Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
Benalla horseman Tal Nolen of Nolen Racing is a renowned name in racing circles as the father of the multiple Group 1-winning jockey Luke Nolen and a regular vendor at Australia's 2-year-old sales.
Nolen is a vendor whom buyers hold in high respect as somebody who brings well-educated and prepared juveniles to the auction ring.
This year alone, graduates of Nolen's drafts include the dual Group 3 winner Libertad (Russian Revolution) and the exciting Verdad (Justify {USA}), who will tackle the G3 Drummond Golf Vase on Saturday.
Gallery: Some of Nolen Racing's exciting graduates
On the eve of the 2023 Magic Millions 2YOs In Training Sale, Nolen is confident his 11-horse draft is superior to his draft offered at the 2023 Inglis Ready2Race Sale earlier in the month.
“This is a much better draft,” Nolen declared to The Thoroughbred Report.
That statement is not to be taken lightly, given Nolen's draft performed well in Sydney with a top price of $350,000 handed over by Newgate Bloodstock for a Showtime colt.
Three standouts
Clearance rates and participation from the Asian jurisdictions, particularly Singapore, have been hotly discussed.
Nolen is more than attuned to this discussion and said, “I haven't seen too many buyers from Hong Kong present on the Magic Millions complex since I've arrived.
Tal Nolen | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“However, I believe buyers from Korea and the Philippines will play a part, but it may be on the lower end of the scale.”
Nolen is delighted with the draft assembled for the 2023 edition of the Magic Millions 2YOs In Training Sale but was keen to highlight three youngsters.
“All of my drafts were bought as yearlings with an eye to offer them as 2-year-olds.
“The American Pharoah (Lot 116) and Magna Grecia (Lot 126) are nice horses. I also like the Zousain from Erin's Element (Lot 31),” Nolen told TTR AusNZ.
“If I had to put them in order, I'd probably have the American Pharoah, then the Zousain and Magna Grecia.”
“If I had to put them in order, I'd probably have the American Pharoah (Lot 116), then the Zousain (Lot 31) and Magna Grecia (Lot 126).” - Tal Nolen
Cracking colts
Lot 116, a colt by the US Triple Crown Champion American Pharoah (USA), breezed up at Seymour, recording the quickest time of Nolen's draft at 10.15s.
He is the second foal from the Casino Prince mare Speed Princess. She is a daughter of Serious Speed (Royal Academy {USA}), a victress of the G1 Thousand Guineas and the G2 Hobartville S. who stretched her brilliance to place in a G1 VRC Oaks before dropping back to the sprint trips and finishing third in the Robert Sangster S. at the elite level.
Nolen labels the colt as a “serious animal.”
Lot 116 - American Pharoah (USA) x Speed Princess (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Lot 116 was a $55,000 purchase from the 2023 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale.
Lot 31 is from the first crop of Widden Stud's exciting stallion Zousain.
A son of the brilliant Zoustar, Zousain was a Group 2 winner and placed in the sire-making Coolmore Stud S.
The colt was described by Nolen, “As a cracker. He kept improving throughout his education, and I really feel he'll be running at two, three and onwards.”
“He (Lot 31) kept improving throughout his education, and I really feel he'll be running at two, three and onwards.” - Tal Nolen
Lot 31 is the third foal of Erin's Element, a daughter of Shaft. She won five times and was placed in the G3 Bow Mistress Trophy.
The colt, a 2023 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale graduate, was purchased for $100,000.
Lot 31 - Zousain x Erin's Element (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Rounding out Nolen's highlighted lots is a colt catalogued as Lot 126. He is the son of Magna Grecia (Ire), by the outstanding influence Invincible Spirit (Ire).
Magna Grecia had plenty of class in his native Ireland, winning a Group 1 as a 2-year-old before returning as a 3-year-old to win the G1 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.
Not only does Magna Grecia bring performance to the table, but he is also a half-brother to the Champion St Mark's Basilica (Fr).
Lot 126 - Magna Grecia (Ire) x Sucker Punch (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Nolen concedes the sire may not be on the lips of everybody, but given what Lot 126 has shown him, he is confident the stallion is going to sire winners.
“I think the sire will be alright. This (Lot 126) is a good colt.
“He has taken everything in his stride and is ready to go.”
“This (Lot 126) is a good colt. He has taken everything in his stride and is ready to go.” - Tal Nolen
The colt is from the unraced Encosta De Lago mare Sucker Punch, a full sister to Merlene De Lago and a half-sister to Shirley (Zabeel {NZ}).
Shirley is the dam of the high-class mare Dear Demi (Dehere {USA}).
Lot 126 was picked up by Mitchell Bloodstock (FBAA) for $100,000 at the 2022 Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale.
He was reoffered at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where he was passed in.
Family affair
Joining Nolen on the Gold Coast is his son, Shaun Nolen, who operates JCS Thoroughbreds alongside his wife, Sam Nolen.
Shaun Nolen | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The pair have brought a draft of five to the Bundall complex.
Speaking to The Thoroughbred Report, Sam Nolen went through the couple's thoughts on the highlights of their draft.
“The draft has been specifically sourced for this sale. Shaun and I go around to the sales and look to find the horses we feel will make the perfect 2-year-old.”
“The (JCS Thoroughbreds) draft has been specifically sourced for this sale. Shaun and I go around to the sales and look to find the horses we feel will make the perfect 2-year-old.” - Sam Nolen
Pair of the year
“Lot 9, the Russian Revolution, is a really lovely horse. I think he's got wheels, he's fast, and he has more improvement.
“He recorded a time of 10.20s but still had more in the tank. You could see he had more left, and Shaun (Nolen) said he was the best horse he had ever ridden. That's a lot for Shaun to say; he rarely makes statements like that.
“Lot 9, the Russian Revolution, is a really lovely horse... Shaun (Nolen) said he was the best horse he had ever ridden. That's a lot for Shaun to say; he rarely makes statements like that.” - Sam Nolen
“The Written By colt (Lot 63) is also a nice horse. He wasn't far off from the Russian (Revolution). He breezed up in 10.26s at Seymour.
“I think the Written By will be an early 2-year-old, while the Russian Revolution just after.
“The Written By and Russian Revolution colts are the best horses we've had all year. We do have a really nice Deep Field we offered at Inglis that we were happy to take home because he'll make a lovely 3-year-old.
“But these two we've brought to the Gold Coast are the best from this year's crop.”
“The Written By (Lot 63) and Russian Revolution (Lot 9) colts are the best horses we've had all year.” - Sam Nolen
Lot 9 is by Newgate Farm's young gun Russian Revolution. He is the first foal from Sidereus mare Catalina Miss.
She hails from the family of the G1 Dubai World Cup winner Monterosso (GB) and the brilliant G1 William Reid S. victress Silent Sedition (War Chant {USA}).
The colt was an $80,000 purchase from the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Lot 63, a son of Widden Stud's second-season sire Written By, is closely related to the recent G1 Toorak H. victor Attrition (Churchill {Ire}).
Gallery: Some of JCS Thoroughbreds' highlight lots, images courtesy of Magic Millions
The colt is the sole foal by the Sebring mare Mandalong Sera, who unfortunately died shortly after foaling him.
Nolen paid $62,500 to secure the son of Written By at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
