Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
At A Glance
The final yearling sale of 2025 concluded on the Gold Coast with 21 yearlings selling for over $100,000, up from 17 in 2024. Overall, 249 of the 381 catalogued were sold, up in volume from 2024 where 195 of 328 were sold.
The clearance rate after the last lot walked through the ring was 76 per cent, higher than last year’s figure at the same point of 71 per cent.
Despite two lots making more than last year’s sale topping figure of $400,000, at $850,000 and $520,000 respectively, the sale average was down at $41,434 compared to $42,869 in 2024 and $45,510 in 2023.
The median price also fell to $25,000 from 2024’s median of $28,000, but with a larger volume and improved clearance rate, the gross rose to $10.3 million, up from $8.3 million in 2024.
Baramul Stud were the leading vendors by gross, selling 23 yearlings for $2 million, while Longwood Thoroughbreds were the leading vendor by average (2 or more sold) selling three yearlings for $315,000, and average of $105,000.
Yulong’s sole purchase of the sale topper made them the leading buyer by gross, spending $850,000. Next in was Magic Millions China representative Amy Feng who spent $624,000 on 11 yearlings. The leading buyer by average (2 or more bought) was Springwood who spent an average of $190,000 each on two yearlings, and the leading buyer by volume was the Selangor Turf Club who purchased 13 yearlings.
Extreme Choice lead the stallion results by gross and average with all five of his yearlings catalogued selling for $1.57 million at an average of $314,000. Pinatubo was the leading first season sire, by average, with two yearlings averaging $67,500.
Bowditch: ‘Today was another good, solid day’s trade’
Overall, the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale could be classed as a success. Across the two days of selling at the National Yearling Sale (Book 1), some 249 lots sold at an average price of $41,434 to provide a gross of over $10.3 million - $2 million more than last year’s corresponding sale. The clearance rate currently sits at over 76 per cent, which is up from last year’s 71 per cent.
“I thought today was another good, solid day’s trade,” Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said. “Obviously the $525,000 for Alma Vale’s lovely Harry Angel colt to Manfred Man was an outstanding result.
“All in all, to have a clearance rate of 76 per cent and a gross of over $10 million, which is well up on last year, and to have at least 112 horses sell internationally is a huge effort.”
Barry Bowditch | Image courtesy of The image Is Everything
The National Yearling Sale is always well linked with overseas buyers and Bowditch was keen to touch on that
“It was great to see $1.7 million worth of horses to Hong Kong – a million up on last year. We have to thank our international agents and obviously David Chester for his efforts.
“We’ve been so pleased,” Bowditch said. “From the weanlings, which was an outstanding sale, through to the mares, which was quite extraordinary with 24 million-dollar-plus lots, and to the yearlings today and yesterday.
“Nearly $120 million worth of horses with almost 900 horses sold – it’s an outstanding effort.
“We have to thank all our vendors for supporting the sale. The buyers who have turned up globally and domestically – and all of the staff who have helped the breeders out to get their horses here.
“We have to thank all our vendors for supporting the sale. The buyers who have turned up globally and domestically.” - Barry Bowditch
“We are pleased we have been able to pull it all together again in 2025,” Bowditch added.
Life-changing result as Harry Angel pinhook goes from $1500 to $525,000
It was an extraordinary result on Day 2 of the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale, as Lot 1472 , a lovely colt by Harry Angel (Ire) out of Enclosure (NZ) (Postponed {USA}), sold for $525,000 to leading Hong Kong trainer Manfred Man.
Alma Vale Thoroughbreds offered the colt on behalf of Temerity Park, who had purchased him for just $1500 as a weanling from Sledmere Stud’s draft at the 2024 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale. The return marked an incredible profit of 350 times the original purchase price.
Alma Vale Thoroughbreds’ Stud Manager, Oscar Engelbrecht, was understandably slightly shocked, but thrilled after the sale.
Lot 1472 - Harry Angel (Ire) x Enclosure (NZ) (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“The result is incredible, that is what dreams are made of, it really is life-changing for the owners, Temerity Park,” Engelbrecht said.
“It’s good to finish the year on such a high note. We’ve (Alma Vale) had a very good year, and huge credit has to go to everyone involved. It takes a lot of work to get these results, not just from the team at the sales, but everyone back home as well.
“We’re absolutely rapt, and very happy to get the result for such good people.”
“We’re absolutely rapt, and very happy to get the result for such good people.” - Oscar Engelbrecht
Engelbrecht praised the professionalism of the colt, the form of his sire, and noted the strong interest in inspection during the week.
“Harry Angel is doing a really good job, and this colt was so professional throughout the week, the underbidder looked at him seven times,” he said.
Oscar Engelbrecht | Image courtesy of Alma Vale Thoroughbred
“The beauty of live auction action was on full display, when two people want the horse, they’re willing to pay for it.”
Reflecting on the incredible financial turnaround, Engelbrecht added:
“A $1500 weanling into a $525,000 yearling – it could quite possibly be one of the best pinhooks ever.
“When the stars align, it can go really well. It’s a huge team effort, and we have a great team that works extremely hard.”
The colt also boasts a deep pedigree. His grandam, Wrap Around (Bletchingly), was a nine-time winner, including victory in the G1 William Reid Stakes. She produced six individual winners and is part of a family that includes the Group 1 winner Fashions Afield (Redoute’s Choice) and high-class stakes winners such as, Runway Star (Northern Meteor), What You Need (Supido), Fashion Legend (Deep Field), Kiss And Make Up and Imelda Mary (NZ) (Ferlax {NZ}).
Lot 1352 - Harry Angel (Ire) x Turnstiles (NZ) (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
It wasn’t the only strong result for Harry Angel on the day. Lot 1352, offered by Aristia Park, sold for $100,000 to Shane McGrath Bloodstock and Clinton McDonald Racing. This athletic colt is the eighth foal out of Turnstiles (NZ) (Anabaa {USA}), a five-time winner who was also Listed placed.
She has already produced four winners, including the Melbourne Group performers Revolving Door (Sebring) and Golden Spin (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}). The broader family includes the Group 2 winner and Group 1 placed sprinter Vangelic (Vancouver).
Harry Angel has been in outstanding form this season and sits seventh on the Australian General Sires’ Premiership. He boasts six individual stakes winners this term, headlined by the Group 1-winning gelding Tom Kitten, the G1 Galaxy Handicap winner Private Harry who Yulong Stud have now bought into, and Angel Capital who has now been purchased outright by Yulong Stud.
Harry Angel stands at Darley Stud this season at a fee of $66,000 (inc GST), and with the strength of his current racetrack and sales results, demand is expected to be strong.
Harry Angel (Ire) | Image courtesy of Darley
Triple Crown rounds out a multi-million-dollar selling week with buying success
It’s been a week to remember for Triple Crown Syndications, who opened their account with strong results at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, selling three mares for a combined $2.58 million. Among the trio was the high-class Revolutionary Miss (Russian Revolution), who fetched $1.6 million, while Miss Hellfire (Hellbent) sold for $640,000 and Aemelius (Hellbent) cost her new owners $340,000, capping off a lucrative few days for the popular syndication team.
Gallery: High-class mares sold by Triple Crown Syndications at the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale
The team’s momentum continued into the National Yearling Sale, where they were active on the buying bench, securing three yearlings they had specifically targeted before the sale.
Sam Manion of Triple Crown was delighted with the outcome, particularly with Lot 1406, the Hellbent filly purchased from the Attunga Stud draft for $145,000. She is out of the three-time winner Beside You (Ready’s Image {USA}) and is a full sister to Marokopa Falls (Hellbent), who was a debut winner and Group-placed as a juvenile in the G2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes and ran fourth in the G2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes.
“The Hellbent filly is a lovely type,” Manion said. “We sold two Hellbent mares very well last week (Miss Hellfire and Aemelius) and one of them we had also bought off Attunga like this one.
Sam Manion | Image courtesy of Triple Crown
"We love Hellbent fillies and we were pretty keen to get this one. Te Akau have the full sister who is smart, and I think Te Akau were the underbidders for this one. We are very pleased, we liked her, and we have owners that are very keen on Hellbent, which helps make selling them easier.”
The team also secured Lot 1132 by Castelvecchio from Arrowfield Stud for $100,000 on Monday, a horse that had impressed them during on-farm inspections.
“He is a nice type, lovely mover and a really relaxed colt,” Manion said. “We saw him at the farm (Arrowfield Stud) and we thought he was the pick of their draft, and we were keen to have him. We were actually blown away that we could get him for $100,000.”
Lot 1132 - Castelvecchio x Holiday Romance (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Rounding out the week’s buying activity was a D’Argento filly from Bowness Stud, picked up for $42,000.
“The last couple of years we have liked targeting this sale, picking your mark and trying to get some nice stock,” Manion said. “We picked three beforehand and managed to get them all, including a D’Argento filly for a relatively cheap price, and we are over the moon with all three of them.”
“The last couple of years we have liked targeting this sale, picking your mark and trying to get some nice stock,” - Sam Manion
Triple Crown’s week could finish on an even higher note, with Firm Agreement (Yes Yes Yes) heading into Saturday’s rescheduled G1 Queensland Derby as a genuine winning chance. Already a runner-up in the G1 Australian Derby, the Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained gelding shapes as one of the leading hopes in a competitive edition of the race.
“We have had a fabulous week and hopefully it carries on to Saturday and we can win the Derby,” Manion said. “We think he is a red-hot chance, he will handle a soft track and delaying the race a week has definitely given him a better chance.”
Farnan makes his presence felt on Day 2
After promising first-season sires Cool Aza Beel (NZ) and Ole Kirk made headlines on Day 1 of the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale with strong six-figure results, it was Farnan’s turn to shine on Day 2 as buyers' thirst for runners by young sires that have made a promising start with their juveniles continued.
Lot 1413, a well-related colt by Farnan, was offered by Evergreen Stud Farm and secured by Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Racing in partnership with Kestrel Thoroughbreds for $150,000.
The colt is the ninth foal out of Bound To Blush (Strategic), a four-time winner who strung three of those wins together and placed in several black-type events including the G3 Glenlogan Park Stakes, Listed Razor Sharp Handicap, Listed James HB Carr Stakes, Listed Tatt's RC Travel Associates Classic, and the Listed Hawkesbury Guineas.
Lot 1413 - Farnan x Bound to Blush (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
She has already produced four winners, notably Final Award – Gon Sai Baau (Mac.) (Smart Missile), a Listed Canberra Guineas winner and nine-time winner across Australia and Macau, and Happy Fat Cat (Shalaa {Ire}), a prolific nine-time winning sprinter in Hong Kong.
Bruce Slade of Kestrel Thoroughbreds was enthusiastic about the colt and the stallion’s early success.
“Really nice Farnan colt, we are a fan of the stallion and he has been good to us with his first crop of 2-year-olds. We have North Of England who won the Golden Gift and The Kindergarten, Farnicle ran a huge race in the Sires’ Produce last Saturday and we think he will be even better in the JJ Atkins in a couple of weeks, and Farcited of course, who was second in the Black Opal and ran in the Slipper for us this year.
“So, amongst a few others in the 2-year-old ranks that we like, and a new group of yearlings by him coming through, we really rate them.
Bruce Slade | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
"Adrian and Gai think they are really good to deal with, really straightforward, easy to train, and importantly, have speed and an engine, so we are happy to keep buying them.”
On the colt’s maternal line, Slade added:
“The mare’s done a really good job. It's an old Gooree Stud mare that we have had a bit to do with over the years, going way back for the team.
“He was born in November, but he is very forward. We can break him in now, and it won’t take him too long to catch up based on his physicality.”
Slade also felt the colt represented excellent value.
“We think he was good buying. We think that had this horse been in one of the earlier sales, he may have made considerably more, so we got good value.
“We think he (Lot 1413) was good buying. We think that had this horse been in one of the earlier sales, he may have made considerably more, so we got good value.” - Bruce Slade
“Understandably, at this time of year, everyone has their stocking full and there isn’t as much appetite or demand to buy these young horses, so naturally they don’t make quite as much.”
That wasn’t the only purchase for the Waterhouse and Bott–Kestrel Thoroughbreds combination. On Day 1, they teamed up with First Light Racing to secure Lot 1296, a Northern Hemisphere-bred filly by Extreme Choice out of Sheza Shamardal (Shamardal {USA}) from the draft of Infinity Thoroughbreds, for $160,000.
Lot 1296 - Extreme Choice x Sheza Shamardal (filly) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
With bold ambitions, the team has Royal Ascot in their sights.
“It’s a big dream, but quite pragmatic on how we approached the plan, logically there are some significant advantages that we could tap into targeting some European 2-year-old races out of Australia,” Slade explained.
“With that being our natural precocity over here, through our genetics, we are commercially invested in precocity and speed in Australia. We have a much warmer climate, which is conducive to quicker growth and more muscle mass.
“That, along with being able to educate her well ahead of her counterparts in the Northern Hemisphere and the fact that she is by Extreme Choice, gives us a lot of strong pointers to possibly have a two-year-old raid on the Northern Hemisphere from Tulloch Lodge.”
While Royal Ascot is the dream, Slade is realistic about alternative pathways for the filly.
“At the same time, if that dream doesn’t come true, there are still plenty of other options for her. Extreme Choice has averaged around $500,000 this year at the yearling sales, and we purchased her for $160,000. She was top-class, and if she isn’t really a two-year-old, there are so many options as a three, four and five-year-old. She has scope and a great action, and she looks like she could be effective up to a mile.
“She (Lot 1296) was top-class, and if she isn’t really a two-year-old, there are so many options as a three, four and five-year-old.” - Bruce Slade
“But who is to say we can’t dream and have a crack, and you can never count Gai out of pulling something spectacular - an Australian-raised Royal Ascot runner would be pretty cool.”
Top lots
| 1282 | Extreme Choice (AUS) | Samarmeteors (AUS) | Baramul Stud, Widden Valley, NSW | Ch. | C | Yu Long Investments (Australia) Pty Ltd | VIC | $ 850,000 |
| 1472 | Harry Angel (IRE) | Enclosure (NZ) | Alma Vale Thoroughbreds, Scone, NSW (As Agent) | B. | C | Manfred Man | HONG KONG | $ 525,000 |
| 1263 | Extreme Choice (AUS) | Queen Magdalene (AUS) | Baramul Stud, Widden Valley, NSW | B. | F | Springwood | NSW | $ 240,000 |
| 1144 | Nicconi (AUS) | I'm Gunna Cashew (AUS) | Lyndhurst Stud Farm, Warwick, Qld | Ch. | C | Robl Racing Pty Ltd | QLD | $ 190,000 |
| 1334 | Extreme Choice (AUS) | Telepathic (NZ) | Baramul Stud, Widden Valley, NSW | B. | F | David Newling | NSW | $ 180,000 |
| 1410 | Churchill (IRE) | Blizzardly (AUS) | Taghadoe Stud, Scone, NSW (As Agent for D Walker) | B. | C | Michael Chang | HONG KONG | $ 170,000 |
| 1296 | Extreme Choice (AUS) | Sheza Shamardal (AUS) | Infinity Thoroughbreds, Purga, Qld (As Agent) | Ch. | F | First Light Racing/Waterhouse & Bott/Kestrel Thoroughbreds | NSW | $ 160,000 |
| 1413 | Farnan (AUS) | Bound to Blush (AUS) | Evergreen Stud Farm, Heatherbrae, NSW (As Agent) | B. | C | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Racing/Kestrel Thoroughreds | NSW | $ 150,000 |
| 1406 | Hellbent (AUS) | Beside You (AUS) | Attunga Stud, Scone, NSW (As Agent) | B. | F | Triple Crown Syndications | NSW | $ 145,000 |
| 1181 | Ole Kirk (AUS) | Lady Lynette (AUS) | Baramul Stud, Widden Valley, NSW | B. | C | Amy Feng | CHINA | $ 140,000 |
Top Vendors by gross (Day 2)
| Baramul Stud, Widden Valley, NSW | 23 | 3 | 9 | $87,239 | $2,006,500 |
| Alma Vale Thoroughbreds, Scone, NSW | 14 | 2 | 2 | $64,643 | $905,000 |
| Attunga Stud, Scone, NSW | 12 | 1 | 2 | $44,167 | $530,000 |
| Newhaven Park, Boorowa, NSW | 15 | 8 | 2 | $33,500 | $502,500 |
| Arrowfield Stud, Scone, NSW | 12 | 0 | 0 | $39,500 | $474,000 |
| Westbury Stud Ltd, Karaka, NZ | 8 | 0 | 3 | $45,313 | $362,500 |
| Infinity Thoroughbreds, Purga, Qld | 4 | 1 | 0 | $89,000 | $356,000 |
| Taghadoe Stud, Scone, NSW | 5 | 1 | 2 | $68,800 | $344,000 |
| Longwood Thoroughbred Farm, Longwood East, Vic | 3 | 0 | 1 | $105,000 | $315,000 |
| Robyn Wise, Toowoomba, Qld | 8 | 0 | 1 | $38,938 | $311,500 |
Top Vendors by average (2 or more sold) (Day 2)
| Longwood Thoroughbred Farm, Longwood East, Vic | 3 | 0 | 1 | $105,000 | $315,000 |
| Infinity Thoroughbreds, Purga, Qld | 4 | 1 | 0 | $89,000 | $356,000 |
| Baramul Stud, Widden Valley, NSW | 23 | 3 | 9 | $87,239 | $2,006,500 |
| Taghadoe Stud, Scone, NSW | 5 | 1 | 2 | $68,800 | $344,000 |
| Alma Vale Thoroughbreds, Scone, NSW | 14 | 2 | 2 | $64,643 | $905,000 |
| Widden Stud, Widden Valley, NSW | 5 | 1 | 1 | $59,900 | $299,500 |
| Aristia Park, Koo Wee Rup, Vic | 2 | 1 | 1 | $52,500 | $105,000 |
| Traxion Management Services, Biddaddaba, Qld | 4 | 0 | 1 | $50,500 | $202,000 |
| Goodwood Farm, Murrurundi, NSW | 6 | 0 | 1 | $50,333 | $302,000 |
| Westbury Stud Ltd, Karaka, NZ | 8 | 0 | 3 | $45,313 | $362,500 |
Top Buyers by gross (Day2)
| Yu Long Investments (Australia) Pty Ltd | 1 | $850,000 | $850,000 |
| Amy Feng | 11 | $56,773 | $624,500 |
| Manfred Man | 1 | $525,000 | $525,000 |
| Springwood | 2 | $190,000 | $380,000 |
| Triple Crown Syndications | 3 | $95,667 | $287,000 |
| Robl Racing Pty Ltd | 3 | $90,833 | $272,500 |
| Koidco Ltd | 11 | $23,727 | $261,000 |
| Moorillah Pastoral | 6 | $43,333 | $260,000 |
| David Newling | 1 | $180,000 | $180,000 |
| John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) | 3 | $58,333 | $175,000 |
Top Buyers by average (2 or more bought) (Day 2)
| Springwood | 2 | $190,000 | $380,000 |
| Triple Crown Syndications | 3 | $95,667 | $287,000 |
| Robl Racing Pty Ltd | 3 | $90,833 | $272,500 |
| Kendrick Racing | 2 | $86,000 | $172,000 |
| Shane McGrath Bloodstock/Clinton McDonald Racing | 2 | $65,000 | $130,000 |
| Red Bloodstock | 2 | $60,000 | $120,000 |
| Paul Murray | 2 | $59,500 | $119,000 |
| John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) | 3 | $58,333 | $175,000 |
| Amy Feng | 11 | $56,773 | $624,500 |
| David Ellis (BAFNZ) | 2 | $51,250 | $102,500 |
Top Buyers by volume (Day 2)
| Selangor Turf Club | 13 | $11,038 | $5,000 | $18,000 | $143,500 |
| Amy Feng | 11 | $56,773 | $12,000 | $140,000 | $624,500 |
| Koidco Ltd | 11 | $23,727 | $5,000 | $60,000 | $261,000 |
| Panachai Chewarathanaporn | 7 | $10,857 | $5,000 | $20,000 | $76,000 |
| Moorillah Pastoral | 6 | $43,333 | $20,000 | $100,000 | $260,000 |
| Cesar Avila Jr | 6 | $12,000 | $7,000 | $25,000 | $72,000 |
| Narisara Sripal | 5 | $11,200 | $4,000 | $22,000 | $56,000 |
| Regal Farm | 4 | $38,500 | $24,000 | $60,000 | $154,000 |
| Triple Crown Syndications | 3 | $95,667 | $42,000 | $145,000 | $287,000 |
| Robl Racing Pty Ltd | 3 | $90,833 | $37,500 | $190,000 | $272,500 |
Top Sires by gross (Day 2)
| Extreme Choice (AUS) | 5 | $0 | $0 | $314,000 | $1,570,000 |
| Harry Angel (IRE) | 8 | $0 | $0 | $111,000 | $888,000 |
| Ole Kirk (AUS) | 6 | $1 | $0 | $77,000 | $462,000 |
| Cool Aza Beel (NZ) | 11 | $3 | $3 | $38,455 | $423,000 |
| Zoustar (AUS) | 5 | $0 | $0 | $79,500 | $397,500 |
| Farnan (AUS) | 5 | $1 | $4 | $60,400 | $302,000 |
| Tarzino (NZ) | 7 | $0 | $1 | $40,286 | $282,000 |
| Hellbent (AUS) | 5 | $0 | $2 | $52,900 | $264,500 |
| Churchill (IRE) | 4 | $0 | $0 | $61,500 | $246,000 |
| I Am Invincible (AUS) | 2 | $0 | $1 | $120,000 | $240,000 |
Top Sires by average (2 or more sold) (Day 2)
| Extreme Choice (AUS) | 5 | $0 | $0 | $314,000 | $1,570,000 |
| I Am Invincible (AUS) | 2 | $0 | $1 | $120,000 | $240,000 |
| Harry Angel (IRE) | 8 | $0 | $0 | $111,000 | $888,000 |
| Zoustar (AUS) | 5 | $0 | $0 | $79,500 | $397,500 |
| Ole Kirk (AUS) | 6 | $1 | $0 | $77,000 | $462,000 |
| Pinatubo (IRE) | 2 | $0 | $0 | $67,500 | $135,000 |
| Nicconi (AUS) | 3 | $0 | $1 | $66,667 | $200,000 |
| St Mark's Basilica (FR) | 3 | $0 | $1 | $65,333 | $196,000 |
| Churchill (IRE) | 4 | $0 | $0 | $61,500 | $246,000 |
| Farnan (AUS) | 5 | $1 | $4 | $60,400 | $302,000 |
