Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
In 2025, the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale will have a slightly different format from previous years with a Sunday afternoon session to give buyers time to recover from the Magic Millions 2YO Classic race day. The catalogue includes 1401 yearlings and runs from January 7 to January 13.
Buyers head to the sunshine state each summer to nab the next brilliant racetrack star with three Group 1 winners, El Castello (Castelvecchio), Move To Strike (I Am Invincible) and Private Life (Written Tycoon) already coming from the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, and those horses are only just through the spring of their 3-year-old season.
The 2024 sale has already produced juvenile stakes winners King Kirk (Ole Kirk), Tycoon Star (Written Tycoon), Bel Merci (Extreme Choice), and Tremonti (Hellbent), with a further five stakes placed 2-year-olds and seven winners (as at the end of the VRC Cup Carnival).
Gallery: The 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale has already produced four stakes-winning 2-year-olds, images courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Segenhoe’s stars of the future
Segenhoe Stud stood tall in 2024 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, selling seven seven-figure yearlings, being $1.9 million (unnamed colt) (by Too Darn Hot {GB} and out of A Time For Julia {Redoute's Choice}), $1.75 million United States (Snitzel), $1.6 million Wodeton (Wootton Bassett {GB}), $1.3 million Valedictorian (Zoustar), $1.15 million Kerber (I Am Invincible), $1.1 million Fury Of Flight (Zoustar) and $1 million Jet (Zoustar).
“It’s a sale that just gets better and better every year. From a Segenhoe perspective, we’ve had extraordinary results every year at the Gold Coast, particularly in 2024,” said Segenhoe Stud’s Peter O’Brien. Segenhoe’s 2025 draft list includes Lot 234, the full brother to Amelia’s Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}), and Lot 353, a full sister to In Secret (I Am Invincible).
“It’s a sale that just gets better and better every year. From a Segenhoe perspective, we’ve had extraordinary results every year at the Gold Coast, particularly in 2024.” - Peter O'Brien
“We’ve had six trial winners in the last three weeks (from the 2024 draft) which bodes well for the 35 horses we have going up there in a few months. We have a nice bunch of Home Affairs and Stay Inside yearlings, and we have the usual standouts, but in general, over all this is an extremely even group of horses with no potholes in the draft. I can’t wait to get there.”
G1 Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside’s yearlings are highly anticipated and Segenhoe Stud will present four of them. “They are beautiful movers, and they just look like racehorses.”
O’Brien picked out three yearlings from the draft who have impressed him on type, despite it being early days in their preparation. “The Covent Garden colt is an absolute standout.”
Gallery: Segenhoe will offer two full siblings to Group 1 winners, images courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Lot 292, the colt by I Am Invincible is the second foal of Winx's (Street Cry {Ire}) half-sister Covent Garden (Exceed And Excel). Covent Garden was a winner at Pakenham over 1400 metres, and as well as being a half-sister to four-time Horse of the Year Winx, she is a half-sister to Group 3 winner El Divino (Snitzel).
“Ippodamia's Girl’s Snitzel colt is stunning.” Lot 520, the chestnut is the first foal of dual Listed winner Ippodamia’s Girl (USA) (Stormy Atlantic {USA}), a half-sister to G1 Del Mar Futurity winner Georgie Boy (USA) (Tribal Rule {USA}).
Lot 144, a Written Tycoon colt from Always Inthe Munny (USA) (Munnings {USA}) is O’Brien’s other selection. “A beautiful horse.” He is the first foal of a Listed-winning American mare, who is a half-sister to two stakes winners; Star Of The North (USA) (The Hunk {USA}) and Marie Mackay (Can) (Noble Mission {GB}).
Peter O'Brien | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Top-flight graduate list
With graduates like current elite winners Southport Tycoon (Written Tycoon), Private Life, El Castello, and last week's Melbourne Cup hero Knight's Choice (Extreme Choice), the sale has also produced racehorses with longevity such as Horse of the Year Winx with 25 Group 1 victories, Hong Kong Champion Golden Sixty (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) with 10 Group 1 wins, Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) who also has 10 Group 1 wins and Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) with seven Group 1 successes.
“We’re proud of the development of our graduates, with 34 individual Group 1 winners and 237 stakes winners produced from this sale over the last five years, regularly winning across all distances and age groups,” Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said.
“We’re proud of the development of our graduates, with 34 individual Group 1 winners and 237 stakes winners produced from this sale over the last five years, regularly winning across all distances and age groups.” - Barry Bowditch
“Buyers should be confident to know they can come to January to fill any order. Be that for Golden Slipper-winning colts, Coolmore winners, Guineas winners, Oaks and Derby winners, and even Melbourne Cup winners. You can find them all on the Gold Coast in January.
“The sale is the most influential for our industry with future stallions including Snitzel, Pierro, Savabeel, Written Tycoon, Pierata, Stay Inside, Farnan, Zoustar and Capitalist all being sold in the sale ring that will host their progeny in January.”
Barry Bowditch | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Milburn Creek brings the magic
With 11 sold in 2024 at an average of $539,000, Milburn Creek have grown into one of Australia’s leading yearling vendors.
“It’s the first sale for the new sales season for the year with an amazing race carnival! Why would you not want to be there!” said Scott Holcombe.
“It’s (Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale) the first sale for the new sales season for the year with an amazing race carnival! Why would you not want to be there!” - Scott Holcombe
Their top lot in 2024 was the $1.6 million colt Guardsman (Extreme Choice) who is currently in training with Michael Freedman, and in 2023, they sold Group 2 winner Captured By Love (Written Tycoon), who is one of the favoured runners in this week’s G1 NZ 1000 Guineas.
In 2025, Milburn Creek will offer 12 yearlings. “This year we have a very even line up. The three Zoustars are good types. The filly is classy and both colts are great walkers and typical of their sire with good heads.” The two colts are Lot 389 from Group 2 winner Fasika (So You Think {NZ}) and Lot 436 from Glamorize (Sepoy), and the filly, Lot 478 is out of Himiko (Deep Impact {Jpn}).
“The Chocolate Martini colt moves well and is by a top proven sire out of a high class American mare.” Lot 266 by Exceed And Excel is from G2 Fair Grounds Oaks winner Chocolate Martini (USA) (Broken Vow {USA}) who was placed in the G1 American Oaks.
Group 2 winner Captured By Love, one of the favoured runners for the G1 NZ 1000 Guineas this weekend, was sold through the Milburn Creek draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale | Image courtesy of Peter Rubery
“The Montrachet colt moves well. The mare always leaves a good type and this is her best so far. I really like the stallion.” By first-season sire St Mark’s Basilica (Fr), Lot 682 is the fourth foal of winning mare Montrachet (Fastnet Rock) whose first foal, Line Of Fire (Dundeel {NZ}) is a winner. Montrachet is a half-sister to Group 2 winners Satin Shoes (Flying Spur) and Zarzuela (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).
“The Wootton Bassett colt from Battleofwinterfell is a classy colt with a good brain, action and looks.” The full package, this colt is Lot 196, and is the second foal of stakes placed juvenile winner Battleofwinterfell (USA) (Declaration Of War {USA}), who is a half-sister to Giada Vega (USA) (Justify {USA}) from the stallion family of Storm Bird (Can).
Of the fillies in the draft, Holcombe picked out the Hellbent filly, Lot 1002. “She’s built like a colt with those early Magics looks.” The fifth foal of winning mare Sugar Mummy (NZ) (Charge Forward), whose first two foals are winners, Sugar Mummy is from the Bali Sugar (NZ) family.
Stallion power on offer
The star-studded catalogue of yearlings across Books One and Two, includes progeny of 127 individual sires, with strong interest to surround youngsters by 21 first season sires.
The first-season sires are Acclaim, Acrobat, Barbaric, Captivant, Extreme Warrior, Glenfiddich, Home Affairs, Jonker, Noverre (NZ), Palace Pier (GB), Pinatubo (Ire), Portland Sky, Profiteer, St Mark’s Basilica, Standout, Stay Inside, Sword Of State, The Odyssey, Tiger Of Malay, Victor Ludorum (GB), and Wild Ruler.
Home Affairs leads this list with 63 yearlings catalogued, while G1 Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside has 43.
| Home Affairs | 63 |
| Stay Inside | 43 |
| Wild Ruler | 37 |
| St Mark's Basilica (FR) | 34 |
| Pinatubo (IRE) | 21 |
| Captivant | 17 |
| Palace Pier (GB) | 16 |
| Portland Sky | 15 |
| Aclaim (IRE) | 10 |
| Profiteer | 10 |
| Acrobat | 9 |
| Sword of State | 8 |
| Tiger of Malay | 8 |
| Barbaric | 6 |
| Extreme Warrior | 6 |
| Victor Ludorum (GB) | 6 |
| Noverre (NZ) | 4 |
| Standout | 1 |
| The Odyssey | 1 |
Table: First-season sires represented at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Among the proven and emerging sires, Champion Sire I Am Invincible leads the charge with 52 lot, while Snitzel and Spirit Of Boom both have 42 entries for 2025. Zoustar, who was the market’s hottest product earlier this year, has 39 yearlings entered, while Capitalist rounds out the top five with 38.
| I Am Invincible | 52 |
| Snitzel | 42 |
| Spirit of Boom | 42 |
| Zoustar | 39 |
| Capitalist | 38 |
| Trapeze Artist | 35 |
| Russian Revolution | 32 |
| Wootton Bassett (GB) | 30 |
| Farnan | 27 |
| Pierata | 26 |
| Better Than Ready | 25 |
| Written Tycoon | 25 |
| Maurice (JPN) | 24 |
| Too Darn Hot (GB) | 24 |
| Bivouac | 23 |
| So You Think (NZ) | 23 |
| Toronado (IRE) | 23 |
| Anders | 22 |
| Ole Kirk | 22 |
| Zousain | 21 |
Table: Proven and emerging sires with more than 20 lots entered
Star powered mouthwatering pedigrees
Close relations to Group 1 winners including Amelia’s Jewel, Imperatriz, In Secret, Nettoyer (Sebring), Profondo (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Group 1 winner Sea Siren's (Fastnet Rock) Group 1-winning daughter Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), as well as spring carnival Group winners Bel Merci, First Settler and Too Darn Discreet (Too Darn Hot {GB}) all headline the sale.
The sale features yearlings from 33 different Group 1-winning mares, and Coolmore Stud lead the pack with seven yearlings out of Group 1 winners including Lot 182 an I Am Invincible filly who is the second foal of Avantage (Fastnet Rock). Last year, they sold her first foal Avantaggia (Wootton Bassett {GB}) for $2.1 million.
The second foal of nine-time Group 1 winner, Avantage, will be offered as Lot 182 | Image courtesy of Peter Rubery
They also have a Snitzel filly from Global Glamour (Star Witness), a Wootton Bassett from La Bella Diosa (NZ) (So You Think {NZ}) and four Home Affairs yearlings out of Booker (Written Tycoon), Montoya's Secret (High Chaparral {Ire}), Sea Siren, and Sunlight (Zoustar).
“Our team has inspected yearlings right across Australia and New Zealand and assembled what we feel is a truly world class offering of future racetrack stars.”
“Our team has inspected yearlings right across Australia and New Zealand and assembled what we feel is a truly world class offering of future racetrack stars.” - Barry Bowditch
Other Group 1-winning mares of note include Bel Mer (Bel Esprit) whose daughter Bel Merci won the G3 Gimcrack S. on debut recently, G1 Golden Slipper winner Estijaab (Snitzel), Maybe Discreet (Shamardal {USA}) who is the dam of Too Darn Discreet, Bonaria (Redoute’s Choice), and In Her Time (Time Thief).
Magic Millions bonus series
“Buying a yearling at the 2025 Gold Coast Yearling Sale will provide shoppers the opportunity to race for more than $20 million in 28 races nationally every year as part of the Magic Millions Race Series,” Bowditch added.
With six of the 28 races bonus races now having black type, the ground-breaking Magic Millions Race Series expansion is fully realised. The new format for the Magic Millions fortnight begins on Saturday January 4, 2025, with a feature twilight race meeting including six Magic Millions feature races worth $2.5 million will be held under lights at the Gold Coast Turf Club.
The feature race day with the Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic will run on Saturday January 11, 2025, two other races have seen prizemoney increases being the Magic Millions Cup doubles to $2 million and the Racing Queensland Magic Millions QTIS increases to $1.5 million.
“Buying a yearling at the 2025 Gold Coast Yearling Sale will provide shoppers the opportunity to race for more than $20 million in 28 races nationally every year as part of the Magic Millions Race Series.” - Barry Bowditch
Since 2013, in addition to the rich prizemoney in the renowned Magic Millions 2YO Classic, a $500,000 bonus has been distributed to the connections of the first four all female owned or leased horses in finishing order.
These enhancements are in addition to the 2024 prizemoney increases to The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic and Magic Millions 3YO Guineas, now run for $3 million each annually, and new races highlighted by the second $250,000 Magic Millions Maiden (1400 metres) and the $1 million Magic Millions National 2YO Classic (1000 metres) programmed in May to coincide with the Magic Millions National Sale.
2025 Carnival Schedule
Saturday, January 4: Magic Millions Gold Twilight Meeting, Gold Coast Turf Club - featuring the $3 million TAB Magic Millions Sunlight and $1 million Magic Millions The Syndicate
Sunday, January 5: Pacific Fair Magic Millions Polo & Showjumping, Doug Jennings Park
Tuesday, January 7: The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Barrier Draw, Surfers Paradise Foreshore
Tuesday, January 7: Gold Coast Yearling Sale - Day 1, 10am (AEST) - Lots 1-240
Wednesday, January 8: Gold Coast Yearling Sale - Day 2, 10am (AEST) - Lots 241-480
Thursday, January 9: Gold Coast Yearling Sale - Day 3, 10am (AEST) - Lots 481-720
Friday, January 10: Gold Coast Yearling Sale - Day 4, 10am (AEST) - Lots 721-1021
Saturday, January 11: The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Raceday, Gold Coast Turf Club - featuring the $3 million The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic and $3 million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas
Sunday, January 12: Gold Coast Yearling Sale - Day 5, 3.30pm (AEST) - Lots 1022-1141
Monday, January 13: Gold Coast Yearling Sale - Day 6, 10am (AEST) - Lots 1141-1401
