Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions

Magic Millions have released the catalogue for the 2026 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale, comprising 358 lots to be sold at the Magic Millions Swan Valley Complex on February 19 and 20. Western Australian Champion Stallion Playing God heads up 79 stallions featured in the catalogue, including seven first season sires.

“Western Australian bred gallopers have a proud history of succeeding at the elite level,” said Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch. “From Perth, across Australia, through Asia, and even Royal Ascot, the results speak for themselves.”

“Each and every year we present a quality line up of yearlings in the Swan Valley and 2026 will be no different, with strong support of the state's leading thoroughbred breeders.”

"It's a good, strong catalogue," said David Houston, manager of Magic Millions West Australia. "It's got a great array of different stallions, and a lot of local representation, which is great for our Westspeed bonus schemes. We have had a great carnival over the last few weeks, and that has gotten people up and about and looking forward to the sale."

The Perth sale has a history of churning out tough performers who reward buyers time and again, having in recent years been the source for horses like Group winner and $1.5 million earner Super Smink (Super One), G2 WATC Derby and G3 WA Oaks winner Machine Gun Gracie (Maschino), and fellow Derby victor A Lot Of Good Men.

It has been in the spotlight this spring thanks to graduates like Watch Me Rock (Awesome Rock), winner of the G1 Railway Stakes and subsequently second in the G1 Northerly Stakes, and King Of Light (Earthlight {Ire}) whose five straight wins culminated in the G1 West Australian Guineas.

In the week running up to the sale, sales graduates will have the chance to compete for $600,000 in prizemoney and Magic Millions Racing Women's bonuses at the Magic Millions WA Raceday on Saturday, February 16, with inspections starting at the Swan Valley complex on the Sunday.

“It's a real highlight on the West Australian racing calendar and the perfect way to set up a massive week in the West,” Bowditch added.

Locals contributing to steady 2025 sale

In step with the wider yearling sale landscape, average yearling prices in the west fell significantly in 2025, but the clearance rate at this year’s sale remained at over 85%, and a similar sized catalogue returns to the Swan Valley complex in 2026.

The 2025 average still sits above averages achieved in 2022 and before.

Table: Sales metrics for the last five editions of the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale

In fact, the second highest yearling price in the sale’s history was achieved this past February when a son of Playing God was sold by Alwyn Park Stud for $450,000 to Idan Young. That price was only topped in 2024 by a daughter of Playing God, who sold to Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) for $625,000.

"It (the sale) was a shade softer this year, but we have been on an upward spiral for some time," said Houston. "We have been the only sale in Australasia that's been going forward the last two or three years, so it had to come to a head at some point, but it was very strong still. It's very hard to buy the good horses here and we had some new highs, and you have to be happy with that."

While the sale was, as always, heavily patronised by the locals, yearlings also made their way to buyers based in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, and New Zealand.

“So many of our clients tell us the Perth Yearling Sale is right up with their favourite auctions across Australasia,” said Bowditch. “With that history of producing quality racehorses and the enjoyment they have in the West - it's a combination hard not to love!”

“As the locals say; West is Best, and it's fitting. If you haven't been to a Perth Yearling Sale before - lock it in in 2026.”

Last year’s leading vendors by gross and second by average (two or more sold), Yarradale Stud bring a draft of 17 to the sale, but they tie with Gold Front Thoroughbreds for fifth largest draft in the 2026 catalogue. Darling View Thoroughbreds, second in 2025 by gross, head the list with 31 yearlings on offer, followed by a draft of 25 from Mogumber Park.

Table: Top six vendors by draft size in the 2026 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale

Three new kids on the block

A larger foal crop in 2024 for Playing God has equated to a jump in yearlings offered at the Magic Millions sale, with 52 set to be consigned at the sale - 15 more than were available in this year’s sale. Next in the catalogue by representation is second season sire Splintex, tied with first season sires Aysar and Lightsaber, all with 26 each. Fellow first season sire Marine One has 19 to his name.

Table: Top five sires by representation in the 2026 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale

“The 2026 catalogue is packed of quality and we can't wait to welcome vendors and buyers alike to the Swan Valley in February," Bowditch said.”

While it is exciting to see first season sires from Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland represented in the catalogue, the local populace will be most enthused by the presence of the three local first season sires, with a collective 71 opportunities to access their first crop. It is also the highest volume of first season sires to stand in the state in recent years, and hints at a greater investment into the state’s breeding population.

"We have our three new sires and Splintex, who was new the year before, so there's a lot of blue sky ahead of us," Houston said. "Plus, of course, Playing God, he has always been a real favourite with the buyers. Everyone wants one."

Table: First season sires represented at the 2026 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale

Standing at Geisel Park, Aysar was Group 1-performed as a three and 4-year-old before winning the Listed Chautauqua Stakes as a 5-year-old, and is the only son of Deep Field standing outside of New South Wales. As a half-brother to Home Affairs, who is kicking goals on both sides of the Tasman with his first 2-year-olds, he has been welcomed by Western breeders.

Darling View Thoroughbreds stand the dual Victorian Group winner Lightsaber, who is also the only son of Zoustar standing in the state. A Group 2 winner at two, he was also second to fellow first season sire Hitotsu in the G1 Australian Guineas at three after winning the prelude.

Gallery: First season sires with yearlings offered at the 2026 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale

G2 Rubiton Stakes winner Marine One, standing at Mogumber Park, is a full brother to multiple stakes winner Cannonball (Capitalist). Third in the G3 Maribyrnong Plate on debut, he has over 44% of his first crop of yearlings represented in the catalogue, and is the only access in the West to his sireline alongside Winning Rupert.

The catalogue also features a range of half and full siblings to some of the West's stars - and stars of the rest of the country too - such as $1.85 million earner and G1 Railway Stakes winner Bustler (Playing God), fellow Railway victor Western Empire (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}), Portland Sky, Super Smink, and South African Group winner Ektifaa (More Than Ready {USA}).