Nolen is sending up a draft of 13 for the 2- and 3-year-old sale to take place on Tuesday, and there are three which have particularly caught his eye.
But Nolen knows all too well that in this game you have to ride the highs and lows.
Shaun Nolen | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
It was he who educated and sold Lightsaber, a son of Zoustar, after purchasing him for $80,000 from Aquis Farm Operations at the 2020 Inglis Classic Yearling Sales.
Nolen then sold him for $100,000 to Blueblood Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd at the 2020 Inglis Ready2Race Sale.
Lightsaber went on to claim $822,510 in total prizemoney, including a triumph in the 2021 G2 Sires' Produces S. He now resides at Darling View Thoroughbreds in Western Australia, where he stands for a fee of $6600 (inc GST) for his second season.
Lightsaber | Standing at Darling View Thoroughbreds
“We gave him away, to be fair. We sold him for $100,000 and bought him for $80,000, so we made nothing out of him,” Nolen told The Thoroughbred Report.
“It’s a bitter pill, but you like to see them go on.”
Nolen is confident his memories from this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Horses In Training Sale can be sweet ones, with a few standouts among the group he’s sending up.
Nolen a fan of Russian Camelot
Arguably leading the way will be Lot 178 – a 2-year-old colt by Russian Camelot (Ire) and out of Fairytale Ending (Redoute’s Choice). Russian Camelot, who now resides at Widden Victoria, was a dual Group 1 winner of the South Australian Derby and Underwood S. in 2020.
Dam Fairytale Ending – by late, great sire Redoute’s Choice – has produced nine foals with three named runners, all winners. She has a yearling colt by Trapeze Artist and is due to foal to Sejardan later this year.
Lot 178 - Russian Camelot (Ire) x Fairytale Ending (colt) | Image courtesy of BNE Racing
Nolen has enjoyed educating horses by Russian Camelot, and Lot 178 is no exception.
“The Russian Camelot, Lot 178, is a standout. He’s a nice scopey horse. I do like the Russian Camelots when I educated them – I really liked them,” he said. “They were nice horses later.
“He’s got a nice, loose walk with good size and scope. And he’s got a pretty nice temperament.”
“The Russian Camelot, Lot 178, is a standout. He’s got a nice, loose walk with good size and scope.” - Shaun Nolen
Nolen also believes there will be good demand for Lot 168, a 2-year-old bay colt by Nicconi and out of Dream Finnish (Captain Sonador).
Nicconi is the sire of 847 runners for 619 winners, with 29 at stakes level headlined by Group 1 victors Nature Strip and Graceful Girl.
Lot 168 - Nicconi x Dream Finnish (colt) | Image courtesy of BNE Racing
Lot 168’s dam Dream Finnish registered nine wins from 36 starts, for a total of $315,400 in prizemoney. TRI Bloodstock purchased the colt as a yearling for $50,000 from Raheen Stud at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
“Lot 168 is a nice, big strong horse who will probably go early. He’s got good bone on him,” Nolen said. “He’s a very forward, well-put together horse, and sharp.”
“Lot 168 is a nice, big strong horse who will probably go early. He’s got good bone on him. He’s a very forward, well-put together horse, and sharp.” - Shaun Nolen
Rounding out Nolen’s top three standouts is Lot 63, a bay colt by Zousain and out of Mosaqua (Mossman).
Widden Stud resident Zousain was a G2 Champagne Classic winner and has sired 63 runners for 19 winners, with one at stakes level. He recently enjoyed a great sales result with a colt of his selling for $500,000 from Nolen Racing to Ricky Mak at the Inglis Ready2Race Sale last week.
Mosaqua had two wins from 16 starts and has produced three foals for no runners. Mosaqua has a yearling filly by Anders and is due a foal by Sun City. Lot 63 was a $60,000 purchase to Beamish Bloodstock International from Riversdale at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Lot 63 - Zousain x Mosaqua (colt) | Image courtesy of BNE Racing
“The Zousain Lot 63 is a really nice horse,” Nolen said. “He’s just willing to learn, and he’s a nice and strong, solid type.”
'You need to take your share of bitter pills to succeed'
Nolen said a key to success with breaking in horses and subsequent sales performances was always being prepared to accept disappointment.
“It can be a bit hit-and-miss, the breeze-up sales at times. People only want to buy what they want to buy,” he said.
“It can be a bit hit-and-miss, the breeze-up sales at times. People only want to buy what they want to buy.” - Shaun Nolen
“Last year was all right. We only had a smaller draft, but we sold everything. We only had three or four in our draft.
“We like to sell everything if we can. There’s no point only trying to sell winners. They’re not all mad-dashing horses.”
Having a razor-sharp memory of what works and what doesn’t work for every horse is also vital.
“(It’s about) trying to buy the horse they (buyers) want in six months. You’ve got to buy the frame,” Nolen said.
“(It’s about) trying to buy the horse they (buyers) want in six months.” - Shaun Nolen
“It could be a bit underdone – it’s just a horse you want to race yourself, you know?
“My buying formula is more of breaking in a lot of horses, and the good ones you’ve broken in always stay in your mind.
“And you buy similar types. That’s how we like to do it.”
