Cover image courtesy of Tasracing

The sales action moves to the Apple Isle on Monday for the Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale, where 125 yearlings have been catalogued for the 2026 edition of the sale. Sixteen vendors will offer the progeny of 51 stallions, including nine first season sires from across the country.

On Friday, the sale was thrown into sharp focus once again thanks to unbeaten graduate Aristopolos (St Mark’s Basilica {Fr}) who took his record to five straight wins when capturing the Listed Gold Sovereign Stakes.

There are 98 TASBRED-nominated yearlings in the catalogue, 15 that qualify for VOBIS Silver, 32 that qualify for VOBIS Sires, and 20 that are eligible for BOBS. TASBRED pays out 70% of VOBIS Silver prizemoney for eligible races.

Buoyant mainland market may reach Tassie

A shrinking catalogue has contributed to a falling aggregate over recent editions of the Tasmanian yearling sale, which has experienced a knock-on effect on the average and clearance rate year on year. Last year’s edition of the sale was the first since 2020 to not sell a six-figure top lot.

Table: Key metrics from the past five Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sales

On a more positive note, the 2025 clearance rate was still better than the year before; the smallest catalogue since 2021 contributing to fewer yearlings passing in. Last year was a particularly tough period countrywide for the lower and middle sections of the market, and this is reflected in the 2025 Tasmanian results.

Nevertheless, this year’s sales results to date have been strong, with the recently concluded Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale ending with a record aggregate, crossing the $21 million threshold for the first time, and raised metrics across the board. Similar was seen across the middle and lower sections of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, all of which should fill Tasmanian vendors with encouragement.

Magic Millions Bloodstock Consultant & Sales Account Manager for Victoria and Tasmania Ben Culham feels confident that the high standard of the 2026 draft can help elevate results.

“There's a better quality of horse in the sale this year,” he said. “The vendors are constantly increasing the quality of what they do, in terms of breeding and rearing horses and presenting them here. They're constantly improving what they're doing and we see it in what we have seen on complex.”

Leading vendors return with bumper draft

Motree Thoroughbreds has the largest draft in the 2026 edition of the sale, with 32 lots catalogued. Armidale Stud, last year’s leading vendor both by gross and by average, are hot on their heels with 28 lots accepted into the sale.

Table: Top four vendors by draft size at the 2026 Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale

Last year, Armidale sold 20 yearlings for a total of $815,000 and an average price per lot of $40,750. Of the top 10 lots in last year’s sale, their draft produced seven of them. Stud proprietor David Whishaw is feeling confident in his 2026 draft.

“Last year was a tough sale, and we are hoping to build on from that this year,” he said. “We are really happy with the horses that we have brought to the sale, and there is plenty of value to be found in our draft. Foot traffic has been steady as we approach sale day.”

Joining them as the only other vendor with a double digit draft is Grenville Stud, who sold one of the joint fourth top lots at last year’s sale - a Stratosphere filly who sold for $60,000 to Tasmanian Felicity Radley.

Of the 23 six-figure lots to sell in the Apple Isle’s ring since 2015, 11 of them have been offered by Armidale Stud, and nine of them have been in the draft of Grenville Stud. The latter holds the sale’s record price, selling a Snippetson filly for $160,000 in 2017.

A first season taste to sweeten the sire selection

From the 51 stallions with offspring catalogued for the sale, only two have double-digit drafts; Grenville Stud’s Stratosphere has the largest draft with 27 yearlings from his fifth crop, representing 38.6% of his progeny born in 2024. Next to him is Armidale Stud stalwart Needs Further with 14 catalogued, representing 32.6% of his crop.

Chart: Top five sires by number of offspring catalogued in the 2026 Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale

Stratosphere has recorded 19 individual winners so far this season, led by G3 Mystic Journey Stakes winner Sanniya, who was a $67,500 purchase from this venue two years ago by Star Thoroughbreds and Randwick Bloodstock Agency (FBAA).

Artorius is the most represented first season sire with three in the catalogue, followed by State Of Rest (Ire), Paulele, and Bruckner with two apiece conceived across three different states.

Table: First season sires with offspring in the 2026 Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale catalogue

Interstate interest drawn back to the Apple Isle

Last year’s sale attracted 49 individual buyers or purchasing partnerships, 18 of whom bought two or more lots. Of the 84 lots sold in 2025, 42 were staying in the state, having been bought by Tasmanian interests, while 25 were bought by Victorian-based buyers and a further 13 were spread between buyers in South Australia, New South Wales, and Queensland. The sale attracted international attention, with four lots in total going to Japan, the Philippines, and China.

“We have people on complex from Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland, Victoria, and New South Wales, and there is engagement internationally as well,” said Culham. “We are really pleased with the range of stallions on offer, and we're delighted with how many people are attending from out of state. The TASBRED bonus is a great incentive scheme, and the 2024 sale has produced five stakes winners already.”

Tony and Calvin McEvoy, buying under the McEvoy Mitchell Racing banner in partnership with Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA), were the biggest spenders last year, outlying a total of $215,000 for four lots, including one of the joint top lots, a Satono Aladdin (Jpn) filly offered by Macleay Thoroughbred Stud.

They also purchased Pakenham winner and G1 Blue Diamond Stakes runner Tough Romance (All Too Hard) at last year’s sale.

In fact, all three $80,000 top lots were purchased by interstate-based buyers; Prime Thoroughbreds snapped up a Needs Further filly from the draft of Armidale Stud, and Star Thoroughbreds and Randwick Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) bought a Gold Standard filly from the same draft, albeit that filly would remain in Tasmania to be trained.

Local John Blacker, trainer of the unbeaten Aristopolos, were the leading buyer by number of lots bought, spending a total of $166,000 on eight lots.

“It’s been a long time since a horse has won their first five starts down here,” said Whishaw, who offered Aristopolos in 2025. “He looks like the real deal. We have had eight stakes winners off of the farm in the last 12 months, from juvenile stakes winners to Cup winners to weight-for-age sprinters, and hopefully there is more in our draft this year.”

From two Magic Millions Tasmania graduates who went on to be offered at last year’s breeze-up sales, one was purchased as a yearling for $26,000 and sold for $150,000, and the other was a $50,000 purchase who returned a price of $140,000 as a 2-year-old.

“We are grateful for the support from Tas Racing and the local breeders for this sale,” said Culham. “They have really gotten behind it and brought their best.”