Cover image courtesy of Peter Rubery (Race Images)

Awapuni trainer Mike Breslin and InToWin Syndication secured Intention (NZ) (Bivouac) at the bargain price from Wentwood Grange at the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.

It looked like a shrewd purchase with the filly – out of Wentwood Grange broodmare Beela Hudood (Snitzel) – overhauling a game Landlock (Merchant Navy) inside the final 100 metres to win by 0.5l in the 1100-metre sprint on Saturday.

It was a sharp improvement from Intention after finishing fourth on debut at Otaki on November 28.

Hawkins said he wasn’t nervous about Intention’s second start coming at Group 2 level on Saturday.

“She really got to her job that last 200 metres, didn’t she?” he told The Thoroughbred Report.

“The first run had a fair bit of merit, and you’re always excited to see them run and you want them to run to their best abilities.”

Hawkins said he had no regret that Intention was bought for just NZ$65,000 at Lot 603 by Mike Breslin and InToWin Syndication from Wentwood Grange during the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.

“I’m just happy that she’s gone to a good trainer who was going to give her every chance,” he said.

“We’re sellers first and foremost. She was cheap and a good buy, but at the time if they sell we’re happy.

“We bred and sold the winner of the race before in The Breeze Wellington, Komocean, who’s two from two. So, it was a pretty good day for us.”

Filly looks Karaka Million-ready

After Saturday’s victory in her second start, Breslin said he was thinking about next lining up Intention in the Karaka Million 2YO at Ellerslie Racecourse on January 25.

“We’ll take her home now and give her four or five days in the paddock,” Breslin said after the race.

“We’ve got the Karaka Millions as an option now obviously and how we get her there, we’ll just see how she does.”

Hawkins said Breslin would prioritise looking after his promising filly, and he wouldn’t rush a decision on whether to start her in the $1 million sprint over 1200 metres.

“It (Karaka Million 2YO) is always a sharp race, but Mike and his team have done a fantastic job,” Hawkins said.

“If she does get there, we can’t wait to see her there. But Mike will do the best thing by the filly, I’m sure.”

The right pedigree for Intention

Intention was the first winner for both Group 1-winning sire Bivouac and Beela Hudood, with Hawkins noticing her athleticism early on at Wentwood Grange, which is about half an hour from Hamilton on New Zealand’s North Island.

“She’s by Bivouac, which is exciting in itself. He was a tremendous racehorse,” Hawkins said. “And she’s out of a Snitzel mare. There’s a Danehill cross there.

“That was why we bred her to Bivouac because we love the mating.

“She was a lovely, athletic filly, and we’re pleased she’s gone on and done that for the connections.”

Intention’s victory should be the first of many stakes wins for Bivouac, who stands at Darley for $55,000 (inc GST).

“We’ve been huge supporters of them (Darley) the whole way through,” Hawkins said. “We’ve got a great relationship with them. We bred and sold Kermadec, who stands at Darley.

“So, we always support them quite heavily. We’re very excited by Bivouac, and we’ve got a Bivouac (out of Raggedy Doll) to sell at Karaka (as Lot 234 in Book 1 from January 26-28).”

Hawkins said Beela Hudood also had plenty of potential as a broodmare.

“She’s got a beautiful Super Seth filly at foot,” he said. “It’s exciting to leave a Group 2-winning 2-year-old with her third foal.”’

Hawkins added Beela Hudood’s second foal, Gulfstate, showed good signs in finishing third for Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young at Werribee on Saturday.

“Her second foal by Pride Of Dubai ran third for Trent and Natalie, and he looks like he’s a stayer in the making,” he said.

“Any mare, especially a Snitzel mare, who can leave a G2-winning 2-year-old is exciting, isn’t it?”

Meanwhile, the Wentwood Grange-bred Kermadec (NZ) stands for $16,500 (inc GST) at Darley’s Northwood Park farm. He has produced eight stakes winners from 196 runners.

Wentwood Grange sold him for $260,000 to Mulcaster Bloodstock at the 2013 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.

“He was a tremendous yearling and we sold him to Guy Mulcaster and Chris Waller. He was a lovely, big strong horse,” Hawkins said.

“He went on to win a Group 1, and he’s done a good job with his strike rate of Group 1 winners, it’s been second to none.

“Even though he hasn’t covered the biggest books, we’re still proud of every horse who comes off this farm.”

Plenty to look forward to

Wentwood Grange will have 37 yearlings for sale at Karaka 2025 across Book 1 and 2 from January 26-30.

And it will also have four for sale at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, to be held January 7-13.

In the meantime, all staff are excited about Centennial Park (NZ) (Super Seth), to make his third start in a 3-year-old BM70 Handicap over a mile at Caulfield on Thursday.

“Our focus is our draft at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale, Karaka and Classic (2025 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale from February 9-11) drafts,” Hawkins said.

“They’re our prime focuses. On Thursday there’s a Super Seth, Centennial Park, and he’s for the (Tony and Calvin) McEvoy team.

“He won (in his second start), so I’m looking forward to seeing how he progresses.

“We’re very lucky that we’ve been fortunate enough to always have something to look forward to.”

Hawkins said Lot 206 a colt by Palace Pier (GB) out of Pica Pica (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}) at Karaka, Lot 23 a St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) filly from the So You Think (NZ) mare Thinkyoucandance at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and Lot 661 a Wootton Bassett (GB) colt out of So You Merge (So You Think {NZ}) at the 2025 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale were ones to look out for.

“We’ve got a Palace Pier colt out of Pica Pica, who’s a half to Komocean and Signify, who won the (G1) Telegraph Handicap,” Hawkins said. “We’re looking forward to him at Karaka.

“We’ve got a St Mark’s Basilica filly out of a So You Think mare at the Magic Millions. We’re looking forward to showcasing the first foals by St Mark’s Basilica.

“We’ve got a Wootton Bassett colt going to Classic who’s an absolute belter.

“Our Karaka draft is as strong as it’s ever been.”

Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Last week, Garry Charny and Michael Crismale had their terms on the Racing New South Wales Board of Directors extended by one year and two years, respectively. Appointments to director and senior leadership roles in the racing industry often face criticism due to the limited industry knowledge of some appointees. In such a complex field, it is widely believed that those without direct experience and ‘skin in the game’ struggle to fully grasp the challenges faced by industry participants.

This, however, is not the case with Charny and Crismale. Both are long-standing enthusiasts of the racing industry, with deep involvement through years of bloodstock and breeding investments.

As Racing NSW navigates a pivotal period, including a potential inquiry into its operations and a review of the Thoroughbred Racing Act 1996 recommended by the Rosehill Inquiry Report, we discussed their passion for racing and breeding, and their perspectives on key industry issues.

A lowly clerk

Charny was young when he was bitten by the racing bug. He was no stranger to skiving off of afternoon lectures when he was a law student at University of New South Wales, and Randwick Racecourse, just a stone’s throw from his lecture hall, was a popular retreat.

“Many a delinquent afternoon was spent not at lectures, but down the road at the racecourse,” he told TTR AusNZ.

There are worse places for a young, carefree university student to be, and on his graduation, he invested in his first racehorse with a group of fellow new grads; Rachel’s Chance (Lucky Chance), a bonnie grey mare trained by Betty Lane - the first woman to be granted a trainer’s licence in Sydney by the Australian Turf Club.

“She started at Nowra at seven to four, and was beaten a nose,” Charny recalled. “Some things you don’t forget.”

Charny was hooked, and has been in the breeding and racing game for over thirty five years. Together with Duncan Grimley, the former general manager of Coolmore Australia, Charny has had a hand in numerous nice horses like Fratelli (Frankel {GB}), a son of South African stakes winner Lovetorn (Giant’s Causeway {USA}) who was purchased by Katsumi Yoshida for $850,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale in 2017. The colt dually romped home in his Japanese debut by nine lengths.

His favourite horses to date have been Sunday Joy (Sunday Silence {USA}) and Tuesday Joy (Carnigie {Ire}), when he was associated with Strawberry Hill Stud, and, more recently, Believe (Fastnet Rock), a two-time winner that narrowly missed out on getting her name in large print on the pedigree page.

“She ran third in the Oaks,” Charny said. Trained by Anthony Cummings, she was beaten just 0.7l by Sofia Rosa (NZ) (Makfi {GB}) and three-time Oaks bridesmaid Ambience (Street Cry {Ire}) at Randwick. “She appears to have thrown two very good horses.”

Gallery: Some of Garry Charny's favourite horses, images courtesy of Sportpix

Charny sadly lost her to a brain tumour last year. His other broodmares under his Belannah Stud banner have patronised St Mark’s Basilica (Fr), Farnan, and Native Trail (GB) this season, and Charny is particularly taken by the latter who stood his first season at Darley’s Aberdeen property.

“He (Native Trail) is a magnificent horse,” Charny said. “He's worth having a look at. He is a real horse, he won the Dewhurst and he's got great form.

“You never know with imported stallions, but I think he's got a real chance of success.”

“We’re trying to breed stayers for ourselves and the rest to sell” he added. “We might be the only crazy people in Australia still doing that!”

Charny is particularly excited for Blue Poles (GB) (Cracksman {GB}), whom he bred from Pitch Blue (Fr) (Muhaarar {GB}), a member of the prolific Peinture family. The 2-year-old filly joins Believe’s youngest son, 3-year-old Stillbelievin’ (Castelvecchio), in the stable of Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald.

“Annabel Neasham is a remarkable success story when you think about it,” Charny said. “Where she's come from in such a short period of time is because of her talent, but also because of how successful racing is in this state.”

A racing mentality

Crismale came to the game in the late nineties as an owner, before delving into breeding in the early 2000s. He set about establishing a boutique broodmare band, chiefly buying fillies at the yearling sales to race before retiring them to stud to produce the next generation.

“That's probably my most prominent entry into the industry,” Crismale said. One of his earliest yearling acquisitions was Shania Dane (Danehill {USA}), a five-time winner including the G2 Phar Lap S. who placed a further five times at Group 1 level. Her full brother Scintillation went on to win two top flight races in Hong Kong, bolstering her page so well when she retired to stud that she visited Encosta De Lago four times in the period where his service fee reached six figures.

Shania Dane was trained by John Hawkes, with whom Crismale has forged a long working relationship. In partnership with his sons, Hawkes also steered Crismale’s Mentality (Flying Spur) to eight victories, including the G1 Randwick Guineas among three wins at the highest level.

“We had a bit of good fortune with him,” Crismale recalled. Amassing over $2 million for his owners in a time when the G1 Doncaster Mile had half the purse that it does now, the Arrowfield Stud graduate was a striking presence at the sales and on the racetrack.

“He had a lot of white in his eyes,” Crismale said. “That's why the lady that named all the horses, for the Hawkes camp and the Ingham brothers, called him Mentality. And he proved to be a really tough, tough horse.”

Both the racing and breeding industries have remained important to Crismale, and he endeavours to participate at all levels. His mares this year have visited Hellbent, Tassort, and the young King’s Gambit.

“The aim is to ensure that I'm selling through the major auction houses, both Inglis and Magic Millions,” Crismale said. “With the racehorses, I (want to) make sure that trainers at all levels are being looked after, so I'll use provincial or country trainers as well as metropolitan trainers.”

He has one foal heading through the sales ring at the Gold Coast in January; Lot 400 in the Coolmore Stud draft by King’s Legacy out of Fire Opal (USA) (War Front {USA}) has Crismale looking forward to Magic Millions.

“I'm quite excited to see him go through,” he said of the colt, whose dam was an Inglis Digital purchase from Coolmore last year for Crismale, a platform he is fond of, stating: “I think that the whole digital side of offering bloodstock was quite a revelation, and I think a lot of people felt that it was quite a comfortable way of doing things.”

An industry connection

Growing up in Canterbury and then living much of his life in Castle Hill, Crismale was first elected to the board of Sydney Turf Club, then to the Australian Turf Club’s board after the 2011 merger. Serving terms for the Australian Studbook, Sydney FC, and Surf Lifesaving Australia, the progression to sitting on the board of Racing NSW seemed natural.

“I have a set of skills and experience that lends itself pretty well in this boardroom,” he said. “The boardroom is quite well-balanced.”

“It's always helpful for boards to have a broad range of skills, and one of those skills is having direct connectivity to the industry,” Charny agreed. “I think it's important to understand what's in the minds of our stakeholders.

“We're a regulator - and if you're regulating an industry, I think it's important to understand what's going on in the industry. Simple as that.”

Over the past year, industry participants have grown increasingly outspoken about concerns surrounding poor transparency and insufficient stakeholder engagement, with the lack of detailed disclosure on animal welfare a hot topic during the Rosehill Inquiry.

Both Crismale and Charny are keen to stress that only the CEO and chair of the board can make any statements on behalf of Racing NSW, but their personal thoughts will likely resonate with many industry participants. Both believe that effective communication and collaboration are essential to strengthening the industry and fostering stronger connections between stakeholders and the board, particularly in regard to welfare.

Known for getting out and about at industry events such as horse sales and stallion parades, Charny is appreciative of the many “memorable conversations” that he has had so far in his tenure as a director.

“There are a lot of strong opinions in the racing industry, and that's a good thing because it shows that people are passionate about the industry,” Charny said. “That's a real positive to me. I think it's important.”

He added, “I think it's worth noting that in the last three months, there have been huge steps forward in communication with key stakeholders. I think stakeholders will tell you that as well.”

Crismale believes there is more work to be done.

“I'd like to see a better communication plan that provides the industry with the news and information as to what we are actually doing,” he said. “The business model that is in place now is not broken and it doesn't need replacing.

“You need one voice that deals with the issues and the problems of the industry, and how they get solved.”

“From a delivery point of view, there's no doubt that there is a need for regulators and club participants to all work (together) across the state to make sure that we all understand how our tracks are.

“The facilities need to be modern and welcoming for our patrons and more importantly, they need to be at a higher safety standard. The wider scope needs to look at provincial and country tracks, and see where we are with those.

“And also horse welfare - the story of how we do look after the horse in New South Wales, even after racing, I think that's got to drive strategies across the board with regulators and with participants.

“We are doing good (with welfare), and the (outward) messaging has got to be stronger,” Crismale added.

Charny agrees - welfare and safety standards must always be in the spotlight.

“The industry does look after our horses,” said Charny. “New South Wales has a good regime for from cradle to grave care for horses. But society is not going to just give us a free pass on that ever, so we've got to make sure we do it better, and to make sure we tell the outside world.”

Thus it all circles back to transparent communication, which is certainly high on Crismale and Charny’s agendas heading into the new year.

Optimal tenure

How long should a director sit on the board? Charny has a personal theory.

“It takes three years to get accustomed to the job, three years to really make your best contribution, and three years to work out (that) it's time to go,” Charny said.

The year-long extension of his term on the Racing NSW board will bring him to the end of that initial three year stint. The one and two year terms afforded to Charny and Crismale are notably shorter than the four year extension given to George Souris, without any government announcement, back in April.

Crismale concurred with Charny’s take on tenure: “I think the range is somewhere between eight to 12 years. Every industry lends itself to a different time frame, and essentially that comes from what the specialisation is around the industry. It's not a hard and fast rule for every organisation.

“I believe we've got it right at the moment. And I think there's enough good, capable, skilled, experienced people that should be putting their hand up to join the board when others on the board are reaching the end of their tenure.”

As for the role of the CEO, he stated: “As long as the CEO is meeting the strategic direction of the board, and satisfying the goals and objectives of not only the organisation, but also of the industry that surrounds it, and if a person is competent and capable and skilled, there's no reason why they can't continue in that role.”

Charny also explained that it was his belief that the CEO role is different, and requires more circumstantial analysis.

Challenges in the breeding world

“It's a really tough market,” Charny acknowledged. As boutique breeders who always retain some foals to race, Charny and Crismale have a unique window into the breeding economy. One that Charny shone a light on is the rising cost of raising a foal to take to sale.

“I think there’s a mismatch between stallion fees and returns, and that’s not a criticism of the stallion owners, because they’re running a business,” he said. “Their job is to maximise their returns, I understand that.”

“But it is becoming economically impossible for small to medium breeders to survive. The other issue here is the rising cost, which is no one’s fault. The economics of the industry are asymmetrical at the moment.”

Charny is open to implementing more incentives to stimulate the breeding industry, if something substantial comes across his desk.

Crismale points to the rise of syndication within racing and breeding as a great positive, which has increased the accessibility of breeding beyond its normal demographics. He believes that the breeding industry isn’t quite in as dire straits as Charny believes.

“The move forwards has to have a really collaborative approach between the PRAs over the pattern of racing, and I think that would help the breeders themselves,” said Crismale. “Prizemoney has been good, and I think that has certainly encouraged participation in the industry.

“You can't look at participation as not being healthy, but every aspect of the industry can always use a boost. I think we need to look with a wider lens rather than anything specific in any area.”

A political sledgehammer

One topic looms large over the board, even as the calendar year winds to a close: the Rosehill Inquiry, with the report recommending the Legislative Council considers establishing an inquiry into Racing NSW and a thorough review of the Thoroughbred Racing Act 1996 to consider whether the Act is fit for purpose. Another recommendation deals with animal welfare and a government review of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979.

The Racing NSW board will need to deal with the whistleblower allegations mentioned in the report, which stated: “The committee grappled with how to address these allegations without breaching the confidentiality of those who came forward, many of whom feared retribution for their actions. The committee believes that these matters are worthy of further investigation.”

The report was also referred to the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) regarding dealings between the New South Wales premier Chris Minns and the Australian Turf Club. ICAC has already determined it will not proceed with any action.

While the directors didn’t get into any report specifics, they gave their thoughts on the Rosehill Inquiry overall.

“I think the inquiry was entitled to be held,” Crismale said. “It was something that the industry needed. For me, it dragged on for too long, and it didn't deal specifically with the situation of the Rosehill sale or non-sale.

“And once it ventured off into other areas, I think it missed its point.”

In Charny’s opinion, the inquiry should have remained focused on the sale of Rosehill Gardens and the viability of another racecourse site in Sydney. Too much of the inquiry was, in his opinion, dominated by “inappropriate and unsubstantiated personal attacks” and finger-pointing as opposed to the core topic: the economic merit of the sale of an iconic racecourse.

“Rosehill was used as a political sledgehammer to achieve other goals,” he said. “I don't think that was right, because the Rosehill issue is an important discussion for the industry, and the members of the ATC are going to have to make some big decisions.”

Referring to the sale, he reiterated Racing NSW’s position on the topic, “It's not our decision. We're the regulator to make sure things happen in the interests of racing in the state.”

Crismale continued, “The responsibility that Racing New South Wales has is to future-proof the industry, and ensure that the participants can expect sustainability. That is something that we as a board are very conscious of.”

Tribute to a great horseman

The late Sam Kavanagh was a dear friend of Charny, who described his recent passing as “absolutely tragic”.

“He built his business alone,” said Charny. “He was a true rough diamond who owned his mistakes. But he was one of the best horsemen that I've come across. His knowledge of breeding was remarkable and the fact that he would try things as a trainer, new things, was remarkable.”

Kavanagh’s first winner in Sydney, Dubawi (Ire) mare Words Are Weapons, was bred and raced by Charny and Grimley and he still fondly remembers the day she was first past the post at Warwick Farm - although he wasn’t awake to witness it.

“I was having heart surgery,” Charny recalled. “And so, funnily enough, I was a little bit focused on something other than my horse running on that particular day.”

“When I woke up after the surgery, the second phone call I got was from Sam. I answered it, and I said, ‘Did it win?’ He said, ‘Of course it won, I told you it would. Did you back it?’

“I said, ‘Sam, I was having a heart operation. I was a bit focused on something else.’

“And I'll never forget this. Sam said, ‘Garry, you're an idiot. You should have looked at it this way. If you backed it and it won and you woke up from the operation, how happy would you have been? And if you died on the operating table and it lost, you wouldn't have cared.’

“That summed Sam up.”

A long-term fund for Kavanagh’s partner Kelly Fawcett and daughter Sienna is in the process of being set up, and Charny confirmed that Racing NSW is making a generous contribution.

Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions

The 13-strong Attunga draft features six fillies and seven colts and Nutt said he was pleased with how their preparations have gone and believes there is horse to suit all buyers.

“There should be something in our draft to suit everyone,” Nutt said.

“We’ve got three by some exciting freshman sires, a few by these young emerging first-season sires and then some by the proven sires so, there is a good mixture across the board.

“The inspections have been just as strong as last year. Whether that translates into a very good sale we will wait and see but we have every confidence in what Magic Millions do in getting people to the sale. It is the first sale of the year, and everyone is pretty revved up to go.”

The Attunga draft features yearlings by proven stallions such as Pierro, Russian Revolution, Capitalist and Dundeel (NZ), as well as some of the first yearlings from Palace Pier (GB), Wild Ruler and Pinatubo (Ire). However, it is emerging first-season sires Bivouac and Wootton Bassett (GB) who Nutt is most interested in.

Gallery: First-season sires that have Brian Nutt excited

Wootton Bassett's legacy arrives Down Under

Wootton Bassett has already taken Europe by storm, siring 58 individual stakes winners, 35 of those as 2-year-olds. No stallion in Europe has sired more 2-year-old Group winners this season than Wootton Bassett.

On Saturday, the Coolmore shuttle stallion put the writing on the wall of things to come in Australia with the Michael Freedman-trained Pallaton (Wootton Bassett {GB}) blowing his rivals away on debut at Randwick, rocketing him to the top of G1 Golden Slipper markets. After the race, Freedman gave the ultimate compliment to Wootton Bassett, announcing he reminded him very much so of the great Danehill (USA). A timely reminder for those looking to buy their next juvenile star at the upcoming Magic Millions on the Gold Coast.

Attunga will offer a daughter of Wootton Bassett as Lot 141. The bay or brown filly is the first foal of winning mare Allinthistogether (Shocking), a three-quarter sister in blood to New Zealand Group 1-winning stallion Wyndspelle (NZ). An absolute standout from the draft according to Nutt.

“From day one, the Wootton Bassett filly has probably been our favourite,” Nutt said.

“I hate singling them out, but she is a very, very nice filly. She is actually being prepared on behalf of Edinglassie, a great nursery. We’re very excited about her and that result yesterday is just going to create even more interest.

“This filly just has a great temperament, and she is very good looking. She is a good size, she has a great walk, and nothing seems to have phased her during the whole preparation. She will sell herself.

“No one has directly told me they are interested, people don’t give themselves up like that, but you can tell as soon as she walks in.

“I have seen a lot of Wooton Bassett’s stock and have seen a few of his yearlings this year around the traps and they are pretty good types overall, but I’d have to say this filly really rates highly amongst what I’ve seen.”

Nutt has every reason to be excited with a Wootton Bassett yearling colt out of Park Bloom (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) selling at Tattersalls October Yearling Sale for 4,300,000gns (AU$9.9 million), the highest price for a yearling colt in the world in 2024 and a European record for a yearling colt. Wootton Bassett yearlings averaged $465,625 at the 2024 Magic Millions Yearling Sale.

Bivouac filly set to impress

While we don’t have the advantage of seeing what Bivouac’s progeny have done in Europe, the former World Champion Sprinter made an almost perfect start to his stud career. Siring his first stakes winner after just three starters. Intention (NZ)(Bivouac) caused a big upset in the G2 Wakefield Challenge S. (1100 metres) at Trentham on Saturday at just her second start, with the lucrative Karaka Millions now in her sights.

Lot 243 for is a bay filly by Bivouac and first foal out of winning mare Camplin (Medaglia D'Oro {USA}) who hails from a strong female family. Camplin is a half-sister to Group 2 winner Ghisoni (Lonhro) from Group 2 winner Portillo (Red Ransom {USA}) with third dam Snowdrift (Fr) (Polish Precedent {USA}) a blue hen that left an impressive 10 winners headed by Group 1 winner Snowland, stakes-winning sire Snippetson as well as stakes-placed offspring Freeze; the damsire of recent Group 1-winner Port Lockroy (Better Than Ready).

The filly is also closely related to breathtaking Te Akau 2-year-old Return to Conquer (Snitzel), who was sold by Blue Gum Farm to David Ellis for $1.3 million at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in January.

“When this filly first came to us, I had seen quite a few Bivouacs over the past 12 months, and she struck me as a filly that has a lot more substance than most of the Bivouac’s I had seen,” Nutt said.

“I think she looks as though she will get up and go early. She is quite a strong filly and just looks like a 2-year-old type. We’ve also liked her from the day she got here.”

Freshman sires poised to impress

Another sure to turn heads is by freshman sire, Wild Ruler Lot 86. The bay colt is out of Wanted Lady (Wanted), making him a half-brother to last year’s $1.6 million Magic Millions yearling sold to James Harron’s Bloodstock Colt Partnership from the draft of Milburn Creek. Now named Guardsman (Extreme Choice) and in work with Michael Freedman, the colt recently stepped out publicly for the first time, finishing second in a Randwick trial on December 9.

Wanted Lady is a winning half-sister to stakes winner Missy Cummings (Magnus), the dam of Group I winner Mizzy (Zoustar), with stakes winners Laced Up Heels (Toronado {Ire}) and Lady Knockout (Serheed {USA}) also in the immediate family.

“From all reports he is right up there amongst the stronger types by Wild Ruler,” Nutt said.

“He looks like a pretty forward colt, well suited to the sale. There has also been some nice updates to the family with Lady Extreme being placed in town.”

According to Nutt the most precocious in the draft may be Lot 379, a colt by Palace Pier. From an old Gooree family, the bay colt is the first foal from three-time winning mare Excelness (Exceed and Excel), a half-sister to G1 JJ Atkins winner Romantic Touch (Northern Meteor) and Group 3 winner Burning Passion (Northern Meteor). It’s also the family of champion Desert War (Desert King {Ire}).

“Kris Lees trained Excelness and he kept saying to me, she was extremely fast,” Nutt said.

“She just had a few soundness issues in her knees. We didn’t see the best of her. This yearling looks like he will get up and go. He is really sharp horse. If I had to pick a horse out of the draft that would get up and go first, he would be the one.”

Proven success sets the stage

Attunga’s highest lot last year at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale was a colt by Capitalist out of Fimatino (Not A Single Doubt), selling to James Harron Bloodstock’s Colt Partnership for $800,000. Now named Caesar (Capitalist), the colt is under the care of Peter Snowden.

“All reports have been positive about Caesar but we probably won’t see him until next year,” Nutt said.

Another from the 2024 draft that has impressed on the track, quite surprisingly, is a Shamus Award colt out of Elimbari (Fastnet Rock). Sold to Neil Jenkinson Pty Ltd and trainer Matthew Dunn for $260,000, he was named Torque To Be Sure (Shamus Award). Nutt expected the 2-year-old to take some time to mature but was pleasantly surprised to see him finish runner-up on Friday night at the Gold Coast in The Debut (1000 metres), a $250,000 race for juveniles.

Gallery: Some of Attunga Stud's 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale graduates, images courtesy of Magic Millions

“There was one colt last year by Shamus Award that I did not think would be running so soon, called Torque to Be Sure,” Nutt said.

“He ran an amazing second in The Debut and he looks like he is going to be a very, very nice horse.”

With exciting proven and upcoming sires represented in this draft plus, results being produced on the track, Attunga’s 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearlings should be on everyone’s inspection list.