Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
The session also highlighted the air of expectation surrounding first-season sire Anamoe, with a $1.1 million colt out of stakes winner Secret Trail (Denman) drawing strong interest, while I Am Invincible and Zoustar continued to supply highly sought-after yearlings, keeping bidding at the top end fiercely competitive.
Lot 942: Snitzel x Vangelic (Vancouver), colt – $1,500,000
Late in the final session of Book 1, Guy Mulcaster, in partnership with Chris Waller Racing, pulled off one of the standout buys of the sale, securing Lot 942 for $1.5 million by Champion Sire Snitzel and out of Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed mare Vangelic (Vancouver).
Mulcaster was immediately taken by the colt’s athleticism and presence.
“He looked really sharp and did beautifully through the prep. He moves like a dream and looks an early runner,” he said.
“He (Lot 942) moves like a dream and looks an early runner.” - Guy Mulcaster
On the price, Mulcaster didn’t flinch, knowing that the returns could be tenfold should the colt reach the breeding barn.
“It’s a lot of money, but that’s what these colts cost. When you get a horse that’s going to go on to stud, it looks cheap. He’s a sharp, beautiful horse.”
The pedigree added extra appeal.
“The mare ran in plenty of stakes races and acquitted herself very well. It all crosses over and it’s looking very strong,” Mulcaster added.
Lot 942: Snitzel x Vangelic colt | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Trained throughout her career by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, the Vancouver mare was a precocious 2-year-old, winning on debut and finishing runner-up to Away Game (Snitzel) in the G2 Percy Sykes Stakes. She matured into a consistent Group 1 performer, claiming the G2 Golden Pendant and amassing over $1.4 million in prize money.
Vangelic was sold off the track by Newgate as agent for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott for $1.5 million to Coolmore’s Tom Magnier and was exported to the United States in May 2025.
This colt is the sixth Snitzel yearling to smash the seven-figure barrier at this year’s sale, underscoring the unsatiable demand for progeny from Arrowfield’s former champion sire.
Lot 708: I Am Invincible x Qafila (Not A Single Doubt), filly – $1,250,000
Waller Racing, in partnership with Mulcaster Bloodstock, secured one of the most intriguing fillies of the sale when purchasing Lot 708 for $1.25 million at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Offered by Coolmore Stud, the bay filly is by Champion Sire I Am Invincible and out of the remarkably versatile G1 South Australian Derby winner Qafila (Not A Single Doubt), a mare whose race record spans elite juvenile speed through to classic stamina.
Mulcaster said it was Qafila’s rare versatility that first drew the team to the filly, providing confidence in both her athletic scope and long-term upside.
Lot 708: I Am Invincible x Qafila filly | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“I think the thing that really got our attention was the fact she was so versatile,” Mulcaster said. “I think she ran in the first 2-year-old race and ended up winning an Oaks, so we’ve got a few different paths we can take with her.
“We always thought she was just an athlete, she’s beautiful and has come off a great farm.”
“We always thought she (Lot 708) was just an athlete.” - Guy Mulcaster
Despite strong interest, Mulcaster admitted the team were pleasantly surprised to come away with the filly.
“We actually really thought we were going to struggle to buy her but it’s ended up all right for us,” he said.
“It’s a lot of money… but I’m sure he’s going to be rapt when he sees her.”
In terms of her racing future, patience will be key.
“I don’t think we’ll bustle her too much, we’ll let her do the talking and see what transpires,” Mulcaster said.
Guy Mulcaster | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Qafila was a standout race mare, winning three races from 1000 metres to 2500 metres, including the Listed Debutant Stakes on debut as a 2-year-old before stretching out to claim the G1 South Australian Derby at three. She has already made a promising start as a producer, with two winners from two runners, including Angel Eyes (Wootton Bassett {GB}), a debut winner over 1000 metres at Ballarat, and Filadeel (Dundeel {NZ}), a winner over 2200 metres for Ciaron Maher.
Qafila has an unraced 2-year-old with Tony and Calvin McEvoy named Full Confidence (I Am Invincible) a colt at foot by Zoustar and has subsequently revisited I Am Invincible.
Lot 781: Anamoe x Secret Trail (Denman), colt – $1,100,000
Ciaron Maher Bloodstock added one of the most anticipated first-season yearlings to their Magic Millions haul when securing Lot 781 for $1.1 million, continuing the strong demand for the progeny of champion racehorse Anamoe.
Offered by Widden Stud, the bay or brown colt is out of stakes-winning mare Secret Trail and is a half-brother to multiple stakes performer Spywire (Trapeze Artist), the winner of last Saturday’s $1 million The Syndicate at Magic Millions who is also trained by Maher.
Maher’s bloodstock manager Will Bourne revealed the colt had made a lasting impression from the very first inspection at the farm.
“When Ciaron and I first saw him at the farm at yearling inspections at Widden, he was the last one out there and they usually leave their best for last and he was their prized icon,” Bourne said.
Lot 781: Anamoe x Secret Trail colt | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
While the pedigree stood out on paper, Bourne stressed it was the colt’s physical presence that ultimately sealed the decision.
“On paper it was obvious, but just on face value, it was the horse in front of you that really took Ciaron’s eye and made Ciaron want to buy him,” he said.
“Obviously that Spywire factor is there, but it was just a big, imposing, strong colt in front of you that was the main reason. He wasn’t missed by anyone.”
“Obviously that Spywire factor is there, but it was just a big, imposing, strong colt in front of you that was the main reason.” - Will Bourne
Bourne also noted the similarities between the colt and his champion sire, following recent inspections of Anamoe himself.
“We’ve seen a lot of Anamoes that we liked and there were a few traits that Ciaron was querying,” he said.
“Myself, Ciaron, and Andy Makiv went and checked out Anamoe in the Hunter Valley and, I tell you what, there are a lot of similarities.”
Bourne believes the colt has all the hallmarks of elite weight-for-age performer.
“He is a heavy horse. If you’re being critical, that’s the one negative - how big and strong he is,” Bourne said.
Will Bourne | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
“But when he moves, his athleticism really makes up for it. He doesn’t move sloppy, he doesn’t move heavy, he keeps it upright.
“He (Lot 781) is a heavy horse ... but when he moves, his athleticism really makes up for it.” - Will Bourne
“Those proper weight-for-age Group 1 horses, they have that strength, they have that imposing muscle, and I’m hoping he’s just that.”
Lot 781 is among the first yearlings by Anamoe to be offered at auction, with enormous anticipation surrounding his progeny after a racetrack career that yielded nine Group 1 victories across two, three and 4-year-old seasons and more than $11 million in prizemoney. Standing at Darley’s Kelvinside property at an introductory fee of $121,000 (inc GST), Anamoe has attracted top-class mares, and early results in the sale ring have reflected that confidence.
Secret Trail has already proven herself as a producer, with four foals to race for three winners, including Spywire. He has now won five races from 15 starts, earned close to $1.4 million in prizemoney, and was placed behind Storm Boy in the 2024 R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic, adding further appeal to this high-profile colt.
Secret Trail failed to produce a foal last season, but visited Widden’s Champion Sire Zoustar.
Lot 911: Anamoe x Time Check (Shamardal {USA}), colt – $950,000
Lot 911, an Anamoe colt out of Time Check (USA) (Shamardal {USA}) and hailing from one of Godolphin’s most celebrated female families, was also secured by Ciaron Maher in partnership with TFI for $950,000.
The family has produced Group 1 stars Alizee (Sepoy) and Astern, as well as promising young sire Tassort, making him a highly coveted prospect.
Will Bourne said the colt’s minor imperfections were easily forgiven given his overall quality.
“He had a few small flaws looking straight on, but side on, the way he moved, he was just a great colt. If you’re nitpicking, he wasn’t perfect in front, but we see so often how many horses go to the winners’ stall on Saturdays and there’s no perfect horse front on. That was the only negative, but there were a lot more positives,” Bourne explained.
Lot 911: Anamoe x Time Check (USA) colt | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“If you’re nitpicking, he (Lot 911) wasn’t perfect in front, but we see so often how many horses go to the winners’ stall on Saturdays and there’s no perfect horse front on.” - Will Bourne
Bourne said paying top dollar was easy to justify with Anamoe as the sire.
“If we’re going to pay that sort of sum, it might as well be on him. He was a good-looking racehorse, and hopefully he passes that on to his progeny.”
Anamoe’s progeny have made a strong impression at auction, with 29 yearlings selling so far for a combined $14.44 million, averaging just under $500,000 each.
Time Check does not have a foal on the ground after missing to Snitzel but visited The Autumn Sun last spring.
Lot 887: Zoustar x Tallow (Street Cry {Ire}), filly – $900,000
An elite 2-year-old family once again caught the eye of buyers, with Matt Laurie Racing and Willannah Park Bloodstock securing Lot 887 for $900,000.
The filly is by Champion Sire Zoustar and out of extraordinary broodmare Tallow (Street Cry {Ire}), who has already produced G1 Golden Slipper Stakes winner and sire Farnan, as well as the speedy young stallion Sandbar.
“I just fell in love with her. She’s a real athlete,” Laurie said. “A very clean-bodied filly and a very stylish horse. She’s got a strong page behind her and we want to add to her on the racetrack, but she’s always going to have that pedigree.”
“I just fell in love with her (Lot 887). She’s a real athlete.” - Matt Laurie
Lot 887: Zoustar x Tallow filly | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Laurie said he had expected the filly to sell somewhere between $600,000 and $1 million and was pleased with the outcome.
“We’ll have probably 25% to fill, and there will be some shares available, but I don’t think that will be too much of an issue finding someone to go into her,” he added.
Tallow, now 20 years old, has produced 10 foals – five to race for five winners – including Bjorn Baker’s promising filly Beside The Ocean (Zoustar) who has already won two races from four starts.
Tallow has a Shinzo colt at foot and visited Ole Kirk last spring.
Lot 776: I Am Invincible x Scorched Earth (Nicconi), filly – $850,000
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, in partnership with Kestrel Thoroughbreds, swooped in late to secure what they believe could prove one of the value buys of the sale, purchasing Lot 776 for $850,000.
Offered by Yarraman Park Stud, the bay filly is by Champion Sire I Am Invincible and out of the ultra-speedy Scorched Earth (Nicconi), from a pedigree saturated with early 2-year-old pace.
Waterhouse and Bott’s bloodstock advisor Bruce Slade admitted the filly exceeded expectations on inspection and was initially priced beyond their reach.
“I thought she was one of the top three fillies in the sale. Genuinely thought she was seven figures,” Slade said. “She wasn’t going for that in the ring at $600,000 and we had given up on buying her until she was sitting around that mark, so we asked whether we should back ourselves - and that’s what we’ve done.”
“I thought she was one of the top three fillies in the sale. Genuinely thought she was seven figures.” - Bruce Slade
Lot 776: I Am Invincible x Scorched Earth filly | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Slade believes the filly represented strong value, particularly given the demand for I Am Invincible fillies throughout the sale, with four I Am Invincible fillies already breaking the seven-figure barrier at the sale and another fetching $950,000.
“Coming from a very low base, with the support of our ownership group, we didn’t try that hard given where we thought she’d end up,” he said.
“But at the end of the day we bought her because we thought she was good value in the ring and sometimes you have to be flexible.”
Physically, the filly possesses all the attributes sought by the Waterhouse and Bott stable.
“Massive gaskin, massive pelvis on her. So much power. Huge girth, great forearms,” Slade said.
“She moved like the good Vinnies do. Great head and the mare is very believable. She was an absolute flying machine. Nicconi, Exceed and Excel, Strategic - one of the fast families.”
“She (Scorched Earth) was an absolute flying machine.” - Bruce Slade
Bruce Slade | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
A stakes-winning juvenile, Scorched Earth won four races between 1000 and 1200 metres, anchoring a pedigree loaded with early speed that has already proven successful for the stable. Waterhouse and Bott trained Volcanic Rock (Hinchinbrook), who features prominently on the page, to a stakes victory as a 2-year-old, while the family is further strengthened by G2 Todman Stakes runner-up and G3 Kindergarten Stakes winner Furnaces (Exceed and Excel), a full sister to the grand dam Scorched (Exceed And Excel).
