Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
At A Glance
The opening session of the Magic Millions March Yearling Sale grossed $3,880,000 compared to $4,490,000 last year, with the clearance rate dropping from 73.4 per cent to 67 per cent.
Average of $34,035 was slightly down on the same session from last year ($35,370). The median price of $28,500 was slightly higher than the $27,000 in the same session last year.
Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch says “the QTIS system is probably being under-valued in the ring.”
Hulbert Racing secured the top lot of the day, a Better Than Ready colt for $140,000 from the Lyndhurst Stud draft. This price matches the top lot from last year's opening session.
Lyndhurst and Eureka Stud, home of Better Than Ready and Spirit Of Boom respectively, topped the vendor list in the opening session.
Challenging at Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale
The expected challenges at the Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale came to fruition during Monday’s opening session, with the clearance rate below 70 per cent by the close.
On Monday night, the sale gross was at $3,880,000 at an average of $34,035 and median $28,500 with a clearance rate of almost 67 per cent.
That is well down on the $4.49 million traded during the opening session last year, where the clearance was 73.4 per cent at the same time.
Inspections at the Magic Millions’ Gold Coast March Yearling Sale | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The average price on Monday was only slightly down on the $35,370 from last year, while the median was a touch above the $27,000 from last year due to the number of pass ins at the lower end of the sale.
The top price of $140,000 was the same as the opening session last year.
“There’s no secret the clearance rate is not at a level we think is acceptable. Vendors had a tough day,” Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said.
“The positives are that if a good quality horse with a pedigree walks in the ring, looked the part, vetted well, those horses sold well because there was competition.”
Barry Bowditch | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Bowditch said he hoped buyers would have a close look at results on Monday, marry that up with the performance of graduates from this sale and take advantage of the way the market is during Tuesday’s second session.
“There’s a lot of value out there to be found,” he said.
“The QTIS system is probably being undervalued here in the sale ring. What QTIS can provide participants is quite extraordinary and the market didn’t participate to the level that QTIS allows them to today.
“The QTIS system is probably being undervalued here in the sale ring. What QTIS can provide participants is quite extraordinary and the market didn’t participate to the level that QTIS allows them to today.” - Barry Bowditch
“In saying that, (Tuesday’s session) is probably a little stronger and we will work on passed in lots overnight.
“I would expect buyers will see vendors have a great willingness to sell their product and should come back tomorrow and sink their teeth into horses with better gusto than they did today.”
The Hamo brother tops session and goes to same connections
Hulbert Racing topped the leaderboard on the opening day of the Magic Millions March Yearling Sale, going to $140,000 for a colt by Better Than Ready.
The colt was offered through the Lyndhurst Stud draft and is from the unraced Press Statement mare News Release, making him a brother to the Hulberts’ promising 2-year-old The Hamo.
The Hamo was one of the early season trial stars in Brisbane and as a result was sent out one of the top fancies for the $500,000 Magic Millions The Debut (Colts and Geldings) in January. He showed very good speed to lead that race until the 200 metre point, but he just laboured a little late and finished third.
Lot 41 - Better Than Ready x News Release (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The Hulberts went to $80,000 to secure him from this same sale 12 months ago.
It is the family of international Group 1 winner Holy Roman Emperor (Ire) and his sister Milanova (both by Danehill {USA}), who was famously sold to Coolmore at the 2008 Inglis Australian Weanling and Breeding Stock Sale for $5 Million.
Will Hulbert is just returning from a trip to Las Vegas to watch the Brisbane Broncos last weekend, so his father Peter supervised the bidding on Monday.
“We had $140,000 for him, so thank God there wasn’t another bid on him because we would have been dead in the water,” Hulbert said.
Will and Peter Hulburt | Image courtesy of Hulburt Racing
“All the owners in The Hamo have bought into him.
“He’s bigger than The Hamo at the same stage. A couple of mates saw him down there and said he’s a dead ringer for Better Than Ready. That sounds all right to me.”
“He’s bigger than The Hamo at the same stage. A couple of mates saw him down there and said he’s a dead ringer for Better Than Ready. That sounds all right to me.” - Peter Hulburt
The Hamo has had two week pre-training at Killora Lodge and is scheduled to arrive back in the Hulbert stables on Tuesday with a view to return to racing in May.
Lyndhurst Stud topped the opening day vendor list, with nine selling (four passed in) for a gross of $458,500.
North Pacific colt sought after
Gold Coast trainer Paul Shailer teamed up with Julian Blaxland Bloodstock (FBAA) to buy the second highest-priced lot of the day, a North Pacific colt from the draft of Warrandale Stud for $110,000.
The colt is from the Ferocity mare Saluting, who has had six to the races and all have been winners.
Lot 181 - North Pacific x Saluting (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“He’s a really nice horse,” Blaxland said. “I remember North Pacific as a yearling when he sold in Melbourne. He was always a beautiful yearling and I’ve had my eye on them all year. This one fits the bill.
“I thought he was one of the top colts in the sale, the mare has had a few that can run and he comes off a good farm in Warrandale.
“I thought he (Lot 181) was one of the top colts in the sale, the mare has had a few that can run and he comes off a good farm in Warrandale.” - Paul Shailer
“I thought he was pretty fair buying at that.”
Shailer has recently made the move back to the Gold Coast and he’s looking to make a mark in his own right after being a fixture at the Gold Coast Turf Club for a number of years.
“Paul has 40 boxes in the new Traintech set up at the Gold Coast he’s getting a good team around him,” Blaxland said.
“He ran Chris Waller’s Queensland operation at the Coast for a long time and I think he will make a huge fist of it up here with the owners and cattle he’s getting around him.”
Bruce seeks QTIS dollars at both ends of the market
Jack Bruce’s quest to have more QTIS horses in his stable came to fruition with the acquisition of two yearlings today by Queensland’s top two stallions.
The first was the Spirit Of Boom colt from the Real Saga mare Weekend Saga which fetched the day’s third highest price at $90,000 from the Eureka Stud draft.
“After having completed my inspections I felt that colt fitted in with the top five lots of the sale,” Bruce said.
Lot 181 - Spirit Of Boom x Weekend Saga (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“He was an absolute standout and being by Spirit Of Boom, I knew he would be popular and I thought I may find it difficult to buy him.
“He was one I wanted to have a good crack at purchasing and I was fortunate enough to do so.
“He’s a very, very good type, great mover, the right physical for a Spirit Of Boom and those horses are hard to come by so I’m quite lucky to have secured him.”
“He’s (Lot 181) a very, very good type, great mover, the right physical for a Spirit Of Boom and those horses are hard to come by so I’m quite lucky to have secured him.” - Jack Bruce
A few lots later, Bruce secured a Better Than Ready filly for just $31,000.
She is from the Savabeel mare Across The Ditch (NZ) and was offered for sale by Yarramalong Park.
“Her dam is a half-sister to (Group 2 winner) North Star Lass. She’s a runner by Better Than Ready, is strong physically and I thought she moved well and had plenty of up and go about her.
Jack Bruce | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“She fitted what I like to see in those Better Than Readys and another case of me being strong on one I wanted and I can’t believe I got her for the price I did.”
Bruce has stables at both Deagon and the Sunshine Coast and has been keen to grow his stable since arriving in Queensland two years ago.
He said the QTIS program is very important to the success of a Queensland-based stable.
“That’s a huge drawcard for the QTIS March sale,” he said.
“First of all good horses come from this sale – the honour roll says that. I’m a Brisbane-based trainer and I need to take advantage of the QTIS scheme for my client base. If you can have a 2-year-old up and running, you can have an enormous amount of success in Queensland.”
“First of all good horses come from this sale – the honour roll says that. I’m a Brisbane-based trainer and I need to take advantage of the QTIS scheme for my client base. If you can have a 2-year-old up and running, you can have an enormous amount of success in Queensland.” - Jack Bruce
Eureka also sold the day’s fourth-highest priced lot, a Spirit Of Boom colt from Stolen Love (NZ) (Savabeel) who sold to Nick Walsh Racing and Brett Green for $87,000.
Eureka finished second on the leading vendor list for the session, with 11 selling (two passed in) for a gross of $412,500.
Lifetime honour for Basil Nolan
Raheen Stud’s Basil Nolan was honoured on Sunday with Life Membership of Thoroughbred Breeders Queensland Association (TBQA).
Nolan has been a long time TBQA President and for the past decade and has filled the same position for Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA).
Nolan has been in the breeding industry since he left school in 1964.
Basil Nolan | Image courtesy of Thoroughbred Breeders Australia
“I’m very humbled,” he said.
“We’ve fought a few battles in the time I’ve been there… we’ve won a few and lost a few.
“The last decade has been oustanding for the (Australian) industry. Prizemoney has forged ahead and the introduction of race fields legislation has obviously had a lot to do with that.
“From a Queensland perspective, I’m most proud of the QTIS scheme and how important and lucrative it’s become to the local industry here.
“From a Queensland perspective, I’m most proud of the QTIS scheme and how important and lucrative it’s become to the local industry here.” - Basil Nolan
“We struggled for a long time in Queensland, but I feel (Racing Minister) Grace Grace has been marvellous.
“We had to fight for a long time to show how important the industry is for the Queensland economy, not just with direct jobs, but indirectly as well. Grace understands that and I think she’s done a hell of a job.”
While he might have been humbled on Sunday, Nolan conceded the start of this year’s QTIS sale had not been what he and others might have hoped for.
“It’s tough going today. I’ve been at better sales. Put it that way,” he said.
“It’s tough going today. I’ve been at better sales. Put it that way.” - Basil Nolan
Raheen has 25 horses catalogued for this sale and on Monday sold seven for $168,000, but passed in another nine lots.
Top buyers
| Gollan Racing/John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) | 3 | $74,167 | $85,000 | $222,500 |
| Hulbert Racing | 1 | $140,000 | $140,000 | $140,000 |
| Munce Racing | 3 | $43,000 | $52,000 | $129,000 |
| Jack Bruce Racing Pty Ltd/Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) | 2 | $60,500 | $90,000 | $121,000 |
| Kendrick Racing/Archer Park | 2 | $55,500 | $56,000 | $111,000 |
| Shailer Racing/Julian Blaxland Bloodstock (FBAA) | 1 | $110,000 | $110,000 | $110,000 |
| Strike Thoroughbreds | 2 | $53,750 | $80,000 | $107,500 |
| Livistona Grazing | 3 | $29,667 | $40,000 | $89,000 |
| Nick Walsh Racing/Brett Green | 1 | $87,000 | $87,000 | $87,000 |
| Cheltenham Stables Limited | 1 | $80,000 | $80,000 | $80,000 |
Vendors by aggregate
| Lyndhurst Stud Farm, Warwick, Qld | 9 | $50,944 | $140,000 | $458,500 |
| Eureka Stud, Cambooya, Qld | 11 | $37,500 | $90,000 | $412,500 |
| Kenmore Lodge, Wyreema, Qld | 11 | $32,273 | $75,000 | $355,000 |
| Yarramalong Park, Kalbar, Qld | 6 | $39,833 | $60,000 | $239,000 |
| Oaklands Stud, Umbiram, Qld | 6 | $35,917 | $55,000 | $215,500 |
| Infinity Thoroughbreds, Purga, Qld | 4 | $48,125 | $75,000 | $192,500 |
| Alexia Fraser Bloodstock, Warwick, Qld | 5 | $37,600 | $60,000 | $188,000 |
| Glenlogan Park, Innisplain, Qld | 4 | $43,375 | $80,000 | $173,500 |
| Tullyard, Boodua, Qld | 3 | $56,333 | $80,000 | $169,000 |
| Raheen Stud, Warwick, Qld | 7 | $24,000 | $50,000 | $168,000 |
Vendors by average (2 or more sold)
| Warrandale Stud, Biddadabba, Qld | 2 | $66,000 | $110,000 | $132,000 |
| Tullyard, Boodua, Qld | 3 | $56,333 | $80,000 | $169,000 |
| Lyndhurst Stud Farm, Warwick, Qld | 9 | $50,944 | $140,000 | $458,500 |
| Tipuana Farms, Moggill, Qld | 3 | $50,667 | $85,000 | $152,000 |
| Infinity Thoroughbreds, Purga, Qld | 4 | $48,125 | $75,000 | $192,500 |
| Kynoch Thoroughbreds, Ramsay, Qld | 2 | $48,000 | $80,000 | $96,000 |
| Glenlogan Park, Innisplain, Qld | 4 | $43,375 | $80,000 | $173,500 |
| Waylon J Stud, Wamuran, Qld | 2 | $41,500 | $60,000 | $83,000 |
| Yarramalong Park, Kalbar, Qld | 6 | $39,833 | $60,000 | $239,000 |
| Alexia Fraser Bloodstock, Warwick, Qld | 5 | $37,600 | $60,000 | $188,000 |
| Eureka Stud, Cambooya, Qld | 11 | $37,500 | $90,000 | $412,500 |
Sires by aggregate
| Better Than Ready | 18 | $43,833 | $140,000 | $789,000 |
| North Pacific | 6 | $62,417 | $110,000 | $374,500 |
| Invader | 10 | $26,600 | $60,000 | $266,000 |
| Spirit of Boom | 3 | $71,333 | $90,000 | $214,000 |
| Pierata | 8 | $26,250 | $60,000 | $210,000 |
| Zousain | 4 | $36,375 | $75,000 | $145,500 |
| Tassort | 3 | $34,000 | $56,000 | $102,000 |
| Sun City | 3 | $32,333 | $45,000 | $97,000 |
| Exosphere | 3 | $31,833 | $37,500 | $95,500 |
| Dracarys | 3 | $30,000 | $45,000 | $90,000 |
Sires by average (2 or more sold)
| Spirit of Boom | 3 | $71,333 | $90,000 | $214,000 |
| North Pacific | 6 | $62,417 | $110,000 | $374,500 |
| Better Than Ready | 18 | $43,833 | $140,000 | $789,000 |
| Admire Mars | 2 | $42,500 | $45,000 | $85,000 |
| Russian Revolution | 2 | $42,500 | $55,000 | $85,000 |
| Zousain | 4 | $36,375 | $75,000 | $145,500 |
| Tassort | 3 | $34,000 | $56,000 | $102,000 |
| Star Turn | 2 | $32,500 | $50,000 | $65,000 |
| Sun City | 3 | $32,333 | $45,000 | $97,000 |
| Exosphere | 3 | $31,833 | $37,500 | $95,500 |
