Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions

At A Glance

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Four horses fetched seven-figure sums on Day 1, one more than last year’s opening session, with last year’s leading vendor, Newgate Farm, top of the vendors' standings by gross after selling nine horses for a total of $4,205,000.

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The opening session recorded a best Day 1 average on record of $281,767, up marginally from last year’s average of $271,343 for the corresponding session, while the median held steady at $210,000.

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The total gross of $45,928,000 was up markedly from last year’s Day 1 figure of $36,360,000, much of which can be accounted for by the additional 30 lots offered through the ring during this year’s opening session.

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In a positive early indication of the strength of the middle market, Tuesday’s clearance rate sat at a healthy 84.9 per cent, up from last year’s opening session clearance rate of 82.72 per cent.

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The top lot was secured by Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis in conjunction with Coolmore’s Tom Magnier, with the duo going to $1.3 million to secure the I Am Invincible colt out of the blue hen mare Palace Talk (Street Cry), who was offered by Yarraman Park Stud.

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The highest-priced filly of the opening session, and the second-most expensive of all the offerings on Day 1, was the Snitzel filly out of Serena Bay (Sebring), who went the way of Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) for a cool $1.25 million.

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Last year’s overall leading buyers by gross, the Newgate-China Horse Club colts partnership, were once again to the fore signing for five lots at a total spend of $2,670,000. Only Te Akau’s David Ellis spent more when taking into account the colt he purchased in conjunction with Coolmore, taking his total spend to $3.59 million.

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Snitzel, I Am Invincible and Zoustar lead the way as the leading sires by gross, with the former coming out on top with 11 lots sold for a total of $5,205,000, while first-season sires Farnan and Bivouac made it into the top 10 sires by gross with totals of $2,035,000 and $1,785,000 respectively.

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Coolmore’s King’s Legacy was the first-season sire to record the biggest individual windfall of the opening day, however, when the James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership parted with $775,000 to secure Lot 164 from the draft of Bhima Thoroughbreds.

#1. Record Day 1 spend for Ellis

Te Akau Racing enjoyed a landmark year in 2023 with the multiple Group 1-winning deeds of stable star Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) and the opening of their Cranbourne stable in Australia. The leading syndicator’s principal David Ellis CNZM (BANZ) was busy splashing the cash on Day 1, signing for five horses, including one in conjunction with industry giants Coolmore, for a total spend of $3.59 million.

That figure dwarfs any previous Day 1 spend at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale by Ellis, who has purchased no less than eight stakes winners from this auction house since 2015 at a staggering stakes winners to purchases strike rate of 16 per cent. In total, 15 from 50 Magic Millions yearling purchases have earned black type with Imperatriz being joined by Sword Of State.

His second largest spend on Day 1 of Magic Millions’ flagship auction came in 2021 and was over $1.5 million less than Tuesday’s figure.

While he may have opened the pockets on Day 1, signing for two seven-figure sums, those eight stakes winners have been reasonably priced with Ellis’ average spend at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale sitting at $257,790 prior to this year’s edition.

Table: David Ellis' top 10 Magic Millions purchases since 2015

Table: David Ellis' Magic Millions buying record since 2015

Lot 84, the $1.1 million Zoustar colt out of a sister to G1 Queensland Derby winner Eagle Way (More Than Ready {USA}), is likely to head back over the Tasman to New Zealand along with the majority of Te Akau’s other purchases, but Ellis revealed that the session-topping $1.3 million I Am Invincible colt will remain in Australia to be trained at the operation’s Cranbourne base.

Ellis signed for the colt in conjunction with Coolmore’s Tom Magnier, whose relationship with the Te Akau supremo goes back many years.

“I think he (Tom Magnier) has just been impressed with the results Te Akau Racing has had and wants to be involved in supporting us at Cranbourne,” Ellis said.

“Tom, M.V. (Magnier) and their father (John Magnier) have been supporting us for a long time, and they want to take that to the next level that now we are here full-time.

“I’d say he’ll race in the Coolmore colours.”

Ellis' three other purchases were a $450,000 Zoustar filly, a $440,000 Snitzel filly and a $300,000 Savabeel colt, the latter of which is a half-brother to multiple Group winner and Group 1 placegetter Revolutionary Miss (Russian Revolution), who could line-up in either the Magic Millions Fillies and Mares or the R. Listed Magic Millions Cup at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

#2. Fastest start in history

It didn’t take long for the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale to etch its name into the record books, with the explosive early sales of Lot 16 and Lot 19 ensuring it was the very first time the January auction has returned two seven figure sums within the first 20 lots.

The first seven-figure yearling of this year’s sale came in the shape of the first foal out of multiple stakes-winning mare Outback Barbie (Spirit Of Boom), whose trainer Tony Gollan signed the docket at $1.2 million in conjunction with Jennifer Acton for the daughter of reigning Champion Sire I Am Invincible.

The second seven-figure lot came moments later, when another I Am Invincible out of the blue hen mare Palace Talk (NZ) (Street Cry {Ire}) sold to Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis CNZM (BANZ) and Coolmore’s Tom Magnier for a session-topping $1.3 million.

Gallery: The two seven-figure lots which sold within the first 20 lots, images courtesy of Magic Millions

It was the explosive start that Magic Millions’ Managing Director Barry Bowditch had predicted in the Tuesday’s edition of The Thoroughbred Report, and Bowditch could not have been happier with how with how the opening day panned out from a statistical point of view.

“We were very confident in our first 30 lots and to start with a very healthy clearance rate, and then the two million-dollar horses set the tone of the day,” he said.

“Having a median of $210,000, a record Day 1 average and a clearance rate of 84 per cent, it was a solid day, and if you’d have sat me down this morning and said what’s a reasonable outcome for today, I’d have taken these and run.”

#3. First-season sires in hot demand

There was a near insatiable demand for the progeny of first-season sires on Day 1, with eight freshman stallions selling at least one lot for $300,000 or more.

Coming out on top of the first-season sires during the opening session was Coolmore’s King’s Legacy, whose colt out of the multiple stakes placegetter Serenade (Star Witness) sold for $775,000 to the James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership, the very same man who purchased King’s Legacy for $1.4 million at this very same auction five years ago.

The colt is a half-brother to Wolfgang (Exceed And Excel), who is a live chance for Saturday’s $3 million R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic having won his past two starts in impressive fashion.

Darley stallion Bivouac was another to record a terrific result on Day 1, with Lot 154 selling to Ciaron Maher Bloodstock for $675,000. His purchaser’s head of bloodstock Will Bourne was rapt to secure the filly but was taken aback when a rival stable came up and asked to take a share in the granddaughter of G1 SA Oaks heroine Maybe Discreet (Shamardal {USA}).

“I’ve never had a trainer come up to me and take 10 per cent, but Gerald Ryan has come up and taken 10 per cent of her, so that’s been a first for me,” Bourne said.

Coolmore’s Wootton Bassett (GB) and Kia Ora Stud’s G1 Golden Slipper-winning stallion Farnan both had horses make $500,000 during the opening session, while the latter’s barnmate Prague was another to post a good result courtesy of Lot 122, who sold to a new partnership of Annabel Neasham Racing and William Johnson Bloodstock (FBAA) for $375,000.

Graff, Hello Youmzain (Fr) and Ole Kirk were the other first-season sires who had at least one yearling sell for $300,000 or more.

#4. Busuttin and Young continue love affair with Japanese stallions

The sole offering by Group 1-producing Japanese sire Kizuna (Jpn) was an intriguing addition to this year’s catalogue and his buyers, Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, will be hoping lightning can strike twice for the Victorian-based training partnership after going to $380,000 to secure the Arrowfield Stud-bred colt.

Busuttin and Young purchased a yearling by another previously unheard of Japanese stallion on these shores, Lord Kanaloa (Jpn), for $300,000 back in 2019, and that colt transpired to be G1 Blue Diamond S. hero Tagaloa, who now stands at Yulong Stud and saw his first few yearlings sell for up to $240,000 on the opening day.

The similarities don’t end there, with Lot 102 being secured from the draft of Arrowfield Stud, the very same draft out of which Tagaloa was purchased by his astute trainers.

That gave his purchases the confidence to return to the well once more, and Young feels that the Kizuna colt is more physically developed than their former Group 1-wininng stable star was at the same age.

“We liked his pedigree and we are always looking for those horses that can turn into a Guineas or a Derby prospect,” she said. “He sort of fitted the mould, he just had a really lovely great presence about himself and moved really nicely.

“This horse is a lot stronger than what Tagaloa was. We bought Tagaloa thinking he was going to be a Guineas type of horse and he ended up winning a Group 1 six months prior in the Blue Diamond.

“We have a Derby eyed for this colt and hopefully he's delivering six months sooner like Tagaloa and winning us a Guineas.”

#5. Syndicators set out their stalls early

Syndicators are certainly no strangers to stocking their ranks with graduates from this sale and they exploded out of the blocks on Day 1, accounting for five of the first 10 lots through the ring.

Many of Australasia’s leading syndication companies managed to get on the board during the opening session, including Te Akau, Triple Crown, Prime Thoroughbreds, Dynamic Syndications, Proven Thoroughbreds, Tricolours, Star Thoroughbreds and Darby Racing.

The latter signed for six lots during the opening session, including three of the first 10 and the very first lot through the ring, a Deep Field colt described by Scott Darby as “lovely, neat, sharp 2-year-old type of colt from a great farm”.

Speaking to The Thoroughbred Report, Darby revealed that he and his team were planning to come away with around six or seven yearlings, but could end up purchasing anything up to a dozen if the cards continue to fall their way.

“Day 1 for us was always going to be busy, we had plenty on the list and we dived in early,” he said.

“It’s a great sale, but it’s a really tough sale price-wise because everyone here is buying up to get those better type of colts. You’ve got to be patient and you’ve got to do a lot of homework to get the rewards at this sale.

“We really pulled back on the yearling market in 2023 believing that we would struggle a bit, but we had such a successful year. We were able to buy tried horses like Caballus and a number of European horses, so it ended up one of our bigger years. Obviously two Group 1 winners helped that.

“We’re going into 2024 pretty optimistic, even though there’s still some stops on the economy.”

One of Darby’s purchases of note during the opening session came in the shape of Lot 5, a Tassort colt out of the winning Encosta De Lago mare Olympic Dream who fetched $260,000.

Darby Racing bought the colt’s full brother at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast 2YO In Training Sale for $160,000, and given the opinion his trainer Michael Freedman has of him, Darby was delighted to have come out on top for his Emirates Park-consigned sibling.

“He was a really, really nice colt with a great attitude and we are rapt to get him,” he said. “We paid a little bit more than we thought we had to, but I think everyone could see how nice he was.

“We bought the full brother at the breeze-up sale here at Magic Millions, he was the fastest colt of the whole sale.

“He went to Michael Freedman, he was going to trial this morning (Tuesday), but timely we held him back, he just wasn’t quite ready.

“Michael absolutely loves him.”

At the end of play on Day 1, syndicators signed for a total of 32 lots, up five from from 27 on last year’s opening session.

#6. Waterhouse-Bott secure half-brother to Storm Boy

Given the way Saturday’s $3 million R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic favourite Storm Boy (Justify {USA}) burst onto the scene with a pair of dominant victories last month, it was hardly a surprise to see his trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott team up with Bruce Slade’s Kestrel Thoroughbreds to secure his half-brother, Lot 33, by Pierro for $375,000.

Bott, however, was quick to insist that the Coolmore Stud-consigned colt had been bought because of his own set of credentials, not solely because his half-brother is shaping up to be a leading contender for this year’s top juvenile honours.

“We always try to buy them on their own individual merit and we’ve bought him irrespective of Storm Boy, who is a different style of horse to him,” Bott said.

“He was purchased and selected in his own right and is very athletic, he just has a lovely way about him. For a colt with that potential upside there, he could look a great value play in another week’s time.”

The Waterhouse-Bott and Kestrel Thoroughbreds combination secured five yearlings on Day 1 and the trainers were involved in the purchase of three further yearlings in partnership, helping them to sit fourth on the leading buyers standings.

There were other trainers keeping it in the family with their purchases on Day 1, spearheaded by Tony Gollan’s $1.2 million purchase of the I Am Invincible first foal out of his former stable star Outback Barbie. The Yarraman Park consigned filly was purchased in conjunction with Outback Barbie’s owner Jennifer Acton.

The final word

Tuesday’s final word goes to Newgate Farm’s Stud Manager Jim Carey, who pulled off yet another stunning pinhooking result when the Snitzel filly out of G2 Percy Sykes S. placegetter Serena Bay (Sebring) sold to another great judge in Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) for $1.25 million to become the highest-priced filly of the opening session.

Carey, who has earned himself a reputation as one of the finest pinhookers in the industry, purchased the filly for $480,000 at last year’s Magic Millions National Weanling Sale. The filly was sold on Tuesday by Newgate as Lot 163.

Top buyers

Vendors by aggregate

Vendors by average (3 or more sold)

Sires by aggregate

Sires by average (3 or more sold)

Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions

Day 1 of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale saw a rush of action early, with progeny by I Am Invincible causing a rush of attention in the first 25 lots.

As the auction progressed later into the afternoon, other top stallions Zoustar and Snitzel began to make their presence felt, while first-season sire King's Legacy made a splash on the first day of his progeny being available as yearlings.

Lot 19 - I Am Invincible x Palace Talk (NZ) (Street Cry {Ire}), colt, $1.3 million

One of the most anticipated colts of the opening day had the price-tag to match his hype, with David Ellis CNZM (BANZ) and Tom Magnier collaborating to secure the striking colt for $1.3 million, less than an hour into the sale.

The full brother to the G2 Angus Armanasco S. winner Shuffle Dancer (I Am Invincible), Lot 19 was met with a flurry of interest, with the winning bid of Ellis and Magnier delivering a second seven-figure result for Yarraman Park’s draft in a matter of minutes.

His dam, Palace Talk (NZ) (Street Cry {Ire}) has built a golden record as a producer, alongside Shuffle Dancer she has produced another full sibling to this colt, Forbidden City (I Am Invincible), as well as Never Talk (No Nay Never {USA}), both of whom have recorded placings in black-type races.

Speaking to The Thoroughbred Report following the purchase, Ellis lauded his new purchase.

“We thought he was a beautiful colt, we’re just delighted that we can train these sort of horses in Australia at our Cranbourne stable, so it’s a very exciting day for us, to be able to buy a colt of his quality, and have him to train for Coolmore Stud.”

Lot 163 - Snitzel x Serena Bay (Sebring), filly, $1.25 million

Bloodstock agent Sheamus Mills, working under his banner Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA), emerged victorious from an impassioned bidding war for Lot 163, with the well-related colt by Snitzel being knocked down to him for $1.25 million, the biggest result of the day for Newgate Farm as vendors.

She is out of the Sebring mare Serena Bay, Lot 163 comes from a family of early 2-year-old speedsters, with his half-siblings being Summer Loving (Exceed And Excel), Alinea (Written Tycoon) and West Of Africa (Not A Single Doubt), all three having shown ability in their juvenile year.

“That was like death by 1000 paper cuts, I never thought that was going to end to be honest,” Mills said following the bidding frenzy.

“But you’ve got to be staunch with the good ones, don’t you? They stand out and everyone seems to want them.

“I got a little bit of extra incentive when I realised that Gai (Waterhouse) was on it. I think she’s got the last two (out of Serena Bay), including the one that trialled this morning (Alinea), so she’s got to think something of them if she’s punching us along this far.

“Thanks to Gai for that last little bit of incentive.”

Asked what qualities he saw in the colt that saw him stretch all the way to the final purchase price, Mills said, “Just her size and athleticism. We kept knocking the catalogue down more and more and more, I think we ended up with five horses through the week as the horses we identified as the five we thought were must-haves, and I’d be surprised if the other four are viable.

“She was definitely at the upper echelon, but I suspect that the other four are going to be hard to beat so we had to be a little but staunch there.”

Lot 16 - I Am Invincible x Outback Barbie (Spirit Of Boom), filly, $1.2 millIon

Leading Queensland-based trainer Tony Gollan continued a long-standing collaboration with the Acton family, with the first foal from their champion mare Outback Barbie (Spirit Of Boom) being knocked down to them for $1.2 million when going through the ring as Lot 16 when offered by Yarraman Park.

Alan Acton, a Central Queensland racing legend, tragically died in a helicopter accident last April, missing the chance to see his prized mare, Outback Barbie, debut her first foal at the sales.

Outback Barbie, trained by Gollan, shone in her racing career, notably in the Magic Millions events and winning the $1 million QTIS in 2020. Acton was also key in founding The Archer, Rockhampton's celebrated annual slot race.

Speaking to The Thoroughbred Report minutes after securing her, Gollan was glowing on the seven-figure filly’s qualities.

“I actually bought Outback Barbie’s mother, Pure Purrfection, many years ago now, and then Outback Barbie came along, she was her first foal, she did a great job for the stable and for the Acton family, and now in conjunction with them I was able to secure her (Outback Barbie’s) first foal.

“We’re hoping history can repeat itself again, she’s a beautiful filly, she reminded me an awful lot of her mother, a dead ringer of her actually.

“She’s a very nice first foal, very athletic, the type of filly you buy with the hope to get back here next year (for the R. Listed Magic Millions Gold Coast 2YO Classic).

“We’ll try and get her back here and race for the riches on Magic Millions day, her mother was able to race in three or four Magic Millions days in her career, starting as a 2-year-old, hopefully this filly can do the same.”

“I think she is (my most expensive yearling purchase), she’s a very obvious filly, the type of I Am Invincible filly people queue up to buy, she was always going to bring the price-tag, but I was lucky enough to have the support of the Acton family behind me, it made my job a lot easier.

“She’s the biggest lot I’ll buy at this sale.”

Lot 84 - Zoustar x Ready To Soar (More Than Ready {USA}), colt, $1.1 million

Having partnered with Coolmore earlier in the day to secure Lot 16, Te Akau Racing went it on their own on Lot 84, with David Ellis CNZM (BANZ) going to $1.1 million to stave off interest from a cavalcade of prospective buyers.

By leading sire Zoustar, Lot 84, who was offered by Segenhoe Stud, he is out of More Than Ready (USA) mare Ready To Soar, a three-time victress on the racetrack, and a full sister to the G1 Queensland Derby winner Eagle Way (More Than Ready {USA}).

Also a part of the family is the dual-Listed winner Impressive Eagle (Rubiton) and the G3 Black Opal S. winner Kalashnikov (Capitalist), both winners of juvenile races.

Ellis is bullish about the level this colt can get to, telling The Thoroughbred Report of his desire to see him across the road in 12 months' time, competing in the $3 million R. Listed Magic Millions Gold Coast 2YO Classic, and even bigger targets beyond.

“Our aim would be to have him back here this time next year for the Magic Millions race, and then for a race like the (G1) Golden Slipper. We see him being an early maturing horse, a lot of class, he’s correct and we loved him from the moment we saw him.

“This Zoustar colt is out of a More Than Ready mare, we bought the colt from Segenhoe Stud, we loved the pedigree and thought he had a terrific attitude.”

Solely bought for the Te Akau Racing colt syndicate, Ellis explained what the future may look like for the flashy chestnut.

“He’ll finish up in Cranbourne, but we’ll take him home to New Zealand to break (race educate) him in first.

“He’s a classy colt, very athletic, you can just see him on a racecourse, he just looked the goods to us.”

Lot 47 - Written Tycoon x Piping Hot (More Than Ready {USA}), filly, $800,000

Highclere Australia secured sole ownership of Lot 47, a filly by Written Tycoon who is a full sister to the G1 VRC Lightning S. and the G1 Moir S. winning heroine Coolangatta (Written Tycoon), with the stirking filly recording the biggest result of the day for vendor Milburn Creek.

Initially a foal share, breeder John Warren decided late into the bidding to take her outright, telling The Thoroughbred Report, “We’re excited to have been able to buy the partner out and enjoy racing her here in Australia.

“She’s a completely different physical (type) to Coolangatta, she’s much more (like) Written Tycoon, but none of us know what the engine is like inside, so how can you compare apples and oranges?

“In my experience, in the past, I’ve seen plenty of full brothers and full sisters look completely different, and were equally as good as one another.”

Speaking minutes after the hammer crashed down, Warren confessed that the decision to go all-in on her wasn’t pre-planned, revealing that it was a last-minute move to keep and race her.

“We haven’t thought it through yet (who will train the filly), because quite frankly that was a little bit of a spontaneous purchase at the end, so we weren’t geared up to have it thought out.

“She’s a ball of muscle, hopefully she’ll slot well into the program that she’s bred for here, and be a very good racehorse along the way to becoming a broodmare.

Away from the Coolangatta connection, there is plenty of strength on the page of the filly, being related to the G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Reaan (Hussonet {USA}), who was foaled by Ribe (Danehill {USA}), the victress of the G2 Moonee Valley Oaks, the latter being this filly's grandam.

Lot 164 - King’s Legacy x Serenade (Star Witness), colt, $775,000

One of the most reliable names in columns of this nature is the James Harron Bloodstock Colts Partnership, and despite waiting until the late stanza of the sale, Harron struck to secure Lot 164, a striking colt by first-season sire King’s Legacy.

By a fast daughter of Star Witness, Serenade, the colt was subject to plenty of interest as the price ticked up, with Harron outlasting rival bidders by going over three-quarter of a million dollars to take her off the hands of Bhima Thoroughbreds.

Serenade is a half-sister to Stratum Star, winner of the G1 Kingston Town Classic (now Northerly S.), as well as the first-season stallion Prague.

Speaking following the purchase, Harron spoke of how the colt caught his eye from the moment he laid eyes on him.

“In our opinion he was one of the highest horses on the ground,” Harron said.

“He has a lovely pedigree and (he’s) off (a) great farm. King’s Legacy is one of the most exciting first-season sires around.

“We knew we’d have to be strong on him (bidding) and we’re happy.”

Lot 21 - I Am Invincible x Palazzo Pubblico (Conatus), colt, $750,000

Another early purchase attracting big money was Lot 21, a sharp colt by I Am Invincible that lured the China Horse Club and Newgate partnership up to a winning bid of $750,000, giving ‘Vinnie’ three high-priced lots in the first hour of the sale.

The half-brother to the Listed Phelan Ready S. winner Palazzo Spirit (Spirit Of Boom), he drew plenty of attention when entering the ring, and the final price was reflective of pre-sale interest in the colt, according to Luke McDonald of Baramul Stud.

“He’s one of the standout colts, a lot of good judges were on him, but it’s hard to beat China Horse Club, Henry Field and the team (at Newgate), they’re elite judges and they’ve selected a good one here.

“It’s an enormous result, he’s been purchased by an elite group, China Horse Club and Henry Field, they’ve got behind this horse.

“They’ve found a cracking individual. The best thing about him is that’s he’s an I Am Invincible, he’s an imposing animal, he’s got a lot of size and substance to him.

“I think he’ll go on to some big things on the racetrack, and his best attribute is his attitude. He walks up and down with a lot of presence, I think he’s going to go a long way, and he’s got a good pedigree to boot. He’s a half to Palazzo Spirit, who was a very early, stakes winning 2-year-old, so he’ll get up and be (competing) early.”

Lot 154 - Bivouac x Secretly Discreet (Lonhro), filly, $675,000

The second of the first-season sire band to rocket into the top lots for Day 1, Bivouac enjoyed an expensive yearling from his debut crop, with Lot 154 being knocked down to Ciaron Maher Bloodstock for $675,000.

Brought to the Gold Coast by South Australian-based Mill Park Stud, one of the biggest trips for any vendor, the filly is the second foal of the winning Lonhro mare Secretly Discreet, who tasted success over 1200 metres.

There is plenty of speed within the family, including the G3 Spring S. winner Just Discreet (Exceed And Excel) and the Listed Queen Adelaide S. winner Halo Again (Don’t Say Halo). Even with large volumes of speed, there’s still a staying presence on the page, with the filly's grandam, Maybe Discreet (Shamardal {USA}) a winner of the G1 Australasian Oaks in South Australia.

Speaking following the purchase, Will Bourne, bloodstock manager for Ciaron Maher Racing, spoke of his enthusiasm for the daughter of Bivouac.

“She’s very much an athlete, strong, great through the hocks walking away from you and (we) felt that she’d be a filly that could come back and compete next year as a 2-year-old, and obviously Mill Park are great breeders.

“(It’s a) first-season sire in Bivouac, but on that Lonhro-Exceed (And Excel) cross, across the board we felt it was a measured play.”

Discussing Bivouac himself, Bourne pointed to the athleticism of the electric sprinter turned stallion as a key advantage for his progeny.

“They’re not heavy horses. They’re leaner more athletic types, but I think that is going to be advantageous to get them to the races at two. They’re not too heavy.

“Ciaron’s dominant horses have been lighter types, like Coolangatta, they don’t take a lot of training so I’m hoping it enables her to get back here next year.”

Lot 78 - Kingman (GB) x Rainbow Falls (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), filly, $650,000

Coming off a 12-month period that saw him sire the G1 JJ Atkins S. winner King Colorado, and the G1 VRC Oaks victress Zardozi, intrigue was high in the first of a quartet of offerings by Kingman (GB), with Highway Farm, a buying name previously used by Yulong, going to $650,000 in order to purchase her from the draft of Vinery Stud.

Boasting a family with dual-hemisphere success, the filly is out of an unraced daughter of Dubawi (Ire), Rainbow Falls (Ire). There is plenty of depth to her page, including the G2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint S. winner Derryn, and the ultra-impressive 2-year-old Arabian Summer (Too Darn Hot {GB}), who looks poised to influence the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic on Saturday.

Speaking to The Thoroughbred Report after the hammer had come down, Vinery Stud’s Bloodstock Manager Adam White was thrilled with the result for one of the operation’s banner lots.

“She’s a beautiful filly, with a bit of an international pedigree, being by Kingman, she’s got a real Australian flavour to her damline, her grandmother Colour was a Group 3 winner as a 2-year-old in Australia.

“She was born and bred on the farm, and being out of a Dubawi mare she was bred on the same cross as the Oaks winner (Zardozi), so she had a lot going for on pedigree, and she’s a beautiful-looking filly.

Lot 119 - Snitzel x Run To The Beat (Can) (Scat Daddy {USA}), colt, $650,000

The Gandharvi Racing operation partnered with Michael Freedman Racing to come out on top of a number of bidders to secure Lot 119, a colt by Snitzel, for $650,000.

Out of a winning Scat Daddy (USA) mare Run To The Beat (Can), the colt is a half-sister to the G3 Ontario Fashion S. winner Southern Ring (Can) (Speightstown {USA}), with their dam being the Listed Northernette S. victress Seeking The Ring (Can) (Seeking The Gold {USA}).

Speaking following the sale, Arrowfield Stud’s Bloodstock Manager, Jon Freyer, was pleased with the price commanded for the colt.

“We were very happy with it (the price), he’s gone to a good home, Michael Wallace and Gandharvi have secured him, he’ll be trained by Michael Freedman, we’re very satisfied with the result,” he told The Thoroughbred Report.

“He was a very popular horse, he vetted very cleanly, he’s quite a specimen. A colt like that by Snitzel, it’s no surprise that he’d sell to that type of level, and we expected he’d be up there amongst the upper echelon.”

With a page holding some names not often seen in Australian yearling sale catalogues, Freyer expanded on the journey of this colt ending up being consigned by Arrowfield.

“She (Run To The Beat) is a Scat Daddy mare, that raced in Canada, it’s a very famous Canadian family. She’s been quite a success for us, she was an imported mare from the Keeneland November Sale.”

Michael Freedman, who was involved in the purchase, will be thrown the keys to train the colt.

Top lots

Cover image courtesy of Kick Collective

It has been an Australian honeymoon to remember for Rick and Linda Greenberg, who will return to Kentucky in a week’s time with a pair of Australian-bred fillies to add to their small and select portfolio of 10 racehorses in America.

Having tied the knot in September last year, the newlyweds decided to add a trip to the Gold Coast to their honeymoon itinerary and were not prepared to leave empty handed, signing for a filly from the first Australian crops of two shuttle stallions in Wootton Bassett (GB) and Admire Mars (Jpn) for a combined total of $650,000.

The first of their purchases, Lot 28, hails from a family littered with black type. Consigned by Bhima Thoroughbreds and secured for $500,000, the Wootton Bassett filly is out of a sibling to an almost endless list of stakes winners, spearheaded by the hugely successful former Coolmore shuttler High Chaparral (Ire).

Gallery: Images courtesy of Magic Millions

While there was an element of spontaneity to securing the Wootton Bassett filly, Greenberg’s second purchase, however, was very much on his radar. An Admire Mars filly offered as Lot 86 by Longwood Thoroughbred Farm and purchased for $150,000, she is a direct descendant of multiple Group 1 winner and Horse of the Year Let’s Elope (NZ) (Nassipour {USA}).

Both horses will head to America in due course to be trained by Kenny McPeek, and it was impossible to wipe the smile off of Greenberg’s face when reflecting on his pair of purchases.

“We have a few horses and I'm very interested in bringing back several Australian fillies with no inbreeding to America for breeding after racing,” he told The Thoroughbred Report.

“I live in Lexington and I wanted to mate these fillies from Australia with these top Kentucky sires.

“I wanted one of them to be part of the gift that keeps on giving - the horse that got away from America, Sunday Silence, so one of the horses I purchased today (Tuesday) was by Admire Mars.

“I was thinking I’d go away with two by Admire Mars, but that Wootton Bassett kinda took away a lot. I couldn’t resist her, she kinda fell into my lap and was within my budget by a hair. I lucked out and my trainer is going to go bananas when he looks at that pedigree, I just can’t believe how lucky I was. It was serendipity.

“I’m very happy with the Admire Mars and I’m very happy, times a million, with the Wootton Bassett. I’m going back to America at least 1000 feet higher than the aeroplane.”

Greenberg has been involved in racehorse ownership for almost two decades and has enjoyed plenty of success, courtesy of the likes of Grade 3 winner My Baby Baby (USA) (Bernstein {USA}), Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies’ Turf placegetter House Of Grace (USA) (Limehouse {USA}) and recent dual Listed winner Dash Attack (USA) (Munnings {USA}), the latter of which was named after his wife Linda’s grandson.

Despite that success, Greenberg, an infectious disease physician at the University of Kentucky, is well aware of the highs and lows of racing and breeding, something which makes the sweet taste of success even sweeter when he watches one of his horses salute the judge.

“I’ve been in the business as partners with my trainer’s horses since 2007 - one day you’re up and the next five years you’re down,” he said.

“We put in a lot of hours. It’s a little bit of science, witchcraft and luck, but you’ve got to put in the sweat to come out with what you think is best for you.

“I have a saying, and I’m not so sure I’m a little pig, but little pigs get fed and big pigs get slaughtered, and if I just go outside my budget then I’m sure there would be a price to pay later.

“The industry has taught me a lot of humility. Every day is another day and your wishes are eternal, but when that moment happens and your horse wins a race, whether it be a claimer or a graded stake, that feeling is hard to put into words.”

Tip of the iceberg

Greenberg, who fell in love with the story of Phar Lap (NZ) (Night Raid {GB}) on his first and only previous visit to Australia many years ago, was buying under the banner of Catalyst Stable in conjunction with Craig Rounsefell’s Boomer Bloodstock (FBAA).

It was his US-based trainer, Kenny McPeek, who introduced Greenberg to Rounsefell after he made his intentions to buy, and Greenberg could hardly be more effusive in his praise for one of the industry’s most decorated bloodstock agents.

“I told Kenny that I wanted to go to Australia and bring back a couple of fillies and he said, ‘Rick you’re crazy’, so I said, ‘Well, you’re not telling me anything I don’t already know’,” Greenberg said.

“We eventually worked it out and he set us up with Boomer. I can’t tell you how happy we are with Craig, he’s the best of the best, and I happen to know a couple of other people in the industry who say the same thing.

“I’m thinking I should name one of the fillies I bought today 'Boomher'!”

One of the major draw cards for the pair of fillies Greenberg secured on the opening day was the lack of inbreeding in their pedigrees, something which he believes is vital to ensuring the health and diversity of the global thoroughbred population moving forward.

Plenty more Americans will follow suit and descend on the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in search of outcrosses according to Greenberg, whose passion and adoration for the thoroughbred was plain for all to see.

“I live in the horse capital of America, I might say the horse capital of a larger place like the world, but here I am in Australia and your horse racing is just amazing, it’s a throwback to America 100 years ago,” he said.

“I’m very interested in the health and wellbeing of my foals and mares. I love going out to the farm every week or two and talking to my babies, feeding them carrots and watching them grow up, and I just think there has been a lot of inbreeding in various countries. It’s time to mix and match.

“I believe you’ll see more Americans at these sales, it’s inevitable. They’re already going to Europe and buying like crazy, but they’ll be racing here and bringing horses back in a big way. Australia is a country where the public comes first. It’s clean, it’s beautiful, the people are friendly and there are opportunities here to both enjoy your life and see some beautiful horses.

“I’m just the tip of the iceberg and my iceberg is pretty tiny.”

Cover image courtesy of First Light Racing

Lot 125 - All Too Hard x Sally’s Day (More Than Ready {USA}), colt, $200,000

Buyer: Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and Kestrel Thoroughbreds

Vendor: Newgate Farm

Roughly halfway through the first day of selling at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott combination, in conjunction with Kestrel Thoroughbreds, secured Lot 125 for $200,000, in what appears to be a shrewd bit of buying on a day where four yearlings went to seven figures.

Speaking to The Thoroughbred Report following selling concluding on Tuesday, Bott spoke of the opportunity to gain a yearling that can be up and going early, for a good price.

“We put together a syndicate to try for early running types, at value prices. The fact we’re doing a piece on that now, hopefully we got the criteria there in that regard, but he’s a nice, forward enough type of horse with the page to back it up, there’s a lot of things to like. Hopefully he’s a percentage play.

“I think anything that comes under the sale average, it was sort of in and around where we wanted to be playing with these types of horses. I’m happy with the price.”

Lot 125 is out of a winning More Than Ready (USA) mare Sally’s Day, with this being her first foal. She is a half-sister to stallion Better Than Ready, and also boasts relations to the G2 Linlithgow S. winner Illustrious Lad (I Am Invincible) and the G3 Standish H. winner Publishing (Testa Rossa).

An advisor for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing, Bruce Slade was particularly impressed with the pedigree of the colt, saying, “All Too Hard, he’s produced our stable star at the moment in the form of Alligator Blood, he’s a stallion that percentage wise, winners to runners is almost as good as any stallion in Australia. For some reason, they always seem to under-sell, so there was value for him through him, as a proven sire.

“This horse is out of a More Than Ready mare, who is a full sister to Better Than Ready, and he carries the Strawberry Hill brand, which we’ve had a lot of luck with in the stable through all those great (John) Singleton horses.

“He was raised out at Newgate as well, which we’ve had a lot of success with. There were a lot of risk factors in our favour, so we were delighted to pick him up for $200,000.

“It just felt like he used himself very well (when parading for inspections), he’s a lovely balanced horse with great muscle tone, and every muscle fiber that was producing energy was moving, pushing him the right way.”

All Too Hard has proven himself to be a reliable sire of elite-level performers, outside of Alligator Blood, he has also sired Wellington, Forbidden Love and Behemoth, all three of who tasted success in Group 1 company.

Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan

With so many impeccably bred colts and fillies, residing in the care of some of the best trainers in racing, there were plenty of eyes fixed on how some of the early-season juvenile runners have returned ahead of their lucrative targets in the coming months.

Plenty impressed, but one filly from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable put in a performance that has rocketed her straight into calculations for some of the most revered prizes in Australian racing.

Lady Of Camelot performs royally

Highly regarded juvenile Lady Of Camelot (Written Tycoon) put on one of the better performances seen in a Sydney 2-year-old trial so far this season, roaring away from her fellow fillies under Adam Hyeronimus to record a 9.21l victory in Heat 14.

Bred by Go Bloodstock, she races in the distinctive yellow and white colours, which she carried to a debut fourth in the G3 Gimcrack S., having trialled impressively in the lead-up to the early-season feature.

Her performance on Tuesday stands amongst the better warm-ups for autumn riches so far seen from this crop, powerfully extending away from another well-regarded filly, Invincible Madison (I Am Invincible).

Given a dig to cross and find the fence by Hyeronimus, she had built a margin of 5l on the corner. From there, her rivals could only watch on as the margin extended, without being asked for any strenuous level of effort in the concluding 200 metres.

Harron’s boys tune up ahead of the autumn

Some of the most anticipated juveniles of the morning stepped out in the ninth heat, with Peter and Paul Snowden-trained duo Fearless (Pierata) and Bodyguard (I Am Invincible) completing the 902-metre assignment together.

It was the former who passed the post first, 0.9l clear of his stablemate, with Chad Schofield enjoying a smooth steer on the winner.

Both juveniles are part of the James Harron Colts Syndicate, and have shown promise on the track in the pre-Christmas stanza of the 2-year-old season, Fearless was a game fourth in the G3 Breeders’ Plate in September, while Bodyguard, who was a $1.6 million purchase at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Emirates Park, was an impressive 2l winner of the Listed Maribyrnong Trial S. down the Flemington straight.

Force to be reckoned with in the autumn?

Widely considered to be in the upper-echelon of 2-year-old trainers in the country, Peter and Paul Snowden enjoyed consecutive heats boasting the first two runners home, with Force Red (Cosmic Force) and Zealously (Harry Angel {Ire}) showing their quality in Heat 10.

Force Red burned around the course impressively, finishing 0.54l clear of his stablemate Zealously, with both standing up as the classy customers of the heat. The winner stuck on gamely for fifth in the G3 Breeders’ Plate in September, while Zealously was having his first public appearance of any nature.

Snowden camp flex their 2-year-old muscle

The names ‘Peter and Paul Snowden’ have appeared frequently so far, and they continued their iron-grip over the morning's 2-year-old heats with strong displays by High Octane (Deep Field) and Counteroffensive (Deep Field) in the 11th fixture of the day.

Both colts, who are owned by an ownership group spearheaded by China Horse Club, looked to have the potential to influence upcoming feature juvenile races off the strength of their hitout, with High Octane a promising colt that has yet to be seen under raceday conditions.

He was a $1,050,000 purchase at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale for the group out of the draft of Segenhoe Stud, while Counteroffensive, who was bought for $425,000 at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Mill Park Stud, finished third in a 2-year-old race at Warwick Farm back in October.

Prost returns stylishly

Having only been beaten 0.75l on debut in the G3 Breeders’ Plate, Prost (Snitzel) was a juvenile plenty were keen to keep an eye on coming into Tuesday morning, and the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained colt signalled his intent for a big autumn with a strong performance in the 12th heat of the morning.

Partnered by Adam Hyeronimus, the classy youngster was able to cross the line 0.47l clear of the unraced Manos (Snitzel), another part of the China Horse Club regiment aimed at forging a stallion career.

Prost was a lucrative result for vendors Baramul Stud at the 2023 edition of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, with Kia Ora Stud, TFI and Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing parting with $650,000 to secure him.

Pierata filly shows her potential

Another juvenile in the care of Team Snowden, Wave Breaker (Pierata) took a step forward in her preparation for a raceday debut, getting the better of Satin Summer (I Am Invincible) and the winner of the G3 Gimcrack S., Manaal (Tassort) in the 899-metre, Heat 13.

Having run fourth in a field of six in her first trial back in September of 2023, the filly improved sharply into her second crack at a barrier trial, with veteran jockey Kerrin McEvoy steering her around the course 0.47l clear of Satin Summer.

Manaal, who stamped her authority as an early contender for major juvenile races, was given a quiet trial by jockey Tommy Berry, making late ground under minimal pressure.

Alinea adds to Waterhouse and Bott’s strong hand

The final 2-year-old heat of the morning - Heat 15 - was taken out by Alinea (Written Tycoon), who skipped 1.38l clear of stablemate Southern Charm (Shalaa {Ire}) in an 897-metre heat.

Previously seen running fifth in the G3 Gimcrack S., less than 2l off the winner Manaal, Alinea showed ability in her Tuesday hit-out under jockey Regan Bayliss.

Pushed along by Bayliss to go past Southern Charm, she responded to riding in solid fashion, with her gate speed also a valuable asset in the dash for 2-year-old cash. She was a $420,000 purchase at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Edinburgh Park.

Older horses inch closer to a return

Elsewhere, some talented types not seen for extended periods took significant steps forward in their preparations for a return to competition.

Talented import Maximal (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) hasn’t been seen since failing to beat a runner home in the G1 Champions S. in November of 2022, but the John O’Shea-trained gelding completed his 1100-metre heat - Heat 3 - impressively under the guidance of Nash Rawiller, putting a space of 0.78l on stablemate Rawano (NZ) (Tivaci), an unraced 3-year-old.

Some 10 minutes later, promising filly Blanc De Blanc (I Am Invincible), who last ran in the G1 Golden Slipper S. in March last year, narrowly won an open-age heat from Lady Of Poise (Trapeze Artist). Back in fourth was the 2022 Listed Phelan Ready S. winner Godfather (I Am Invincible).

Fellow 3-year-old filly Oz Empress (Exceed And Excel), victress of the Listed Jim Moloney S. last spring, put on one of the performances of the morning, spearing away to win her 902-metre heat by 3.3l.

Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

With 42 winners to their name this season, father and son training duo Anthony & Sam Freedman are well on their way to recording their most successful season since joining forces in 2020.

Just four months into the current racing year, the Mornington-based horsemen have added a G1 Melbourne Cup, G1 Caulfield Cup and multiple stakes events to their fast-growing mantlepiece.

Table: Anthony and Sam Freedman's results by season

At this early point in the season, the father-son duo have claimed 42 winners and accumulated over $10 million in earnings which is already double that of last year’s effort. Maintaining a winning strike rate of 22 per cent, the partnership is winning races at a far superior rate than last season (16 per cent).

Table: 2023/24 Victorian Trainers' Premiership standings by winners

Taking a look at the current Victorian Trainers' Premiership, Anthony and Sam Freedman are sitting in fifth place and firmly maintaining the state’s best winning strike rate (22 per cent) ahead of Danny O’Brien (20 per cent) and Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr (19 per cent). While their $10.5 million in earnings is largely influenced by Without A Fight’s (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) $5.06 million collect in the G1 Melbourne Cup, Anthony and Sam Freedman continue to out-perform their peers in respect to prizemoney per start. Not counting the prizemoney accumulated from the Melbourne Cup, the partnership significantly outperforms their peers in regards to prizemoney per starter ($29,000).

Since joining forces at the start of the 2020/21 racing season, Anthony and Sam Freedman have claimed 46 stakes events including six at Group 1 level. The partnership’s best stint occured in their first training season when they claimed 18 stakes wins including the G1 Blue Diamond S. with the now Newgate resident stallion Artorius and the G1 Australian Cup with Homesman (USA) (War Front {USA}). Just a year into their training partnership, the Godolphin-raced Daumier claimed the pair a second G1 Blue Diamond S. winner and continued their reputation as one of the country’s best trainers of 2-year-olds. Outside of the Blue Diamond, the Freedman's have prepared winners of both colts and fillies versions of the Blue Diamond Preview with De Sonic Boom (Spirit Of Boom) and Daumier both victorious in respective editions. Other stakes-winning 2-year-olds trained by the Anthony and Sam Freedman combination include Listed St. Albans S. winner Crosswinds (Written Tycoon), Listed Cinderalla S. winner Bistro (Street Boss {USA}) and Listed Redoute’s Choice S. winner Cannonball (Capitalist).

While they are proven producer’s of elite juveniles, Anthony and Sam Freedman’s 46 stakes victories to date have occurred over every distance range. There is no bias towards any distance range with the father son duo training 16 stakes winners over short-course trips (1200 metres or less), 19 over middle-distance trips (1201 metres to 2000 metres) and 11 stakes winners over staying trips of 2000 metres and beyond. A further 14 of their black-type winners occurred at staying trips of 2001 metres and beyond.

A name steeped in racing with a list of success too long to mention, the Anthony and Sam Freedman training partnership are certainly making a name in their own right. With a potential career best season ahead, the Mornington-based pair have plenty to look forward to as we look towards the autumn carnivals.