Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
At A Glance
The 2023 Magic Millions 2YOs In Training Sale catalogue saw 151 lots go under the hammer, with 83 selling (75.45 per cent) and 27 passed in at 7pm AEDT. The figure is not far from the final formation of the 2022 sale edition, in which 87 lots sold and 33 passed in from 140 catalogued (81.31 per cent).
The 2023 edition grossed $5,011,500, below the 2022 yield of $6,855,500.
The average recorded was $60,380, significantly below the 2022 figure of $78,799. The median currently sits at $42,000, higher than the 2022 figure of $35,000.
Lot 116, a son of American Pharoah offered by Nolen Racing and sold to Pierre Ng for $400,000, was awarded the top lot spot. The result was enough to see American Pharoah also crowned the leading sire.
The China-based buyer, Zhang Jiandao, purchased five lots at an average of $93,700 and a gross of $468,500 to finish as the leading buyer.
Nolen Racing concluded the sale as the leading vendor, selling 10 lots at an average of $137,950 and a gross of $1,379,500.
Bowditch hails 'vibrant sale'
Barry Bowditch, managing director of Magic Millions, was pleased with the 2023 edition of the Magic Millions 2YOs In Training Sale when speaking to The Thoroughbred Report at the conclusion.
“The atmosphere here was vibrant, there was a good vibe around, and many different jurisdictions were participating in the market.
“The atmosphere here was vibrant, there was a good vibe around, and many different jurisdictions were participating in the market.” - Barry Bowditch
“The clearance rate at this point is 75 per cent, which will only go higher, and I expect it to be close to 80 per cent by this time on Wednesday.
“It was more than a passing mark, I felt. It was a healthy sale.
“There were some nice results and quality horses around that $200,000 mark. We could have done with a few more of those horses to attract more Hong Kong buyers. However, in saying that, I thought the lower to middle market through to that higher-end market was very strong. There was significant participation and a lot of competitive bidding.
“It was a very genuine sale. We saw a lot of horses making more than their reserve and more than one bid on many horses.
“On reflection the sale felt good, and I think if you ran around and asked the vendors here all-in-all they would have been pleased with the market they sold upon.”
“It was a very genuine sale. On reflection the sale felt good, and I think if you ran around and asked the vendors here all-in-all they would have been pleased with the market they sold upon.” - Barry Bowditch
The 2023 Magic Millions 2YOs In Training Sale started a tad quietly, with the first three lots walking out of the ring unsold.
But things started to pick up with four successive lots finding buyers. The best result of the run was achieved by Lot 11, a colt by Super One offered by Symphony Lodge was sold to Hong Kong’s Strike Thoroughbreds for $90,000.
And things quickly got pretty warm from there on.
Son of Pharoah tops sale
The result of $400,000 for Lot 116, a colt by the US American Triple Crown hero American Pharoah (USA), underlined the astute judgement of his consignor Tal Nolen of Nolen Racing.
Lot 116 - American Pharoah (USA) x Speed Princess (colt) topped proceedings selling for $400,000 to Pierre Ng | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The skilled horseman was keen to note in Tuesday’s edition of TTR AusNZ that he rated this colt as the pick of his draft and described him as a ‘serious animal’.
Pierre Ng backed Nolen’s judgement, putting down $400,000 to secure the colt for Hong Kong.
Lot 116 is the first foal from the winning Casino Prince mare Speed Princess, she in-turn is the daughter of Serious Speed (Royal Academy {USA}) and a brilliant and versatile performer who won the G1 Thousand Guineas and the G2 Hobartville S.
Speed Princess would also place in the G1 VRC Oaks over the gruelling 2500 metres and incredibly showed enough speed to drop back and place over the 1200 metres of the G1 Robert Sangster.
Pierre Ng, Adam Campton and Nicky Wong with Lot 116 | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Furthermore, Lot 116 is from the family of the G1 Kenilworth Cape Flying Championship victress Run Fox Run (Foxwedge) and the Listed winner Victory Chant (General Nediym).
It was a brilliant result for Nolen, who picked out the colt from the 2023 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale for $55,000.
Another of Nolen’s top three picks, Lot 126, a colt by Magna Grecia (Ire) from the Encosta De Lago mare Sucker Punch also found plenty of fans eventually being knocked down to the West Australian-based Trevor Andrews for $150,000.
Lot 126 - Magna Grecia (Ire) x Sucker Punch (colt) was purchased by Trevor Andrews for $150,000 | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Hong Kong signs for seven
In addition to purchasing the sale’s top lot (Lot 116) Hong Kong buyers walked away with seven lots in total. The Hong Kong-based Strike Thoroughbreds purchased the aforementioned Lot 11 and then made an early slash, securing Lot 31 for $200,000. The colt offered by Nolen Racing is from the first crop of Widden Stud’s Zousain.
Lot 31 - Zousain x Erin's Element (colt) was purchased by Strike Thoroughbreds for $200,000 | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
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 was a $100,000 pinhook from the 2023 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale.
Lot 65, a colt by Flying Artie, would give the Nolen Racing draft another pleasing result when the colt made $180,000 to Wattle Bloodstock (FBAA) on behalf of a Hong Kong-based owner.
Lot 65 - Flying Artie x Midnight Dancer (colt) was purchased by Wattle Bloodstock (FBAA) for $180,000 | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Peter Twomey of Wattle Bloodstock (FBAA) told The Thoroughbred Report, “The last horse I purchased off Nolen Racing at this sale was the subsequent stakes winner Celavi, so I’ve gone back to a proven formula of buying off a great preparer in Tal Nolen.
“The $180,000 was a little more than I was expecting to pay, but the colt was a strong, robust type and Pierre Ng’s first preference from the shortlist I put together for a new Hong Kong owner. So overall we’re very happy to secure him.
“He’ll (Lot 65) head down to Darrell Burnet in New South Wales to be prepared for the rigours of Hong Kong and can hopefully continue the great run for Pierre when he heads up to Sha Tin in 2024.”
“The last horse I purchased off Nolen Racing at this sale was the subsequent stakes winner Celavi, so I’ve gone back to a proven formula of buying off a great preparer in Tal Nolen.” - Peter Twomey
The colt is the fifth foal from the Danehill Dancer (Ire) mare Midnight Dancer, and like Lot 31, this colt was a graduate of the 2023 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale, where he was purchased for $60,000.
The Hong Kong-based Bridle Bloodstock - Tinian Limited, fronted up $100,000 for Lot 69, a colt by Saxon Warrior (Jpn) from the draft of O’Gorman Racing.
The August-born colt is the first foal from the Shamus Award mare My Sweet Fish, who is a full sister to the Group 3 winner and multiple Group 1-placed Swats That.
Lot 69 - Saxon Warrior (Jpn) x My Sweet Fish (colt) was purchased by Bridle Bloodstock - Tinian Limited for $100,000 | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
China also got in on the action signing for two higher-end lots.
Lot 44, a son of Darley’s Brazen Beau caught the eye of the Chinese-based buyer Zhang Jiandao, who went to $210,000 to secure him the draft of Baramul Stud. He is the first foal of his dual-winning dam, Inner Demons, a daughter of High Chaparral (Ire).
Lot 44 comes from the family of the Listed winners Zagreb (Zabeel {NZ}) and Flying Award (Shamus Award). Jiandao also signed over $100,000 to buy Lot 95 a colt by Frosted (USA) from the draft of Stanley River Thoroughbreds.
Zhang Jiandao | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Domestic buyers active
Several domestic buyers fronted up on Tuesday at the Bundall complex, with several signing for lots at the higher end of the market.
Leading the way was Adrian Hancock of Hancock Quality Bloodstock (FBAA), who paid $200,000 for Lot 63, a son of Widden Stud’s second-season sire Written By.
The colt, consigned by JCS Thoroughbreds, was given a good rapt by Sam Nolen, wife of Shaun Nolen, in Tuesday’s edition of The Thoroughbred Report.
Lot 63 - Written By x Mandalong Sera (colt) was purchased by Hancock Quality Bloodstock (FBAA) for $200,000 | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Lot 63 is the sole foal from the late Sebring mare Mandalong Sera and is closely related to the recent G1 Toorak H. hero Attrition (Churchill {Ire}).
That aspect greatly appealed to Hancock, who told TTR AusNZ, “His (Lot 64) dam (Mandalong Sera) is a half-sister to the dam of the Toorak Handicap winner Attrition, so I know the family very well.
“He’s by a progressive young stallion in Written By who's oldest are only 3-year-olds. He is just a lovely, lovely colt. His gallop was all class, and from the moment he walked out of the box, his quality and presence were obvious.
“He’s (Lot 63) by a progressive young stallion in Written By... His gallop was all class, and from the moment he walked out of the box, his quality and presence were obvious.” - Adrian Hancock
“We had quite a few on our list that passed our criteria, and he was the number one seed, so my buyer, Maureen Daly, would have been disappointed not to buy him.
“It’s been a very strong sale, so we knew we had to get serious to buy.”
Adrian Hancock
The Victorian-based trainer Jason Warren of Jason Warren Racing went $170,000 to secure Lot 20.
Lot 20, a son of Hellbent, was the sole offering by Segenhoe Stud. The November-born colt is the fourth foal from the unraced Siyouni (Fr) mare Dawning Light (Fr).
The dam is a half-sister to the French Group 3 winner My Name is Bond (Fr) (Monsieur Bond {Ire}).
Furthermore, Lot 20 is a half-brother to the Group 3-placed Dragon Biscuit (Choisir).
Jason Warren | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Tassort progeny sought after
The progeny of Newgate Stud’s royally bred first-season sire Tassort were in demand.
The son of Brazen Beau made a flying start to his stud career when his daughter Manaal won the G3 Gimcrack S. on debut.
Raheen Stud sold Lot 22, a bay colt by the sire, for $150,000 to Kennewell Racing and Group 1 Bloodstock (FBAA).
Lot 22 - Tassort x De Lago Bloom (colt) was purchased by Kennwell Racing for $150,000 | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Lloyd Kennewell, speaking to TTR AusNZ, said, “He (Lot 22) looked a very straightforward, strong and powerful 2-year-old.
“He has a great action and attitude. The colt looks an ideal type for 2-year-old races early in 2024.”
“He (Lot 22) has a great action and attitude. The colt looks an ideal type for 2-year-old races early in 2024.” - Lloyd Kennewell
The son of Tassort is the fifth living foal from the Encosta De Lago mare De Lago Bloom.
The dam is closely related to Elusive Express (NZ) (Jakkalberry {Ire}), a winner of the G2 Edward Manifold S. and a placegetter in the G1 Thousand Guineas.
Darby Racing have also taken notice of Tassort and signed over $160,000 for Lot 76 consigned by Nolen Racing.
Lot 76 - Tassort x Olympic Dream (colt) was purchased by Darby Racing for $160,000 | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The third foal from the winning Encosta De Lago mare Olympic Dream is a daughter of the Listed and Group 2-placed Pinezero (Danzero).
Lot 76 is also from the family of the G2 Magic Night S. victress Downhill Racer (Danehill Dancer {Ire}).
Asia shows up
Admittedly, it was significantly smaller than last year’s sale, which saw Singapore sign for 16 lots. However, the jurisdiction still played and walked away with two lots.
The Singapore-based RC Stable signed for $60,000 to secure Lot 121.
The colt offered by Kenmore Lodge is a son of the Woodside Park-based Shalaa (Ire) and from the unraced Northern Meteor mare Stareign, a half-sister to the Listed victress The Huntress (Husson {Arg}).
Lot 121 - Shalaa (Ire) x Stareign (colt) was purchased by RC Stable for $60,000 | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Eric Koh went to $55,000 to purchase Lot 99 from GlenX Lodge. The October-born colt is a son of Blue Gum Farm’s Flying Artie.
Lot 99 is the second foal from the unraced Rothesay mare Second Date. She is a half-sister to the Group 2 victress Okahu Bay (Flying Spur).
However, as Bowditch pointed out, there was significant participation from other parts of Asia.
“Singapore buying two was great. However, China, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, and South Korea got involved.
“They complemented a domestic buying bench that also saw Hong Kong strong on the horses that suited them.
“Singapore buying two was great. However, China, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, and South Korea got involved. They complemented a domestic buying bench that also saw Hong Kong strong on the horses that suited them.” - Barry Bowditch
“It’s all about the product in front of you, and I think we had buyers at most levels if not all levels, that participated on the horses that suited their budget.”
China had a strong presence signing for 13 lots, the most expensive being Lot 44, at $210,000. At the same time, the Philippines walked away with nine lots in the middle bracket.
Thailand also had a significant impact buying eight lots, and the South Korean-based Koidco Limited signed for three lots; the most expensive came at $55,000 for Lot 82, a son of Zousain consigned by Nolen Racing.
Rounding out the Asian jurisdictions outside of Hong Kong was Malaysia, which purchased five lots.
Top lots
| 116 | C | American Pharoah | Speed Princess | Nolen Racing | Pierre Ng | $400,000 |
| 44 | C | Brazen Beau | Inner Demons | Baramul Stud | Zhang Jiandao | $210,000 |
| 31 | C | Zousain | Erin's Element | Nolen Racing | Strike Thoroughbreds | $200,000 |
| 63 | C | Written By | Mandalong Sera | JCS Thoroughbreds | Hancock Quality Bloodstock (FBAA) | $200,000 |
| 65 | C | Flying Artie | Midnight Dancer | Nolen Racing | Wattle Bloodstock (FBAA) | $180,000 |
| 20 | C | Hellbent | Dawning Light | Segenhoe Stud | Jason Warren Racing | $170,000 |
| 76 | C | Tassort | Olympic Dream | Nolen Racing | Darby Racing | $160,000 |
| 141 | C | Castelvecchio | Zing And Swing | JCS Thoroughbreds | Skieda Investments | $160,000 |
| 22 | C | Tassort | De Lago Bloom | Raheen Stud | Kennewell Racing/ Group 1 Bloodstock (FBAA) | $150,000 |
| 126 | C | Magna Grecia | Sucker Punch | Nolen Racing | Trevor Andrews | $150,000 |
Top buyers
| Zhang Jiandao | 5 | $93,700 | $210,000 | $468,500 |
| Pierre Ng | 1 | $400,000 | $400,000 | $400,000 |
| Strike Thoroughbreds | 3 | $126,667 | $200,000 | $380,000 |
| Qingcai Huang | 4 | $66,250 | $90,000 | $265,000 |
| Hancock Quality Bloodstock (FBAA) | 1 | $200,000 | $200,000 | $200,000 |
| Wattle Bloodstock (FBAA) | 1 | $180,000 | $180,000 | $180,000 |
| Jason Warren Racing | 1 | $170,000 | $170,000 | $170,000 |
| Darby Racing | 1 | $160,000 | $160,000 | $160,000 |
| Skieda Investments | 1 | $160,000 | $160,000 | $160,000 |
| KKJC | 9 | $17,167 | $23,000 | $154,500 |
Vendors by aggregate
| Nolen Racing, Benalla, Vic | 10 | $137,950 | $400,000 | $1,379,500 |
| Baramul Stud, Widden Valley, NSW | 23 | $37,391 | $210,000 | $860,000 |
| JCS Thoroughbreds, Benalla, Vic | 4 | $116,750 | $200,000 | $467,000 |
| GlenX Lodge, Biddaddaba, Qld | 10 | $38,650 | $100,000 | $386,500 |
| Kenmore Lodge, Wyreema, Qld | 6 | $63,333 | $90,000 | $380,000 |
| Raheen Stud, Warwick, Qld | 2 | $110,000 | $150,000 | $220,000 |
| Alexia Fraser Bloodstock, Warwick, Qld | 5 | $43,600 | $80,000 | $218,000 |
| Oasis Thoroughbred Farm, Westbrook, Qld | 5 | $38,400 | $50,000 | $192,000 |
| Segenhoe Stud, Scone, NSW | 1 | $170,000 | $170,000 | $170,000 |
| O'Gorman Racing, Tamworth, NSW | 3 | $54,667 | $100,000 | $164,000 |
Vendors by average (2 or more sold)
| Nolen Racing, Benalla, Vic | 10 | $137,950 | $400,000 | $1,379,500 |
| JCS Thoroughbreds, Benalla, Vic | 4 | $116,750 | $200,000 | $467,000 |
| Raheen Stud, Warwick, Qld | 2 | $110,000 | $150,000 | $220,000 |
| Stanley River Thoroughbreds, Woodford, Qld | 2 | $67,000 | $100,000 | $134,000 |
| Kenmore Lodge, Wyreema, Qld | 6 | $63,333 | $90,000 | $380,000 |
| Lux Thoroughbreds, Tamborine, Qld | 2 | $60,000 | $90,000 | $120,000 |
| O'Gorman Racing, Tamworth, NSW | 3 | $54,667 | $100,000 | $164,000 |
| Alexia Fraser Bloodstock, Warwick, Qld | 5 | $43,600 | $80,000 | $218,000 |
| GlenX Lodge, Biddaddaba, Qld | 10 | $38,650 | $100,000 | $386,500 |
| Oasis Thoroughbred Farm, Westbrook, Qld | 5 | $38,400 | $50,000 | $192,000 |
Sires by aggregate
| American Pharoah | 1 | $400,000 | $400,000 | $400,000 |
| Zousain | 5 | $69,800 | $200,000 | $349,000 |
| All Too Hard | 10 | $34,600 | $80,000 | $346,000 |
| Tassort | 3 | $107,333 | $160,000 | $322,000 |
| Flying Artie | 3 | $95,000 | $180,000 | $285,000 |
| Written By | 3 | $92,333 | $200,000 | $277,000 |
| Brazen Beau | 2 | $127,500 | $210,000 | $255,000 |
| Star Turn | 8 | $31,125 | $90,000 | $249,000 |
| Frosted | 3 | $70,000 | $100,000 | $210,000 |
| Hellbent | 2 | $100,000 | $170,000 | $200,000 |
Sires by average (2 or more sold)
| Brazen Beau | 2 | $127,500 | $210,000 | $255,000 |
| Tassort | 3 | $107,333 | $160,000 | $322,000 |
| Hellbent | 2 | $100,000 | $170,000 | $200,000 |
| Flying Artie | 3 | $95,000 | $180,000 | $285,000 |
| Magna Grecia | 2 | $95,000 | $150,000 | $190,000 |
| Written By | 3 | $92,333 | $200,000 | $277,000 |
| Frosted | 3 | $70,000 | $100,000 | $210,000 |
| Zousain | 5 | $69,800 | $200,000 | $349,000 |
| Capitalist | 2 | $68,750 | $85,000 | $137,500 |
| Press Statement | 3 | $46,667 | $100,000 | $140,000 |
