'It's not about the money': Cavanough just proud of his daughter's efforts ahead of 2024 Magic Millions Horses In Training Sale

Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions

Top Scone trainer Brett Cavanough is gearing up for the 2024 Magic Millions Horses In Training Sale on the Gold Coast, but his focus isn't on the potential financial gains. What matters most to him is witnessing the effort and success of his daughter, Georgie, who will be attending as a first-time vendor under their Border Bloodstock banner.

With a strong team of horses, Brett is confident Georgie will make an impact at the sale, continuing the family’s growing involvement in the thoroughbred industry.

Brett believes they are sending a quality group of nine 2- and 3-year-olds to the Gold Coast, with the sale scheduled for next Tuesday. While an unfortunate injury sidelined one of their top contenders, a chestnut gelding by Star Turn, Brett’s confidence remains high. His pride stems from watching Georgie take charge of the sales process, having played an instrumental role in selecting the horses for sale.

“We were just having a chat – we started breeding three or four years ago,” Cavanough recalled. “‘We need to get into the trade market,’ I told her, and she said, ‘Yeah, no worries.’ So, we picked out 10 horses – five for the 3-year-old sale and five for the 2-year-old sale.

“We’ve done the job properly – they’ve got Hong Kong x-rays, good videos, they’ve run good times, and they’re all correct. We just want to do it properly the first time and see what sort of response we get.”

The sale may feature impressive horses, but Brett’s main focus is his daughter’s role. “It’s Georgie’s project – she’s got a company called Border Bloodstock, and we’ve been trading under that for years,” Cavanough said. “It looks like she’s going to take it off her father. It’s not about me, it’s about Georgie. So if she gets the results, that’s half the fun.”

Street Boss gelding a 'standout' for Border Bloodstock

Despite his modesty, Cavanough emphasised the quality of horses they’re presenting, including a standout chestnut gelding by champion sire Street Boss (USA), out of Mayaaseh (Exceed And Excel).

Street Boss, who sired nine-time Group 1 champion Anamoe, is known for producing high-quality racehorses. With over $147 million in prizemoney and 73 stakes winners worldwide. Brett believes this Street Boss gelding is sharp and could’ve easily competed at high-profile races. However, they committed him to the sale, hoping for a strong reception.

Cavanough said he went close to nominating his Street Boss gelding for this year’s Maribyrnong Trial S., won by Tremonti (Hellbent), a race in which Cavanough’s colt Cerons (Street Boss) finished runner-up in last year.

“I wanted to name him so bad, but when we earmarked him for the sale, he could’ve definitely been at the Maribyrnong Trial in Melbourne where we were with a similar horse last year.

“And that was why we bought him. We had a horse run second there last year in the 2-year-old trial by Street Boss out of an Exceed And Excel mare.

“This horse is bred on the same line, and he’s just so sharp. I watched a couple of those 2-year-old races and I just thought, ‘Geez, I wish I could name him’.

“But we committed him to the sale because he’s probably our headline act.

Being offered as Lot 53 the 2-year-old gelding was purchased by Cavanough Racing for $45,000 from Robyn Wise at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Dam Mayaaseh was a third placegetter as a juvenile in the 2018 running of the Gimcrack S. and has also produced now 3-year-old gelding Dark Gleam (Brazen Beau), who was runner-up last start in a $42,000 Maiden Handicap at Newcastle on July 13.

Dark Gleam was a $250,000 purchase by Curran Bloodstock from Emirates Park at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

It is not just the Street Boss gelding which has Cavanough excited that his daughter Georgie, 26, can get excellent sales results under the Border Bloodstock banner on the Gold Coast next Tuesday.

Lot 75 – by Flying Artie and out of Pocket Missile (Smart Missile) – is also expected to capture plenty of attention.

“(Lot 75) he’s out of Pocket Missile, which traces straight back to Artorius’s family.”

The 2-year-old’s dam Pocket Missile was purchased for $10,000 by Border Bloodstock from an owner’s name withheld at the 2021 Inglis July (Late) Online Sale. Lot 75 is Pocket Missile's first foal, followed by a filly by Anders born last year, though she was not bred again after foaling the filly.

Flying Artie has sired 245 runners, with 149 of them becoming winners, including eight at stakes level, notably Group 1 victors Asfoora and Artorius.

“Flying Artie – he’s a good bread-and-butter sire. Street Boss is also a really good sire,” Cavanough said.

Cavanough also believes Lot 105 – by Calyx (GB) and out of Talapega (Fusaichi Pegasus) is a 2-year-old colt with potential.

A two-time Group 2 winner in the United Kingdom, Calyx has produced 127 runners for 79 winners, with three of those stakes winners.

“There’s another horse there by Calyx. They’re just good, solid, in-your-face horses that people remember from the past three to five years,” Cavanough Said.

“And Calyx is by Kingman, one of the greatest sires in the UK. So, there’s just a bit of flavour about it, too.

“They’re not down-and-outer, they’re by up-and-comers.”

Originally bought for $190,000 by Gai Waterhouse Racing from Carramar Park at the 2015 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Talapega was purchased for just $600 by Border Bloodstock from Coolmore Stud at the 2024 Inglis Digital March Sale.

Talapega was retired at the start of 2024, with Lot 105 being her last foal. The mare is a half-sister to G2 Sunline S. winner Nakaaya (Tiger Hill {Ire}) who has produced the Group 1 winners Aristia (Lonhro) and Marabi (I Am Invincible)

Other notable horses include Lot 130, a bay colt by Anders and out of A Room Somewhere (NZ) (Congrats {USA}). Anders, winner of the G3 San Domenico S., will see his first 2-year-old runners hit the track this spring.

Lot 130 is the first foal for A Room Somewhere who won at metro level as a 3-year-old and was a $3750 purchase by Border Bloodstock from Vinery Stud through an Inglis Digital Sale in 2023. The mare has a yearling colt by Headwater and is expecting a foal by Top Ranked (Ire) this spring.

“We’ve got an Anders colt there out of a really fast mare who traces back to a really good family.

“They’re pages which people will say, ‘Holy hell, this is a good page – we’ll have a look at this’.

“As buyers, and I’ve always been a buyer, we’ll look at the page and say, ‘We want this’ or ‘No, we don’t want that’.”

The last of the 2-year-olds is Lot 137 by Prague out of Anadyomene (Northern Meteor). With diverse bloodlines and proven sires, Cavanough is confident these horses will generate interest from buyers.

No shortage of 3-year-old talent being sent up to Gold Coast

In addition to his 2-year-olds, Brett Cavanough is sending several talented 3-year-olds to the Gold Coast. His draft includes Lot 188, Golden Octavian, a gelding by Impending out of We Can Dance (Shinzig); Lot 190, Iknowyou, a gelding by Press Statement out of Ursula (Panzer Division); Lot 207, Warrior For Peace, a gelding by Saxon Warrior (Jpn) out of Cry For Peace (Street Cry {Ire}); and Lot 209, Youknowme, a gelding by Star Turn out of You’re Funny (Congrats {USA}). All four are geldings and have shown promise under Cavanough’s watchful eye.

Cavanough has been closely monitoring Iknowyou, a colt by G1 Caulfield Guineas winner Press Statement. Press Statement has sired 306 runners, producing 193 winners, seven of which have been at stakes level. Cavanough Racing originally purchased Iknowyou's dam, Ursula, for $80,000 from Arrowfield Stud at the 2019 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. Though Ursula has produced three foals, none have yet raced.

“The Press Statement – he’s cracking sort of a horse. He’s had two trials and is an improving type,” Cavanough said.

In addition to Iknowyou, Cavanough is also keen on Youknowme, sired by Star Turn. Star Turn, who won the G2 Schillaci S. and has produced 224 runners with 157 winners, nine at stakes level, including Group 1 winner Startantes, has become a sire of note. Youknowme's dam, You’re Funny, has produced six foals, with two runners who are both winners. YouKnowMe was purchased by Cavanough Racing for $35,000 from Baramul Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale.

“There’s a horse there by Star Turn, he’s an improving type," Cavanough added.

Also in Cavanough’s draft is Warrior For Peace, a colt by Saxon Warrior, who ran third in a trial over 800 metres at Muswellbrook in September. Saxon Warrior has produced 297 runners for 155 winners, 12 of those at stakes level. Warrior For Peace's dam, Cry For Peace, has produced two runners, both winners.

“The Saxon Warrior – he ran third in a trial, and we had the winner, and we sold him to Hong Kong,” Cavanough noted.

Gallery: The sires of the 3-year-old's to be offered at the Magic Millions Horses In Training Sale under the Border Bloodstock banner

Golden Octavian, a son of Impending, rounds out Cavanough’s impressive group of 3-year-olds. Golden Octavian won a 2-year-old trial over 1000 metres at Muswellbrook in June. Impending has sired 216 runners, with 98 winners, including G2 victor Impendabelle. Golden Octavian’s dam, We Can Dance, has produced four runners, with two winners.

Regardless of the sales outcome, Cavanough is immensely proud of his daughter Georgie, who is making her debut as a vendor under the Border Bloodstock banner at the Gold Coast sales next Tuesday.

“We’ve just got a lot of horses, and I think we just need to broaden our identity in the thoroughbred industry, and start selling and trading,” Cavanough said. “If they don’t make their money, I’m happy to bring them home, and they’ll be at the races in three or four weeks.

“And that’ll be Georgie’s arm of our business – she wants to run that. She’s alert about everything that goes on, and this is what she knows.

“She just grabbed it like a snake by the neck. She just said, ‘I’m going to have a crack at this’.

“It’s a good family story, and she’s got good support from her family.

“Who knows? This might be where she ends up in life, I don’t know. But she’s going to have a go at it, and she’ll turn up with bells and whistles on, and hopefully she can sell a horse.”