Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
At A Glance
Clearance after Day 2 of the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale stayed steady at 76% from 75.8% in 2025, and the aggregate dropped to $10,578,500, below of $14,180,000 in 2025 and $15,380,000 in 2024. 269 horses sold this year compared to 291 in 2025.
The average dropped to $39,325 in 2026 from $48,741 in 2025, while the median dropped to $30,000 in 2026 from $32,500 in 2025.
The top Lot on day 2 was Lot 387, a colt by Tassort who was sold by Sullivan Bloodstock to Trilogy Racing/Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) for $120,000.
Top Buyers: Miguel Almeda was the sale’s top buyer by gross, spending $341,500 on five yearlings. Shane McGrath Bloodstock/Clinton McDonald Racing topped the averages across both days, spending an average of $147,500 on two yearlings.
Top Vendors: Willow Park Stud headed the vendors by aggregate, selling 15 yearlings for $780,000 across the whole sale. By average (two or more sold), Evergreen Stud finished the sale with a $75,000 average for two yearlings sold.
Top Sire: Alabama Express led the stallions by gross with $464,000 from eight lots, while Farnan topped the averages (2 or more sold) at $92,500 across two lots sold.
Hedge makes his mark in Adelaide
Suman Hedge was one of the busiest buyers across the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale, playing a role in 12 purchases for a range of clients, spending a combined $458,000, and he also claimed the top lot on Day 2.
Among his buys, Lot 176 - an Alabama Express filly secured alongside Clarken Bloodstock, Rob Chapman and Trilogy Racing — stood out as a particular favourite.
“The Alabama Express filly out of Cerberus Girl, the moment we saw her, she was an absolute standout and a priority for us to buy, a beautiful moving horse, a promising young stallion and comes from a great farm with a pedigree.
"So she ticked all our boxes.”
"So she (Lot 176) ticked all our boxes.” - Suman Hedge
Hedge also combined with Trilogy Racing to secure the top lot on Day 2, paying $120,000 for a Tassort colt from the Sullivan Bloodstock draft. The colt is out of the four-time winning mare Ominous Quality (Elusive Quality), from the family of dual Group 2 winner and Group 1 performer Noircir (Bureaucracy).
Video: Lot 176 - Alabama Express x Cerberus Gal filly, video courtesy of Magic Millions
Beyond the results, Hedge again highlighted his affection for both the sale and the city.
“The Adelaide sale for me is my favourite sale of the year. I come back every year, I love everything about this sale.
"I think apart from the fact that the sale provides great value, we have had a lot of success buying horses like Victoria Quay and Galaxy Patch.
"I love the city in general, the people are very warm and accommodating and kind, and you just want to come back every year.”
"I love the city in general, the people are very warm and accommodating and kind, and you just want to come back every year.” - Suman Hedge
Familiar territory pays off with a Dalasan filly
Familiarity proved key in the purchase of Lot 236, a Dalasan filly secured for $110,000 by Macdonald Gluyas Racing from the Mill Park Stud draft.
With Leon Macdonald and Andrew Gluyas having trained Dalasan himself - as well as enjoying strong success with Mill Park-bred runners, including the half-brother to this filly Waging War (Rebel Raider) who won at Group 3 level - the filly represented a natural fit.
“Lot 236, a filly out of Fartoo Flashy and by Dalasan - We were very happy to secure her through this sale at Magic Millions. Mill Park offered her and we have had a lot to do with the family, so we’re looking forward to bringing her into our system,” Andrew Gluyas said.
Lot 236 - Dalasan x Fartoo Flashy filly | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“It’s been a successful day. I had the pleasure to race Dalasan and he took us to some good race meetings over many years and couldn’t quite break through for that Group 1, but he was very competitive at that level.
“It’s great to be associated with Mill Park. Over the years we have had some good success with them and it’s very much a successful South Australian breeder. We have trained a lot of horses that have come from their farm over the years and it’s great this year that we can secure a few more.”
The filly’s pedigree continues to build. Her half-sister Arctic Glamour (Frosted {USA}) recently ran second in the G1 Coolmore Classic at Rosehill last weekend, following a third in the G2 Guy Walter Stakes, adding to an already strong record that includes wins in the G2 Hot Danish Stakes and Listed Reginald Allen Handicap.
Andrew Gluyas | Image courtesy of Macdonald Gluyas Racing
Out of the placed Galileo (Ire) mare Fartoo Flashy, the filly is from a proven family that continues to deliver, further enhancing her appeal both on the track and later as a broodmare prospect.
Well-bred filly appeals to the Gelagotis team
PGR Racing added further depth to their team with the $110,000 purchase of Lot 348 from the Caithness Breeding draft - a well-bred filly by Grunt (NZ) and a close relation to Group 1 winner Veight (Grunt {NZ}) who was retired by the McEvoy team earlier in the week.
Out of Margaret’s Nabter (Husson), she is a three-quarter-sister to dual Group 3 winner Neena Rock (Fastnet Rock), the dam of Veight, making her one of the more intriguing pedigree plays of the sale.
Lot 348 - Grunt (NZ) x Margaret's Banter filly | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“She’s a gorgeous filly, very well-related. We have had a bit of success with these well-bred fillies and there is residual value there for the potential client, so a filly like this, if she could win a good race, could be quite valuable in the future.” Manny Gelagotis said.
“The pedigree behind her will give her every conceivable chance to perform to her best and we have had strong success recently with fillies - Miss Roseiano, Recuperato to name a few.
“I'm very glad to secure her. She is going to be popular and thrilled to take her home. We have had a few nice horses come out of this sale and if you don’t go, you don’t see.”
Manny Gelagotis | Image courtesy of Peter Gelagotis Racing
Rutten enjoying the ride
Young South Australian trainer Sarah Rutten continues to build momentum, both on the track and in the sale ring.
After establishing herself as one of the state’s leading young female trainers — following a background working under Tony McEvoy with top horses including Sunlight (Zoustar) — Rutten has now turned her attention to sourcing talent for her stable.
She was involved in purchasing five yearlings across the sale for her stable, including progeny of Dirty Work, Blue Point (Ire), Hitotsu, Rich Enuff and Tassort, spending a combined $245,000 at an average of $49,000 - above the overall sale average.
Sarah Rutten | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“We have been really happy with what we purchased. I think we have bought some really nice quality horses. Obviously I am still very new to the whole buying caper, we are looking to target early types, ready-to-run 2-year-olds.”
Rutten also reflected on the growing presence of women in racing and her own journey through the industry.
“I’m really proud of how many women there are in racing these days and just to see women around here buying and being part of such a big story, obviously with leading Sunlight at the Magic Millions.
“So just to come here and go full circle and to be buying horses at Magic Millions, especially Adelaide being my hometown, is super to see all the women in racing.”
“So just to come here and go full circle and to be buying horses at Magic Millions, especially Adelaide being my hometown, is super to see all the women in racing.” - Sarah Rutten
Top-end depth takes a hit from last year
While there were highlights across the two days, the 2026 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale reflected a tougher market at the top end.
The number of six-figure yearlings dropped significantly compared to 2025, with 37 lots reaching $100,000 or more last year, compared to just 19 in 2026.
At the higher end, five lots reached $200,000 or more in 2025, whereas this year produced just one - Lot 67, a Zoustar filly from The Chase, who sold for $200,000 to Miguel Almeida from the Philippines.
Lot 67 - Zoustar x Tapitlikeitshot (USA) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The figures underline a market that lacked some of the depth seen in previous years, particularly among the top-tier offerings.
One thing that Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch was pleased with was the clearance rate.
"The clearance rate has now climbed to be over 75% which is pleasing. Our vendors were very motivated to sell."
"When a good horse walked through the ring, whether it was yesterday or today, there was extremely strong interest and that gives a lot of confidence to those who bring the right sort of horse here you will get paid just as well, if not better, than anywhere.
Barry Bowditch | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
"There's a craving for quality and some accountability has to be made on the leading breeders in the state to support the sale and give it real impetus that the market has to come to Adelaide - to support the local sale with quality horses.
"This is the coal face of our industry. There's a lack on confidence at the lower end and the reality is, it's tough out there - whether it's fuel prices, interest rates.
"When you've got the right horse - with pedigree, type and it vets out well - there is an outstanding demand for those horses. If you can get the right product and get it here to the Adelaide Yearling Sale, you get paid very, very well."
"Unfortunately at the lower end, when you're off the pace, it becomes a little tricky to get those horses sold. We are pleased that the vendors were very motivated to meet the market and it's been a solid two sale days."
Day 2 Top Lots
| 387 | Tassort | Ominous Quality | C | Sullivan Bloodstock | Trilogy Racing/Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) | $ 120,000 |
| 348 | Grunt (NZ) | Margaret's Banter | F | Caithness Breeding | PGR Racing | $ 115,000 |
| 236 | Dalasan | Fartoo Flashy | F | Mill Park Stud | Macdonald Gluyas Racing | $ 110,000 |
| 297 | Brazen Beau | Jesting | C | Fairways Bloodstock | Matthew Smith Racing/John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) | $ 110,000 |
| 391 | Zousain | Osaycan | C | Crossley Thoroughbreds | Dublin Bloodstock | $ 100,000 |
| 397 | Anders | Parker's Piece (NZ) | C | Mane Lodge | Mr Brightside Enterprises | $ 100,000 |
| 412 | Showtime | Quietly | C | Goodwood Farm | Didham Racing | $ 82,500 |
| 342 | Flying Artie | Madam Prancealot | C | Braebrook Thoroughbreds | Hope Racing Pty Ltd | $ 80,000 |
| 357 | Showtime | Mileyva (NZ) | C | Goodwood Farm | Moorillah Pastoral | $ 80,000 |
| 367 | State of Rest (Ire) | Monopole | C | Cornerstone Stud | Angas River Contractors Pty Ltd | $ 80,000 |
| 385 | Russian Revolution | Okeechobee | F | Willow Park Stud | Williams Racing WA | $ 80,000 |
Vendors by gross
| Willow Park Stud | 15 | 0 | $52,000 | $780,000 |
| Mill Park Stud | 13 | 3 | $59,846 | $778,000 |
| Yulong | 11 | 1 | $57,864 | $636,500 |
| Baramul Stud | 16 | 15 | $39,219 | $627,500 |
| Glenn Lee Thoroughbreds | 10 | 5 | $56,200 | $562,000 |
| Caithness Breeding | 13 | 2 | $40,269 | $523,500 |
| Bowness Stud | 12 | 3 | $36,292 | $435,500 |
| Cornerstone Stud | 10 | 2 | $39,350 | $393,500 |
| Crossley Thoroughbreds | 10 | 3 | $38,250 | $382,500 |
| Forge Thoroughbreds | 9 | 0 | $36,500 | $328,500 |
Vendors by average (2 or more sold)
| Evergreen Stud Farm | 2 | 3 | $75,000 | $150,000 |
| Wincrest Thoroughbreds | 2 | 1 | $65,000 | $130,000 |
| Fairways Bloodstock | 2 | 0 | $61,250 | $122,500 |
| Mill Park Stud | 13 | 3 | $59,846 | $778,000 |
| Yulong | 11 | 1 | $57,864 | $636,500 |
| Glenn Lee Thoroughbreds | 10 | 5 | $56,200 | $562,000 |
| Musk Creek Farm | 3 | 1 | $55,000 | $165,000 |
| Willow Park Stud | 15 | 0 | $52,000 | $780,000 |
| Sullivan Bloodstock | 6 | 1 | $50,667 | $304,000 |
| Goodwood Farm | 4 | 0 | $50,625 | $202,500 |
Buyers by gross
| Miguel Almeda | 5 | $68,300 | $341,500 |
| Beamish Bloodstock | 5 | $62,700 | $313,500 |
| Shane McGrath Bloodstock/Clinton McDonald Racing | 2 | $147,500 | $295,000 |
| Mathland Pty Ltd | 7 | $38,357 | $268,500 |
| Matthew Smith Racing/John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) | 5 | $52,200 | $261,000 |
| Angas River Contractors Pty Ltd | 6 | $38,917 | $233,500 |
| Regal Farm | 3 | $71,667 | $215,000 |
| John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA)/Merrick Staunton | 2 | $105,000 | $210,000 |
| Trilogy Racing/Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) | 2 | $105,000 | $210,000 |
| Dalziel Bloodstock/Stokes Racing | 2 | $102,000 | $204,000 |
Buyers by average (2 or more bought)
| Shane McGrath Bloodstock/Clinton McDonald Racing | 2 | $147,500 | $295,000 |
| John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA)/Merrick Staunton | 2 | $105,000 | $210,000 |
| Trilogy Racing/Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) | 2 | $105,000 | $210,000 |
| Dalziel Bloodstock/Stokes Racing | 2 | $102,000 | $204,000 |
| All-State Racing & Breeding Farms Pty Ltd | 2 | $75,000 | $150,000 |
| Regal Farm | 3 | $71,667 | $215,000 |
| Miguel Almeda | 5 | $68,300 | $341,500 |
| Didham Racing | 3 | $65,833 | $197,500 |
| Moorillah Pastoral | 2 | $65,000 | $130,000 |
| Mr Brightside Enterprises | 2 | $63,750 | $127,500 |
Sire by gross
| Alabama Express | 8 | 0 | $58,000 | $464,000 |
| Tassort | 10 | 1 | $38,350 | $383,500 |
| Best of Bordeaux | 10 | 5 | $36,800 | $368,000 |
| Zousain | 5 | 1 | $65,000 | $325,000 |
| Russian Revolution | 6 | 3 | $52,833 | $317,000 |
| In the Congo | 4 | 1 | $76,875 | $307,500 |
| Grunt (NZ) | 5 | 0 | $56,600 | $283,000 |
| Bivouac | 5 | 2 | $56,000 | $280,000 |
| D'Argento | 7 | 2 | $39,857 | $279,000 |
| Artorius | 6 | 0 | $44,333 | $266,000 |
Sire by average (2 or more sold)
| Farnan | 2 | 1 | $92,500 | $185,000 |
| Brazen Beau | 2 | 0 | $90,000 | $180,000 |
| Jacquinot | 2 | 1 | $85,000 | $170,000 |
| Showtime | 2 | 0 | $81,250 | $162,500 |
| In the Congo | 4 | 1 | $76,875 | $307,500 |
| Zousain | 5 | 1 | $65,000 | $325,000 |
| Dalasan | 2 | 2 | $61,500 | $123,000 |
| All Too Hard | 4 | 2 | $61,250 | $245,000 |
| Alabama Express | 8 | 0 | $58,000 | $464,000 |
| Grunt (NZ) | 5 | 0 | $56,600 | $283,000 |
