Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
At A Glance
The Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale of 2025 sale closed on Tuesday night with 291 yearlings sold, down from 306 in 2024, for $14,183,500 down from $15,379,500 in 2024.
The average was at $48,741 on Tuesday night, which similar to last year’s average of $49,545. The median, which was $40,000 on the first day, fell to $32,500 in 2025 for the overall sale.
The clearance rate was sitting at 75.78 per cent, with some sales still coming in. Last year produced a final clearance of 81.14 per cent.
The top end was strong on Day 2 with the sale’s top seller through the ring being $350,000 for a Zoustar filly sold by Baramul Stud to Blueblood Thoroughbreds and Ciaron Maher Racing.
The buying bench was evenly spread. Aaron Bain Racing and Summit Bloodstock were the top buyers by volume with 12 lots, and they also topped the gross spending $627,000. John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) spent $590,000 on five yearlings to come in second by gross spend and was the leader on average (2 or more bought) at $118,000.
Baramul Stud were the leading vendors by gross, selling 19 yearlings for $1,692,500, while Yulong led the averages with nine yearlings sold at an average of $105,000.
Second season sire Bivouac was equal top of the sires table by aggregate with Harry Angel (Ire), with both sitting on $670,000 worth of sales. The leading sire by average (two or more sold) was Wootton Bassett (GB) whose two yearlings averaged $170,000.
Zoustar factor is big for Bluebloods
The top lot of the sale came early on Day 2, when Lot 255, a stunning Zoustar filly, was snapped up for $350,000 by Blueblood Thoroughbreds and Ciaron Maher Racing, sold through Baramul Stud.
The second foal of Beauty Betty (NZ) (Swiss Ace), a two-time winner over 1000 metres, she is a sister to the talented Huka Eagle (NZ) (Swiss Ace), a three-time winner in New Zealand who placed in the Group 1 Levin Classic and won the Listed Chairman’s Challenge Cup in Macau.
“She’s very nice. We really liked her as a type and didn’t want to leave without her,” said David Mourad of Blueblood Thoroughbreds.
Lot 255 - Zoustar x Beauty Betty (NZ) (filly) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“She’s by Zoustar who's doing a terrific job, we've had success with Zoustar in the past, and that’s a big factor in why we liked her, but she’s also a strong, quality filly, deep girth, powerful hindquarters, and she moved really well. When you combine all those things together, she was a clear standout,” Mourad added.
“She’s by Zoustar, and that’s a big factor in why we liked her, but she’s also a strong, quality filly, deep girth, powerful hindquarters, and she moved really well.” - David Mourad
“We bought her off a great farm in Baramul, and Gerry (Harvey) has chosen to stay in for 20 per cent, which is a great vote of confidence.
“Usually we come down here to Adelaide to look for some value and get some cheapies, but on this occasion it was quite the opposite. We had to bid strong on her. We didn't want to leave the sale without her and we're very excited to be able to purchase her.”
Two other yearlings today sold for $200,000. Yulong's Written Tycoon filly from Blue Morpho (Hussonet {USA}) was knocked down to Ridgeport Holdings, Clarken Bloodstock and Suman Hedge Bloodstock, while John Foote went to $200,000 for the Brutal-Esteemed Elegance (NZ) (Sir Percy {GB}) colt from Riverina Downs.
Jolly loves the pinhooking game
Harry Angel (Ire) has been on fire lately on the track, with the likes of Tom Kitten, Private Harry, Stretan Angel, and Angel Capital making waves across the country.
As a result, his progeny have been selling exceptionally well in the sales ring. Lot 397 was no exception, knocked down for $110,000 to South Australian trainer Craig Curtis of Curtis Racing.
Curtis was naturally ecstatic with his purchase of the quality colt, but so was David Jolly. He had originally purchased the colt for just $20,000 from the draft of Sledmere Stud at the 2024 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale; a successful profit of $90,000.
Lot 397 - Harry Angel (Ire) x Hollywell (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
David Jolly explained a bit of background around the story
“In the last 18 months or so, we sold our stables at Goolwa as the whole area has grown around us. We actually still lease the stables at the moment, but we’ve been able to buy a farm and have got keen on buying a few foals and weanlings to grow them out a bit. That’s been the catalyst.
“I purchased this guy for $20,000, and originally, it wasn’t the plan to offer him here. But he was such a lovely colt, the sire has been firing, and I had Adrian Hancock encouraging me to give it a go. I thought it would be good to support the sale, and here we are.”
“...He was such a lovely colt, the sire has been firing, and I had Adrian Hancock encouraging me to give it a go. I thought it would be good to support the sale, and here we are.” - David Jolly
“I’m really keen on trading horses. I love to see what’s going on with sires, pedigrees, etc. So much of the game is about timing, and a lovely colt by Harry Angel was an opportunity to make a profit.”
When asked if we can expect to see more of David Jolly in the trading game, he replied, “Absolutely! I love it.”
“It’s a great way to stay on top of what’s going on in the breeding world. You can’t get it right every time, and you need a sense of timing, but I love trading horses.”
David Jolly | Image courtesy of David Jolly Racing
Bain makes his move early, snapping up the first lot of the day
There was always one horse that stood out for Aaron Bain, and he made sure he didn’t leave without him. Lot 228, the very first lot on Day 2 of the Adelaide Yearling Sale, was his target, and he secured the St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) colt for $120,000 from the draft of Willaroon Thoroughbreds.
The colt was a priority for Bain, mainly due to his half-brother, Dubai Focus (Pride Of Dubai), who has been in outstanding form, winning his last three consecutive starts. Bain, who trains Dubai Focus in partnership with Ned Taylor, saw plenty to like in this youngster.
Lot 228 - St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) x Zhaojun (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“I’m really excited, he was our top lot of the sale, obviously with the connection to Dubai Focus,” Bain told Racing.com.
“We probably thought we’d have to pay a little more than that, maybe a few people were late getting here. We had to work, but $120,000 is a fair price, given he’s a second foal out of a nice broodmare.”
When asked about the similarities between the colt and his successful sibling, Bain said:
“Very similar in size and general stature. We wanted to train him and bring him home, and the ownership group of Dubai Focus all wanted in as well. He’ll be a pretty easy sell, he will be gone. There was real intent to buy him for them.”
Video: Watch Lot 228 parade walk, video courtesy of Magic Millions
Lot 228 boasts an intriguing international pedigree, featuring a double cross of influential sires Danehill (USA) and Sadler’s Wells (USA). His grandam, Imperial Beauty (USA) (Imperial Ballet {Ire}), was a four-time winner, including tasting success in the Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp.
Since producing this classy colt, his dam, Zhaojun (Choisir) produced a Hitotsu colt last spring and was subsequently served by Capitalist.
Gift mare produces cracking $120,000 colt
The Whim Park team in Lower Light, South Australia, had a dream result when Lot 392, an attractive Nicconi colt, sold for $120,000 to John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) towards the end of Day 2 at the Adelaide Yearling Sale.
The sale capped off an extraordinary story—the colt’s dam, Heavenly Award (Shamus Award), was originally gifted to Julie Barnes of Whim Park. On Tuesday, she made a major impact as her first foal sold for that impressive price, alongside Whim Park's other yearling, Lot 216, a Grunt (NZ) colt that fetched $85,000.
Lot 392 - Nicconi x Heavenly Award (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Barnes shared her excitement, saying:
“It’s exceeded all my expectations. They are prepared at home, we walk them down the freeway to get them used to noise and everything else, as we live on the freeway.
“They are just nice boys. I still have the mares in the back paddock, just in case they sold okay!”
Reflecting on the sale of the Nicconi colt, Barnes revealed to Racing.com the unique story behind the mare:
“The mare was given to me by Ian, I can’t remember his last name at the moment, but he gifted her to me after she bowed a tendon. I took her home, thinking I might rehab her, ride her, and maybe sell her as a show horse. But I never did.
“My partner wanted to breed from her, so we sent her to Nicconi, and ‘Virgil’ is the result of that breeding.”
Video: Watch Lot 392, video courtesy of Magic Millions
With a laugh, she added: “Maybe I better go and buy Ian a really big beer!”
Lot 392 is the first foal out of Heavenly Award, who is a half-sister to G2 Sunline Stakes winner Text’n Hurley (Hard Spun {USA}) and five other individual winners. The colt’s great-grandam, Excited Angel (Don’t Say Halo {USA}), was a 12-time winner, a three-time Group winner, and placed four times at Group 1 level.
Big-name stallions sell well
Buyers are always looking for stallions in demand, and the big guns certainly delivered, selling well above the overall sales average.
While these elite sires commanded high prices, they also provided buyers with a rare opportunity to secure high-quality progeny at what could be considered excellent value given the significant service fees these stallions stood for at the time of conception.
Gallery: Top lots sold by established stallions, images courtesy of Magic Millions
Zoustar had only one lot in the sale, but he made it count; Lot 255 topped the sale at $350,000, with Blueblood Thoroughbreds and Ciaron Maher Racing winning the bidding war.
Written Tycoon saw three of his progeny sell at an average of $165,333, with his top lot, Lot 109, purchased by Wei Jiaoqi of China.
So You Think had four yearlings go under the hammer at an average price of $105,000, with his top result being Lot 25, a striking colt that fetched $240,000 and was secured by the combination of Clarken Bloodstock, Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA), and Rob Chapman.
Meanwhile, Toronado had two lots sell for an average of $120,000, with Lot 153, a filly offered by Baramul Stud, going to Tony Ottobre’s Cape Schanck Stud.
Top Lots
| 255 | Baramul Stud | B. | F | Zoustar (AUS) | Beauty Betty (NZ) | Blueblood Thoroughbreds/Ciaron Maher Racing | NSW | $ 350,000 |
| 109 | Yulong | Ch. | F | Written Tycoon (AUS) | Saaryaa (IRE) | Wei Jiaoqi | China | $ 260,000 |
| 25 | Mill Park Stud | B. | C | So You Think (NZ) | Miss Otto (AUS) | Clarken Bloodstock/Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA)/Rob Chapman | SA | $ 240,000 |
| 273 | Yulong | Ch. | F | Written Tycoon (AUS) | Blue Morpho (AUS) | Ridgeport Holdings/ Clarken Bloodstock/ Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) | SA | $ 200,000 |
| 342 | Riverina Downs | B. | C | Brutal (NZ) | Esteemed Elegance (NZ) | John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) | VIC | $ 200,000 |
| 149 | Baramul Stud | B. | C | Ole Kirk (AUS) | Statuesquely (AUS) | Ohukia Lodge | New Zealand | $ 180,000 |
| 200 | Baramul Stud | Br. | F | Wootton Bassett (GB) | Victoria Road (AUS) | John Singleton | NSW | $ 180,000 |
| 422 | Glenn Lee Thoroughbreds | Ch. | C | Castelvecchio (AUS) | Kebede (AUS) | Tartan Meadow Bloodstock | Hong Kong | $ 180,000 |
| 64 | Mill Park Stud | Ch. | C | Bivouac (AUS) | Pimm's Party (AUS) | Kavanagh Racing | VIC | $ 170,000 |
| 377 | Baramul Stud | B. | C | Bivouac (AUS) | Gaya (AUS) | Williams Racing/Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) | WA | $ 170,000 |
Vendors by aggregate
| Baramul Stud | 46 | 18 | 20 | 8 | $ 1,672,500 | $ 92,917 |
| Mill Park Stud | 22 | 16 | - | 6 | $ 1,306,000 | $ 81,625 |
| Yulong | 18 | 9 | 6 | 3 | $ 952,000 | $ 105,778 |
| Glenn Lee Thoroughbreds | 13 | 9 | 2 | 2 | $ 637,500 | $ 70,833 |
| Willaroon Thoroughbreds | 11 | 9 | 1 | 1 | $ 590,000 | $ 65,556 |
| Willow Park Stud | 13 | 10 | 1 | 2 | $ 568,500 | $ 56,850 |
| Bowness Stud | 12 | 11 | 1 | - | $ 538,500 | $ 48,955 |
| Newhaven Park | 13 | 9 | 2 | 2 | $ 367,000 | $ 40,778 |
| Cornerstone Stud | 14 | 9 | 2 | 3 | $ 355,000 | $ 39,444 |
| Caithness Breeding | 12 | 11 | - | 1 | $ 340,500 | $ 30,955 |
Vendors by average (2 or more sold)
| Yulong | 18 | 9 | 6 | 3 | $ 952,000 | $ 105,778 |
| Whim Park | 2 | 2 | - | - | $ 205,000 | $ 102,500 |
| Riverina Downs | 5 | 3 | 2 | - | $ 301,000 | $ 100,333 |
| Baramul Stud | 46 | 18 | 20 | 8 | $ 1,672,500 | $ 92,917 |
| Mill Park Stud | 22 | 16 | - | 6 | $ 1,306,000 | $ 81,625 |
| Valiant Stud | 5 | 4 | 1 | - | $ 290,000 | $ 72,500 |
| Sullivan Bloodstock | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | $ 289,000 | $ 72,250 |
| Glenn Lee Thoroughbreds | 13 | 9 | 2 | 2 | $ 637,500 | $ 70,833 |
| Willaroon Thoroughbreds | 11 | 9 | 1 | 1 | $ 590,000 | $ 65,556 |
| Balcrest Stud | 4 | 4 | - | - | $ 250,000 | $ 62,500 |
Buyers by aggregate
| Aaron Bain Racing/Summit Bloodstock | 12 | $ 627,000 | $ 52,250 |
| John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) | 5 | $ 590,000 | $ 118,000 |
| Williams Racing/Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) | 6 | $ 395,000 | $ 65,833 |
| Macdonald Gluyas Racing | 5 | $ 368,000 | $ 73,600 |
| Blueblood Thoroughbreds/Ciaron Maher Racing | 1 | $ 350,000 | $ 350,000 |
| Proven Thoroughbreds/Hayfields Racing | 3 | $ 325,000 | $ 108,333 |
| Wei Jiaoqi | 1 | $ 260,000 | $ 260,000 |
| Tartan Meadow Bloodstock | 3 | $ 251,000 | $ 83,667 |
| Clarken Bloodstock/Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA)/Rob Chapman | 1 | $ 240,000 | $ 240,000 |
| Shane McGrath Bloodstock/St Kilda Lodge | 2 | $ 215,000 | $ 107,500 |
Buyers by average (2 or more bought)
| John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) | 5 | $ 590,000 | $ 118,000 |
| Proven Thoroughbreds/Hayfields Racing | 3 | $ 325,000 | $ 108,333 |
| Shane McGrath Bloodstock/St Kilda Lodge | 2 | $ 215,000 | $ 107,500 |
| Tartan Meadow Bloodstock | 3 | $ 251,000 | $ 83,667 |
| Merrick Staunton | 2 | $ 160,000 | $ 80,000 |
| Hancock Quality Bloodstock (FBAA) | 2 | $ 155,000 | $ 77,500 |
| Macdonald Gluyas Racing | 5 | $ 368,000 | $ 73,600 |
| Prima Park/Bevan Smith Bloodstock | 2 | $ 145,000 | $ 72,500 |
| Smiley Chan | 2 | $ 140,000 | $ 70,000 |
| Curtis Racing | 2 | $ 140,000 | $ 70,000 |
Sires by aggregate
| Bivouac | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | $ 670,000 | $ 111,667 |
| Harry Angel (Ire) | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | $ 670,000 | $ 95,714 |
| All Too Hard | 10 | 8 | - | 2 | $ 561,500 | $ 70,188 |
| Written Tycoon | 6 | 3 | 3 | - | $ 496,000 | $ 165,333 |
| So You Think (NZ) | 6 | 4 | 2 | - | $ 420,000 | $ 105,000 |
| Lucky Vega (Ire) | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | $ 402,500 | $ 100,625 |
| The Autumn Sun | 8 | 8 | - | - | $ 394,500 | $ 49,313 |
| Zousain | 9 | 8 | - | 1 | $ 390,000 | $ 48,750 |
| Zoustar | 2 | 1 | 1 | - | $ 350,000 | $ 350,000 |
| Hanseatic | 13 | 11 | 1 | 1 | $ 343,000 | $ 31,182 |
Sires by average (2 or more sold)
| Wootton Bassett (GB) | 3 | 2 | 1 | - | $ 340,000 | $ 170,000 |
| Written Tycoon (AUS) | 6 | 3 | 3 | - | $ 496,000 | $ 165,333 |
| St Mark's Basilica (FR) | 3 | 2 | 1 | - | $ 250,000 | $ 125,000 |
| Toronado (IRE) | 5 | 2 | 3 | - | $ 240,000 | $ 120,000 |
| Bivouac (AUS) | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | $ 670,000 | $ 111,667 |
| Ole Kirk (AUS) | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | $ 215,000 | $ 107,500 |
| So You Think (NZ) | 6 | 4 | 2 | - | $ 420,000 | $ 105,000 |
| Lucky Vega (IRE) | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | $ 402,500 | $ 100,625 |
| Harry Angel (IRE) | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | $ 670,000 | $ 95,714 |
| Castelvecchio (AUS) | 5 | 3 | - | 2 | $ 230,000 | $ 76,667 |
