Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions

At A Glance

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At the close of trade on Saturday evening, Book 1 of the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale had grossed $223,475,000, a fraction under $5,000,000 short of the 2023 figure.

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After a sensational week of selling, the very top end of the market appears to be in rude health, with Magic Millions breaking their record of million-dollar sales for the fourth year in succession. A total of 23 yearlings fetched seven-figures, up three from the auction house’s previous record of 20 set 12 months ago.

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The median dropped another point to $200,000 during Saturday night’s fifth and final Book 1 session, down from $215,000 last year, whilst the clearance rate of 85.84 per cent, while still healthy, was down slightly on last year’s figure of 88.48 per cent at the same juncture.

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The 23rd and final million-dollar lot of the week came early in Saturday night’s session, with Kingstar Farm’s Extreme Choice colt out of the Shamardal mare Mischief Night selling to Highway Farm for $1.4 million to top the session.

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Segenhoe Stud got the better of Newgate Farm in a thrilling race to be crowned leading vendor by gross, with just $50,000 separating the two industry giants at the close of trade on Day 5. Segenhoe also set a new benchmark of million-dollar lots for one vendor with an astonishing seven yearlings fetching seven figures throughout Book 1.

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I Am Invincible ended Book 1 as the leading sire by gross for the seventh successive year, while Frankel stole his crown in the leading sires by average metric, having seen four of his yearlings sell at an average of $825,000.

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A number of first-season sires posted memorable results with their first crop of yearlings, but none more so than Coolmore’s Wootton Bassett, who sold two million-dollar lots and was responsible for the $2.1 million sale-topping filly from his first Southern Hemisphere crop. He ended Book 1 as the leading first-season sire by both gross and average.

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Fresh from winning the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic with Storm Boy, Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, together with Bruce Slade’s Kestrel Thoroughbreds, ended Book 1 as the leading buyer by gross for the first time since 2019, parting with $8,520,000 for 23 yearlings.

Segenhoe edge out Newgate by the narrowest of margins

The race to be crowned leading vendor for Book 1 of this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale has been hotly contested all week, and the battle between neighbouring Hunter Valley farms Newgate and Segenhoe went down to the wire on Saturday night, with the latter prevailing by just $50,000.

Segenhoe Stud sold 30 lots, including a record-breaking seven million-dollar yearlings, throughout Book 1 for total receipts of $16,665,000, just getting the better of Newgate’s total gross of $16,615,000 from 48 sold.

It has been a remarkable week for the operation, and Peter O’Brien, Segenhoe’s general manager, was pinching himself when speaking to The Thoroughbred Report on Saturday night.

“It has been the best week of my life at a horse sale,” he said.

“We knew we had nice horses coming up and we had an exceptional spring on the track with horses off the farm. We had 13 individual stakes winners, which I think is a record for a farm in Australia, and that helps - it gives the brand credibility as far as breeding racehorses, which is the most important part.

“But we never expected to have seven million-dollar horses. The most a farm has ever had at Magic Millions before is four. Unfortunately, we had to withdraw a horse who would have made a million as well!

“We even had good sales with the lesser ones. I think we’ll probably end up selling $17 million worth, and before we got here I would have been happy with $12 million, so it has been off the charts.

“All credit to the team at the farm and the team we have here, because they put all the work in, and also to the farm itself, it’s an incredible property.”

One of the most pleasing aspects of the past week from O’Brien’s perspective has been getting big results for some of Segenhoe’s most loyal clients, including leviathan breeder John Camilleri, who has enjoyed a nothing short of miraculous week of selling on the Gold Coast, with his horses accounting for three of the 10 most expensive horses through the ring.

“John Camilleri is one of my closest friends,” he said. “I bought him his first mare and he has supported me for 30 years.

“When I was leaving Coolmore he said, 'Wherever you go the horses will go', and the same with Peter Walsh, who owned Lady Cosmology.

“John buys proper horses, always quality, and then breeds to quality stallions, but he’s also not stuck on breeding to proven stallions, apropo the Too Darn Hot horse.

“The other day, in 92 minutes, he earned $5.1 million, he had four million-dollar horses. But nobody deserves it more than he does, the time he puts into it and the thought process. He’s getting his just rewards.”

Milburn Creek were the only vendor in the top 10 vendors by gross to emerge with a 100 per cent clearance rate, with 11 out of 11 sold for a total gross of $5,930,000, although both Segenhoe and Coolmore only passed in one lot throughout the entirety of Book 1 from numbers of 31 and 41 respectively.

Tasmanian outfit Grenville Stud also boasted a 100 per cent clearance rate and emerged as the leading vendor by average for the very first time with a figure of $578,333, ahead of Segenhoe and Milburn Creek who posted averages of $555,500 and $539,091 respectively.

Vinnie top of the pile once again

I Am Invincible was once again crowned leading sire by gross at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, the seventh year in succession he has claimed the coveted title, although his gross of $19,550,000 was down considerably on the corresponding figure from 12 months ago ($32,390,000).

A big reason for the reduction in gross has been the increase in the number of lots by the reigning Champion Sire that were passed in this week, with 11 of his yearlings failing to find buyers compared with only four at last year’s auction.

I Am Invincible’s nearest pursuer Snitzel also incurred a similar pattern, with 12 of his 46 lots offered through the ring this week passing in, compared with only 5 out of 39 12 months ago.

Yarraman Park Stud’s flagbearer also had to surrender his title of leading sire by average, with global phenomenon Frankel (GB) topping the tree with four lots sold at an average of $825,000.

Taking the crown of leading sire by average among the domestic stallions is Newgate Farm’s Extreme Choice, who also finished in the top 10 sires by gross despite having 10 fewer yearlings sold than any other stallion in the top 10. The G1 Blue Diamond S. winner, whose fertility issues are well publicsed, had 13 yearlings sell during Book 1 for total receipts of $9,145,000 at an impressive average of $703,462.

Having signed for the $1.4 million session-topping Extreme Choice colt on Saturday night, Yulong’s General Manager Vin Cox could hardly have been more complimentary of a stallion that is striking at an astonishing stakes winners to runners ratio of over 13 per cent, spearheaded by Group 1-winning trio She’s Extreme, Espiona and G1 Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside.

“When you look at his numbers it is staggering,” Cox said. “He’s an outlier in terms of his statistics and in terms of what he’s done and what he’s achieved, from what anyone would admit is a low base, is wonderful.

“They all seem to gallop and we’re glad to get a colt that is bred by him and looks like him.”

Another interesting observation from a stallion perspective is that the top lot through the ring, the $2.1 million Wootton Bassett (GB) filly, was by a first-season sire for the first time since Sepoy was responsible for the sale-topper in 2015.

International shuttle stallions accounted for both of the top two lots through the ring, with a colt by Darley shuttler Too Darn Hot (GB) claiming second spot after selling to Ciaron Maher Bloodstock and David Redvers Bloodstock for $1.9 million on Day 2.

First-season sires prove popular

Much of the talk heading into this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale centered around what many believed were the best-credentialed crop of first-season sires for some time, and this week’s results suggest that those people could well be bang on the money.

At this very same stage 12 months ago, only one first-season sire, Darley shuttler Blue Point (Ire), made it into the top 10 leading sires by gross, and it was a similar story in 2022, when The Autumn Sun was the sole freshman sire to achieve the feat.

This year, however, Coolmore Stud’s Wootton Bassett, Kia Ora Stud’s Farnan and Vinery Stud’s Ole Kirk all ended Book 1 in the top 10 sires by gross.

Gallery: First-season sires to the fore

In what was a truly remarkable sale for Wootton Bassett, whose first Australian crop of yearlings were no doubt advantaged by the deeds of his nine Group 1 winners in the Northern Hemisphere, the shuttle stallion was responsible for the most expensive yearling sold this week at $2.1 million, as well as an additional yearling in the top 10 lots courtesy of his colt out of Listed winner Fiera Vista (Exceed And Excel), who sold to Coolmore’s Tom Magnier for $1.6 million.

Wootton Bassett ended Book 1 as the fourth highest-grossing stallion of the week, behind the big gun trio of I Am Invincible, Snitzel and Zoustar, while also featuring in the top 10 sires by average - the only first-season sire to achieve that feat. Overall, he had 32 yearlings sell for a total gross of $14,900,000 at an average of $465,625, with only one yearling passed in.

Farnan and Ole Kirk, who ended Book 1 with averages of $309,483 and $219,565 respectively, also both sold a yearling for seven figures this week.

Waterhouse-Bott back on top

Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott have been among the leading buyers at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale ever since they first announced their training partnership back in 2016, but after a week which saw them bolster their ranks with a total of 23 new recruits purchased alongside Bruce Slade's Kestrel Thoroughbreds, the pair ended Book 1 as the leading buyers by gross for the first time since 2019.

Behind only the Newgate, China Horse Club, Go Bloodstock and Trilogy combination last year and Ciaron Maher Bloodstock the year before, the Waterhouse-Bott combination parted with a total of $8,520,000 over the past five days, an increase of $565,000 from 12 months ago, when they signed for 21 yearlings.

This year’s January auction also saw Te Akau’s David Ellis feature in the top 10 buyers by gross for the first time ever at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, yet another indication that the 'tangerine' will become an increasingly potent presence on these shores over the coming years.

The sale-topping $2.1 Wootton Bassett filly out of Te Akau’s nine-time Group 1-winning mare Avantage (Fastnet Rock) will be heading back across the Tasman along with the majority of Ellis’ 10 purchases this week, but an important note from Day 1 of the sale on Tuesday was the news that Ellis’ second most expensive purchase, the $1.3 million I Am Invincibe colt out of Palace Talk (NZ) (Street Cry {Ire}) whom he signed for in conjunction with Coolmore’s Tom Magnier, will be remaining in Australia to be trained by Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson at Te Akau’s new Cranbourne base.

As reported in Friday’s edition of The Thoroughbred Report, last year’s leading buyers Newgate, China Horse Club, Go Bloodstock and Trilogy were notably quieter on the buying front this year, signing for 12 lots for a total spend of $6,520,000 compared with 18 yearlings for a total spend of $10,100,000 12 months ago.

Other powerful operations predominantly on the hunt for elite stallion prospects to feature in this year’s top 10 buyers by gross were Highway Farm, Coolmore’s Tom Magnier and the James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership.

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

At the conclusion of Book 1, Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch spoke of his pleasure at the continued strong results of their headline sale.

“I’m incredibly pleased with how it’s all come together, I think we’ll reflect on this sale as a great sale as the year goes on.

“To have an increase in million-dollar lots to 23, the highest we’ve ever had here, that’s something my team should be enormously proud of.

“To have an average of $280-odd thousand, which is the third-highest average we’ve ever had, with only the last two years beating it, it’s a fantastic result.

“We had a very acceptable clearance rate of 86 per cent, which I think will only increase in the next 24 to 48 hours while we’re working with buyers for Book 2.

“There wasn’t a buyer in their own right that spent anywhere near $10 million overall, there’s generally a $10 million buyer at our sale.

“So, it just shows that to gross around the same number, there’s over 50 buyers that spent over $1 million at the sale, it just shows you the spread. That’s trainers, syndicators, who took home big big numbers. There was agents and colt funds (as well), so it was a very diverse buyers bench that was needed because of the depth and diversity in our catalogue.”

Lot 942 - Extreme Choice x Mischief Night (Shamardal {USA}), colt, $1.4 million

The most spirited bidding battle of the night came in the early stanza of selling, with a son of Extreme Choice drawing in bidders from all sides of the auditorium, but it was Highway Farm, a name previously used by Yulong, who won the war for the colt at a cost of $1.4 million.

With the demand for progeny of Extreme Choice roaring along throughout Book 1, it was little surprise to see that continue with this precocious chestnut, with such a strong family bolstering the quality of the sireline.

General Manager of Yulong, Vin Cox, told The Thoroughbred Report minutes after signing the dotted line, “Nothing like a good old-fashioned battle in the sale ring.

“He’s a beautiful colt out of a Shamardal mare who has already thrown a stakes winner and we’re delighted to get him.

“We expected him to be up there somewhere (in price). He was a much talked (about) horse that we identified fairly early and we saw him in December when we went through the Hunter Valley looking at yearlings and it is great to come away with him.

While Mischief Night (Shamardal {USA}) was unraced, she is a half-sister to emerging stallion Pierata, as well as the G3 Skyline S. winner Ashokan (More Than Ready {USA}).

Her career as a producer has gotten off to a strong start, with the G3 Vain S. winner Our Playboy (Sebring) consistently proving his quality across the journey, with six wins in his career so far.

Lot 931 - Deep Field x Merited (Fastnet Rock), colt, $800,000

With a delayed start to selling on Day 5, buyers had ample opportunity to consider their strategy, with a number diving straight in to try and purchase a handsome son of Deep Field from the draft of Silverdale Farm.

It was the Hong Kong Jockey Club, bidding through bloodstock agent Craig Rounsefell, that showed their pockets and love for the stallion, going to $800,000 in order to ensure he has a chance to race for riches in the revered jurisdiction.

Lot 931's grandam is the elite racemare Jeu De Cartes (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}), who took out the G2 Counties Cup when in training. He is also a relative of the G1 ATC Derby winner Mon De Jeu (NZ), who was crowned Champion Stayer of 2009/10 in his homeland.

Speaking to The Thoroughbred Report, Rounsefell highlighted the value of Deep Field for Hong Kong buyers, with this colt a member of his penultimate crop.

“There’s obviously not too many left of these and with the physical, he was just bang on.

“We had to wait all week for him – we’ve already bought two of them – and he was up there with the best colts here for us, that suited Hong Kong.

“(He’s got a) super temperament, the farm that he’s come off has already produced some really top horses in the last few years out of nice, young, fast Danehill-lined mares.

“For us, he was tailor-made.

“We’ve got three Deep Fields going up for the Hong Kong International Sale in March and some of them we bought here.

“Tim Boland who prepares them at Limitless Lodge loves them. He just loves their temperament, how sound they are and their speed.

“He’s obviously a target stallion for us and there’s not many of them left, so when the right one like him steps up you’ve got to take advantage of it.”

Lot 962 - Exceed And Excel x Miss Toorak Flyer (Toorak Toff), colt, $650,000

Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) has maintained an active presence in the upper realms of the market across the five days of Book 1, and his purchase of a colt by Exceed And Excel for $650,000 ensured he would remain in this column for another day.

Hedge, who endured a challenging day with the barrier incident of one of his rising stars, Sydney Bowler (Deep Field) across the road from the sales complex at the Gold Coast Turf Club, told The Thoroughbred Report of his delight to secure another lot he had been eyeing off intently since arriving in the sunshine state.

“I thought he was just an absolutely outstanding horse. He had just incredible athleticism and quality, he’s from a really good family and it’s a really developing family.

“There’s already a stakes horse there, there’s another unraced that looks very, very promising so, for me, it was a real priority to try and buy this horse and I was really happy to get him.

“It’s just me at this stage, so if anyone out there wants shares they’re more than welcome to jump in!

“They (Rosemont Stud, vendors) know the family intimately and that gave me a lot of confidence and my vet Tom Brennan gave him a huge rap as well.

“We just had a lot of intelligence about the quality of the animal back home and he presented so well when he was here, so I’m very happy to pick him up.”

For the dam of this colt, Miss Toorak Flyer (Toorak Toff), things could not have gotten off to much better of a start for her as a producer, with her first foal, Treasurway (Starspangledbanner) showing her quality when winning the G3 Breeders’ S. in South Australia.

Further down the page, a number of talented competitors are present, including the G3 Emancipation S. winner Almazyoon (Danehill {USA}) and the G2 Hobartville S. winner Brandenburg (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}).

Lot 966 - Wootton Bassett (GB) x Misstook (Fastnet Rock), filly, $600,000

Days after going to $1.9 million to secure a colt by Too Darn Hot (GB), Ciaron Maher was eager to add another exciting yearling of a shuttle stallion, Wootton Bassett (GB), to his stable, purchasing this filly under his Ciaron Maher Bloodstock banner for $600,000.

Prominent owner John O’Neill, who will be a part of this filly’s ownership group, explained that a desire for the sire prompted the decision to get stuck into the action.

“We love the stallion. A huge rap for it and it has sold very well here.

“We think it is a pretty nice horse. Lots of good relations in the family. Ciaron has got the half to it as well as a 2-year-old that goes really well, and unfortunately mum has passed away.

“Hopefully we can get this girl up and going like we think she might be able to continue on the breeding process.

“This time, Ozzie Kheir and I and our group of owners were pretty keen to get fast running 2-year-olds and that is what we looked at in the sale. We’ve had a bit of luck as we’ve bought half a dozen or so.

“All of our ownership group, we were in Spywire today. We obviously ran third, which is good. We were all pretty excited and we’re ready to go.

“Big groups of trainers and breeders are in those colt fund so probably the top 15 or 20 crackers that everybody loves, if they (the horses) are in the (cross-hairs of the) colt funds it makes it very difficult to buy them.

“We do our best and try and buy those if we can but we really try and focus on fast running fillies.”

There is plenty to like about the page of this filly, including one of the most dominant broodmare sires in contemporary racing, Fastnet Rock, who’s unraced daughter Misstook is the dam of this expensive yearling.

Although Mistook never made it to the track, a number of her close relations did, including her full sisters, the G2 Challenge S. heroine Passive Aggressive (Fastnet Rock), and the G3 Percy Sykes S. champion Missrock (Fastnet Rock).

Also present in the family is the G3 Ming Dynasty H. winner Aussies Love Sport (Redoute’s Choice), alongside the G1 Oakleigh Plate winner Mrs Onassis (General Nediym) and the quality racemare Renaissance Woman (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}), who achieved success in the G3 Angst S.

Top lots

Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Storm lands on The Coast

Relentless, unstoppable and oh-so brilliant was the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Storm Boy (Justify {USA}) in the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic.

The son of Justify (USA), ridden by Adam Hyeronimus, was given a confident ride by the hoop. Upon entering the straight, it looked to be anybody’s race until Hyeronimus shook the reins of Storm Boy and put the engine into overdrive.

Within a matter of strides, it was clear Storm Boy would not be caught as the substantially sized colt glided across the Gold Coast turf towards his most significant career success to date.

Chasing hard was the Michael Freedman-trained Highness (Snitzel) and Spywire (Trapeze Artist) from the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable. Spywire’s stablemate Erno’s Cube (Rubick) was the first filly home, besting Tony and Calvin McEvoy’s Arabian Summer (Too Darn Hot {GB}).

Co-trainer Adrian Bott was celebrating his first victory in the $3 million feature. Proud of the performance by Storm Boy, he told Sky Racing, “To be winning on this stage alongside Gai (Waterhouse) is fantastic. She’s been my mentor in all things with the operation and all things racing.

“Gai has had great success at this carnival before and in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic before. So, I’m thrilled to be able to come to the Gold Coast and win it.

Gallery: Storm Boy was purchased for $460,000 by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing/Kestrel Thoroughbreds at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale

“Storm Boy really put it all together today (Saturday). He was up on his toes in the first run in Queensland but took it all in today. I was even half-worried about how quiet he was parading.

“I think that’s what happens, though; when you bring them up to Queensland or travel, they half-mature, and they need to because we’ve got a big autumn planned ahead of Storm Boy. We’ve got some big races to try and win, and he rates as a top Golden Slipper prospect for us.

“He’s also an important stallion prospect and has a great profile.”

The son of Justify was a trial winner at Rosehill in October before winning at Warwick Farm in November. Storm Boy had his first start in early December at Rosehill, winning by 2.3l from subsequent winner Traffic Warden (Street Boss {USA}).

He then headed to Queensland in late December to contest the G3 BJ McLachlan S. at Eagle Farm.

Justify, a resident of Coolmore Stud’s Ashford base and a shuttler to Coolmore’s Jerrys Plains, was crowned the Champion First Season Sire in Australia last season.

A rare victor of the North American Triple Crown (one of 13), compromising the G1 Kentucky Derby, the G1 Preakness S. and the G1 Belmont S. He has sired five stakes winners in the Southern Hemisphere and 25 overall in his career.

Storm Boy’s dam Pelican (NZ) (Fastnet Rock) won twice as a 2-year-old and is the daughter of the grand mare Seachange (NZ) (Cape Cross {Ire}), a Champion Sprinter and a dual New Zealand Horse of the Year.

He was purchased for $460,000 by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing and Kestrel Thoroughbreds from the draft of Coolmore Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Magic Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

The partnership fronted up $375,000 to purchase Lot 33, a Pierro, half-brother to Storm Boy. Coolmore Stud, as agent for Morning Rise Stud, offered the colt at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

'Too Darn Lizzie, Too Darn good for them!'

Too Darn Lizzie (Too Darn Hot {GB}), a $1 million yearling purchase, made a dream start to her career when she proved too slick for her rivals in the $500,000 Magic Millions The Debut 2YO Fillies Plate over 1000 metres on the Gold Coast.

A daughter of Darley’s shuttle sire Too Darn Hot (GB) and trained by racing’s first lady, Gai Waterhouse, and Adrian Bott, dug deep for Tim Clark to better Froebel Star (Zousain) and Dominetta (Zoustar).

After the filly’s success, co-trainer Bott told Sky Racing, “Too Darn Lizzie did a great job. The pressure was put on her at the 400-metre mark and the top of the straight, but she really responded and rallied late.

“I think her class really shone through. Coming to the Gold Coast as a first starter and a 2-year-old with little exposure, she found under those conditions is tricky.

“Too Darn Lizzie has a lot of natural ability, and once she puts it all together, I think there’s plenty of upside. She’ll have a little break, and then we will carry through to the autumn. We hope to add some black type to her page as she’s a very valuable filly.”

Too Darn Hot has made a sizzling start to his Southern Hemisphere stud career. A Champion 2-Year-Old in Europe and a dual Group 1 winner as a 3-year-old, alongside being a son of the all-conquering Dubawi (Ire) from a triple Group 1-winning dam in Dar Re Mi (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}), he has all the ingredients to sire classy runners.

The son of Dubawi has sired four winners and one stakes winner in the star juvenile Arabian Summer from six Southern Hemisphere runners.

Gallery: Images courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Too Darn Lizzie is the second foal from the Magnus mare Enbihaar, who won twice as a 2-year-old. She won the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies) and was placed in the G1 Blue Diamond S. Enbihaar’s first foal, the Zoustar filly Extremely Wicked, was a $550,000 purchase by Bahen Bloodstock at the 2021 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.

Too Darn Lizzie, offered by Vinery Stud, cost McKeever Bloodstock, Watership Down, Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing a cool $1 million at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

While Enbihaar’s latest foal, a colt by the Champion Sire I Am Invincible, was sold for $700,000 when offered by Kulani Park as Lot 632 to Rosemont Stud, Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) and Mick Price Racing earlier in the week at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Son of Brutal relentless on The Coast

While a $1 million filly saluted in the $500,000 Magic Millions The Debut 2YO Fillies Plate on Saturday, a juvenile on the other end of the spectrum won the colts and geldings' edition of the new feature.

Purchase price mattered little at the end of the 1000-metre dash, with Lead Me On, a son of Newgate Farm’s first-season sire Brutal (NZ), trained by the Queensland-based Chris Anderson and ridden on Saturday by Michael Rodd, found the upper hand on Heavenly Impact (Harry Angel {Ire}), a $30,000 yearling purchase, while The Hamo (Better Than Ready), an $80,000 yearling purchase held third.

Lead Me On, was a $50,000 purchase by Chris Anderson Racing, Neil Werrett, Max Whitby and David Giesemann from the draft of Kitchwin Hills at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Brutal, a son of late Waikato Stud Champion Sire O’Reilly (NZ), won the G1 Doncaster H. and the G2 Premiere S. before retiring to Newgate Farm. To date, Brutal has had six runners to the track, resulting in two winners, including the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic contender Jenni’s Meadow.

Lead Me On is the third foal from The Seductress (Snitzel). She won twice as a 2-year-old and is from the family of the Rory Jester filly Aragen, a victress of the G1 Sires’ Produce S. and the G2 Silver Shadow S.

Gallery: Lead Me On wins the 2YO Colts & Geldings Plate

Hot form continues for Widden’s supersire

Widden Stud’s Zoustar is enjoying an outstanding season by his lofty standards. His brilliant son Ozzmosis secured victory in the G1 Coolmore Stud S., and his daughter Joliestar won the G1 Thousand Guineas. Across Australia on Saturday, the son of the late Northern Meteor continued his run of winners.

At Flemington, his son Zestiman debuted for the Ben, Will and JD Hayes stable over 1000 metres in the All Jockeys Dash. Zestiman found enough in hand to defeat the experienced I’m Kenough (Starspangledbanner) by 0.30l, while Twin Engine (Flying Artie) finished third.

Co-trainer Will Hayes indicated the colt would chase entry into the G1 Blue Diamond S. next month, “His trials were very professional. We thought he deserved a crack at headquarters,” Hayes told Racing.com.

“It was a relatively straightforward race so it was good to see him put the right foot forward. He’ll progress through the Blue Diamond Preview and Preludes and see if he’s up to it but so far, so good.”

Zestiman is the third foal from the unraced Exceed And Excel mare Estijmaam. She is a daughter of the Cape Cross (Ire) mare Sean Baile Mor, who was placed in the Listed Ballarat Cup and fourth in the G2 Moonee Valley Fillies Classic.

The colt was a $115,000 purchase by Dream Thoroughbreds, Bluegrass Bloodstock (FBAA) and Lindsay Park from the draft of Yarraman Park Stud at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

While in the Sunshine State, Zoustar’s son Zoumeteor was successful in the $500,000 Magic Millions Country Cup for Stuart Kendrick and Angela Jones. Adding further to Zoustar’s Saturday was his barnmate and first-season sire son Zousain, whose daughter Froebel Star finished second, beating Zoustar’s daughter Dominetta, who ran third in the $500,000 Magic Millions The Debut 2YO Fillies Plate.

Saxon’s filly salutes in Wellesley

The royally bred Saxon Warrior (Jpn), a son of the late Champion Sire Deep Impact (Jpn), sired his first Southern Hemisphere stakes winner when his daughter Archaic Smile won the Listed Wellesley S.

Trained by Tony Pike, Archaic Smile shot away from Nebuchadnezzar (NZ) (Rageese) and Macaluso (NZ) (Savabeel) in the 1100-metre feature at Trentham. Archaic Smile is from the So You Think (NZ) mare On The Ball (NZ), who was placed as a juvenile and is a half-sister to Swords Drawn (Camelot {GB}), a victor of seven races, including the Listed Moonee Valley Night Cup and the Listed Hawke’s Bay Cup.

Archaic Smile was a NZ$55,000 purchase by M Otani from the draft of Woburn Farm at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.

Cover image courtesy of Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)

Quintesa digs deep in Classic

On Saturday, Champion Jockey Opie Bosson won his fifth edition of the G1 Levin Classic at Trentham. Partnering with the Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained Quintessa (NZ) (Shamus Award) for Te Akau Racing, the pair dug deep in the concluding stages of the mile feature to hold off a charging Zabmanzor (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) and a game Impendabelle (Impending).

Quintessa followed in the footsteps of her Champion stablemate Impertartiz (I Am Invincible), who won the Levin Classic in 2022. The daughter of Shamus Award continued the dominance fillies have had in the feature, with the last five editions of the Levin Classic going the way of the girls and the last three trophies heading to the Te Akau Racing operation.

The last colt or gelding to salute in the race was Madison Country (NZ) (Pins) in 2019. The filly is the sixth Group 1 winner for the Rosemont Stud-based Shamus Award. Quintessa's dam, the five-time winner Chaquinta (NZ), is a daughter of High Chaparral (Ire).

Chaquinita won from 2000 to 2700 metres and is closely related to Dionysus (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}), a victor of the G3 Queen Elizabeth II Cup and the G3 Waikato Cup.

Quintessa was a NZ$170,000 purchase by David Ellis CNZM (BANZ) from the draft of Wentwood Grange at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.

Railway form to the fore in Telegraph

Nobody would begrudge the success of the Stephan Marsh-trained Mercurial (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}) in the G1 Telegraph on Saturday. The honest competitor was a last-start third behind his stablemate Waitak (NZ) (Proisir) in the G1 Railway but had his day in the sun at Trentham.

Ridden by Sam Spratt, Mercurial was a narrow winner over Express Yourself (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) and Bonny Lass (NZ) (Super Easy {NZ}). Mercurial, a homebred for M Darvill, A W Flexman, C T Jones, T Myers and R Wyeth, has won six races and was placed twice at stakes level before Saturday’s breakthrough.

Mercurial is the 11th stakes winner for his late sire Burgundy (NZ).

Abounding provides a $3 million thrill to First Light Racing

First Light Racing and their ownership will likely be celebrating on Saturday night after gun filly Abounding (Rich Enuff) landed the $3 million R. Listed Gold Coast Magic Millions 3YO Guineas.

The Robert Heathcote filly, ridden by Martin Harley, defeated a classy field of 3-year-old gallopers. Finishing second was the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Sovereign Fund (Capitalist). Meanwhile, in third, ending at a rate of knots on the outside was Flying Trapeze (Trapeze Artist) for Gary Portelli.

Transonic (Casino Prince), the dam of Abounding, won four races from 1500 to 1900 metres and was placed in the G2 Wakeful S. and the Listed Ethereal S. Abounding has four races from 11 starts and scored the Listed Gold Edition Plate last start.

Always a classy proposition, she was placed in the G3 Ken Russell Memorial Classic and several other stakes events. Abounding was a $75,000 purchase by First Light Racing and Robert Heathcote Racing from the draft of Telemon Thoroughbreds at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Sparta crowned Gold Coast King

King Of Sparta (I Am Invincible) is undoubtedly a Gold Coast boy. The classy Peter and Paul Snowden-trained 5-year-old gelding always seems to find his best in the Sunshine State. Having already claimed the R. Listed Magic Millions 3YO Guineas and the Magic Millions Sprint, he was back in action in the $1 million It’s Live! In Queensland Magic Millions Snippets over 1200 metres.

Ridden by James McDonald, the pair dominated Petronius (Redoute’s Choice) and the Victorian visitor Rose Quartz (Written Tycoon).

Speaking after King Of Sparta’s victory, co-trainer Peter Snowden told Sky Racing, “I told James McDonald, you can afford to give the opposition a bit of a start to get King Of Sparta balanced, but when he jumped and stepped late, I thought, 'Oh dear I might have said too much there,’ but at the 600-metre he started to truck up and went around them in a couple of strides.

“He’s a pretty talented horse. Not to put any horses down, he raced today (Saturday), but he had been running against the absolute elite. King Of Sparta thoroughly deserved that.

“I was asked this morning, if he won today, what would I do with him? I said, “Get him ready for next year!’”

King Of Sparta is the best winner from the G3 Cockram S. victress Octavia (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}). He has won six races, including the G3 Bletchingly S. and the Listed Falvelon Quality.

The gelding was a $700,000 purchase by China Horse Club, Newgate Bloodstock and Starlight Racing from the draft of Yarraman Park Stud at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Gallery: Images courtesy of Magic Millions

Gusty Lady stuns in finale

Lady Laguna (Overshare) took out the last race on the Gold Coast card, the $1 million TAB Magic Millions Fillies & Mares over 1300 metres.

The Annabel Neasham-trained 4-year-old had not been offered through public auction as a juvenile; instead, she earned her way into the $1 million feature, gaining a wildcard entry when winning the Listed Magic Millions Nudgee S.

Ridden by James McDonald, Lady Laguna was slightly wayward as she galloped to the line. Finishing second was Miss Hellfire (Hellbent), and in third was Maid To Fit (Snitzel). Lady Laguna is from the Encosta De Lago mare Catalina De Lago (NZ). A victress of three races from 1400 to 1600 metres, she is a half-sister to the G2 Edward Manifold S. victress She Will Be Loved (Strategic).

Lady Laguna is Catalina De Lago’s best runner from two foals to race. She has won five races up to 1200 metres. In addition to the Nudgee S. and Saturday’s success, Lady Laguna has recorded top three placings in the Listed Mick Dittman Plate, the G3 Gold Coast Guineas, the G2 Percy Sykes S. and several other stake events.

Sghirripa in a different postcode

Exciting sprinter Sghirripa (Lonhro) put together consecutive stakes victories and booked a ticket to the G1 Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield. The 4-year-old gelding trained by Shane and Cassie Oxlade took out the Listed Christmas S. at Caulfield last start and tackled a new frontier on Saturday - the Flemington straight in the G3 Standish H.

It proved no obstacle. Ridden by Craig Newitt, the grey was in a different postcode to his opposition at the finish line, winning by 3l from Crosshaven (Smart Missile) and Curran (Night Of Thunder {Ire}).

Sghirripa was a $70,000 purchase by Francesco Sghirripa from the draft of Grenville Stud at the 2021 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale.

Churchillian caps superb Saturday for Pike

Cambridge-based horseman Tony Pike enjoyed a superb Saturday at Trentham. In Race 4, Pike saddled up the progressive 2-year-old Archaic Smile (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) to claim the Listed Wellesley S. and followed that success with the classy 4-year-old mare Churchillian (Churchill {Ire}) in the G3 Anniversary H.

A victress of six races from 13 starts, Churchillian, ridden by the apprentice Lily Sutherland, defeated Apostrophe (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) and Town Cryer (NZ), also by the late Tavistock (NZ).

The stakes race double provided plenty of joy for Coolmore sires, with Churchill (Ire) still shuttling to Australia, covering 81 mares in the breeding season past. Saxon Warrior no longer shuttles to the Southern Hemisphere, with Archaic Smile his first stakes winner in Australasia.

Churchillian is the second Southern Hemisphere stakes winner for Churchill and is from the Irish-bred Fastnet Rock mare Fond Du Coeur (Ire). Bred by Pencarrow Stud and sold by them to Paul Willetts for NZ$100,000 at the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.

Cover image courtesy of First Light Racing

Lot 957 - All Too Hard x Miss Rose De Lago (Encosta De Lago), filly, $200,000

Buyer: Bjorn Baker Racing/Clarke Bloodstock Pty Ltd (FBAA)

Vendor: Widden Stud

After a long day across the road, trainer Bjorn Baker could have been forgiven for having an early night, but the larrikin trainer completed some of his best work yet in the final stanza of Book 1, signing for a filly by All Too Hard for $200,000 on Saturday.

Baker, who spoke to The Thoroughbred Report following the purchase, shared his excitement at securing a promising filly, at a price that he suspected he may have to pay a shade more for.

“I think she is a lovely filly, she’s strong, athletic, and obviously off Widden Stud, one of the best breeders, she’s got a really good pedigree (too).

“The mother was obviously a superstar, and we’re thrilled to get her, we thought she had a lot of quality, she moved beautifully, and I’ve had a bit of luck with the All Too Hards as well.”

Before Baker, who will celebrate his birthday on Sunday, could provide further insight, this reporter's interview expanded to two, with industry titan Gerry Harvey jumping in to give his thoughts on Baker's ability to extract value in a crowded market.

“He bought a Group 1 horse off me (Music Magnate) for $45,000, that means he is a great judge.

“Not many people can buy Group 1 winners at that price, people will pay $1 million to try and get one, this bloke (Baker) can get one for $45,000.”

Reflecting on the purchase at the 2013 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Yearling Sale, Baker recalled, “I said, ‘Mr Harvey it’s so cheap I feel like I’m making money.’”

Returning to his savvy Saturday cash-splash, Baker said of his yearling purchasing strategy, “It’s a big sale, at the start of the year, you have to be really active.

“I think we’ve bought really nice, athletic horses, and physically I’m very happy to train the bunch that we’ve got.

“You’ve definitely got to back yourself, in terms of the numbers we’ve got, and the quality we’ve got, plus the team I’ve got around me (it helps set me up for success).

“I’ve managed to consistently be in the top five (trainers) in Sydney for the last six years, and I think we’ve definitely got to target getting these better horses to target the big races, which no doubt everybody (else) wants to be included in.

“We thought we’d be paying a little bit more (for Lot 957), she’s a really good type and she’s got a great page, she’s very hard not to like when you see her.

“I always try and stick within my budget, in terms of what I’m comfortable with (paying), and I think she’s going to give myself and hopefully the clients coming in every possible chance (of making a return on investment).”

This filly is the first to be publicly offered by quality racemare Miss Rose De Lago (Encosta De Lago), who was a star performer across both Western Australia and Victoria, highlighted with success in the G2 Sunline S. and the G2 PB Lawrence S.