Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions

At A Glance

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Three horses fetched seven-figure sums on Day 1, compared to four in last year’s opening session, with Segenhoe Stud on top of the vendors' standings by gross after selling nine horses for a total of $5,540,000.

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The average of $284,724 was up slightly from last year’s Day 1 record of $278,549. The median, at $200,000, remained the same as Day 1 in 2025.

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The gross of $41,285,000 from 145 lots was down slightly on $45,125,000, however last year 162 lots sold.

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The clearance rate at the end of the day was 78.38% - an improvement of last year's end of day clearance rate of 74.65% - and likely to grow as passed in lots are sold.

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The $2 million top lot (59), a Frankel (GB) colt out of Lonhro mare Antibes, was purchased by Tom Magnier and offered by Segenhoe Stud.

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Ciaron Maher Bloodstock and David Redvers Bloodstock joined forces to become leading buyer on Day 1, spending $2.9 million on five yearlings.

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I Am Invincible the sires by gross with eight yearlings selling for $5.05 million at an average of $631,250.

1. Camilleri’s international breeding gamble pays off again

While bidding was frantic on Lot 59 - an impressive bay colt by international superstar Frankel (GB) - the price climbed to a cool $2 million to become the most expensive Frankel yearling purchased in Australia.

However while the action in the ring was intense, John Camilleri had other priorities occupying his attention; he was busy looking after his 2-year-old grandson Harry.

“You have to get your priorities right, my 2-year-old grandson is more important than any horse sales.”

The colt, presented by Segenhoe Stud on behalf of Camilleri’s Fairway Thoroughbreds, is out of the unraced Lonhro mare Antibes, who has made a promising start to her breeding career.

She is the dam of the Mark Walker-trained Chateau Eze (Frankel {GB}), a winner over 1212 metres at Benalla, who has also placed in the Listed Jim Moloney Stakes. Antibes is a half-sister to the Listed winner As Time Goes By (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and is out of the dual Group 3 winner A Time For Julia (Redoute’s Choice).

When explaining his successful approach of utilising the world’s best international stallions with his quality broodmare band, Camilleri explained the long-term thought process.

“It’s a big commitment, to go all the way to the Northern Hemisphere. It’s an expensive exercise, it’s risky. I’ve sent a lot of mares over, but you normally only get one or two shots at the world’s best stallion, and I thought I’d roll the dice. It’s paid off here.

“I’m only interested in having a small broodmare band and breeding elite horses. I don’t want hundreds and thousands of animals. So, if I think there’s something available, like a Deep Impact or a Frankel, and I’ve got the right mare for them, I simply don’t hesitate.”

“Cost becomes secondary, then.”

Talking about Antibes, an unraced daughter of Lonhro, and why she was the right mare to take the punt with, Camilleri was clear in his assessment.

“She had a great pedigree. She was a beautiful type. She had a lot of ability. She had an injury, so we didn’t race her, but Anthony Freedman rated her and said she could run.

“Her first foal has run second in the Moloney at Flemington. So I think the mare’s going to do it. She’s by Lonhro, she ticks a lot of boxes, so I thought she deserved a trip on a plane to Frankel.”

Segenhoe Stud’s Peter O’Brien also reinforced the bravery and conviction behind Camilleri’s use of elite international bloodlines.

“John Camilleri sends those mares over there. It’s a big risk to send them up there, travel them, bring them back, foal them, etc, so he deserves all the credit.

“The main thing for us is he’s gone to Chris Waller and Coolmore. They’ve been great supporters of ours.

“The mother had a ton of ability, but it doesn’t read it in the book, so John backed his knowledge of her ability and had a big swing with her, and he’s got the just rewards.”

When asked about investing heavily at the top end of the market, Camilleri acknowledged the challenges further down the scale.

“That’s where the bloodstock industry is heading. It’s very tough below that, I guess. It appears to be getting tougher and tougher below that.

“A long time ago, I thought I just want to invest at the top with a small number of mares. It’s a bit like waterfront land - it’s always in demand, it tends to stay up. It doesn’t go through the troughs. It’s a matter of choice, but I am having some good success.”

2. Maher and Redvers make a splash

David Redvers, bidding in partnership with Ciaron Maher Racing, was particularly active on Day 1 of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, securing five beautifully bred yearlings for an aggregate total of $2.9 million, at an average of $580,000 per yearling.

Their top lot of the day was Lot 35 - an imposing I Am Invincible colt out of the G2 Guy Walter Stakes and G3 Triscay Stakes winner Alassio (Foxwedge), purchased for $950,000.

Offered by Silverdale Farm, the impressive colt boasts significant depth in his pedigree. In addition to being out of Alassio, his grandam Cinque (Red Ransom {USA}) was also a Listed winner in South Australia.

When asked about the I Am Invincible colt, Redvers explained: “He was a horse that Sheikh Fahad particularly liked. We all loved him. We all know about the stallion and the mare’s a Group 2 winner, so he fits what we’re looking for.”

“We’ve got another very nice I Am Invincible with Ciaron called Invicto.”

Invicto is an unraced I Am Invincible colt that won his most recent jump-out at Cranbourne, he was purchased at last year's Magic Millions Yearling Sale for $600,000.

With the colt appearing early in the catalogue, Redvers felt the timing may have presented an opportunity to secure value compared to later in the sale.

“Just nice and early in the sale, I thought he was probably a bit of value because he’s early in the sale, compared to what the same horse tends to make halfway through Day 2.

“Very happy to have him.”

When asked about the physical attributes and attitude traits the colt displayed, Redvers again highlighted his standout qualities.

“He’s just incredibly athletic. He’s got a huge amount of presence, I love the fact that he was totally unflappable out there. He seems to have a very good mind, but for me, with the action and the athletic build of the horse, he was a real standout,” Redvers said.

“They make fools of us all, but there was a very good underbidder as well… let’s hope we all weren’t wrong.”

The other purchases that the duo signed for included a Jacquinot colt for $425,000, who may end up wearing the same Qatar Bloodstock colours that his sire Jacquinot carried towards the end of his successful racing career.

They also secured a Zoustar colt from Torryburn Stud for $825,000, a Written Tycoon colt purchased from Yulong for $500,000, and a Spirit Of Boom colt for $200,000 from the draft of Bell River Thoroughbreds.

With several days of selling still to come, there may well be plenty more additions to follow.

3. Te Akau back to the source

Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis has an enviable strike rate when buying horses from the Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale, and he will be hoping that trend continues after seizing the initiative early to secure Lot 1 — a classy-looking Snitzel filly out of the winning More Than Ready (USA) mare Yesterjoy, from Baramul Stud, for $500,000.

The filly is a three-quarter-sister to The Elanora (Redoute’s Choice), who counts the G3 Grand Prix Stakes and the G3 Spring Stakes among his four wins. This is also the family of the four-time Group 1 winner Tuesday Joy (NZ) (Carnegie {Ire}) and the eight-time Group 1 winner More Joyous (More Than Ready {USA}).

When asked about the filly, who may be perceived as a value buy - particularly as Lot 1 - Ellis was effusive in his praise.

“She’s a cracker, one of the best fillies that I’ve seen for a long time at a yearling sale. An absolute cracker.”

Ellis explained that part of the reason he believed he was able to secure the filly at a price he was more than happy to pay was the tendency for early lots to be undervalued or even overlooked.

“I was probably lucky that she was Lot 1 because the sale doesn’t normally hit its peak until later in the day, so I was very happy.”

Talking about the filly’s physical attributes, Ellis again highlighted her quality.

“She’s very athletic, a good strong filly, very correct, lovely shoulder. Just a top-class filly.”

Ellis has previously sourced elite talent from the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, including superstar Imperatriz (I Am Invincible), the Group-1 winner and exciting young sire Sword Of State, as well as other Group-1 winners Return To Conquer (Snitzel) and Captured By Love (Written Tycoon), along with the young Lovatsville Group-1 winning sire Move To Strike.

He further opened up the wallet later in the day to buy another two Snitzel fillies for $460,000 and $325,000, a Pinatubo (Ire) colt for $120,000 and a Pierata half-brother to Te Akau’s Champion sprinter Imperatriz.

The superstar mare foaled a Pierata filly back in September for Yulong, so she may bring further updates also to the family in the future.

Another David Ellis purchase was made in partnership with Fortuna Racing, picking up a Pierro filly from the Sledmere Stud draft for $90,000.

4. First-season sires start strongly

The Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale always provides the first opportunity for buyers to assess the initial crops of the industry’s newest stallions, a feature that consistently generates early interest.

Anamoe was always expected to attract strong demand, and that proved the case when Lot 114 - a strong bay colt offered by Newgate Farm on behalf of Ridgmont Farm - sold for $525,000 to the combined bid of Equine Growth Fund, SP Bloodstock, Blueblood Thoroughbreds and Ciaron Maher Bloodstock.

Anamoe had six yearlings offered on Day 1, with five selling for an aggregate of $1,845,000 at an average of $369,000. His first season fee was $121,000 inc. GST.

Jacquinot also made a major impact. He had six yearlings offered on Day 1, with five selling for an aggregate of $1.56 million at an average of $312,000 - an excellent return off his introductory service fee of $33,000 (inc. GST).

In The Congo made his own statement when Lot 167 - a colt from the Newgate Farm draft - sold for $300,000 to Fitzsimmons Racing, Wattle Bloodstock (FBAA), Elvin Bloodstock and Jig Racing. That result was followed by Shailer Racing, Julian Blaxland (FBAA) and Hughes Bloodstock bidding $280,000 for Lot 118 - a brown filly out of the Listed-placed Winning Rupert mare Bolsonaro - from the Widden Stud draft.

Other first-season stallions, including Profondo, Best Of Bordeaux, State Of Rest (Ire) and Hitotsu, also recorded solid results off more modest introductory service fees.

5. Telemon filly sells despite foal declaration appeal limbo

Early in the sale, Lot 25 - a Spirit Of Boom half-sister to Listed winner Charleise (Foxwedge) - in the draft of Telemon Stud was purchased by Tony Gollan Racing, Strong Bloodstock, and John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) for $150,000.

The intrigue comes from a note on the lot’s page that informed potential buyers that her ownership declaration was submitted late, and an appeal is currently underway with the Australian Studbook to confirm the filly’s eligibility to race in Australia.

The Australian Racing Rules state that a foal ownership declaration must be lodged within 30 days of the birth of a foal. New rules introduced August 1, 2025, mean that breeders have until 60 days after a foal is born to lodge the declaration, or the foal will be ineligible to race in Australia.

There is an appeals process where an independent legal expert can review the evidence and make a decision.

Thoroughbred Breeders' Australia have been vocal about their wish for Racing Australia to adopt a more collaborative approach to dealing with late registrations, however a solution does not seem to have been addressed - nor an appeals process transparently outlined, at this stage.

Speaking to Telemon Stud, it was revealed that the appeal against the filly’s ineligibility to race was lodged in early October 2025 and there was no communication from Racing Australia about the appeal for 80 days, until just before Christmas. They were then informed that the information in the appeal was insufficient and more was required by Racing Australia.

Telemon Stud shared that the breeder was experiencing financial and personal hardship when the filly was born, which delayed the lodgement. They were also informed that the appeals process would take 30 days, but didn’t receive a response for over double that time, despite repeated attempts to contact Racing Australia for an update.

It is unclear when they will receive another update on the appeal’s progress.

However, despite this, the filly was offered with a guarantee by Telemon Thoroughbreds and snapped up by a very astute group who may have just picked up the bargain of the sale!

Bowditch pleased with Day 1

Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch was pleased with Day 1, mentioning he was content with how the key metrics were stacking up, and optimistic that the figures would continue to improve.

“It has been a really pleasing day for Magic Millions. The vibe when I came back from the barrier draw - when I walked in here at 10am - the stand was already full and it had a good feel about it.

“The sale had a really solid start. I think it is a genuine market. The vendors are very motivated to meet the market and get their horses sold.

“I was talking to the auctioneers through the day and they were commenting on the number of horses that were reaching reserve, that they were going on and making reserve-plus prices.

“That’s always a great sign that there’s genuine competition out there. The statistics themselves - to be sitting at 78 per cent on day one, a median of $200,000 and an average of $285,000 - are all numbers that were within my expectations, but in saying that, I’m pleased with how we went.

“I thought today’s sale was something we’d build upon. I feel the lists are longer over the next couple of days, and I think the market found its feet today.

“There’s good confidence out there.”

Top Lots

Buyers by gross

Buyers by average (2 or more bought)

Vendors by gross

Vendors by average (2 or more sold)

Sires by gross

Sires by average (2 or more sold)

Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions

It didn’t take long for the session to produce a seven-figure result, with Lot 59, a striking Frankel colt, selling to Coolmore for $2 million, as buyers including Ciaron Maher Bloodstock, Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott, Glentree Thoroughbreds, and Mark Player quickly made their presence felt.

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Lot 59 – Frankel (GB) x Antibes (Lonhro), colt – $2,000,000

Coolmore, led by Tom Magnier, secured Lot 59 for $2 million, the first seven-figure lot of the 2026 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, after spirited bidding. The striking bay colt, bred and offered by Segenhoe Stud, is out of stakes-placed mare Antibes (Lonhro) and hails from a family littered with black-type performers.

Antibes is a half-sister to stakes winner As Time Goes By (Deep Impact {Jpn}), while her dam, multiple Group winner A Time For Julia (Redoute’s Choice), has produced a line of high-class performers. The pedigree also features champion South African sprinter Laisserfaire (Danehill) and stallions Time Thief, Foreplay, and Sejardan.

The colt is also from the same family as Ninja (2022, Farnan–Impulsive), who is currently odds-on favourite for the Magic Millions Guineas this Saturday.

“He was one of the standouts. We’ve had a lot of luck with Segenhoe,” Tom Magnier said. “We’ve had more Frankels in the northern hemisphere than in Australia, so we know them well. All the team really liked him. He’s a lovely, fluid-moving horse and ticks all the boxes.

“We bought him in a syndicate with Chris Waller, so he’ll go straight into his stable. Chris really liked him all week - when everybody agrees on a horse, it gives you confidence to go a little further. Fair play to Peter O’Brien and John Camilleri; they breed very good horses, and we’re delighted to be part of it.”

Magnier was excited for what was to come the rest of the week on the Gold Coast for Coolmore.

“Home Affairs has had two this morning and three of the top six in the betting for the Golden Slipper. After a tough year losing Wootton Bassett, this is probably the best bunch of horses we’ve brought to the Gold Coast.”

Antibes unfortunately missed to Home Affairs last season but visited Harry Angel (Ire) this Spring.

Lot 201 – Extreme Choice x Dame Giselle (I Am Invincible), colt – $1,200,000

Rarity and pedigree combined to push the Extreme Choice colt out of former star I Am Invincible filly Dame Giselle to $1.2 million, making him the second seven-figure lot of the opening day at the 2026 Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale. Waller Racing, in partnership with Mulcaster Bloodstock, secured the stunning bay after a competitive bidding duel, recognizing both the colt's exceptional athleticism and the scarcity of his sire’s stock.

“We’re pretty happy with that colt, he looked sharp and he’s got a beautiful family,” Guy Mulcaster said.

“We looked at him two days ago with Chris and he said they all run out of that family and that was good enough for me. I thought we’d be hard enough to beat and we didn’t let on too much what we were up to, so we probably got him at the right odds. He looks a beautiful horse and let’s hope he’s back here next year.”

The colt’s appeal was enhanced by Extreme Choice’s limited availability due to fertility issues.

“He doesn’t get many in-foal, does he?” Mulcaster said.

“The less there are, the harder they are to buy, so we’re pretty happy to have got him and we got one with one of the best pedigrees, so fingers crossed.”

The colt is the third foal of Dame Giselle, a four-time Group winner who earned over $1.3 million, including a Group I placing in the Coolmore Classic. Closely related to Group I winner Ulanova, she has a Snitzel colt at foot and was covered by Zoustar last spring. Her first two foals, fillies by Exceed and Excel and Snitzel, sold for $1 million and $725,000 respectively, though neither has yet raced or trialled.

Lot 75 – I Am Invincible x Avantage (Fastnet Rock), filly – $1,050,000

Demand for the progeny of Champion New Zealand racemare Avantage (Fastnet Rock) remained strong at Magic Millions, with her third foal, a filly by champion sire I Am Invincible, selling for $1.05 million to Glentree Thoroughbreds in partnership with Badgers Bloodstock. Consigned by Coolmore Stud, the filly continued an extraordinary run of success for the family in the sale ring.

A nine-time Group 1 winner for Te Akau Racing, Avantage was a champion on the track and later commanded NZ$4.1 million when purchased by Tom Magnier via Gavelhouse Online. Her offspring have since proven highly desirable, with her first foal, a filly by Wootton Bassett (GB) bringing $2.1 million at the 2024 Magic Millions, followed by a second filly by I Am Invincible selling for $1.6 million in 2025.

“She had everything we look for in a filly,” Luke Simpson, Stud Manager for Glentree Thoroughbreds, said. “She’s a really good physical, a beautiful mover, and she’s out of a multiple stakes winner and a phenomenal racehorse. She ticks a lot of boxes for our program going forward.

“We’re looking to get a racing career out of her and hopefully she can step up to some of mum’s form and then join our broodmare band going forward. There were a couple of other fillies we had our eye on, but this was our main target, so we’re delighted to secure her.”

Avantage slipped to Zoustar last season, meaning there will be no yearling offered in 2027, but she visited Coolmore's City of Troy (USA) this spring.

Lot 35 – I Am Invincible x Alassio (Foxwedge), colt – $950,000

Ciaron Maher Bloodstock, in partnership with David Redvers Bloodstock, secured Lot 35 for $950,000, identifying the colt as a standout value buy early in the sale. The gorgeous bay, by champion sire I Am Invincible, is the second living foal of Group 2 and Group 3-winning mare Alassio (Foxwedge), bred and offered by Silverdale Farm.

Alassio was a multiple stakes winner and comes from a strong female line. She is a half-sister to the dam of stakes placegetters Dealmaker (Dundeel) and It’s a Knockout (Dundeel), while her dam Cinque (Red Ransom) was also a stakes winner.

“Just nice and early in the sale, I thought he was probably a bit of value because he’s early in the catalogue, compared to what the same horse tends to make halfway through Day 2,” Redvers said.

“We all loved him, and he’s a horse Sheikh Fahad particularly liked. We all know about the stallion, and the mare’s a Group 2 winner, so he fits what we’re looking for. We’ve got another very nice I Am Invincible with Ciaron called Invicto. Very happy to have him.”

Redvers also highlighted the colt’s key attributes.

“He’s incredibly athletic. He’s got a huge amount of presence and a very good mind. Totally unflappable out there, with a real standout action and athletic build. There was a very good underbidder as well…let’s hope we all weren’t wrong.”

Alassio missed last season but was again served by Yarraman’s champion sire I Am Invincible.

Lot 137 – I Am Invincible x Calaverite (Lonhro), colt – $875,000

A tense finish greeted the sale of Lot 137, with a late opposition bid arriving just as the hammer fell, before Mark Player emerged successful at $875,000. Offered by Emirates Park, the colt is a son of champion sire I Am Invincible and a half-brother to Group 1 Caulfield Guineas winner Golden Mile (Astern), from one of the deepest female families in the catalogue.

“We’ve certainly missed out on horses before bidding after the hammer; it fell our way today and it’s just relief, I suppose,” Player said.

“Rob Roulston and I work very hard to identify the horses we like, and two days ago we independently wrote down our favourite horse in the catalogue - and it was the same horse.

“We pushed as far as we could to get him, we managed to, and we’re just delighted.”

Calaverite has proven herself a high-class producer, with seven foals to date, six of which have raced for four winners. The pedigree page is further strengthened by the presence of Champion New Zealand Two-Year-Old La Dorada (Super Seth) and ATC Derby winner Major Beel (Savabeel).

“He’s by a great sire, a half to a Group 1 winner, and out of a mare who has produced and done it,” Player said. “She was a fast mare, and he’s got great presence. He looks like one of those rare ‘Vinnies’ that might run at two rather than being a 3-year-old. When you have that sort of hope, you tend to push that little bit harder.”

A trainer is yet to be decided, with Player noting the decision will be made alongside his partners.

“He’s the sort of horse I don’t think any trainer on our roster would want not to have in their stable. He’ll be very popular.”

Player will be hoping to replicate the success he enjoyed with dual Group 1 winner and champion sire Ole Kirk.

Calaverite was sold at the 2025 Inglis Chairman’s Sale for $900,000 to Yulong’s Growing Empire Syndicate. She has a colt at foot by Zoustar and was served by Alabama Express last spring.

Lot 158 – Zoustar x Centimental (Snitzel), colt – $825,000

Ciaron Maher Bloodstock made a strong statement on the opening day of the 2026 Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale, securing three of the top 10 highest-priced lots, including Lot 158, purchased for $825,000 on behalf of Sheikh Fahad Al Thani, Chairman of Qatar Racing.

Offered by Torryburn Stud, the handsome Zoustar colt is out of stakes-placed 2-year-old Centimental (Snitzel), a daughter of top New Zealand filly and multiple Group 2 winner Serena Miss (Iffraaj).

“Really happy. Very low hocks, looks like he’ll go quick and, more importantly, he was Sheikh Fahad’s favourite horse that he inspected here on the complex,” Will Bourne, Maher’s bloodstock manager, said.

“We were very much happy to go with him and are pretty excited to get him to Ciaron.”

Bourne also noted Torryburn's recent success breeding and selling exciting stallion Home Affairs to Coolmore’s Tom Magnier at the 2020 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

“They’re good breeders and they’ve bred a stallion quite recently, so hopefully they can do so again,” he said.

Bourne was comfortable with the purchase price, knowing it's what you have to pay for that level of quality.

“I thought he was about the right money. I wouldn’t have been surprised if he ticked over $1 million, but happy to get him for what we did.”

Centimental’s first foal by Zoustar sadly died after birth. She has a Home Affairs filly at foot and was served by Ole Kirk last spring, making this colt her first live foal.

Lot 183 – Snitzel x Complicit (USA) (Blame {USA}), colt – $825,000

After patiently waiting until the final hour of the session, James Harron Bloodstock secured Lot 183 for $825,000 . The exceptional colt is by champion sire Snitzel out of stakes-placed Blame (USA) mare Complicit, a half-sister to Marine Patrol (Tapit {USA}), and comes from a strong international family with black-type performers throughout.

“It can be a bit like that, the anticipation builds and he’s obviously a beautiful colt,” James Harron said.

“Snitzel needs no introduction, out of a Blame mare. He’s one of the world’s greatest broodmare sires, so we were really pleased to get him. Obviously he’s bred on the same cross as Switzerland but in his own right, he’s just a lovely colt. Great attitude off one of the greatest nurseries in the country in Segenhoe, who raised this horse. We’re very pleased to get him and it’s been a good day.”

Harron also highlighted the incredible statistics when Snitzel is matched with American mares.

“Phenomenal and especially Blame, he’s running at nearly 10 percent stakes winners as a broodmare sire, which is huge, it’s massive,” Harron said.

“He’s one of the leading broodmare sires in the whole world. They’ve gone to a lot of effort to produce that horse and we’re excited to see what he can do on the track.”

This is Complicit’s second foal; her first, Silent Uprising (Russian Revolution), sold for $280,000 at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale to Peachester Lodge Trust and is now with trainer Kristen Buchanan at Wyong. Complicit (USA) has a filly by Snitzel at foot and was served by Extreme Choice last spring.

Lot 96 – Justify (USA) x Bella Rosa (Snitzel), filly – $750,000

Off the back of their success with the progeny of Justify (USA), Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, in partnership with Kestrel Thoroughbreds, added Lot 96 to their team at Magic Millions, securing the filly for $750,000. Consigned by Silverdale Farm, she is out of Group 3 Ottawa Stakes winner Bella Rosa (Snitzel) and shapes as a filly with both commercial appeal and early racing potential.

Waterhouse and Bott have enjoyed notable success with Justify (USA), having trained Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Storm Boy, who later started a short-priced favourite in the Golden Slipper before finishing third, as well as Exford Plate stakes winner Dawn Service (Justify {USA}).

“We’ve had a bit of luck with Justify,” Adrian Bott said. “We liked the filly, and the farm keeps producing good results. She looked like the type of filly that could be getting us back to the race next year.

“We knew that she was going to fall into that top bracket of fillies within the sale, and that’s what you’ve got to be prepared to pay for the ones you want, with the pedigrees and the type.”

Bella Rosa hails from a quality female family, with her dam Swiss Rose (Thorn Park) a Listed winner of the Mode Stakes. This filly is her third foal, following a Maurice (Jpn) colt that sold for $500,000 at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale before being exported to South Africa in June 2025. Bella Rosa has an I Am Invincible colt at foot and visited Ole Kirk last spring.

Cover image courtesy of Scone Race Club

Magic Millions and Scone Race Club have announced a new three-year partnership, effective January 1 2026, that sees the auction house become the Exclusive Thoroughbred Auction House Partner of the Hunter Valley club.

The announcement coincides with the 40th anniversary of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and the 80th running of the Scone Cup carnival, held in May.

The beating heart of the Hunter

Situated within minutes of renowned thoroughbred nurseries such as Arrowfield Stud, Kia Ora Stud, Newgate Farm, and Segenhoe Stud, Scone Race Club hosts approximately 20 race meetings throughout the year, crowned by the two-day Scone Cup carnival in May. The Listed Scone Cup is a qualifying event for the $3 million Big Dance in November, and the club also hosts a qualifier for the Country Championships. Currently, approximately 200 horses are stabled on course, with more travelling in to train on the surface each morning.

Katie Page, co-owner of Magic Millions, said, “Gerry (Harvey) and I have owned our thoroughbred farm, Baramul in the Widden Valley, since 1999 and we’ve been partners at Vinery for over 20 years, in the equally stunning Segenhoe Valley. Scone and the Upper Hunter Valley are national treasures; a dual contribution of national economic significance and a tourism and event destination that can be enjoyed by all. Magic Millions and Scone Race Club is a partnership that aims to enhance both.

“Our intention is to work with the Scone Race Club, using the Scone Racing Carnival with it’s Darley Scone Cup and Arrowfield Dark Jewel race meetings, nuanced to the unique beauty of the region, to enhance and promote the event destination potential.”

The carnival, running on May 15 and 16 this year, plays host to six stakes races, with the Listed Scone Cup run on the Friday and the other five running as part of a metropolitan meeting on the Saturday. As part of the new partnership, the Magic Millions Mounting Yard has been established and will come into play at the first meet of the year on January 29.

“This partnership with Scone Race Club is an act of deep conviction and a commitment to the very heart of our industry,” Page continued. “The world-class farms of the Upper Hunter are the nurseries where champions are made, and they are the primary origin of the incredible young horses we offer at our sales. By partnering with Scone Race Club, we are consolidating our direct engagement with the breeders who underpin our entire business.

“As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale this coming week, we are looking forward, ensuring the future vitality of the industry by investing right at the source. The Magic Millions Mounting Yard at Scone Race Club will be a daily reminder that the journey of every champion often begins in the Hunter.”

“Tradition and industry excellence is synonymous with the annual Scone Racing Carnival,” said Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch. “We are committed to a partnership that takes the experience, the thrill of racehorse ownership to the broadest possible audience.

“This partnership creates a conception-to-sales-to-racecourse pipeline, strengthening the entire ecosystem and ensuring that the economic contribution we make directly supports the farms, local businesses, and the thoroughbred community in this vital area.”

Scone Race Club Chairman Alister Fraser shared that the club was delighted to welcome the auction house as a club sponsor.

“Magic Millions brings a unique and highly complementary offering to this partnership, and we’re excited to work together for the benefit of our respective businesses and the broader thoroughbred community,” he said.

“The Board remains firmly focused on the long-term sustainability and growth of Scone Race Club. With the opening of our polytrack, the ongoing Racing New South Wales stables development within the adjacent equine precinct, and the continued support of our valued partners, now including Magic Millions, the future for the club, the industry and the Upper Hunter region is extremely positive.”

Construction is currently underway to build 300 new stables and a polytrack training surface at Scone Race Club, a $20 project that was announced in June 2021. Currently one two-storey barn, akin to those at Rosehill Gardens, has been completed.

The right time to come together

Bowditch said it was a mutual approach from both parties to secure the sponsorship.

“It’s something I put out there years ago, and I think the time was right for Scone to come and speak to us about it over the last 12 months,” he told TTR. “We sat down with their CEO, Jason Hill, and planned it out. It’s something that Katie and Gerry have been very keen on, they’re passionate about doing more in the Scone region. They want to put back into where we do well and where we get great support.”

Scone and surrounds have produced a number of Magic Millions’ highest-priced and best performed graduates, the scope of which includes the likes of Winx (Street Cry {Ire}), Sunlight (Zoustar), Imperatriz (I Am Invincible), and Hitotsu and Profondo, Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale graduates who both have their first yearlings selling at the Gold Coast this week.

Gallery: Magic Millions stars born in the Hunter Valley

“We felt like the synergy between us and the Scone Race Club is going to work very, very well, not only for the club, but also for the community of Scone and for our supporters and stakeholders within the area.”

The intention is to roll out the Magic Millions carpet throughout the year and through the local community, so that the auction house’s presence is felt in the region beyond race days. The Cup carnival comes at the perfect time for Magic Millions, with the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Sale - selling yearlings, broodmares, and weanlings - commencing soon after on May 24.

“We are looking to do a lot more in the area,” Bowditch said. “We want to ensure we are around not just for stallion parades and yearling inspections and racedays, but that we are a part of the race club and the community, all the way through the year.”

Magic success at Scone

Run on the Friday of the May carnival, the Scone Cup was granted Listed status in 2006, and ever since, the carnival has expanded to two packed cards, with the G3 Dark Jewel Classic heading the second day. Three times, the Cup has gone home with Magic Millions-sold yearlings; Sedanzer (Sebring) and Special Missile (Smart Missile) took out back to back editions in 2018 and 2019, and Sky Lab (Real Impact {Jpn}) won most recently in 2024.

Named for outstanding broodmare Dark Jewel (Star Kingdom {Ire}) and restricted to fillies and mares, the Dark Jewel was first run in 1999 and achieved Group 3 status in 2014. Seven of the past winners have produced stakes winners at stud so far.

It has been won four times by Magic Millions yearling graduates; first Chuckle (Danehill {USA}) in 2003, then So Anyway (General Nediym) in 2010 and Upon The Rock (Fastnet Rock) in 2012, and most recently Irithea (Snitzel) in 2020.

With January’s Gold Coast sale hailed as a potent source of 2-year-old talent, Magic Millions graduates have been most successful in the Listed Woodlands Stakes, the juvenile event on the Saturday card. Since the race’s introduction in 2013, it has been won by Magics graduates six times; Shigeru Sendan (Denman) in 2014, Flippant (Hinchinbrook) in 2015, Debonairly (Snitzel) in 2017, Xtremetime (Extreme Choice) in 2021, In Secret (I Am Invincible) in 2022, and Lazzura (Snitzel) in 2024.

“When you sell the best 2-year-olds in the country, you are more likely to win those kinds of races,” Bowditch said.

The Listed Ortensia Stakes is a race with a local theme to the name. The 1100-metre dash is named for 13-time winner Ortensia (Testa Rossa), trained locally by Paul Messara, who won the G1 Winterbottom Stakes twice, then travelled across the world to win the G1 Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai, the G2 King George Stakes at Goodwood, and finally the G1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York. Vulpine (Snitzel) in 2022 and Kaepernick (Fastnet Rock) in 2016 are both Magics graduates to have added the race to their resume.

The Listed Denise’s Joy Stakes has been won by Magic Millions graduates three years in a row; Ready To Prophet (Smart Missile) in 2019, Fituese (Deep Field) in 2020, and Ballistic Lover (Smart Missile) in 2021. The Listed Luskin Star Stakes has also had a trio of Magic winners; Fontelina (Testa Rossa) and Mighty Lucky (Casino Prince) took out the race in 2013 and 2014, and, last year, Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale The Instructor (Russian Revolution) was the victor.

Changing of the guard

Magic Millions’ new partnership means the stepping back of Inglis, who have previously run the $200,000 Inglis Challenge - an exclusive race for Inglis sales graduates - during the Scone Cup carnival.

As of 2025, the race was restricted to yearlings sold through the Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders Association Sale (formerly Scone Select Yearling Sale), the Highway session of the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, the Showcase session at Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, the now defunct Melbourne Gold sale, and through the Inglis Digital sales platform.

A spokesperson for Inglis confirmed that the race has been removed from the carnival racecard, but that no location has been locked in for the race’s 2026 running just yet. The Murrumbidigee Turf Club at Wagga is a leading candidate for the race, but Wyong, Gosford, and Canberra’s Black Opal meeting have been considered as well.

Inglis's association with the Scone Race Club dates back 74 years and the HTBA Yearling Sale used to be a featured event in Scone, running on the Sunday after the Cup carnival at the White Park Equestrian Complex. Lockdown restrictions in 2020 forced its move to the Riverside Sales complex at Warwick Farm, and it hasn’t returned to its home region since.

The move can be considered a partial contributor to the sale’s increase in quality; before 2020, only six lots in the sale’s history had made six figures in the ring. In the six subsequent sales, 20 lots have made $100,000 or more, including a record-setting Extreme Choice filly in 2022 who sold for $300,000 to Michael Freedman.

In the first year of its move - which coincided with the second round of the 2020 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale occurring at the same complex - Hawkes Racing set a then new record for the sale when going to $180,000 for a son of Toronado (Ire).

There is no current plan for Magic Millions to stage a leg of their race series during the Scone Cup carnival, but their presence will be strongly felt thanks to the sponsorship of other races and the mounting yard newly branded in their name.

Cover image courtesy of Keeneland

The 2026 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale opened with the first of two sessions Monday and optimism remained high across the board as a pair of top-class mares crossed the seven-figure mark for the first time in two years.

“Today was a great day,” said Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy. “Obviously, it's a long day, but I think the structure of what we did in creating two big sessions sort of lent itself into building a momentum that carried through right to the end of the day.”

“It's a reflection of a really positive, strong day,” Lacy continued. “Across the board, mares, short yearlings. I think the mares were incredibly healthy from, not just the top, but all the way through to a strong middle market. I think that was incredibly encouraging. There was a very large crowd, probably the largest crowd we've seen at a January Sale for quite awhile, even though we had a couple of inclement days. People got to see the horses and they responded.”

For the session, 319 horses sold for US$31,706,400 (AU$47.2 million). Compressed from three sessions to two this year, the sale saw a 9.9% increase in average to US$99,393 (AU$148,000) while the median dropped 35.38% from the same opening session last year to US$42,000 (AU$62,600). The opening session last year saw 200 horses bring US$18,087,000 (AU$26.8 million) with an average of US$90,435 (AU$134,700) and a median of US$65,000 (AU$96,900).

Mandy Pope adds Tiffany Case for $3.2m

Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm added another illustrious broodmare to their collection when Pope went to US$3.2 million (AU$4.77 million) to acquire Tiffany Case (Uncle Mo) (hip 465), who sold in foal to Not This Time.

Stakes placed in her racing career, the mare got on base with her first foal, producing stakes winner Love to Shop (Violence). Len and Jon Green's D.J. Stable, who bought Tiffany Case for US$320,000 (AU$477,000) at Keeneland November in 2019 with Love to Shop in utero, has also bred Canadian champion 2-year-old filly and Eclipse finalist 3-year-old filly Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro) from her.

Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency as agent for DJ Stable, Tiffany Case makes it two in a row as her daughter, Love to Shop, co-topped last year's Keeneland January Sale at US$700,000 (AU$1.04 million).

Tiffany Case's price tag marked the highest-priced horse sold at the Keeneland January Sale since champion 3-year-old filly Abel Tasman (Quality Road) brought US$5 million (AU$7.45 million) back in 2019.

Simply In Front leads Greenwell trifecta

Greg Tramontin wound up the winner on a quick but exciting bidding battle for GISW Simply In Front (Summer Front) (hip 413), paying US$2 million (AU$2.98 million) for the 5-year-old mare from the consignment of Richard G Hogan, acting as agent for Colebrook Farms.

Signing the ticket as Greenwell Thoroughbreds, Tramontin continues to add mares for his recently-purchased Siena Farm–now renamed Greenwell Farms. Simply in Front marked Tramontin's third purchase on the day; he also picked up a close relation to the mare in Closing Statement (Blame) (hip 91).

“I came up here with my friend from Baton Rouge, and I came to help him,” Tramontin said. “I said, 'I'm not buying anything'. I've bought three! All of them will be good for the farm. That's what we're trying to do, raise some quality top-end horses. We had her priced between two and three (million), and so did the consigner,” continued Tramontin.

“So when it stopped, I was close to the end myself.” Tramontin confirmed that the GI First Lady Stakes winner is set for a visit with Taylor Made's sire on fire Not This Time.

Gunderson adds $800,000 Gun Runner colt

A short yearling colt (hip 114) by leading sire Gun Runner kicked off the action early in the opening session, hammering down to US$800,000 (AU$1.19 million) to Marc Gunderson, signing as MWG LLC. Consigned by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa consignment, the colt is out of Canadian Graded stakes winner Deceptive Vision, a mare who also placed in the GI E. P. Taylor Stakes in her own racing career before producing graded placed Ancient Peace.

The result continued a run of success for the family at Keeneland January as Deceptive Vision initially went Hill 'n' Dale's way for US$900,000 (AU$1.3 million) at the 2021 edition. Ancient Peace then returned to the Keeneland January ring in 2023, topping the sale when selling to Boardshorts Stables (Flying Dutchman) for US$650,000 (AU$969,000).

“He's an athlete,” Gunderson said of his newest acquisition. “You can't go wrong buying a Gun Runner with a good family. I've been pretty active in the last few sales and (the price) was taken up right about where I thought it would be.

“It's a different market. I was maybe 12% higher than I thought I should have been. The market's carried (its momentum) forward from the last year, especially the second half of last year. I don't feel like the market's falling off one bit. What's started to happen is people are really focused now on what it's going to cost. So they're all focused on the same horses.

"If you're going to spend that kind of money, you have to work on your ROI rather than a risk-analysis aspect. You can still find plenty of good horses in three-to-five (hundred thousand) range.”

Cover image courtesy of Sears Racing

Favourite moment - racing, sales or breeding related - for 2025?

Yellow Brick running second in the G1 Stradbroke Handicap.

Which first-season sire are you most excited to see at the 2026 yearling sales?

Anamoe.

Name an emerging human talent in the industry, and say why?

Paige Fergusson-Smith - She’s the most driven and hard working person I’ve come across, and I believe she will go a long way.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

Always be patient.

What positive change would you like to see in the industry?

I would love to see the ‘women in racing’ aspect to continue to grow.

Swap jobs with anyone, who, and what would you do?

Emma Freedman - she looks like she is always having a blast!.

What’s been the most challenging moment in your career, and how did it shape you?

Moving to the Gold Coast - learning a completely new way of training our horses and that has shaped me into a very different person in a positive way.

Is there a particular horse you think about often? Why?

Exondabeach - She was my first horse I trained, and in three starts she won over $120,000. Unfortunately, we lost her in a paddock accident and it’s something I don’t think I’ll ever be able to move on from.

What has been your favourite day at a racecourse?

When Yellow Brick won the King Of The Mountain, not only was it the first running of the race, but we had all of our family and extended family there watching!.

If you could change one thing about the perception of horse racing, what would it be?

That they are not forced to run. You see that from as young foals galloping and ‘racing’ each other around paddocks.