Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
The next event in the Magic Millions breeding stock series, the 2026 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale, begins on Tuesday morning at the Gold Coast sales complex. The two-day sale catalogues four stallion shares, 172 racing or breeding prospects, and 240 broodmares, including 226 who carry positive pregnancies to 75 individual stallions.
A highlight of the sales calendar
The last in-person mare sale of the season, Magic Millions’ broodmare sale has traditionally boasted a large catalogue highlighted by the offering of horses like Zougotcha (Zoustar), Imperatriz (I Am Invincible), and Away Game (Snitzel) amongst an array of race fillies and mares in foal.
| Aggregate | $86,668,000 | $97,733,500 | $107,843,000 | $124,552,500 | $142,943,000 |
| Average | $242,768 | $193,532 | $215,255 | $223,613 | $229,443 |
| Median | $85,000 | $85,000 | $100,000 | $135,000 | $120,000 |
| Top Lot | $5,250,000 | $6,600,000 | $4,100,000 | $4,000,000 | $3,200,000 |
| Catalogued | 536 | 675 | 725 | 753 | 842 |
| Withdrawn | 85 | 79 | 84 | 100 | 127 |
| Passed In | 94 | 91 | 140 | 96 | 92 |
| Sold | 357 | 505 | 501 | 557 | 623 |
| Clearance Rate | 79.2 | 84.7 | 78.2 | 85.3 | 87.1 |
Table: Key metrics across the last five Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sales
The largest book in the sale’s recent run was in 2021, which also posted the highest clearance rate of the past five editions, but last year’s edition achieved the highest average in that period that was just a tick over $240,000. The median doubled from 2020 to 2021, peaked in 2022, and has held steady at $85,000 for the past two editions of the sale.
Barry Bowditch | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“It’s the most important breeding stock sale in the Southern Hemisphere,” said Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch. “And (it) has been the sale that started the stories of racetrack superstars including Winx, Golden Sixty, Aeliana, Autumn Glow, Sunshine in Paris, Pierro, Zoustar, Stay Inside, Imperatriz, and Nature Strip.”
“It’s the most important breeding stock sale in the Southern Hemisphere.” - Barry Bowditch
From 46 vendors, Newgate Consignment will bring the biggest draft to the 2026 sale, with 51 lots catalogued, just ahead of Newington Farm Premium Consignment with 49. Newgate Consignment were by far the leading vendors by aggregate at the venue last year, selling 58 lots for a total of $25.3 million, achieving 100% clearance across the draft.
| Newgate Consignment | 51 |
| Newington Farm Premium Consignment | 49 |
| Widden Stud | 28 |
| Vinery Stud | 26 |
| Yarraman Park Stud | 26 |
| Baystone Farm | 21 |
| Fernrigg Farm | 18 |
| Ciaron Maher Racing | 17 |
| Attunga Stud | 13 |
| Twin Hills Stud | 13 |
Table: Top 10 vendors by size of draft catalogued for the 2026 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale
The next three largest drafts are all from leading stud farms; Widden Stud has catalogued 28, whereas Yarraman Park Stud and Vinery Stud will both offer 26 lots.
Chris Waller | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Chris Waller Racing were the leading vendors by average (two or more sold) last year, with the sale’s top lot Zougotcha - selling for $5.25 million - aiding the draft average rising to $794,167 for 12 lots sold. Widden Stud and Newgate Consignment achieved the next two highest averages at the sale.
| 2025 | $5,250,000 | Zougotcha | Zoustar | Fast Talker | Tom Magnier |
| 2024 | $6,600,000 | Imperatriz | I Am Invincible | Berimbau | Zhijun Zhao |
| 2023 | $4,100,000 | Forbidden Love | All Too Hard | Juliet's Princess (USA) | Yu Long Investments |
| 2022 | $4,000,000 | Away Game | Snitzel | Elusive Wonder | Written Tycoon Syndicate |
| 2021 | $3,200,000 | Arcadia Queen | Pierro | Arcadia | Arrowfield Stud |
Table: Top lots from the past Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sales
“I think Tuesday’s sale is where there's plenty of confidence,” Bowditch said. “I think it's a very genuine market out there. This is the end of a lot of chapters for racehorse owners and there'll be a lot of realism in the market that will be genuine, and I feel that the buyers will get a very good opportunity at all levels to participate. When that's the case, there'll be value to be found by all.”
“I feel that the buyers will get a very good opportunity at all levels to participate.” - Barry Bowditch
Catalogue quality reflects Magic relationships
The catalogue is more than 100 lots smaller than the 2025 offering, which has been on a downwards trend in size over the past five years. Much of this can likely be attributed to national breeding trends and to the rise in prominence of digital sales as a convenient way to trade stock.
Magic Millions relaunching their digital platform in October of 2025. Highlight lots sold through the platform to date include dual Group 3 winner Admiration Express (My Admiration), who sold for $280,000 as a broodmare prospect in April.
Bowditch is pleased with the catalogue put together by the Magic Millions team and feels that the quality has not diminished, but rather condensed.
Admiration Express | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
“I'm really buoyed by the quality of the stock,” he said. “From a depth of market perspective and the feedback we're getting from the buyers out there, they're finding plenty of horses that they like and I'm hoping that they can keep their lists long.
“The race fillies is a very similar number to last year. The depth in the race fillies and the maiden mares being offered on Tuesday is something that we're incredibly excited about. When you look ahead to Wednesday, we have probably shortened up the tail with the mares in foal, and we feel as if the quality is still there to the same level.”
“The depth in the race fillies and the maiden mares being offered on Tuesday is something that we're incredibly excited about.” - Barry Bowditch
Bowditch praised the team’s proactive approach to preparing the catalogue and the relationships the team has formed with clients.
“Magics is very fortunate, we have a fantastic team that work hard day in, day out to create relationships to give ourselves and our clients the best opportunity to offer the best catalogues we possibly can,” he said.
“I'm excited about what the team’s put together this year. I feel like it's very deep. It's very appealing, and I think it's appealing at all levels, which is really exciting.”
High rated fillies lead race prospects
Of the 172 racing or breeding prospects offered in the sale, 13 mares will be offered with a peak rating of 110 or more.
“The quality in this year’s sale is incredible,” said Bowditch. “On the first day, 40% of catalogued lots are stakes winners or stakes-placed. Buyers are in for a treat.
“Whether you're after a city winner, a well-bred mare, or a stakes performer, or a headline mare, I feel like we've got them in droves.”
The high water mark in terms of performance will come within the sale’s opening hour, where multiple Group 1 winner Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) will be sold as Lot 408, offered by Attunga Stud on behalf of her ownership. The 6-year-old peaked at a rating of 116, the same rating achieved by last year’s top lot Zougotcha.
Legarto (NZ) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
A trio of mares who achieved a peak rating on the track of 115 will also be offered on the first day of the sale. Multiple Group 1-performed Stretan Angel (Harry Angel {Ire}) is Lot 465 in Yarraman Park Stud’s draft, Newgate Consignment will offer top Te Akau Racing mare Quintessa (NZ) (Shamus Award) as Lot 440, and Coolmore Stud will offer Group 2-winning Marble Arch (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) as Lot 557 late on Tuesday.
The second day of selling will also feature a further 55 black-type performers amongst the broodmare section.
Young sires dominate covering
Amongst 226 mares in foal to 75 stallions, Newgate Farm’s Stay Inside, whose first 2-year-olds include three stakes winners on either side of the Tasman, dominates the positive pregnancies.
Chart: Top sires by number of positive pregnancies catalogued in the 2026 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale
Nineteen mares will be offered in foal to the G1 Golden Slipper Stakes winner, who was himself a graduate of the Magic Millions sales series, both as a weanling and a yearling. This number accounts for 13% of the mares currently reported to be in foal to the stallion.
Stay Inside | Standing at Newgate Farm
“It’s hard not to be excited when you've got some lovely mares in foal to the likes of Extreme Choice, I Am Invincible, Zoustar, Anamoe, Stay Inside,” Bowditch said. “I feel as if we're really well aligned with the market with the pregnancies we will be offering.”
“It’s hard not to be excited when you've got some lovely mares in foal to the likes of Extreme Choice, I Am Invincible, Zoustar.” - Barry Bowditch
Coolmore Stud’s Home Affairs, the Champion First Season Sire elect thanks to his Slipper winner Guest House, is next, with 11 mares catalogued in foal to him. The son of I Am Invincible produced the sale topper of Sunday’s Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale, selling for $680,000. He will stand for an elevated fee of $176,000 (inc GST) in 2026.
Of the four stallions rounding out the top selections, three of them stood their first season at stud in 2025; nine mares have been catalogued in foal to Home Affairs’ barnmate Switzerland, while eight mares each will be offered in foal to Storm Boy, Darley’s Broadsiding, and last season’s Champion First Season Sire Ole Kirk.
The latter produced his first Group 1 winner in the spring when Ole Dancer won the G1 Thousand Guineas. He is one of only three second season sires to have produced a Group 1 winner this season along with Bivouac and Ghaiyyath (Ire), and is currently tied in third spot for individual stakes winners, having sired three this season. His fee rose to $99,000 (inc GST) in 2025 and will rise again to $110,000 (inc GST) for the 2026 season.
Ole Kirk | Standing at Vinery Stud
Thirteen stallions will have their first pregnancies go under the hammer in the 2026 sale, standing at fees from $8800 to $66,000. Among their number are the sons of four Australian Champion Sires, as well as sons of successful dual hemisphere sire Justify (USA), current leading 3-year-old sire Street Boss (USA), as well as popular stallions Havana Grey (Ire), Too Darn Hot (GB), and Dundeel (NZ).
| Switzerland | 9 | Snitzel | $60,500 |
| Broadsiding | 8 | Too Darn Hot | $66,000 |
| Storm Boy | 8 | Justify | $16,500 |
| City Of Troy | 5 | Justify | $49,500 |
| Southport Tycoon | 4 | Written Tycoon | $38,500 |
| Celestial Legend | 3 | Dundeel | $27,500 |
| Move To Strike | 3 | I Am Invincible | $16,500 |
| Traffic Warden | 3 | Street Boss | $22,000 |
| Vandeek | 3 | Havana Grey | $22,000 |
| Starlust | 2 | Zoustar | $27,500 |
| Bodyguard | 1 | I Am Invincible | $8800 |
| Private Life | 1 | Written Tycoon | $19,250 |
| Schwarz | 1 | Zoustar | $38,500 |
Table: First season sires with pregnancies catalogued at the 2026 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale
In addition, there are four stallion shares on offer at the beginning of the first day of bidding. A share in super sire Extreme Choice will be available, as well shares in Cool Aza Beel (NZ), Russian Camelot (Ire), and Don Corleone.
