether we wait and go straight into the Tatt’s.”

Promise Of Success has proven a wise investment by Rosemont Stud, who offered her on Tuesday at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.

David Redvers Bloodstock and Rosemont Stud went to 27,000gns (AU$53,000 ) at the 2020 Tattersalls December Mares Sales.

A daughter of the late Juddmonte Farms' stallion, Dansili (GB), a sire of over 150 stakes winners.

Promise Of Success hails from a family that includes the G1 Irish Derby winner Santiago (Ire) and the G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares S. victress Eshaada (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}).

Top Lots

Cover image courtesy of Inglis

While the bulk of the breeding industry is this week camped on the Gold Coast, Mick Talty is packing up in Denman. On June 30, he and his wife Michelle are vacating Edinglassie Thoroughbred Stud after 32 years.

It’s a long innings in the one spot, a tenure that has seen Bob Oatley come and go and the approach of BHP Billiton. These days, Edinglassie sits directly opposite the open-cut Mt Arthur coalmine, with Mt Arthur Coal, in fact, the owner of the property.

When Talty moved in, it was 1991 and the mines were nowhere near as close. He ran Edinglassie with Oatley until the latter’s death in 2016.

For a long time, the farm has been an industry heavyweight, turning out the likes of Deep Field and his brother Shooting To Win, as well as the Group 1 winners Nechita (Fastnet Rock), God’s Own, Wonderful World and Bentley Biscuit (Peintre Celebre {USA}). There have been plenty of others, meaning it’s something like the end of an era in the Hunter Valley.

“We’d been thinking about this move for a while, and we’re not getting any younger,” Talty said, speaking to TDN AusNZ. “This really is a physical job where you’re hands-on all the time, so even though we’ve loved doing it, and we still love doing it, we just wanted to scale things down.”

Gallery: Just a glimpse of the many Edinglassie graduates, images courtesy of Sportspix

Twenty minutes south along the road to Denman, the Taltys are moving into their own 70-acre farm. Akuna Park is right on the Hunter River, with top-class grazing and, for its new occupants, a fresh start. Even the name is appropriate; ‘Akuna’ is an aboriginal word for ‘flowing water’ or ‘the way forward’.

“We’ve been building this farm for the last five to 10 years, and it’s time for us to appreciate it now,” Talty said. “We bought it as vacant land and we’ve gradually built a house on it, put up fences and yards. As I said, it’s time to appreciate it before we get too old to do that.”

At Edinglassie, Talty was running up to 120 mares, foaling down 75 to 80 of those each spring. He had 17 yearlings at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, all bar one selling in a replete sweep.

At Akuna Park, he will stick to some 30 of his own “low maintenance” mares that will keep life simple, and straightforward even.

“We’ll have all our own horses there, and what I call a few low-maintenance types who’d be dry or maiden mares,” Talty said. “We’re just trying to get away from all the tough physical work in terms of foaling down and yearling and weanling preparation, all that.

“Plus it’s getting harder and harder to find staff and, as I said, we’re not getting any younger. We want to have less responsibility and more time to ourselves, to not necessarily be tied to the farm and to do things like travel more, for instance. After 32 years, it’s time to sit back.”

Since spreading the word about his exit from Edinglassie, Talty has been told he’s semi-retiring, but he doesn’t see it that way. He and Michelle aren’t exiting the industry, but rather investing in their own smaller numbers and branching out, and without the strain of outside-client responsibilities.

“We’re not retiring or going away,” he said. “I may do some more bloodstock work in trading, and this move will free up more time for that sort of thing. We still love the game and we’re still passionate about it in every way.”

Protected by mining

Edinglassie is one of the more interesting properties in the wider Hunter catchment. Talty has been leasing it from BHP Billiton, and it has co-existed alongside open-cut mining for years.

It is also a historically important property, encompassing the old Edinglassie homestead with its charming sandstone, and the collection of domestic dwellings at Rous Lench, a little to the east.

The original, settled history of this farm began in 1825 when a 1280-acre land grant went the way of George Forbes, which was the same year that Englishman James White sailed to Australia. In 1839, White bought Edinglassie and stocked it with sheep and Angus cattle.

It was one of the very first properties in the district to be taken up on that side of the Hunter Valley, and it formed ‘the vanguard of the young wool industry in the Hunter when the colony was still an outpost of civilisation’.

As such, the Edinglassie homestead, which still stands today, is of great significance to New South Wales and is heritage-listed. It was among the properties Belltrees, Ellerston and Waverley that the White family managed in its pastoral heyday.

In 2012, Edinglassie fell under a specific Conservation Management Plan (CMP) for BHP Billiton, the latter undertaking an extensive plan to preserve the original homestead and its surroundings owing to its listing under the NSW Heritage Act 1977, and its listing as being ‘culturally significant’ by the Muswellbrook Shire Council and National Trust of Australia.

Talty has co-existed with Mt Arthur Coal across the road for years. BHP Billiton stated in 2012 that ‘concurrent and adaptive re-use options sympathetic to the significance of the place were noted as being crucial to the long-term conservation of Edinglassie and Rous Lench’.

According to the State Heritage Register, Edinglassie is significant because of its associations with the earliest European occupation of the area and that it represents one of the earliest settlements of the district.

The property and its buildings are good examples of their era’s type and style, and Edinglassie is a near-perfect demonstration of the Arcadian design approach, which refers to the siting of structures and elements in the landscape. Apparently, Edinglassie is rare in the region, in this regard.

“We have always had a good rapport with BHP,” Talty said. “They’ve been of great benefit to us, being able to lease a place like this. Horses do grow out well here and they perform well on the track, so sometimes the whole mining issue comes down to the differing opinions of people in agriculture and people in mining. Personally though, I’ve never had a problem with it.”

The current Edinglassie property is a remnant of the original land holding. It was given up by the White family as recently as 1959, after which it was subdivided and sold for mixed farming and dairying.

Mt Arthur Coal stepped in with the Electricity Commission in 1982, buying Edinglassie and Rous Lench as it swallowed the land around Mount Arthur to establish open-cut mines. In 1998, the BHP era began at the property, with Coal Operations Australia, a subsidiary of Billiton Coal, buying Edinglassie outright.

“There was no mining around the farm 32 years ago,” Talty said. “I came here originally and worked for Bob Oatley and the Oatley family, and then when he sold, we leased it in a partnership together until he died. After that, I leased it on my own and kept it going with Michelle.”

The future of Edinglassie is unclear right now. It will always be preserved, and Talty said the open-cut mine across the road will close in 2030. There have been a few interested horse parties in taking over the property, the details of which will come to light soon enough.

As for the farm’s famous brand, with its two circles forming an almost bulls-eye, Talty is equally unsure about whether he can take it with him to Akuna Park.

“It's a great brand and the one thing about it is you can’t mess it up,” he said. “You can’t put it on backwards or upside down or sideways. The only thing you can do is put it on the wrong shoulder.

“It was originally the Oatley brand, with the ‘O’ inside the circle, so hopefully the family will let us continue on with it as I think we’re well-associated with it now.”

Three decades of memories

After 32 years, Talty will be sad to drive out of Edinglassie for the final time in late June.

“It will certainly be a sad day after all this time,” he said. “But there also comes a time in life when you’ve got to take different avenues. I’ve seen a lot of changes here. I remember it before the mining hills were here, and when the mine across the road closes its doors in 2030, I’ll still be in the area but I won’t be at Edinglassie.”

Among Talty’s best memories at the farm are those with the broodmare Listen Here (Elusive Quality {USA}), who was the dam of both Deep Field and Shooting To Win. In 2016, Edinglassie enjoyed one of its best days out when it sold Listen Here for $3.4 million at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. She went to China Horse Club and Bruce Perry Bloodstock.

“We’ve had three Caulfield Guineas winners and we sold Listen Here,” Talty said. “She was an extraordinary mare. She was bred on the farm and then raced, and she became the mother of Deep Field and Shooting To Win. She is a beautiful memory for us.

“But I also think of the number of overall horses that have come off the farm. Our job as studmasters, managers and so on is to minimise the risk so that horses go on to the races. If your management is good and your nutrition is good, and you’ve reduced the risk of injuries, hopefully they’ve got every chance of getting to the racetrack. I think we’ve done well in that respect.”

Talty’s clients have been exceptional since his announcement that he was moving on. Some of those clients have been with him since he arrived at Edinglassie three decades ago.

“We’re just in the process of finding new homes for those horses,” Talty said. “So far, it’s been absolutely no problem relocating any horses, and most of our clients here already had a good network of options anyway. June 30 will be our very last day here, and it’s been very busy.”

For weeks, the Taltys have been moving their things between Edinglassie and Akuna Park. It’s a tiring process, and all with one eye on the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, in which Edinglassie has four mares via the Attunga Stud draft (Lot 860, 877, 971 and 1060).

“It’s a lot of years to pack up, and a lot of driving home every evening with the car full,” Talty said. “I keep finding stuff, asking myself why I didn’t throw that away 15 years ago.”