Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
At A Glance
A total of 94 horses were sold, compared to 96 last year, the clearance rate was 67.63% compared to 66% last year (With more horses still expected to sell).
The gross of $6,895,000 was down from $7,168,000 last year
The average was $73.351, narrowly down from $74,666
The median price was $39,000, down slightly from $42,000
The highest price was $550,000 for an I Am Invincible colt, compared to a Justify (USA) colt that sold for $700,000 last year.
Local buyers purchased 25 horses, while Malaysia was a major influence, purchasing 18 horses.
Buyers also came from Victoria, New South Wales, Western Australia, South Australia, China, Hong Kong, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand.
Baramul Stud was the most successful seller by gross; $1,771,000 this year ($767,000 last year).
With two horses sold, O'Gorman Racing Stables achieved the highest average of $280,000.
A pretty solid day according to Bowditch
Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch has described Day 1 of the Gold Coast Horses in Training Sale as a strong and wide-reaching day of trade, underpinned by a buying bench from around the world.
Key sales metrics – including clearance rate, average, gross and median – held up reasonably well, tracking similarly to last year’s results.
“It was a pretty solid day’s trade today,” Bowditch said. “There was a very diverse buying bench with buyers from all across Asia – Hong Kong, China, the Philippines, Malaysia and many other places.
“It was a pretty solid day’s trade today.” - Barry Bowditch
“It was a good, deep, diverse buying market that complemented what we had here locally. Queenslanders stepped in – New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia all participated.
“From an interstate perspective, it was a strong sale, and it gives us something to build upon for this sale into the future.”
With the Horses in Training Sale now wrapped up, attention shifts to the remainder of the spring racing carnival before the 2026 Magic Millions Carnival returns to the Gold Coast in January.
Barry Bowditch | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“It’s a big spring on the racetrack with some great graduates going into the big races in the near future, and then we are building the catalogue for January,” Bowditch said.
“We are very excited to be getting back here in the second week of January and having a big, big carnival and having everybody up here on the Gold Coast in Queensland for what is an exciting time of year.
“With over $20 million in prizemoney and 1,200 lots to go through the ring, we are looking forward to it all happening again,” he added.
“With over $20 million in prizemoney and 1,200 lots to go through the ring, we are looking forward to it all happening again.” - Barry Bowditch
‘Vinnie provides the topper’
There isn’t a sale that goes by, be it a weanling, yearling, broodmare or a horses-in-training sale, where the outstanding I Am Invincible doesn’t feature prominently. More often than not, he’s stealing the headlines, and that was again the case at this year’s Gold Coast Horses In Training Sale.
Baramul Stud offered Lot 113, a bay colt by I Am Invincible out of the unraced Ballet De Joie (Snitzel). The mare is a full sister to G1 Galaxy Handicap winner and successful sire Russian Revolution, and a half-sister to Miss Interiors (Flying Spur), the dam of dual Group 1-winning sprinter and exciting Coolmore Stud stallion Home Affairs.
I Am Invincible | Standing at Yarraman Park
The colt breezed up stylishly in 10.52 seconds, and the combination of a sharp breeze, standout type and elite pedigree was enough for Laming Racing to go to $550,000, making him the top lot of the sale.
“He had a great pedigree, and was a beautiful individual, and he has a stallion's pedigree to go with it.” Richard Laming said.
“He (I Am Invincible x Ballet de Joie colt) had a great pedigree, and was a beautiful individual, and he has a stallion's pedigree to go with it.” - Richard Laming
“I said to Rob, you have to pay a bit more than what you expect when you get the one you want.
“We have got on the front foot, and we have pre-sold a fair bit of him, so there is still a little bit left, but a horse like him will pretty much sell himself.”
When asked about his breeze-up, Laming commented.
“I watched his breeze-up, and as an individual, he is certainly going to get up and go. There are good reports from the people who prepared him as well, which also helps.
“We have had a bit of luck buying horses off Gerry (Gerry Harvey), so we will keep supporting him as he supports us.”
Interestingly, the colt had failed to meet his $350,000 reserve at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. However, Baramul Stud’s patient approach paid off handsomely, with an extra $200,000 added to the initial reserve price.
The in-form Stay Inside was in demand
First-season sires are always in demand - especially when they're by Extreme Choice and have a G1 Golden Slipper on their race record. Add to that a lightning-fast start at stud, and it’s no surprise Stay Inside is turning heads.
His debut crop already includes Incognito, winner of the G3 Breeders’ Plate at Randwick last weekend, with several others showing strong promise at the trials.
At the Gold Coast Horses In Training Sale, two of his 2-year-olds sold for a combined $335,000, averaging a healthy $167,500. The clear standout was Lot 101, offered by Kenmore Lodge and sold for $300,000. The second, Lot 183, a colt out if Kisses For Chloe (All Too Hard) was purchased for a more modest $35,000 by Rob Luck and Campton Racing.
Lot 183 - Stay Inside x Kisses For Chloe colt | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Lot 101 had caught the eye early after breezing in a slick time of 10.53 seconds. Matt Hoysted, who secured the colt, was full of praise for the son of Stay Inside.
“He is a cracker colt, one of the colts of the sale and a horse we really targeted to try and purchase,” Hoysted said.
“He (Lot 101) is a cracker colt, one of the colts of the sale and a horse we really targeted to try and purchase.” - Matt Hoysted
“Steven O’Dea and I actually trained the mare for her last two starts, and she was a lovely type of mare, so we had that knowledge.”
The colt is out of Zing (Zoustar), a four-time winner originally trained by Chris Waller, who also placed in the G3 Pam O’Neill Stakes. She hails from a strong family - being a half-sister to G3 winner Crafty Irna (Starcraft {NZ}), who is the dam of Listed winner Snickerdoodledandy (Snitzel). Zing’s own dam is Zirna (NZ) (Deputy Governor {USA}), a Champion in Singapore and G1 winner in New Zealand.
Lot 101 - Stay Inside x Zing colt | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“I was keen to get another Stay Inside. I purchased a yearling earlier this year and I really like him, so was keen to get another,” Hoysted added.
“The stallion has really hit the ground running, winning the Breeders’ Plate last weekend and having a lot of good triallists."
On the colt’s breeze-up performance, Hoysted was impressed by how easily he did it.
“He looked like a really good mover and looked to be doing it in second gear. He was doing it comfortably, and I liked that. He really did work effortlessly.”
Matt Hoysted | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
When asked what are the initial plans with the impressive youngster, Hoysted said.
“He will head back to Kenmore Lodge, who did a great job with him and have a quick little let-up and get over it all, then we will get him in the stables and go from there.
He really looks like you could put a saddle on him and go to the races now, which is a good thing.”
Asian buying bench strong
As has become the trend in Horses In Training and Ready to Run sales across Australasia, the Asian buying bench continues to play a significant role - particularly in the lower to middle end of the market. And increasingly, it’s not just Hong Kong driving demand, with more widespread participation from a range of countries in the region.
That was again evident at this year’s Gold Coast Horses In Training Sale, where the Asian buying presence was strong and diverse. Buyers came from China (12), Hong Kong (10), Malaysia (18), Philippines (6), Thailand (4), Singapore (2) and South Korea (2).
In fact, only Queensland, with 25 purchases, had more buyers than China, Hong Kong or Malaysia.
The total spend from Asian countries reached $3,348,500, accounting for more than half of the sale's total turnover of $6,615,000. This underlines the region's critical importance to this market.
Amy Feng, Magic Million's China representative, emerged as the sale’s biggest individual buyer, signing for 13 lots at a combined spend of $1,400,000, averaging $107,692 per purchase.
When asked about being very busy this sale, Feng said “Yes I have been very busy, I have a few clients here.”
When asked about her purchase of the Snitzel colt out of Group 1 winner Diademe (NZ) (Savabeel) from the Baramul Stud draft for $360,000, the third highest price of the sale, Feng commented.
“I liked the type, I think he can be fast, my clients loved him, next year in China there will be a 10 million race, so my clients want some top class horses.”
“I liked the type, I think he (Snitzel x Diademe colt) can be fast, my clients loved him, next year in China there will be a 10 million race, so my clients want some top class horses.” - Amy Feng
Meanwhile, Michael Chang from Hong Kong made just a single purchase - but it was a headline act, going to $320,000 for Lot 108, a Pierata colt presented by Kenmore Lodge.
Kenmore Lodge builds on last year's success
Kenmore Lodge continued its upward trajectory at this year’s Gold Coast Horses In Training Sale, building on an already impressive performance in 2024.
Last year, the farm sold nine 2-year-olds at a perfect 100% clearance rate, headlined by a Hellbent colt that fetched $260,000. The draft grossed $775,000 at an average of $86,111, placing Kenmore among the top four vendors at the auction.
This year, they raised the bar again. Kenmore sold 11 horses, maintaining their 100% clearance rate, and finishing as the second top vendor with a gross of $1,622,500 and an improved average of $147,500.
Lot 108 - Pierata x Angel Dane colt | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Only Baramul Stud bettered them in gross figures, leading the sale with $1,771,000, while Nolen Racing followed in third with a solid $897,500 total.
Among Kenmore’s standout lots this year was a Pierata colt out of Angel Dane (Zizou), who was knocked down to Michael Chang for $320,000. Two other colts reached the $300,000 mark - a Written Tycoon colt out of True Moonlight (Not A Single Doubt) sold to Amy Feng, and a Stay Inside colt out of Zing (Zoustar) purchased by Matt Hoysted.
Top lots
| 113 | C | I Am Invincible | Ballet De Joie | Baramul Stud | Laming Racing | $550,000 |
| 123 | C | Wootton Bassett (GB) | Bit Of Cheek | O'Gorman Racing Stables Pty Ltd | Wayne Ormond | $400,000 |
| 143 | C | Snitzel | Diademe (NZ) | Baramul Stud | Amy Feng | $360,000 |
| 108 | C | Pierata | Angel Dane | Kenmore Lodge | Michael Chang | $320,000 |
| 101 | C | Stay Inside | Zing | Kenmore Lodge | Matt Hoysted Racing Pty Ltd | $300,000 |
| 84 | C | Written Tycoon | True Moonlight | Kenmore Lodge | Amy Feng | $300,000 |
| 31 | C | Toronado (Ire) | Murkowski (NZ) | O'Gorman Racing Stables Pty Ltd | Laming Racing | $200,000 |
| 43 | C | Written By | Now You See | Kenmore Lodge | Susanna Hui | $170,000 |
| 163 | C | Street Boss (USA) | Go Straightandhard | O'Gorman Racing Stables Pty Ltd | Blueblood Thoroughbreds/SP Bloodstock | $160,000 |
| 164 | C | Hellbent | Goolagong Rose | Symphony Lodge | Hong Tang | $160,000 |
Top buyers
| Amy Feng | 13 | $107,692 | $360,000 | $1,400,000 |
| Laming Racing | 4 | $203,750 | $550,000 | $815,000 |
| Wayne Ormond | 1 | $400,000 | $400,000 | $400,000 |
| Blueblood T'Breds/SP Bloodstock | 3 | $130,000 | $160,000 | $390,000 |
| Matt Hoysted Racing Pty Ltd | 3 | $123,333 | $300,000 | $370,000 |
| Michael Chang | 1 | $320,000 | $320,000 | $320,000 |
| Darby Racing | 3 | $93,333 | $120,000 | $280,000 |
| Kendrick Racing | 2 | $137,500 | $150,000 | $275,000 |
| Upper Bloodstock | 2 | $93,750 | $140,000 | $187,500 |
| Susanna Hui | 1 | $170,000 | $170,000 | $170,000 |
Top vendors by aggregate
| Baramul Stud, Widden Valley, NSW | 19 | $93,211 | $550,000 | $1,771,000 |
| Kenmore Lodge, Wyreema, Qld | 11 | $147,500 | $320,000 | $1,622,500 |
| Nolen Racing, Benalla, Vic | 12 | $74,792 | $150,000 | $897,500 |
| O'Gorman Racing Stables Pty Ltd, Tamworth, NSW | 2 | $280,000 | $400,000 | $560,000 |
| Symphony Lodge, Oakey, Qld | 7 | $78,571 | $160,000 | $550,000 |
| Epsom Lodge, Beaudesert, Qld | 7 | $37,286 | $100,000 | $261,000 |
| Alexia Fraser Bloodstock, Warwick, Qld | 9 | $25,167 | $47,500 | $226,500 |
| Tennyson Park, Brigalow, Qld | 5 | $44,100 | $85,000 | $220,500 |
| Newington Farm Premium Consignment, Canungra, Qld | 2 | $80,000 | $120,000 | $160,000 |
| Raheen Stud, Warwick, Qld | 5 | $28,400 | $50,000 | $142,000 |
Top vendors by average (2 or more sold)
| O'Gorman Racing Stables Pty Ltd, Tamworth, NSW | 2 | $280,000 | $400,000 | $560,000 |
| Kenmore Lodge, Wyreema, Qld | 11 | $147,500 | $320,000 | $1,622,500 |
| Baramul Stud, Widden Valley, NSW | 19 | $93,211 | $550,000 | $1,771,000 |
| Newington Farm Premium Consignment, Canungra, Qld | 2 | $80,000 | $120,000 | $160,000 |
| Symphony Lodge, Oakey, Qld | 7 | $78,571 | $160,000 | $550,000 |
| Nolen Racing, Benalla, Vic | 12 | $74,792 | $150,000 | $897,500 |
| Tennyson Park, Brigalow, Qld | 5 | $44,100 | $85,000 | $220,500 |
| GlenX Lodge, Biddaddaba, Qld | 3 | $39,667 | $55,000 | $119,000 |
| Epsom Lodge, Beaudesert, Qld | 7 | $37,286 | $100,000 | $261,000 |
| Raheen Stud, Warwick, Qld | 5 | $28,400 | $50,000 | $142,000 |
Top sires by aggregate
| I Am Invincible (AUS) | 1 | $550,000 | $550,000 | $550,000 |
| Wootton Bassett (GB) | 2 | $275,000 | $400,000 | $550,000 |
| Snitzel (AUS) | 1 | $360,000 | $360,000 | $360,000 |
| Hellbent (AUS) | 5 | $68,000 | $160,000 | $340,000 |
| Pierata (AUS) | 3 | $112,667 | $320,000 | $338,000 |
Top sires by average (2 or more sold)
| Wootton Bassett (GB) | 2 | $275,000 | $400,000 | $550,000 |
| Stay Inside | 2 | $167,500 | $300,000 | $335,000 |
| St Mark's Basilica (FR) | 2 | $117,500 | $125,000 | $235,000 |
| Pierata | 3 | $112,667 | $320,000 | $338,000 |
| Written By | 3 | $110,000 | $170,000 | $330,000 |
