Written by Kristen Manning
Cover Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The Magic Millions base may be at the Gold Coast but the company continues to invest in racing across the country and part of its success story is the Tasmanian Yearling Sale which is supported by a couple of Magic Millions races. The catalogue for the 2025 sale went live on Tuesday.
“Like so many buyers, we love the Tasmanian Yearling Sale,” Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said, happy to support a local market with a sale servicing the state's trainers, owners and breeders whilst also offering value to the interstate buyer.
With all yearlings eligible to be paid up for the world leading Magic Millions Race Series, one which consists of 28 races and over $20 million in prizemoney and bonuses, the sale is a good hunting ground for bargains.
Taking place from 11am on Monday February 24, the sale is part of Tasmania's summer racing scene with Mowbray on Sunday February 2 hosting the $85,000 Magic Millions Tasmanian 2YO Classic (a race which carries a $10,000 Racing Women's Bonus) and the $75,000 Magic Millions Tasmanian 3YO & 4YO Classic.
Graduates in great form
This year's 2-year-old contest was won this year by Ms Tasmania (Magnus) who Siggy Carr Racing secured for $30,000 and who has already won over three times that amount. Beaten only once in a four-start career, she was bred by Mandy Gunn.
As was Cartoon Graveyard (Turffontein), winner of the 3YO & 4YO Classic and successful on another five occasions from 15 starts; to date amassing just under $180,000 in stakes having been purchased by Brunton Racing and Tasmanian Bloodstock for $50,000.
“They are both very nice horses,” said Magic Millions' Tasmania representative Tim Brown who is looking forward to a sale which is down a little in numbers, but “by design.”
“We wanted a quality selection,” he explained. “Having been through the selection process we are very happy with the quality of stock in this sale,” adding that, “The sale and Tasmanian breeders punch above their weight.”
“Having been through the selection process we are very happy with the quality of stock in this sale. The sale and Tasmanian breeders punch above their weight.” - Tim Brown
There is no doubting that when having a look at some of the graduates in recent years, the sale providing Group 1 success for the happy owners of Mystic Journey (Needs Further) whilst the likes of The Cleaner (Savoire Vivre {GB}), Palentino, Turk Warrior (Outreach), Still A Star (Toronado {Ire}), Soul Patch, Take The Sit (Tough Speed {USA}), Lady Lynette (Ladoni {GB}), Lake Sententia (California Dane) and Deroche (Needs Further) have all proven to be great buys.
A variety of stallions
The 2025 catalogue features 126 yearlings, with Brown highlighting the “variety of stallions” represented, including prominent local sires Wordsmith, Stratosphere, Tough Speed, Alpine Eagle, Needs Further, Levendi, Zululand, Squamosa, Turffontein, Yulong Prince (SAF) and Quick Thinker.
There is also a nice group of youngsters by such proven mainland stallions as Kermadec (NZ), Shamus Award, Nicconi, Xtravagant (NZ), Wandjina, All Too Hard, Maurice (Jpn), Foxwedge and Alabama Express.
As well as yearlings by the up-and-comers Hanseatic, St Mark's Basilica (Fr), North Pacific, Tagaloa, Anders, King's Legacy, Bivouac, Russian Camelot (Ire), Cosmic Force, Wooded (Ire), Wild Ruler, Acrobat, Zousain, Tiger Of Malay, Yes Yes Yes, Portland Sky, I Am Immortal, Cool Aza Beel (NZ) and Extreme Warrior.
Gallery: Some of the local sires represented at the 2025 Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale
Some lovely families are represented as well with highlights including an Alpine Eagle half-sister to the G3 Vo Rogue Plate winner Tiger Legend (Better Than Ready) out of the Group 3 mare Fillydelphia (Bianconi {USA}), a Frosted (USA) half-brother to last year's Listed Gold Sovereign S. winner The Spirit Of Zero (Needs Further) out of a daughter of the triple Group 1 winner Yosei (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), a Wooded half-brother to the dual Group winner I'll Have A Bit (Smart Missile) and a full sister to the popular galloper The Map (Alpine Eagle).
As well as relatives of some of the best graduates of this sale, such as a full brother to the stakes-placed, seven-time winner Alpine Flyer (Alpine Eagle) out of a half-sister to Palentino, a Wooded filly from The Cleaner's family, a Tiger Of Malay filly closely related to Mystic Journey, a Levendi filly out of an eight-time winning three-quarter sister to Lady Lynette, a Gold Standard colt out of a half-sister to Lake Sententia, a Hanseatic half-sister to Deroche as well as a three-quarter brother to that 13-time winner.
“It is a good sale and we are looking forward to it being supported by local trainers and owners as well as those from further afield,” said Brown.
“It is a good sale and we are looking forward to it being supported by local trainers and owners as well as those from further afield.” - Tim Brown
