Small but mighty: Vendors with three or fewer yearlings at MM Gold Coast

Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions

Sometimes it's a stunning individual that draws the crowd, other times, it's the high ratio of winners from a farm - there’s advantages and disadvantages to having a small draft at a major sale. However, every farm has a good reason for buyers to come and see their horses at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Bahrinna Farm’s Aclaim to fame

Dale Anderson is a proud Gunaikurnai man who runs and owns Bahrinna Thoroughbred Services just south of Beaudesert. Bahrinna has one lot in the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Lot 1055. Anderson says the best horse off the farm is Lim’s Lightning (Lope De Vega {Ire}) who was Horse Of The Year in Singapore and features in the pedigree of Lot 1055.

How do you stand out among the bigger drafts?

“It’s hard. We are a Queensland vendor and being in book two, the arrival time is Saturday morning with my horse going through on Sunday afternoon. I only get a day and a half to parade. It’s not a lot of time to get him ready and educated to the new surrounds. And Saturday is the race day, so when are people going to look at him?” asked Anderson.

“The Hunter Valley horses in book two don’t get much more time, their arrival time is Friday, and they’ve got to help them recover from the truck trip and be ready to parade right away.”

Despite the difficulties, Lot 1055 has a lot going for him. He's by first season sire Aclaim (Ire), who won the G1 Prix de la Foret, and is the fifth foal of Listed Nudgee Handicap winner Vipera Gold (Golden Snake). “He’s sassy as a type. Acclamation is going enormous and Dark Angel just won the sire’s premiership in Britain. Harry Angel is going well here, all from that sireline, so Aclaim should go really well. He was well supported too.

“(The colt) has got a nice head, perfect x-rays, perfect scope, and is a lovely bodied colt.”

Duo from Tasmania’s Grenville Stud

Grenville Stud in Tasmania are bringing two yearlings all the way up north to the Gold Coast. “Triple Group 1 winner Mongolian Khan is our best one off the farm,” said Bart McCulloch. “We have a filly Azonto running in the Guineas at Hobart tomorrow for Star Thoroughbreds.” Azonto (Stratosphere) was purchased by Star Thoroughbreds for $105,000 at the Magic Millions Tasmania Yearling Sale, and comes into the Listed Tasmanian Guineas as a last start winner over 1400 metres.

“It’s making sure we have our horses presented as well as we can. It’s a long way to come from Tasmania. We get them here early. It’s not so much about standing out, more about bringing nice horses that will attract attention. We are very selective with what we bring.”

Lot 363 is a Pinatubo (Ire) colt who is the first foal of Listed Elwick S.-placed Entrapped (Fighting Sun) who won three races. “He’s a very fast looking, early precocious type. His dam is a city winning stakes placed 2-year-old and I’d expect him to get up early. He’s powerful.”

Gallery: Grenville Stud is offering two lots, images courtesy of Magic Millions

Lot 68 is a Zousain colt who is the second foal of Velocita (Sebring). She won three races including one in Sydney and is a half-sister to G3 Hawkesbury Godolphin Crown winner Nancy (Big Brown {USA}), and G3 Sunshine Coast Guineas placed Zavance (Mossman). “He looks like lovely 3-year-old type, a beautiful moving type. Both yearlings have been well received and we quite excited for the sale.”

Little Avondale Stud’s Kiwi trio

Little Avondale Stud hardly qualifies as a small vendor in their native New Zealand, however, they don’t bring many horses to the Gold Coast and in 2025, have a draft of three. When asked about the best horse off the farm, Sam Williams laughed.

“This will be our 85th year of selling horses, so which generation do you mean? We are one of the oldest farms in New Zealand full stop. From my grandfather’s generation Ilumquh, he won the Caulfield Cup. From my father’s years, Dayana who won several Derbies in Australia, and for me Roch ‘n’ Horse,” said Williams. Ilumquh (NZ) (Sabaean {GB}) won the 1960 G1 Caulfield Cup and was twice placed in the G1 Melbourne Cup. Dayana (NZ) (Oncidium {GB}) won the 1972 G1 Victoria Derby, G1 WA Derby and G1 Australian Derby. As an older horse he won the G1 Perth Cup and placed in the G1 Sydney Cup, G1 Underwood S., G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. and the Adelaide and Brisbane Cups.

Roch ‘n’ Horse (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) won the G1 Newmarket H. and G1 VRC Sprint Classic and over $3 million. For one to follow, Williams mentioned Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) who has won seven of his fourteen starts including the Listed Weekend Hussler H. this spring.

What will be drawing in the buyers this sale? “I think I’ve got a star in the draft by Per Incanto. He’s out of a half to Golden Sixty, and I think he is a real star. One of the best Per Incanto colts we’ve bred.

“He’s a lovely individual, because he just moves and floats, and is a really graceful walker who uses himself so well, and he’s got the page too. But with the page and the looks, you need one big thing and that’s temperament and he’s got it. He just knows (he’s good). He’s very close in temperament to his father, I’ve loved him since day one as a foal.”

The Per Incanto (USA) colt is Lot 590 and he’s the fourth foal of Lancashire Lass (Encosta De Lago) whose first foal is a winner. Lancashire Lass is a half-sister to Hong Kong Champion Golden Sixty (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) and both are out of Group 2 winner Gaudeamus (USA) (Distorted Humor {USA}) who also produced stakes placed Rainbow Connection (Choisir) and Igitur (Helmet).

Lot 58, a Hello Youmzain (Fr) filly is the third foal of winning Per Incanto (USA) mare Uncovered Beauty from the family of Invincible Spirit (Ire). “She’s by a sire who is possibly going to take out Europe's leading first season sire. A share in Hello Youmzain recently sold for over $400,000 Aussie and he had his first winner in New Zealand who won very impressively and is heading to the Karaka Millions. Today he had a runner who was second (Hello My Dear), and he’s had a good winner in Victoria with the Hayes brothers. He’s by speed sire Kodiac, and it’s a fast family too. It’s what the market requires.

Gallery: Little Avondale Stud is offering three lots, images courtesy of Magic Millions

“The Sword Of State is a really good first foal. A sharp early type. We have had a number of Sword Of States born here and I’m a fan of them. He was a very good 2-year-old in New Zealand and at three he beat Imperatriz. The filly is physical and sharp, out of a stakes performed mare. We thought we’d take her here to the early market which will suit her.”

“She’s very physical, but walks a lot more like a Per Incanto. His stats are through the roof as a broodmare sire at the moment with nine stakes horses.”

Lot 98 is by first season sire Sword Of State, and is the first foal of Windermere (All Too Hard) who won four times and placed twice at Listed level. This is the European family of Group 1 winners Best Solution (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) and his full brother El Bodegon (Ire), as well as Workforce (GB), Loving Dream (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}) and Brian Boru (GB) (Sadler’s Wells {USA}).

A different approach at Clarke & Croft Bloodstock

Located near Armidale, Clarke & Croft Bloodstock only offer a few horses for sale every year. “We run about 30 thoroughbreds of all different ages, including some racehorses, on our farm at Uralla. It’s 500 acres, and I only do my own horses,” said Sam Clarke.

“I breed my own and pinhooked one this year. I also do my own pre-training. I’ve been doing it for about 20 years but with small numbers and we sell between two and seven horses each year. Our area is high altitude and clean air, and it is only short distance from the latest Melbourne Cup winning farm of Elswick at Walcha.” Knights Choice (Extreme Choice), G1 Melbourne Cup winner, was bred and sold by Elswick Farm, only 50 km away from Clarke & Croft Bloodstock's property.

“Our ratios (of winners) are good but a lack of numbers means we’ve had several Group runners but haven’t had a winner at that level yet.”

What draws the buyers into Clarke & Croft? “I just try to present the best horse I can. My prepping is really different, they are educated to a lot of gear with lunging and are almost broken in before the sale, although we don’t ride them. They can trot behind the motorbike, they bring in the sheep, and I spend a lot of time on each horse.”

Lot 1168 is by first season sire Profiteer. “He’s a solid 2-year-old type, the perfect shape although a bit smaller than sales buyers might want. Since he was born he was perfect, and we called him our Ken Doll. He has a humungous hind quarter, and a magnificent head. He has excellent x-rays and scope, and I would back him to be a good 2-year-old. Plenty of good horses are smaller like Snitzel, Dundeel and Extreme Choice. Northern Dancer, Star Kingdom, he’s in good company.”

His dam is proven broodmare Embark (Choisir) whose five foals to race are all winners including stakes-placed winner Naiconi (Nicconi) while Embark herself was a good racemare winning four races including in Sydney and Melbourne and was twice stakes-placed.

Gallery: Clarke & Croft is offering three lots, images courtesy of Magic Millions

Lot 1086 is a Trapeze Artist colt out of Caulfield winner Alexandra Dreaming (Written Tycoon) who is a half-sister to G3 James HB Carr S. winner Yattarna (Exceed And Excel) and he is her second foal. “He’s very athletic for a big horse, a lovely lengthy horse. He’s light on his feet with a long stride and enormous overstep, great moving, and I really like his walk and the way he’s really ground-covering type in the paddock. He’s my type of horse.”

The third in the draft is Lot 1345, an Astern filly who is the fourth foal of Red Tsarina (Makfi {GB}), a half-sister to G2 Karrakatta Plate winner Luke’s Luck (Show A Heart) and to the dam of Listed winner Enchanted Heart (Shamus Award). “She’s pretty with a very feminine head. An athletic type who is well-balanced, with beautiful front end and has some substance about her.”

From Tremonti to more

Redbank North’s last draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale was only four horses and already includes Listed winner Tremonti (Hellbent). James Middleton nominated G1 Vinery Stud S. winner Single Gaze (Not A Single Doubt) as the best horse off the farm, with this year’s 2-year-olds Tremonti and unraced Ripley (Too Darn Hot {GB}) as ones to watch.

What’s the draw card for Redbank North? “Our results speak for themselves and people come back to us because of our results. We sold 8 last year across all sales, Tremonti is one, Ripley is going well. We sold one at Adelaide that won a trial the other day. It’s a big industry but it’s also small and everyone knows if you are doing well,” said Middleton.

Lot 150, a Street Boss (USA) colt is out of a half-sister to Single Gaze, and his winning dam Amoret (Snitzel) is also a full sister to Listed winner Le Val. Amoret has produced three city winners from as many to race. “He’s not precocious but is a nice horse who has been growing a lot during this preparation. The Street Boss Snitzel cross is very good with Group 1 winner Pinstriped.”

Lot 371 is by first season sire St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) and is the first foal of G3 Vamos S.-placed Estoril Park (Pride Of Dubai) who is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Resortman (Helmet) who won 10 races and over $780,000. “She’s a gorgeous, lovely moving, filly. A real filly’s filly.”

Gallery: Redbank North is offering three lots, images courtesy of Magic Millions

Portland Sky colt, Lot 772, is the first foal of Penglase (Sooboog) who is a half-sister to Redbank North bred Group 3 winner Eckstein (I Am Invincible) who earned over $1.1 million. “He would run through a brick wall, he’s as tough as teak, a real trainer’s horse. He eats all day, is very tough and a nice mover.”

Pinhooked to race at Wahha Thoroughbreds

Wahha Thoroughbreds is situated on Lee Carrow at Delungra in NSW and is run by Andrew Phillips, wife Wendy and daughter Holly. “We do everything from cradle to grave, foaling, educating, pre-training. Anything that needs doing with a horse, we can do it. In the last few years, we’ve had some good results like Sweet Mercy. She won the Four Pillars in Sydney,” said Phillips.

Sweet Mercy (Capitalist) won five of her 33 starts and over $550,000. “We have some nice 2-year-olds in work. One called Entrapment with Joe Ible at Kembla Grange who won a trial the other day nicely, and a lovely Too Darn Hot filly with him who we are excited about. Her full sister is in the Ridgmont draft. We’ve got one with Tony Gollan called Impervious who ran second in a trial.” Cabucicio (Too Darn Hot {GB})’s full sister is Ridgmont Farm's Lot 48, out of a winning full sister to Group 1 winner and sire Crackerjack King (Ire) and a half-sister to Group 1 winner and sire Jakkalberry (Ire).

“We only breed from three mares, mostly pinhooking fillies. We only buy horses we want to race and we offer them all for sale. If they don’t make money, we are happy to race them. The reserve is set at a minimum that gets us out of the horse with a few dollars. That business philosophy has been around for four years and is just starting to come to fruition. We stand behind every horse we offer because we want to race them.”

What’s the philosophy for choosing who makes the cut for Magic Millions? “Every horse we offer for sale, I believe in and I’m happy to race myself. We are prepared to put our money where our mouth is and won’t offer one for sale unless I believe in it. We try and target fillies (as pinhooks) because you can’t compete for the colts, but my belief is that we can infiltrate the good families and we can buy them out of families on an upward trend.

“We are all trying to produce Group 1 horses. We do it on a small scale, giving them the best start we can, producing strong healthy frames on big pastures, and hopefully breeding and ability is mixed in there somewhere along the way. Our strike rate for city winners is very high, now we strive to reach the next level.”

Lot 1228 is a Russian Revolution filly who Wahha bought from Willow Park Stud for $24,000 at the Inglis Sydney Weanling Sale. She is the third foal for In This Life (Super Saver {USA}) who won four races and is a half-sister to two American stakes winners in Princess Sweet (USA) (Precise Air {USA}) and Successfully Sweet (USA) (Successful Appeal {USA}), dam of Group 3 winner Confrontation (USA) (War Pass {USA}). “She’s a sassy filly with good leg, a nice bit of stretch about her, and is a type to be a late 2-year-old who will train on. I think she’s a classic filly who is hopefully strong enough for an Oaks. She’s got a very strong will and she’s tough.”

Portland Sky filly Lot 1348 is the third foal of Romantic Era (NZ) (Nadeem), a half-sister to G2 Wellington Guineas winner The Justice League (NZ) (I Am Invincible). Romantic Era’s first foal is 3-year-old filly Deep Emotion (Deep Field) who ran fourth on debut this spring. Purchased for $22,000 from Cornerstone Stud at the Inglis Great Southern Sale, Lot 1348 is “a quintessential ‘good type’.

Gallery: Wahha Thoroughbreds is offering three lots, images courtesy of Magic Millions

“She’s medium sized with a lovely chest, good walk, lovely rump, has a good demeanour and is easy to work with. She has a solid sprinter’s build. She’ll come reasonably early and will give no trouble to anyone educating her. A delight to work with.”

Capitalist filly, Lot 1362, is the second foal of stakes placed Sarah’s Holy Belle (USA) (El Corredor {USA}) whose first foal is 3-year-old Pulpit (Microphone) who was a winner at two last season. Sarah’s Holy Belle is a half-sister to juvenile Listed winner Sarah’s Passion (USA) (Songandaprayer {USA}). This filly was a $12,500 purchase from Newgate Farm’s Inglis Sydney Weanling Sale draft.

“She is a big and strong bodied filly with a straight shoulder, bright and alert and learns things quickly with an inquisitive mind and she’s a female in a colt’s body. She has a nice length of rein with shortish back and powerful rump.”

List of all 14 smaller vendors at Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale

Table: All vendors in the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale catalogue with 3 or fewer lots