Magic Millions release 2024 Adelaide Yearling Sale catalogue

Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions

Hancock was one of many cheering home the Shane and Cassie Oxlade-trained Sghirripa (Lonhro) at Flemington; South Australians deservedly proud of the up and coming 4-year-old who has been successful at half of his 14 starts to date.

Easily putting 3l on his Standish rivals, the 2021 Adelaide Magic Millions graduate is - Hancock said - typical of the sort of horse who can be sourced at the sale; secured by Francesco Sghirripa for $70,000 from the draft of his breeders Grenville Stud.

“It is a nice horses sale,” Hancock said, noting that nothing makes him happier on sales day than seeing buyers wandering around the complex saying, “Oh that’s a good type, who is that?!”

Especially when said horses are affordable to a wide range of buyers, noting that the sale's average has hovered around $50,000 the last two years… “the sort of horses most can afford to buy, making this a very marketable sale.”

And one, Hancock added, that people “love coming to.”

“It’s a lovely atmosphere here, it is a user-friendly sale. We are 15 minutes from the beach, 20 minutes from the city so coming here is an enjoyable experience.”

Unique atmosphere

The Morphettville sales yard being so close to Glenelg tends to create a unique atmosphere come sale time with many breeders, owners and trainers choosing to stay by the ocean - meaning that everywhere you go, there are racing people!

“South Australian breeders are keen to sell - they bring their nicest horses here as do breeders from all around the country; this year we have each state except Western Australia (those breeders busy preparing for their own Magic Millions sale) represented.”

Which means buyers from everywhere as well, including locals who love a sale in their own backyard - “South Australians have spent over $4 million at this sale which is a big effort, so it is our duty to provide them with just the sort of horses they - as well as trainers and syndicators from interstate - want to buy.”

Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch agreed saying, “Our team has worked hard to assemble a catalogue that will impress buyers and will certainly extend the fine record that sale graduates possess.

“From G1 Caulfield Cup and G1 Victoria Derby winners to sizzling Group 1 sprinters and elite milers to superstar juveniles, our Morphettville-based auction delivers every year.”

"And it has the most outstanding record of being a pinhooker's paradise."

Both Bowditch and Hancock are particularly excited by the variety and class of stallions with progeny going through the Adelaide ring this year - including yearlings “by every active Australian stallion currently in the top 17 Champion Sires' list.”

“We have horses by I Am Invincible, Snitzel, So You Think, Zoustar, Pride Of Dubai, Capitalist, Written Tycoon, Dundeel, Spirit Of Boom, All Too Hard, Exceed And Excel, Street Boss and Rich Enuff,” Hancock enthused.

As well as larger numbers than usual of yearlings by young stallions who are making their mark early - such as Alabama Express, Tassort, Cosmic Force, Dirty Work, Blue Point (Ire), I Am Immortal, Zousain and Too Darn Hot (GB).

Gallery: Some of the sires to be represented at the 2024 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale

And the progeny of 22 different first-season sires including Farnan, Ole Kirk and Wootton Bassett (GB).

“Having good numbers of yearlings by those young stallions - as well as by such proven, in-form horses as Toronado, Star Turn, Russian Revolution and Pierro - is really going to attract buyers,” Hancock said, adding that there are types that match the pages.

“I have already had several breeders tell me that they have the sale-topper!” he laughed.

The sale has a change of date this year, swapping dates with the Gold Coast March Yearling Sale - taking place on March 18 and 19.

We took a look at some of the interesting elements of the catalogue:

1. Express train heads to Adelaide

Australia’s leading first-season sire, Alabama Express, will have ample representation at the 2024 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale. Alabama Express has 17 lots catalogued, with his home farm Yulong leading the way with 12 representatives.

Alabama Express is the most represented of his crop and also the equal most with any sire in the catalogue.

Following Alabama Express in the first-season sires is Vinery Stud’s Exceedance, who is the second most prominent sire with 10 yearlings catalogued. At the same time, Widden Stud’s Zousain has nine catalogued, rounding out the most represented first-season sires.

2. Musk Creek and Cornwall make debuts

Flinders-based Musk Creek Farm, owned by David Kobritz and Teresa Poon, will debut a draft of six yearlings at the 2024 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale. Among the six-lot draft is a filly by Darley’s Street Boss (USA) from the Toronado (Ire) mare Elderflower. Catalogued as Lot 406, the filly is the first foal from the mare, who is closely related to the Group 1-winning sprinter Elite Street (Street Boss {USA}).

Musk Creek Farm will also consign Lot 161, a filly by Rosemont Stud’s freshman Hanseatic, a speedy and precocious son of Street Boss, who was placed in the G1 Blue Diamond S.

The filly is the first foal from the four-time-winning Squamosa mare Ray’s Dream. She is a half-sister to La Rocque (Kuroshio), a victress twice as a juvenile, including the G3 Thoroughbred Breeders’ S.

Cornwall Park Stud is another operation set to market yearlings in Adelaide for the first time. The Victorian-based operation managed by Peter Boyle will head to South Australia with a draft of six yearlings.

Four of the six are progeny of Widden Stud’s Dirty Work, a son of Written Tycoon, while remaining lots are by the former Spendthrift Australia-shutter Omaha Beach (USA).

3. Strong local vendor presence

As expected, South Australian vendors will have a strong presence at their showcase sale. Seventeen individual South Australian-based vendors make up the catalogue and will supply 113 of the 452 lots, totalling 25 per cent of the catalogue.

Among those listed are the renowned breeder Mill Park Stud, one of the best strike rate vendors in the country who have sold horses the quality of Away Game (Snitzel) and recent Group 1 winner Attrition (Churchill {Ire}).

Sam Hayes' Cornerstone Stud will be the most represented local vendor with a draft of 22.

Meanwhile, Kambula Stud, Willow Grove Stud and Rathmore Lodge are others with sizable drafts to present at Adelaide.

4.Victorian young guns well represented

Rosemont Stud’s Hanseatic and Widden Victoria’s Dirty Work each have 17 lots catalogued in the 2024 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale, making them the most represented freshman sires of their crop in Adelaide.

The pair are closely followed by Yulong Stud’s G1 Blue Diamond S. victor Tagaloa, who has 16 lots on offer.

Interestingly, all three stallions are located in Victoria and combined the progeny of these three stallions represent 11 per cent of the catalogue.

5. Cornerstone to retain crown?

Cornerstone Stud has been the leading vendor for the past three editions. In 2023, Cornerstone Stud offered 26 lots, accumulating a gross of $1,186,500, which was better than Gerry Harvey’s Baramul Stud, which finished second with 20 lots sold for $1,166,000.

In 2022, Cornerstone Stud sold 27 yearlings for a gross of $2,072,000, besting Kambula Stud, who grossed $1,470,000 from 12 sold.

Cornerstone and Baramul Stud again went head-to-head in 2021, with Cornerstone getting the upper hand with 25 selling for a gross of $1,533,500, while Baramul Stud sold 20 for $1,281,000.

Harvey’s Baramul Stud is the vendor with the greatest number of lots catalogued (37) at this year’s Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale. Lot 63, a filly, is sure to attract interest by Australia’s reigning Champion Sire I Am Invincible from a half-sister to the Group 2 winner Sambro (Fastnet Rock).

Following Baramul Stud with 25 lots on offer is Yulong, and rounding out the vendors with the most catalogued lots is the locally based Cornerstone Stud with 22.