Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
On Tuesday, the highly anticipated 2024 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale will kick off. The catalogue is packed with proven producers, young mares, and some superstars of the track.
Among them is the 10-time Group 1 winner Imperatriz (I Am Invincible), who will be offered virtually from her picturesque current home at Te Akau Stud. The daughter of I Am Invincible has the status and physique to break records on the Gold Coast.
Imperatriz will be joined by the likes of the Group 1 victress Ruthless Dame (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), Affaire A Suivre (NZ) (Astern), a winner of the G1 Australasian Oaks, the G1 TJ Smith S. winner Chain Of Lightning (Fighting Sun), who also holds an entry to Royal Ascot, and the G1 The Thousand Guineas victress Madame Pommery (No Nay Never {USA}).
Lot 587 - Imperatriz | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Adding further intrigue to this year’s catalogue is Platinum Jubilee (Zoustar), a half-sister to the G1 Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot (Written Tycoon), Justify’s (USA) stakes-winning daughter Legacies, and the G2 Percy Sykes S. winner Kristilli,(Hellbent) while Maracana (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) gave a boost to her profile winning a Group 3 on Saturday at Doomben, are among many highlights.
In this piece, The Thoroughbred Report will reflect on some of the sale-toppers and top-priced mares in past years. We will explore what they have done since and whether their families have continued to thrive.
Sunshine in Vogue
Starting with the most recent Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in memory, last year, it is arguably too early to judge the deeds of many of the mares with their first season at stud last spring or progeny too young to race.
Topping the proceedings was the Michael Freedman-trained Forbidden Love (All Too Hard), the triple Group 1 winner, presented by the Newgate Consignment. She walked out of the ring as a $4.1 million mare and joined the star-studded paddocks of Yulong. Forbidden Love was served by the operation’s promising young sire Alabama Express last spring.
Forbidden Love walked out of the ring as a $4.1 million mare | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
One family that proved in vogue with buyers last year was the family of Sunshine In Paris (Invader). Three members of this family presented at the Bundall complex last year, each making a significant impression.
The matriarch of the family, Zenaida (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), presented by Three Bridges Thoroughbreds, was sold to Yulong for $1.4 million. Zenaida was offered in-foal to Arrowfield Stud’s Maurice (Jpn) and delivered a colt in September before she was served by Alabama Express as well.
Zenaida’s daughter, Macroura (Snitzel), her first foal, had won four races, including the G3 Typhoon Tracy S. and the Listed Woodlands S. She also joined her dam at Yulong when she was sold by Vinery for $1.5 million. At the time, Macroura was in-foal to Deep Field and gave birth to that foal, a filly, in September before being served by Yulong’s Pierata. Macroura’s first foal, a filly by I Am Invincible, was sold for $260,000 to Seib Racing and Champion Thoroughbreds at this year's Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Zenaida (NZ) was sold to Yulong for $1.4 million | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
However, the star of the show was Zenaida’s third foal, Sunshine In Paris. The daughter of Invader won the G1 Surround S. and placed in the G2 Light Fingers S. Presented by the Newgate Consignment, Sunshine In Paris was the second-top lot at $3.9 million, sold to James Harron Bloodstock.
The daughter of Aquis’ Invader remained in training with Annabel Neasham and added the G2 Sheraco S. to her resume. In the autumn, Sunshine In Paris was placed in the G1 The Galaxy, and finished fifth in the G1 TJ Smith S. and fourth in the G1 All-Aged S.
Sunshine In Paris is currently listed as on spelling on Racing Australia.
“The star of the show was Zenaida’s third foal, Sunshine In Paris. The daughter of Invader won the G1 Surround S. and placed in the G2 Light Fingers S.”
Others to note who sold last year included the dual Group 1 winner Snapdancer (Choisir), a $3.2 million purchase by Yulong. She was served by their stallion Diatonic (Jpn) in her first season. Piping Hot (More Than Ready {USA}), the dam of Coolangatta (Written Tycoon), joined her daughter at Coolmore when Tom Magnier paid $3 million to secure her.
Piping Hot was presented by Milburn Creek in-foal to I Am Invincible, resulting in a filly, and she was subsequently served by ‘Vinnie’s’ outstanding son Home Affairs. Her filly by Written Tycoon was sold for $800,000 to Highclere Australia at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Young mares in demand
Traveling back to 2022, the theme was much the same: young mares, fresh off the track, dominated the top spots. Chief among them was the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic victress Away Game (Snitzel). The multiple Group 1 placegetter, offered by the Newgate-Killora Consignment, was sold for $4 million to the Written Tycoon Syndicate.
Away Game was served by Written Tycoon in her first season at stud and foaled a filly. She returned to Yulong’s Champion Sire last spring. Interestingly, Away Game’s own dam, Elusive Wonder (Elusive Quality {USA}), was secured for $140,000 by Hancock Quality Bloodstock (FBAA) at the 2009 Magic Millions Gold Coast Winter Broodmare Sale. Elusive Wonder produced her first foal the following season, a son of Fastnet Rock named Jeunine Wish.
Elusive Wonder’s third foal, Modern Wonder, a full sister to Away Game, was sold for $400,000 to Kia Ora Stud at the 2018 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
Away Game, offered by the Newgate-Killora Consignment, was sold for $4 million to the Written Tycoon Syndicate | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Also purchased by the Written Tycoon Syndicate was the brilliant mare Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) for $3.1 million. Tofane foaled a colt by Written Tycoon last November and wasn’t served in the spring. Her family had been in high demand around the time she went through the ring, with her close relations Funstar (Adelaide {Ire}) and Youngstar (High Chaparral {Ire}) respectively selling for $2.7 million and $1.4 million through earlier sales.
The family is still well-regarded, with Tofane’s full sister making $700,000 to the bid of Glentree Thoroughbreds and Badgers Bloodstock at this year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Widden Stud splashed $2.4 million to secure its sire Zoustar’s classy daughter Madam Rouge. The operation was rewarded on the Gold Coast in January when Madam Rouge’s first foal, a filly by I Am Invincible, sold for $1.7 million to Jes Sikura, Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm, and Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing.
“Widden Stud splashed $2.4 million to secure its sire Zoustar’s classy daughter Madam Rouge.”
Back in 2022, Mac ‘n’ Cheese (Sebring) entered the ring as a well-performed and beautifully bred mare, and the Spendthrift Australia (Unreserved Dispersal Sale) was rewarded with $1.6 million when she sold to the Written Tycoon Syndicate.
Mac ‘n’ Cheese’s half-brother Exceedance won the G1 Coolmore Stud S. and was serving his third book of mares at a fee of $33,000 (inc GST). Since her sale, Exceedance has further boosted his profile with a fantastic start at stud, siring four individual winners of six races, including two stakes winners.
The daughter of Sebring was served by Yulong’s Diatonic (Jpn) last spring. Returning through the ring this year is Rubisaki (Rubick). Presented by Yarraman Park Stud in 2022, the daughter of Rubick sold for $1 million to James Harron Bloodstock and Morningside Park.
Mac ‘n’ Cheese | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Since her initial sale, Rubisaki’s family has received further updates with Flattered (Yes Yes Yes), also sourced and raced by Joe O’Neill’s Prime Thoroughbreds. The filly is a multiple stakes placegetter. Rubisaki is the dam of one foal, a colt by Written Tycoon. On Thursday, Rubisaki will be presented by Morningside on a cover to Snitzel.
Dam of stallion
In 2021, the presence of Bob Peter’s superstar mare Arcadia Queen (Pierro) sent tongues wagging. Arcadia Queen, a victress of three Group 1 races, arrived at the Gold Coast and was presented by Holbrook Thoroughbreds. Although she initially left the ring unsold, Arrowfield Stud later came to an agreement to buy the daughter of Pierro for $3.2 million.
Arcadia Queen’s first foal by I Am Invincible was sold to Hawkes Racing for $1 million at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. She returned to Vinnie and foaled a colt last spring before visiting Arrowfield Stud’s Dundeel (NZ).
Arrowfield Stud later came to an agreement to buy Arcadia Queen for $3.2 million | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The 13-time Group 1 winner Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands), presented by the Blue Sky Premium Consignment, sold for $2.6 million to the Written Tycoon Syndicate. Achieving third place on the price podium was the Group 1 winner Mizzy (Zoustar), who sold to Tom Magnier for $2.2 million.
Bulbula (Shamardal {USA}) was presented as a broodmare prospect from the draft of Shadwell Stud Australasia Unreserved Dispersal, prepared by Yarraman Park. Offered in foal to Epaulette, Bulbula joined Rosemont Stud, selling for $1.35 million.
At the time of her sale, Bulbula’s Snitzel colt was unraced but had been purchased for $1.2 million by the Rosemont Victorian Alliance and Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) at the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. That colt, named Doull, went on to win the G2 Caulfield Sprint and has been retired to Rosemont Stud, where he will stand his debut season for $11,000 (inc GST) this spring.
Sunlight: A Gold Coast darling
Champion mare Sunlight (Zoustar) has been a Gold Coast darling. Originally sold in 2017 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $300,000 to Aquis, McEvoy Mitchell Racing, and Blue Sky Bloodstock (FBAA), the daughter of Zoustar proved to be a sensation on the track.
As a 2-year-old, she won the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic, the G2 Magic Night S., and the G2 Silver Slipper S. As a 3-year-old, Sunlight dominated her generation, winning the G1 Coolmore Stud S., the G1 William Reid S., and the G1 Newmarket H.
Retiring with 11 victories and the title of Australia’s Champion 3-Year-Old Filly, Sunlight returned to the Gold Coast in 2020, where she sold for a Magic Millions National Broodmare record of $4.2 million to Tom Magnier.
Sunlight sold for a Magic Millions National Broodmare record of $4.2 million to Tom Magnier | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Sunlight’s first foal, the unraced Dawn Service (Justify {USA}), was sold for $1.4 million at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale to Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing and Kestrel Thoroughbreds. Her colt by Wootton Bassett (GB) fetched $1.4 million, sold to Paul Moroney Bloodstock and Catheryne Bruggeman at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Sunlight foaled a filly by Home Affairs in September and was served by Justify (USA) last spring.
On Saturday, Sunlight’s full sister, Clean Energy, added another line to the story with a victory in the Listed Bill Carter S., taking her record to a perfect two from two. Like her big sister, Clean Energy came from the Gold Coast but commanded a much more significant price of $2.6 million, selling to Yulong.
“Sunlight’s first foal, the unraced Dawn Service (Justify {USA}), was sold for $1.4 million at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale to Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing and Kestrel Thoroughbreds.”
The family has a strong association with this sale and continues to thrive on the track and in the sale ring. Sunlight’s dam, Solar Charged (Charge Forward), a dual Group 3 winner, was presented at the 2014 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, where she sold for $650,000 to Widden Stud and Qatar Bloodstock.
Sunlight’s full sister, the aptly named Sisstar, won six races, including the G3 Red Roses S. She was also a graduate of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale but was withdrawn from the 2021 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
Tom Magnier also purchased the bonny mare Champagne Cuddles (Not A Single Doubt) that year. The Group 2 winner and multiple Group 1 placegetter was knocked down for $2 million.
Tom Magnier | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Champagne Cuddles’ first foal by Justify (USA), the unraced French Empire, was sold for $700,000 at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale. Her Wootton Bassett (GB) filly made $800,000 at this year’s sale in January. Champagne Cuddles has a filly by Home Affairs but has missed to I Am Invincible and Justify (USA) the past two seasons.
