Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
Entries have opened for the 2026 Magic Millions Yearling Sales Series, kicking off with the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale on January 13 to 19, which will be supported by the Magic Millions Gold Coast racing carnival offering $20.55 million in prizemoney, plus $750,000 in Magic Millions Racing Women’s Bonuses, for sales graduates.
“Each and every year we provide the perfect springboard for the next stars of the racetrack in the sale ring,” said Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch. “Our team looks forward to working with our breeders and vendors in placing stock in an auction where the best possible returns are realised.”
“Each and every year we provide the perfect springboard for the next stars of the racetrack in the sale ring.” - Barry Bowditch
The Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale will take place on February 19 and 20, followed by the Tasmanian Yearling Sale on February 23, the Gold Coast March Yearling Sale on March 12 and 13, and the Adelaide Yearling Sale on March 19 and 20. The series completes on June 1 and 2 with the Gold Coast National Yearling Sale.
“From our perspective, I think we've been on a very significant rise for a long, long time, and we were delighted with our outcomes this year,” Bowditch continued. “I feel we've got great trust from our vendors out there that we're doing a fantastic job. You only have to look at the trajectory of where our sales have come from and where they are - it's significant growth - and we think we got plenty to build upon for 2026.
A Golden headstart
The 2025 Gold Coast sale saw the sale’s previous record price shattered when Mitsu Nakauchida paid $3.2 million for a Home Affairs daughter of champion racehorse Sunlight (Zoustar); now exported back to Japan and named Lia La La, the filly has also been the highest priced yearling sold in Australia in 2025. Just the day before, the bar had been raised above Magic Millions' previous record by the $2.8 million Snitzel colt out of Group 3-winning Humma Humma (Denman).
Lia La La as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The sale realised 13 lots sold for seven figures, three of which were by first season sires, and a clearance rate resting at 80.4%, accounting for post-auction sales, that rises to 83% for Book 1 horses.
“The Gold Coast Yearling Sale is a festival like no other celebrating equine excellence,” Bowditch said. “With the strongest buying bench in the country on hand, as the finest Australasian yearlings take centre stage in the theatre created by the buzz of the Magic Millions Carnival.
“The Gold Coast Yearling Sale is a festival like no other celebrating equine excellence.” - Barry Bowditch
“We are proud to boast about the best auctioneers in Australia and achieving more individual buyers than any other yearling sale in the Southern Hemisphere, in turn providing greater year-on-year returns direct to our vendors.
“The 2025 edition delivered at all levels, generating the highest priced yearling sold in Australasia, the highest amount of new international investment as well as the highest number of unique buyers in the middle market.”
Barry Bowditch | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The Gold Coast Yearling Sale recorded 486 individual buyers across both books, who purchased 1016, averaging 2 horses sold per buyer. An active international buying bench added to the action, with buyers located in New Zealand, Hong Kong, China, and the United States. In addition, 45 individual buying outfits spent $1 million or more across Book 1, including some of the country’s premier racing operations.
For horses in Book 2, the results were very promising; 22 horses made $100,000 or more, and the top 50 through the ring (from 247 horses sold, or 20%) averaged $100,000.
“January gives the buyers the faith that that's where they need to get in, and they like to spend their money early, and I think that works hand in hand with the vendors,” Bowditch said. “They want to sell where the buyers are, and the first money is always available in January, and the vendors never lose sight of that.”
“January gives the buyers the faith that that's where they need to get in, and they like to spend their money early.” - Barry Bowditch
Bowditch is looking forward to seeing who and what will be popular on the Gold Coast next January, particularly after a strong weanling sale where first season sires and the elite were in high demand.
“I think we’re very lucky to have some good, strong stallions that are very consistent at the top end, but we also have a lot of up-and-coming horses coming through,” he said. “Obviously this year’s crop of first season sires is going to be very, very strong again, we’ve seen that at the weanling sales and there are some stallions that are very sought after.
“So all in all, leading into next year, there’s a lot to be excited about for the market and also for us as a sales company.”
Gold Coast sales auditorium | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
High quality racing year round
Sales graduates will also be eligible for the 28 Magic Millions races held nationwide, across six states, each year that promise over $20 million in prizemoney between them.
“(It’s) a national program of races that provides rich prizemoney opportunities across all ages, classes, and distances supported by world-first innovation, with initiatives such as The Syndicate and The Debut races, plus the ground-breaking Magic Millions Racing Women’s initiative that has changed the narrative of ownership globally,” Bowditch said. “There is simply no better Race Series in the world.”
“There is simply no better Race Series in the world.” - Barry Bowditch
This year saw the inaugural $3 million Magic Millions Sunlight slot race, won by unbeaten colt Private Harry (Harry Angel {Ire}), which attracted some of the country’s most exciting 3-year-old sprinters, including G1 Golden Slipper Stakes winner Lady Of Camelot (Written Tycoon), G3 Kevin Hayes Stakes winner Arabian Summer (Too Darn Hot {GB}), and million dollar earner El Morzillo (Star Witness).
Magic Millions graduates have continued to have an impact on the broader racing stage; graduate Cool Archie (Cool Aza Beel {NZ}) flew the flag for the sale series and his first season sire when taking out the G1 JJ Atkins Plate at the peak of a five-win streak, You Wahng (So You Think {NZ}) captured the G1 Queensland Oaks, and Charm Stone (I Am Invincible) took home the G1 Robert Sangster Stakes, to name but a few.
Alongside Cool Archie, in January 2024 buyers could have taken home millionaire stakes winner O’ Ole (Ole Kirk), G1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Devil Night (Extreme Choice), undefeated Group 1 winner Return To Conquer (Snitzel), and million dollar earner Wodeton (Wootton Bassett {GB}).
Gallery: Successful performers from the 2024 edition of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
“We like to give our market a great sample size of the very best yearlings that are ready for an early sale,” Bowditch said. “And it bodes well if a horse is ready for an early sale, they will likely be ready earlier for the track, which gives a lot of confidence to buyers, whether they’re a syndicator or an elite colt buyer or a trainer.
“You know when you come to the Gold Coast in January, you’re going to have a fantastic time, and you're likely to take home the very best horses that you possibly can during that week as well.” - Barry Bowditch
“You know when you come to the Gold Coast in January, you’re going to have a fantastic time, you're going to be part of an incredible carnival with unprecedented prize money for any sale graduate, and you're likely to take home the very best horses that you possibly can during that week as well.”
Gallery: Scenes from the Magic Millions Carnival in 2025, images courtesy of Magic Millions
More opportunities
In 2026, Magic Millions will open up their Gold Coast March sale to yearlings born Australia-wide and in New Zealand; previously only open to QTIS yearlings, the new format offers another chance to sell stock throughout the year. In 2026, the sale will take place over March 12 and 13.
“We feel it’s a sale that can really grow,” Bowditch said. “Fair play to the Queensland breeders, they came to us with a couple of scenarios, and one which we were very supportive of was opening up the March QTIS sale.
“I feel that it just gives those horses that need that little bit more time a really viable market here on the East Coast. We think it really complements what we already have. Obviously, we've got a very strong sale in Adelaide in March and we want to continue to keep it that way, but we think the March sale itself can complement the Queensland breeders that do have horses that aren't all QTIS, and also give the breeders down the eastern seaboard a strong option to get back to the Gold Coast for another yearling sale.
“We feel it's a sale that the market will get behind. These horses are all eligible for the same bonuses as what the horses in January are, and I think we can get a really strong catalogue together, then build it year on year.”
“These (March) horses are all eligible for the same bonuses as what the horses in January are, and I think we can get a really strong catalogue together, then build it year on year.” - Barry Bowditch
More options for breeders and consignors will allow for better placement of stock in an increasingly selective marketplace, Bowditch said. The Magic Millions team will be on hand in the run up to the sales season to help vendors find the best possible fit for their horses.
“We’ve had a very solid year, and we have got plenty to build upon,” he continued. “We're really looking forward to getting out and looking at yearlings all over Australia over the next six to seven weeks.
“Taking on the advice of where your horse will best fit into the market is important to ensure you've got confidence that, when you do come to the market, you're going to have plenty of people looking at your horse, and therefore hopefully plenty of people admiring your horse and going in the ring to bid on it.”
The team will also be hard at work ensuring that 2026 brings another diverse and hungry buying bench to each of the series’ sales.
“The international markets look upon us as a place they need to be.” - Barry Bowditch
“The international markets look upon us as a place they need to be,” Bowditch said. “We can really push home what’s going on here in Australian racing to the international market. We will be working ahead of each sale to ensure we have the right suite of buyers to service vendors at all of our sales.”
Nominations for the Magic Millions Yearling Sale Series close on Friday, August 29 2025, with the exception of the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Sale, which closes on March 15, 2026.
