Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
At A Glance:
Clearance was slightly down to 72.48% (74%) for the 2026 renewal of the Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale, but the aggregate increased to $2,815,000, ahead of 2025 ($1,949,500). 78 horses sold this year compared to 84 in 2025.
The average lifted to $36,090 ($23,488), while the median lifted in 2026 to $21,000 ($18,000).
The top Lot of the sale was Lot 93, a filly by Pinatubo (Ire) who was sold by Armidale Stud to Redgum Racing for $170,000. Five (5) lots sold for $100,000 for more.
Top Buyer: John Blacker who spent $346,500 across 12 lots.
Top Vendor: Armidale Stud heads the vendors by aggregate, selling 21 yearlings for $1,433,000. By average (two or more sold), they also led with an average of $68,238.
Top Sire: Needs Further led the stallions by gross with $503,000 from 11 lots, and while Paulele topped the averages (two or more sold) at $77,500 across 2 lots sold.
Pinatubo sister to Yum sets new record top price
Lot 93, A half-sister to Listed Jim Moloney Stakes winner Yum (Ghaiyyath {Ire}), set a new highest price in history for the Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale on Monday when being knocked down to Redgum Racing. Offered by Armidale Stud on behalf of her breeder Kenneth William Breese, the filly’s price climbed to $170,000, beating the sale’s previous record of $160,000 that was set in 2017.
The daughter of Pinatubo (Ire) is out of Dream Snitz (Snitzel), a half-sister to G2 Euclase Stakes winner I’ll Have A Bit (Smart Missile) who has produced four winners from four foals to the track.
Lot 93: Pinatubo x Dream Snitz filly | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Redgum Racing’s John McArdle was already familiar with the family, training Yum for the breeders after she passed in at the Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale in 2024.
“I obviously train the half sister Yum and she’s a stakes winner,” McArdle said. “She (Yum) looks as though she is going to press on to the good races in the autumn and winter in Sydney, Adelaide. and Brisbane.
“We are very happy to acquire her. She is very much like her sister. She probably looks a bit sharper (being) by a speed horse like Pinatubo. All in all we are delighted to be able to buy her.”
“All in all we are delighted to be able to buy her (Lot 93).” - John McArdle
Dream Snitz had previously produced a Tasmanian sale topper when her seven-time winning son Bold Instinct (Impending) sold for $150,000 to top the 2021 sale.
John McArdle | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
MyRacehorse dip toe in at Apple Isle for first time
Fresh off of celebrating a new Group 2 victory with banner horse Ninja (Farnan) at the weekend, microshare syndicator MyRacehorse was at the Magic Millions Tasmanian sale on Monday where they made their first purchase at the venue in Lot 50, a daughter of Capitalist.
Offered by Armidale Stud, the filly is out of Group 3-performed seven-time winner Speedonova (Tough Speed) and was purchased by MyRacehorse alongside local trainer Stuart Gandy Racing and Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA) for $120,000. A granddaughter of Listed Tasmanian Guineas victress Nova Clause (Weasel Clause), Speedonova’s first two foals are already winners.
Lot 50: Capitalist x Speedonova filly | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Director Robert Dauth was full of praise for the sale and the local industry, telling Tas Racing, “it’s an honour to be here. There’s some really good lots here. Everyone has been remarking that it is as strong as the sale has ever been, especially at the top end.
“Everyone has been remarking that it is as strong as the sale has ever been, especially at the top end.” - Robert Dauth
“Tassie racing is such a great industry and there’s a lot of great people down here, so for us, it’s a great honour to be here.”
Dauth also commented that the syndicator already had a large ownership base in Tasmania, which made it make sense to finally splash out on a horse to train in the jurisdiction.
Five six-figure lots all from Armidale
Armidale Stud retained their position as leading vendors by average and aggregate at the close of the Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale on Monday. The stud had sold 21 lots out of 25 offered on saleday for a gross of $1.433 million, almost $1 million more than the next busiest vendor and accounting for approximately half of the sale's gross, and an average of $68,238, almost double the sale’s average.
Remarkably, all five six-figure lots sold at the sale were in Armidale Stud’s draft, which marks the second highest number of six-figure lots sold in one Magic Millions Tasmanian sale history after six were sold in 2021. They also sold eight of the top 10 lots in the 2026 sale.
“We have had a solid sale," said Armidale director David Whishaw. “It certainly was better than we expected. We have come away feeling very happy on the whole.”
Armidale team with Lot 93 at the 2026 Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Aside from the Pinatubo and Capitalist fillies mentioned above, Armidale also sold Lot 26, Lot 62, and Lot 99, all of whom were sold to trainers and syndicators based on the mainland. Three of the lots - Lot 50, Lot 62, and Lot 99 - were all bred by the stud, whilst the others were offered on behalf of their breeders.
Star Thoroughbreds and Randwick Bloodstock Agency (FBBA), who have previously purchased stakes winners Mazzini (Needs Further) and Durazzo (Needs Further) from the Armidale draft, went to $100,000 to acquire Lot 26, a full sister to dual Listed winner Mystical Pursuit (Needs Further) out of a half-sister to Australian Champion 3YO Filly Mystic Journey (Needs Further).
McEvoy Mitchell Racing and Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA) spent $110,000 on Lot 99, a State Of Rest (Ire) colt out of Victorian metropolitan winner Falika (NZ) (USA), and Prime Thoroughbreds purchased a Paulele filly out of a full sister to Denman, Lot 62, for $115,000.
Lot 99: State of Rest (Ire) x Falika (NZ) colt | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“We were blessed,” Whishaw said. “We've got loyal people that believe in the brand and our horses, and turn up year in, year out to support us and we're so lucky to have them. Once again, leading trainer John Blacker was front and centre supporting us, and other leading trainers had got behind us too as well as syndicators like Prime Thoroughbreds and Star Thoroughbreds, who are buy from us year in, year out. We were lucky to have their support.
“MyRacehorse buying their first horse carrying the Armidale brand made us very proud and we're excited to see a whole lot of new racegoers focus on Tassie racing and focus on an Armidale-bred horse. We were tickled pink really.”
This takes Armidale Stud’s tally of six-figure lots to 16 out of 28 sold in the sale’s history.
Solid increases please Bowditch
Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch was pleased to see “solid increases” across most of the sale’s metrics, with the gross sitting at approximately $900,000 above last year and the average price being $12,500 above last year’s final figure. Much of this can be credited to the strong trade at the top end, with the top lot being more than double the price of last year’s trio of top lots, which all sold for $80,000.
“The average has increased significantly, the gross is strong, and the clearance is improving and should continue to do so this afternoon,” said Bowditch. “The clearance rate is in line with expectations and is acceptable for this sale. The appetite for quality lots was there in most places.”
“The appetite for quality lots was there in most places.” - Barry Bowditch
Last year’s final clearance figure was 74% and Bowditch can see it approaching that level in the days following the sale as the team works to find homes for passed in lots.
Barry Bowditch | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“There was a good spirit and vibe about the sale and to have five six-figure horses is the second most we’ve ever had down here which is outstanding,” he said. “To have a new record price and to have a number of fillies highly sought after was great and is again testament to the quality of the horse and for vendors giving us the opportunity to offer some quality horses in Tasmania.
“I would like to thank Tasracing and the breeders for their continued support of the sale. We want to continue in making an effort to improve the quality of the sale and give buyers as much confidence as possible to engage with the market.”
Local trainer John Blacker was the leading vendor by spend and number of lots bought, this year taking home 12 lots for a total of $346,500. Twenty nine lots are destined for the mainland, with 20 bought by Victorian connections, and the sale also had buyers in Malaysia and Hong Kong, neither of whom were active at last year’s sale.
“We want to give a real push to continually improve the offering and give buyers the faith in this sale.” - Barry Bowditch
“We're thrilled that Magic Millions have worked hard to get some more interstate buyers here and get behind the sale,” Armidale Stud's Whishaw added. “We very much felt that and we very appreciate that.”
“The graduates are doing an amazing job, not only here in Australia but internationally as well,” said Bowditch. “We want to give a real push to continually improve the offering and give buyers the faith in this sale. We look forward to continue working with Tasracing and TasBreeders in giving this sale the best possible opportunity for the breeders and vendors in Tasmania.”
Top Lots
| 93 | Pinatubo (Ire) | Dream Food | F | Armidale Stud | Redgum Racing | $170,000 |
| 50 | Capitalist | Speedonova | F | Armidale Stud | MyRacehorse/Stuart Gandy Racing/Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA) | $120,000 |
| 62 | Paulele | Ventura | F | Armidale Stud | Prime Thoroughbreds | $115,000 |
| 99 | State of Rest (Ire) | Falika (NZ) | C | Armidale Stud | McEvoy Mitchell Racing/Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA) | $110,000 |
| 26 | Needs Further | Oh So Gold | F | Armidale Stud | Star Thoroughbreds/Randwick Bloodstock Agency (FBBA) | $100,000 |
| 34 | Hanseatic | Princess de Lamour | F | Motree Thoroughbreds | Adam Trinder | $90,000 |
| 77 | In the Congo | Canuck | C | Armidale Stud | Polaris Bloodstock | $90,000 |
| 53 | Needs Further | Stick 'em Up | C | Armidale Stud | John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) | $85,000 |
| 108 | Needs Further | Gee Gee Pure Gold | C | Armidale Stud | Star Thoroughbreds/Randwick Bloodstock Agency (FBBA) | $82,500 |
| 11 | Rubick | Lita | C | Alva Stud | Tasmanian Bloodstock Pty Ltd | $80,000 |
Buyers by gross
| John Blacker | 12 | $28,875 | $346,500 |
| Star Thoroughbreds/Randwick Bloodstock Agency (FBBA) | 4 | $73,750 | $295,000 |
| Tasmanian Bloodstock Pty Ltd | 7 | $31,571 | $221,000 |
| John Keys | 5 | $37,600 | $188,000 |
| Redgum Racing | 1 | $170,000 | $170,000 |
| Prime Thoroughbreds | 2 | $77,500 | $155,000 |
| McEvoy Mitchell Racing/Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA) | 2 | $76,250 | $152,500 |
| Polaris Bloodstock | 2 | $71,000 | $142,000 |
| MyRacehorse/Stuart Gandy Racing/Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA) | 1 | $120,000 | $120,000 |
| Adam Trinder | 3 | $38,333 | $115,000 |
Buyer by average (2 or more bought)
| Prime Thoroughbreds | 2 | $77,500 | $155,000 |
| McEvoy Mitchell Racing/Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA) | 2 | $76,250 | $152,500 |
| Star Thoroughbreds/Randwick Bloodstock Agency (FBBA) | 4 | $73,750 | $295,000 |
| Polaris Bloodstock | 2 | $71,000 | $142,000 |
| Adam Trinder | 3 | $38,333 | $115,000 |
| John Keys | 5 | 37,600 | $188,000 |
| Patrick Kearney Racing | 2 | 37,500 | $75,000 |
| Selwyn Harding/Braeside Park | 2 | 35,000 | $70,000 |
| Tasmanian Bloodstock Pty Ltd | 7 | 31,571 | $221,000 |
| John Blacker | 12 | 28,875 | $346,500 |
Vendors by gross
| Armidale Stud | 21 | 4 | $68,238 | $1,433,000 |
| Motree Thoroughbreds | 21 | 4 | $21,667 | $455,000 |
| Grenville Stud | 13 | 8 | $28,000 | $364,000 |
| Bingley Bloodstock | 2 | 2 | $55,000 | $110,000 |
| Alva Stud | 3 | 0 | $32,333 | $97,000 |
Vendors by average (2 or more sold)
| Armidale Stud | 21 | 4 | $68,238 | $1,433,000 |
| Bingley Bloodstock | 2 | 2 | $55,000 | $110,000 |
| Franklin Racing | 2 | 0 | $32,500 | $65,000 |
| Alva Stud | 3 | 0 | $32,333 | $97,000 |
| Grenville Stud | 13 | 8 | $28,000 | $364,000 |
Sires by gross
| Needs Further | 11 | 3 | $45,727 | $503,000 |
| Stratosphere | 16 | 9 | $29,469 | $471,500 |
| Pinatubo (Ire) | 1 | 0 | $170,000 | $170,000 |
| Paulele | 2 | 0 | $77,500 | $155,000 |
| Hanseatic | 2 | 1 | $71,000 | $142,000 |
| State of Rest (Ire) | 2 | 0 | $70,000 | $140,000 |
| Capitalist | 1 | 0 | $120,000 | $120,000 |
| Rubick | 2 | 0 | $60,000 | $120,000 |
| In the Congo | 1 | 0 | $90,000 | $90,000 |
| Artorius | 2 | 0 | $42,500 | $85,000 |
Sires by average (2 or more sold)
| Paulele | 2 | 0 | $77,500 | $155,000 |
| Hanseatic | 2 | 1 | $71,000 | $142,000 |
| State of Rest (Ire) | 2 | 0 | $70,000 | $140,000 |
| Rubick | 2 | 0 | $60,000 | $120,000 |
| Needs Further | 11 | 3 | $45,727 | $503,000 |
| Artorius | 2 | 0 | $42,500 | $85,000 |
| Vancouver | 2 | 0 | $33,750 | $67,500 |
| Tiger of Malay | 2 | 0 | $31,000 | $62,000 |
| Stratosphere | 16 | 9 | $29,469 | $471,500 |
| Turffontein | 2 | 0 | $13,000 | $26,000 |
