Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
A sale built around a million-dollar race for 2-year-olds was innovative, but it worked, and now the sale embodies the definition of precocious juveniles and fast sprinters.
Getting the perfect beginning is something Vinery Stud understands well, and they achieved the highest high when their first season sire Ole Kirk had a yearling sell for $1 million this year.
“Heading into Magic Millions, there’s so much anticipation and strategy which has gone into how to showcase the progeny of a first season sire. Having a filly make a million dollars really makes people stand up and notice. We were excited about the quality of Ole Kirk’s yearlings across the board, and the Supara filly was just the icing on the cake,” said Vinery Stud’s Harry Roach.
“Heading into Magic Millions, there’s so much anticipation and strategy which has gone into how to showcase the progeny of a first season sire. Having a filly make a million dollars really makes people stand up and notice.” - Harry Roach
Sold by Newhaven Park for $1 million, the 2022 Ole Kirk x Supara (Domesday) filly has yet to be named, and she is in training with the Griffiths/De Kock stable who purchased her. “I rang the stable this week as Vinery are sending one of our Ole Kirk’s to them, a nice colt, and the stable is enthusiastic about her. Being a later foal, I thought she might take time, but she’s coming back into work next week and the reports are that she might be up earlier than we thought.”
Ole Kirk x Supara (filly) realised $1 million at the 2024 Gold Coast Yearling Sale | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Vinery doesn’t have a first season sire in 2025 to launch at Magic Millions and the fate of Ole Kirk now lies in his progeny. “In terms of strategy for launching a stallion at the Gold Coast, the quality of the yearlings is the key. You have to showcase the style of horse that people want to buy and also horses that show breeders what style of horse they’ll get when they breed to the stallion. You want the strong and forward ones for the Gold Coast, so we place those ones there.
“You want the strong and forward ones for the Gold Coast, so we place those ones there.” - Harry Roach
“It’s such a full circle moment to go from buying the horse off the track and then presenting his stock to the market, and now we are looking forward to them racing. It’s very rewardable and an easy process to sell horses by a stallion we believe in.”
Harry Roach | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Strong growth over the years
Entries to all the Magic Millions sales for 2025 opened on Wednesday. From the first sale in 1986, with the first Magic Millions 2YO Classic was won by that inaugural sale’s graduate Snippets, the Magic Millions sale has grown into the grand showcase fortnight that it is now. The 1986 sale had only 200 lots, all with the unique chance to run in the inaugural Magic Million race worth $1 million. According to the Reserve Bank’s inflation calculator, that would be $3.14 million as at December 2023, which is interesting as the 2024 race won by Storm Boy (Justify {USA}) was worth $3 million.
Storm Boy clearing away in the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic in January | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The 1986 catalogue of 200 horses grossed $6.35 million (2023 $19.95 million), and it says a lot for the overall growth of the sale that in 2024, the Gold Coast sale saw 819 lots sold for a gross of $225,778,000.
The average in 1986 was $31,750 (2023 $99,700), and notably, Snippets sold for $22,000, under the average for the sale. In 2024, the average was $275,675 showing considerable growth beyond the inflation adjusted average for that inaugural sale.
“The continual investment in innovation and the development of the annual The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Carnival brings the thoroughbred world to the Gold Coast in January, creating the greatest diversity in buying bench at all levels of the market vying for the greatest collection of yearlings across Australasia,” said Barry Bowditch.
Barry Bowditch | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The sale has always been innovative and now it’s an event that takes place over a fortnight with the sale and race at centre stage. The barrier draw on the beach with horses galloping in the sand as they showcase our industry to the surfing public, evenings out, polo matches, and all the glitz and glamour of the Magic Millions race day.
From one race in the 80s, there is now a whole suite of races worth millions of dollars. “With over $20 million and 28 races programmed across six states annually for all ages, classes and distances across a horse's racing lifetime, the broad distribution of Magic Millions prizemoney is without equal. It is categorically the world's greatest and richest sales restricted race series.”
The annual Magic Millions Barrier Draw showcases horses galloping at Surfers Paradise | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
So who are the first season sires for 2025?
Across Australia and New Zealand there were 28 stallions advertised as having their first season in 2022, with 12 of those having 75 foals or more in their first Australian crop. Between Coolmore Stud and Newgate Farm, they have the top seven stallions by popularity. The other five stallions with more than 75 foals are from five different farms: Darley, Kia Ora, Mapperley, Waikato Stud and Cambridge Stud.
“The Magic Millions Sale on the Gold Coast in January is one of the most significant events on the calendar each year for the entire industry. When it comes to launching a new stallion, it is the first place for studs to showcase to the yearling market what they are capable of producing, so it is vital to create a positive first impression. Earlier this year the first crop of King’s Legacy were heavily represented and sold for up to $775,000,” said Coolmore Stud’s Tom Moore.
“All the best trainers, syndicators and agents are in attendance at the sale, and an important piece of the puzzle when it comes to launching a new stallion is ensuring that they go into the best stables. King’s Legacy’s 2024 Magic Millions yearlings alone went into the stables of leading trainers such as of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Chris Waller, Tony Gollan, Annabel Neasham, Danny O’Brien, Anthony and Sam Freedman, Lindsay Park, Matthew Dunn, Shane Nichols, Kelly Schweida, Jack Bruce and Chris Munce amongst others. This puts him on the front foot to get off to a flying start with his first runners as they go straight into their respective systems with the view to target the big race in January.”
“All the best trainers, syndicators and agents are in attendance at the sale, and an important piece of the puzzle when it comes to launching a new stallion is ensuring that they go into the best stables.” - Tom Moore
Coolmore have three of the seven most popular stallions among the first season sire collective with first yearlings to sell in 2025.
“Next year we are lucky to be represented by the first crop of Home Affairs, St Mark’s Basilica and Acrobat, each of whom were extremely well-received at the weanling sales a couple of months ago. We are excited to offer their first crops to the yearling market and in the Coolmore consignment alone we will be represented with quality offerings by each of these stallions.”
Tom Moore | Image courtesy of Coolmore
The most popular first season sire in 2022 with 141 foals was also the most expensive at $110,000 – Home Affairs. The Champion 3YO Colt in Australia in 2021/22 won the stallion making G1 Coolmore Stud S. as well as the G1 Lightning S. The season prior at two, he won the G2 Silver Slipper S.
A son of I Am Invincible whose successful sons already include Brazen Beau and Hellbent, Home Affairs is out of a winning half-sister to proven sire and Group 1 winner Russian Revolution.
Home Affairs | Standing at Coolmore
“Home Affairs has always been a popular horse with breeders, and for good reason. He has the pedigree, race performance and physique that we all desire in young sire prospects. This popularity has only continued to strengthen with time, as people have seen the quality of his stock and learned more about him.
“His popularity at the weanling sales was there for everyone to see. They sold for up to $430,000, but they were the talk of the town at each and every weanling sale throughout the year.
“We expect this trend to continue at the Magic Millions in January, where he will be heavily represented. He is exactly the type of stallion that buyers target the progeny of at the Magic Millions Sale. They are strong, mature, fast-looking horses and on the evidence of what we’ve seen of his stock at home, which is typically the type of horse that sells well at the January sale.
“We supported him heavily with quality mares in his first season at stud, so we’re spoilt for choice regarding the ones that will be suitable candidates for the Gold Coast.”
“We supported him (Home Affairs) heavily with quality mares in his first season at stud, so we’re spoilt for choice regarding the ones that will be suitable candidates for the Gold Coast.” - Tom Moore
Acrobat has 114 live foals in his first crop and of the top 12 most popular sires, he stood at the best value fee of $13,750 inc GST in his first season. Acrobat had just the one start as a racehorse, winning the R. Listed Inglis Nursery S. at two. He’s a son of Champion Sire Fastnet Rock, whose sire sons include Smart Missile, Foxwedge, and Hinchinbrook.
From a boom juvenile family, Acrobat is one of three stakes winners out of G2 Reisling S. winner Hips Don’t Lie (Stravinsky {USA}) who won five races, four at two, and is the second dam of recently retired G2 Reisling S. winner Learning To Fly (Justify {USA}).
International blueblood and outstanding racehorse St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) was popular in 2022 with 94 live foals at an introductory fee of $44,000. Winner of the G1 Dewhurst S. at two, he won a further four Group 1 races at three to be crowned European Horse Of The Year as well as Champion 2YO Colt and Champion 3YO Colt. By Amelia’s Jewel’s sire Siyouni, St Mark’s Basilica is out of Group 3 2-year-old winner Cabaret (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who has also produced dual Group 1 winner Magna Grecia (Ire).
St Mark's Basilica (Fr) | Standing at Coolmore
“St Mark’s Basilica is another stallion that has been popular with breeders throughout,” said Moore. “When it was originally announced that he was shuttling to Australia, we have never been met with such a positive response by breeders. He was fully booked within a week and we expect that this level of popularity will transfer over to the yearling market.
“He is a horse with extremely rare ability, capable of winning five Group 1 races in a row at two and three years and ultimately being crowned World Champion 3-year-old. The fact that he is by a great stallion in Siyouni, who has been hugely effective in Australia is a massive bonus. St Mark’s Basilica himself was a Champion 2-year-old and his progeny are strong and mature enough to suggest that he will be capable of producing precocious horses in Australia.
“Like Too Darn Hot, he’s an extremely well-bred horse who won the Dewhurst at two and trained on at three to win multiple Group 1s. We think he provides an elite outcross option for Australian breeders and expect him to be very well-received at the Gold Coast in January.”
Newgate Farm’s quartet
Newgate Farm will launch four first season sires at Magic Millions in 2025; Stay Inside, Wild Ruler, Tiger Of Malay, and Profiteer.
“Magic Millions Gold Coast is such a strong market. It’s an exciting start to the year every year, and a sale you have to earn your position in with the sales company making the final decisions on the catalogue,” said Newgate Farm’s Bruce Slade.
“Magic Millions Gold Coast is such a strong market. It’s an exciting start to the year every year, and a sale you have to earn your position in with the sales company making the final decisions on the catalogue.” - Bruce Slade
“Our four are all suited to this sale, being elite, early maturing pre-Christmas 2-year-olds. It’s a sale built on the back of precocity and speed, so we expect to have a good showcase of our four there. We will be taking a selection of yearlings by each sire to get their sales season off to the right start.”
Champion 2YO Colt Stay Inside won three of his four starts at two including the G1 Golden Slipper, and given the record of this race in producing successful stallions, it is no surprise to see him with 122 live foals in his first crop, sired off a fee of $55,000.
Stay Inside | Standing at Newgate
Stay Inside is by Newgate Farm's Extreme Choice, whose rate of producing stakes winners is world-class. Also by Extreme Choice is Tiger Of Malay who won two group races as a 2-year-old. He was the third most popular of Newgate Farm’s quartet with 102 foals at an introductory fee of $16,500. Tiger Of Malay is one of three stakes winners for his winning dam, the others being G3 Asian Beau S. winner Samizdat (Not A Single Doubt) who also won the R. Listed Magic Millions WA 3YO Trophy, and G3 Champion Fillies S. winner Samovare (Savabeel).
Standing for $38,500 in 2022, Wild Ruler has 118 foals, and he’s a fascinating prospect as he won a Listed race at two, a Group 2 race at three and the G1 AJ Moir S. at four. If his stock show promise early, they will likely continue to improve with age, giving their owners a fun experience.
Bruce Slade | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Wild Ruler is by Snitzel, whose successful son Russian Revolution also stands at Newgate Farm, and is out of American Group 2 winner Gypsy Robin (USA) (Daaher {Can}) who has also produced Group 1-placed, Group 3 winner Pavitrah (American Pharoah {USA}).
Profiteer rounds out the Newgate Farm quartet, and the R. Listed Inglis Millennium winner trained on at three. By Golden Slipper winner Capitalist, Profiteer has 92 foals in his first crop, sired at a fee of $16,500. He is out of a stakes placed 2-year-old winning Snitzel mare from the family of G1 Flight S. winner Danglissa (Danzero).
“We have a fair idea of what works there, being forward horses. The yearlings self-select on type really and birth dates play a part too. It’s our biggest sale for the year, our biggest draft across all the sales in Australia. Being a new farm, we’ve always had the Gold Coast as our major sale and our focus.
“We have a fair idea of what works there (Gold Coast), being forward horses. The yearlings self-select on type really and birth dates play a part too. It’s our biggest sale for the year, our biggest draft across all the sales in Australia.” - Bruce Slade
“Over time, we might evolve based on our stallion roster, however, since we go for fast colonial speed, and Magic Millions encompasses the same business model, then we are pretty well aligned there in terms of market.”
| Home Affairs | I Am Invincible | Coolmore Stud | $110,000 | 141 |
| Stay Inside | Extreme Choice | Newgate Farm | $55,000 | 122 |
| Wild Ruler | Snitzel | Newgate Farm | $38,500 | 118 |
| Acrobat | Fastnet Rock | Coolmore Stud | $13,750 | 114 |
| Tiger of Malay | Extreme Choice | Newgate Farm | $16,500 | 102 |
| St Mark's Basilica | Siyouni | Coolmore Stud | $44,000 | 94 |
| Profiteer | Capitalist | Newgate Farm | $16,500 | 92 |
| Pinatubo | Shamardal | Darley Stud, NSW | $77,000 | 91 |
| Captivant | Capitalist | Kia Ora Stallions | $27,500 | 79 |
| Armory | Galileo | Mapperley Stud | NZ$10,000 | 79 |
| Noverre | Savabeel | Waikato Stud | NZ$10,000 | 76 |
| Sword of State | Snitzel | Cambridge Stud | NZ$15,000 | 75 |
Table: Popular first season sires in 2022 with first yearlings in 2025
The Magic Millions 2025 calendar
“We start our year on the Gold Coast and welcome continued participation in Perth, Tasmania, Adelaide and the Gold Coast through February and March. Each sale in our series provides an opportunity to present to a market that best matches all yearling stock,” said Bowditch. Magic Millions have opened entries for all their sales, not just the Gold Coast, giving vendors a chance to do all their admin in one great burst!
The auction dates are:
Gold Coast Yearling Sale – January 7-14, 2025
Perth Yearling Sale – February 20-21, 2025
Tasmanian Yearling Sale – February 24, 2025
Gold Coast March Yearling Sale – March 10-11, 2025
Adelaide Yearling Sale – March 17-18, 2025
Gold Coast National Yearling Sale – June 3-4, 2025
