Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
At A Glance
Four horses fetched seven-figure sums on Day 1, the same number as last year’s opening session, with Segenhoe Stud standing on top of the vendors' standings by gross after selling nine horses for a total of $4,370,000.
The opening session had an average of $278,549 which was down slightly from last year’s Day 1 record of $281,767. The median, at $200,000 was also slightly down on the 2024 Day 1 median of $210,000.
The total gross of $45,125,000 was almost the same as last year’s Day 1 figure of $45,928,000, with 162 lots sold this year.
Tuesday’s clearance rate sat at 74.65 per cent, down from last year’s opening session clearance rate of 84.9 per cent, although this may improve throughout the sale.
The top lot (185) was purchased by Resolute Bloodstock and Ciaron Maher Bloodstock who spent $1.8 million to secure the Written Tycoon filly who is the first foal of Champion 2YO Filly Away Game (Snitzel), who was offered by Yulong.
Resolute Bloodstock was the leading buyer on Day 1, spending $3.52 million on eight yearlings, not including the $1.8 million they also spent in conjunction with Ciaron Maher Bloodstock on the sales topper.
Home Affairs led Day 1 by gross with 12 yearlings sold for $4,165,000 at an average of $347,083, making him also the leading first season sire for the day by gross. Stay Inside is the leading first season sire by average with five sold at an average of $494,000.
For sires who’ve had 2 or more lots sell on Day 1, I Am Invincible leads the overall table by average with 4 sold at an average of $750,000; while Snitzel isn’t far behind with 6 sold at an average of $654,167. Wootton Basset, Written Tycoon, and Extreme Choice are the other three sires with 2 or more sold who averaged more than $500,000 on Day 1.
Stewart's passion for Australian racing is not waning
Such is the passion that Resolute Racing’s John Stewart for Australian racing that he was up at 2.30am (Geneva time) to take part in a bidding spree that saw him purchase nine yearlings at a variety of prices.
From $80,000 to $1.8 million he was a keen buyer, enjoying the “unique experience” of bidding from afar with Chelsey Stone (Resolute Racing’s Director Of Breeding And Bloodstock) on the phone in America and in the case of the Away Game (Snitzel) filly with Ciaron Maher on the phone from the sales.
John Stewart | Image courtesy of Keeneland
His two biggest purchases were, he said “the best fillies in the sale and they were the two we were definitely going to buy.”
The first of those was Lot 182 by I Am Invincible out of Avantage (Fastnet Rock) purchased for $1.6 million, the second just minutes later being Lot 185 by Written Tycoon out of Away Game who was secured for $1.8 million in partnership with Ciaron Maher Racing.
Gallery: Lot 182 - I Am Invincible x Avantage (filly) sold for $1,600,000 to Resolute Bloodstock, images courtesy of Magic Millions
Both are daughters of what Stewart described as “elite race mares” and he was happy to see the influence of Danzig (USA) in both horses; in particular the I Am Invincible filly who is bred on a 4 X 4 cross of that breed-shaping stallion.
"That Danzig cross is something you don’t see a lot of in America,” he said, noting the strength of the Danehill (USA) branch in this part of the world. “It is a thread you will see amongst a lot of our purchases.”
“Both fillies had a lot of traits we like; they are good movers from big families.”
Interestingly both are by very Australian stallions who have no American presence, Stewart enjoying “the diversity of international racing.”
Gallery: Lot 185 - Written Tycoon x Away Game (filly) sold for $1,800,000 to Resolute Bloodstock and Ciaron Maher Bloodstock, images courtesy of Magic Millions
Disappointed to have had to cancel his trip to the sales due to a family emergency, Stewart is keen to be in Australia soon with six horses in work hopefully racing in the near future.
He is proud of his recent achievements in the United States, noting that “70% of our runners have been in stakes races and 57% of those have been in the prize money.”
“My strategy is to focus on quality, I want to be competitive. Australia was always going to be the second place where we wanted to establish ourselves.”
“My strategy is to focus on quality, I want to be competitive. Australia was always going to be the second place where we wanted to establish ourselves.” - John Stewart
Stewart is a keen student of Australian bloodlines; “we do a lot of pedigree research and love how Australian pedigrees have evolved, it is very exciting for me to take notice of that.”
Resolute also secured a number of lesser priced horses with Stewart saying that he does not look too much at the individual prices of his yearlings, rather than at the bigger picture, describing his purchases as “a portfolio.”
We paid up for a few and some we think we actually stole so overall I am really happy.”
Yulong a success from another angle
Day 1’s third most successful vendor by aggregate ($3.77 million) with the fifth best average ($471,250) whilst also providing the best seller, the $1.8 million Written Tycoon x Away Game filly, Yulong made the step from successful buyers to successful vendors.
Something which had Vin Cox smiling as he noted that “it was quite a rewarding day.”
“Yulong have been investing a lot of money for a few years and today’s success is a reflection of that investment.”
“Yulong have been investing a lot of money for a few years and today’s success is a reflection of that investment.” - Vin Cox
“It is not a given however,” he added that spending the big money leads to such success which made it so satisfying “to get it right.”
Cox was keen to pay tribute to the people behind the scenes at Yulong, both those working at the sales and at the farm.
“Our staff at the Magic Millions worked very hard and were under a lot of pressure in the hot conditions. They handled that very well and the results were a good reward for their efforts and for those at the stud.”
Vin Cox | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Cox was happy right from the start of the sale with his favourite, a filly by Tagaloa, the very first lot of the day.
Purchased by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing for $270,000, the daughter of the stakes-placed Talented (Snitzel) from their G1 Blue Diamond S.-winning first-season sire impressed Cox.
“I really like her and being such a lovely filly she was always going to sell well. I was delighted not only with how much she made but by who bought her, she will be given every chance.”
Lot 1 - Tagaloa x Talented (filly) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
An array of partnership purchases for Kia Ora
With the passing of Ananda Krishnan in November, it was a nice tribute to him that Kia Ora remains active in their involvement in the thoroughbred breeding industry.
Kia Ora were big buyers in different partnerships on the opening day of the sale, going home as part owners of six well-related yearlings.
Two of those were secured with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing and Kestrel Thoroughbreds; Lot 224 by Zoustar and Lot 11 by Extreme Choice.
The former out of the Group 1 mare Bonaria (Redoute’s Choice) was bought for $800,000 amongst the day’s top 10 sellers whilst the latter, a $550,000 purchase from Newgate Farm is out of the Group 3 mare Tempt Me Not (Strategic Maneuver).
Gallery: Two lots that were secured by Kia Ora in partnership with Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Racing and Kestrel Thoroughbreds, images courtesy of Magic Millions
Kia Ora teamed with China Horse Club and Newgate Bloodstock to buy another top 10 seller; Lot 177 by Too Darn Hot (GB) and with David Ellis (BAFNZ)/Te Akau Racing to purchase from Yarraman Park Stud Lot 115, a $600,000 I Am Invincible full brother to the dual Group 3 winner California Zimbol.
Not long before that they purchased, for $500,000, Lot 105 with Neasham and Archibald Racing and William Johnson Bloodstock (FBAA). The Stay Inside colt from the Newgate Farm draft is out of the Group 2 mare Xilong (Deep Field).
And with Anthony Freedman Racing and Julian Blaxland Bloodstock (FBAA) for $350,000, they are in the ownership of Lot 200. Sold by Bell River Thoroughbreds, the Farnan colt is out of the Group 1 sprinter Bel Mer (Bel Esprit), dam of the stakes winners Bel Merci (Extreme Choice) and All Too Royal (All Too Hard).
Gallery: Some of the lots purchased by Kia Ora in different partnerships, images courtesy of Magic Millions
As vendors Kia Ora passed in their only Day 1 lot and they have 11 yearlings to come including the progeny of their own stallions Farnan, Captivant and Prague.
Home Affairs and Stay Inside remain in demand
Following on from stellar weanling sale results for Coolmore Stud’s Home Affairs and Newgate Farm’s Stay Inside, the pair remained popular with buyers who were happy to lay out sizeable sums for their yearling sons and daughters.
Day 1’s leading first-season sire by average, the G1 Golden Slipper S. hero Stay Inside had five yearlings sell for an average of $494,000 and a total of $2.47 million.
One of those, the $1 million colt out of Bleu Zebra (I Am Invincible) was the day’s fourth-highest seller whilst his next best sellers were a couple of $500,000 horses.
Gallery: Stay Inside's top-selling lots on Day 1 of the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, images courtesy of Magic Millions
Lot 105 out of the G2 Euclase S. winner Xilong (Deep Field) was the first of those, a colt sold by Newgate Farm to Neasham and Archibald Racing/Kia Ora Stud/William Johnson Bloodstock (FBAA) and the next was the following lot, a filly sold by Newhaven Park to Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) out of the imported Listed winner Yes To The Dress (USA) (Congrats {USA}).
“We could not be more thrilled with the quality of Stay Inside's stock,” Newgate's Henry Field said.
“What is really good about him is that from top to bottom all of his yearlings are good-moving, athletic types which is a great sign for a stallion.”
“They all have great actions and good brains.”
“What is really good about him (Stay Inside) is that from top to bottom all of his yearlings are good-moving, athletic types which is a great sign for a stallion.” - Henry Field
The dual Group 1-winning sprinter Home Affairs was the most prolific of the first-season sires on Day 1; 12 yearlings sold for an average of $347,083 and a total of $4.165 million.
“It was a great day and a great start to the sale for Home Affairs,” Coolmore’s Colm Santry enthused.
“His weanlings were so popular, and it is fantastic to see such a great response to his yearlings as well, to see them really growing into lovely horses is very exciting.”
“It was a great day and a great start to the sale for Home Affairs... it is fantastic to see such a great response to his yearlings, to see them really growing into lovely horses is very exciting.”” - Colm Santry
The highest-priced Home Affairs was Lot 101 sold by Silverdale Farm to Resolute Bloodstock for $625,000 who featured in the day’s top 10 sellers whilst his two next most popular yearlings both fetched $550,000.
The first of those was early in the day with Lot 10 sold by Lime Country Thoroughbreds to the James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership/Tony Fung Colts. He is out of the imported three time winner Tell Your Mama (USA) (Blame {USA}) and what an interesting pedigree he has; his third dam Exigent (USA) (Miswaki {USA}) also being Home Affairs’ third dam.
Gallery: The highest priced lots of Home Affairs in the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, images courtesy of Magic Millions
It was not a long wait for Home Affairs fans with Lot 17 also selling well; by Yarraman Park to McEvoy Racing and Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA).
She is the second foal for the city winner The Natural (Fastnet Rock) who was trained by the McEvoys. She is a half-sister to the dual Group 1 winner Fiveandahalfstar (Hotel Grand) and to the dam of the 2024 G1 Spring Champion S. winner El Castello (Castelvecchio).
Good judges can still find bargains
“I have never seen an unbalanced athlete,” said Lizzie Jelfs having secured for $280,000 Lot 4, a striking Fastnet Rock filly from the draft of Coolmore Stud.
Originally passed in with Coolmore’s expectations higher than the bidding that eventuated, the well-related filly was then chased by Jelfs who had assumed the price would be too high.
“I just decided to sit and watch what happened and when she was passed in I ran after her!” she said, delighted to be taking home a member of Fastnet Rock’s small penultimate crop.
Lot 4 - Fastnet Rock x Tantalus (NZ) (filly) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
There are only five fillies in that group, something Jelfs was fully aware of, describing her acquisition as “a collector’s item.”
The third foal for the Toowoomba 2150-metre maiden winner Tantalus (NZ) (Savabeel), the bay hails from one of New Zealand’s most prolific families, able to boast amongst her relations the Group 1 winners Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel), Never Been Kissed (NZ) (Tivaci) and Savvy Coup (NZ) (Savabeel).
With her varied backgrounds Jelfs has unique insight into the horses she inspects and buys; being an accomplished track rider with years of experience in different stables she has knowledge of the physical and mental traits of various sire lines and families.
Lizzie Jelfs | Image courtesy of Lizziejelfs.com
And having worked as a mounting yard analyst she sees an even bigger variety of horses with physicality of movement high on her check list when looking for a nice horse.
She has, she said, seen all sorts of types win big races but there is one trait she has noted in the high achievers.
“Not all good horses are big walkers but they all have that balanced walk. And she is quite sharp even though her pedigree suggests she won’t necessarily be an early type.”
“Not all good horses are big walkers but they all have that balanced walk. And she (Lot 4) is quite sharp even though her pedigree suggests she won’t necessarily be an early type.” - Lizzie Jelfs
Jelfs has had plenty of exposure to the Fastnet Rock breed and has a liking for his daughters.
“His sons can be a bit naughty but his daughters are different.”
She has worked with a number of talented Fastnet Rock fillies and can see some of the traits of the four-time Group winner Formality in this filly.
Noting such traits in young horses excites Jelfs; “I love seeing a horse and think, oh she has that filly’s walk, or he has that colt’s shape.”
Jelfs has a particular liking for fillies who are either compliant and willing to learn or who are just naturals, and her R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic favourite Invincible Woman (I Am Invincible) bought (with Kennewell Racing and Group 1 Bloodstock {FBAA}) at this same sale last year for $250,000 is the latter.
Invincible Woman | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“I didn’t think she’d be as early-a-comer as she is but everyone who rides her says she is one of the most natural 2-year-olds that they’ve had anything to do with. She has plenty of self confidence. She is also a very balanced walker and she had that look that suggested she’d really furnish.”
That ability to see how a horse is going to mature places Jelfs in good stead; very few buyers see and study as many horses as she does!
Early promise for Sword Of State
Cambridge Stud’s G1 Sistema S.-winning Snitzel stallion Sword Of State had just two Day 1 entries and both sold well off his NZ$15,000 (plus GST) service fee, kicking off with Lot 98 from the draft of Little Avondale Stud.
Sword Of State | Standing at Cambridge Stud
The first foal for the two-time stakes-placed Doomben winner Windermere (All Too Hard), she was purchased by Kennewell Racing, Group 1 Bloodstock (FBAA) and Edgar Park for $140,000.
Group 1 Bloodstock’s Matt Becker has plenty of time for the Sword Of State breed, describing that 6-year-old as a “really good-looking horse.”
“And this filly is good-looking as well,” he said, adding that “she looks the type to get up and running early. The pedigree suggests a bit more time and distance but the mare was a fast stakes placegetter.”
“She is very much in the mould of a Snitzel filly,” Becker said of the bay who hails from the prolific Eva Luna (USA) (Alleged {USA}) branch of the Pretty Polly (GB) (Gallinule {GB}) family.
Lot 98 - Sword Of State x Windermere (filly) sold for $140,000 | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“I have seen some really nice stock by Sword Of State, each from different vendors and I am looking forward to seeing more of them in New Zealand. He is siring a good, consistent type which I like to see in a stallion.”
Also selling nicely for Sword Of State was Lot 142, a $340,000 colt purchased by KPW Bloodstock from Wentwood Grange.
He is the second foal for a half-sister to the G1 J.J Atkins S. winner Sacred Elixir (NZ) (Pour Moi {Ire} and her fourth dam is the mighty mare Horlicks (NZ) (Three Legs {GB}).
Lot 142 - Sword of State x Alloro (NZ) (colt) sold for $340,000 | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
KPW Bloodstock’s Kevin “Millie” Walls said “I liked three by Sword Of State and this was the one we landed on. He is a good mover with good strength and a nice head.”
“I buy purely on type and Sword Of State is a nice horse who is throwing good types. Now we hope for the best!”
Top buyers
| Resolute Bloodstock | 8 | $440,000 | $1,600,000 | $3,520,000 |
| David Ellis (BAFNZ)/Te Akau Racing | 4 | $521,250 | $625,000 | $2,085,000 |
| Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Racing/Kestrel Thoroughbreds | 7 | $280,714 | $400,000 | $1,965,000 |
| Resolute Bloodstock/Ciaron Maher Bloodstock | 1 | $1,800,000 | $1,800,000 | $1,800,000 |
| Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock (BAFNZ) | 1 | $1,700,000 | $1,700,000 | $1,700,000 |
| James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership/Tony Fung Colts | 2 | $775,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,550,000 |
| Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) | 2 | $725,000 | $950,000 | $1,450,000 |
| Ciaron Maher Bloodstock | 5 | $280,000 | $550,000 | $1,400,000 |
| Anthony Freedman Racing/Julian Blaxland Bloodstock (FBAA) | 5 | $270,000 | $350,000 | $1,350,000 |
| Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Racing/Kestrel Thoroughbreds/Kia Ora | 2 | $675,000 | $800,000 | $1,350,000 |
Vendors by aggregate
| Yulong, Nagambie, Vic | 8 | $471,250 | $1,800,000 | $3,770,000 |
| Newgate Farm, Aberdeen, NSW | 10 | $374,500 | $950,000 | $3,745,000 |
| Segenhoe Stud, Aberdeen, NSW | 7 | $497,857 | $850,000 | $3,485,000 |
| Coolmore Stud, Jerrys Plains, NSW | 5 | $485,000 | $1,600,000 | $2,425,000 |
| Arrowfield Stud, Scone, NSW | 8 | $241,250 | $550,000 | $1,930,000 |
| Eureka Stud, Cambooya, Qld | 6 | $321,667 | $1,000,000 | $1,930,000 |
| Sledmere Stud, Scone, NSW | 8 | $215,000 | $370,000 | $1,720,000 |
| Milburn Creek, Wildes Meadow, NSW | 1 | $1,700,000 | $1,700,000 | $1,700,000 |
| Widden Stud, Widden Valley, NSW | 5 | $331,000 | $800,000 | $1,655,000 |
| Yarraman Park Stud, Scone, NSW | 5 | $328,000 | $600,000 | $1,640,000 |
Vendors by average (3 or more sold)
| Segenhoe Stud, Aberdeen, NSW | 7 | $497,857 | $850,000 | $3,485,000 |
| Coolmore Stud, Jerrys Plains, NSW | 5 | $485,000 | $1,600,000 | $2,425,000 |
| Yulong, Nagambie, Vic | 8 | $471,250 | $1,800,000 | $3,770,000 |
| Newgate Farm, Aberdeen, NSW | 10 | $374,500 | $950,000 | $3,745,000 |
| Silverdale Farm, Avoca, NSW | 3 | $341,667 | $625,000 | $1,025,000 |
| Widden Stud, Widden Valley, NSW | 5 | $331,000 | $800,000 | $1,655,000 |
| Yarraman Park Stud, Scone, NSW | 5 | $328,000 | $600,000 | $1,640,000 |
| Eureka Stud, Cambooya, Qld | 6 | $321,667 | $1,000,000 | $1,930,000 |
| Bowness Stud, Young, NSW | 3 | $296,667 | $650,000 | $890,000 |
| Bell River Thoroughbreds, Glen William, NSW | 3 | $280,000 | $350,000 | $840,000 |
Sires by aggregate
| Home Affairs | 12 | $347,083 | $625,000 | $4,165,000 |
| Snitzel | 6 | $654,167 | $950,000 | $3,925,000 |
| Wootton Bassett | 6 | $598,333 | $1,700,000 | $3,590,000 |
| Written Tycoon | 6 | $583,333 | $1,800,000 | $3,500,000 |
| I Am Invincible | 4 | $750,000 | $1,600,000 | $3,000,000 |
| Stay Inside | 4 | $522,500 | $1,000,000 | $2,090,000 |
| Too Darn Hot | 6 | $271,667 | $650,000 | $1,630,000 |
| Toronado | 6 | $210,000 | $400,000 | $1,260,000 |
| Farnan | 7 | $170,000 | $350,000 | $1,190,000 |
| Extreme Choice | 2 | $525,000 | $550,000 | $1,050,000 |
Sires by average (3 or more sold)
| I Am Invincible | 4 | $750,000 | $1,600,000 | $3,000,000 |
| Snitzel | 6 | $654,167 | $950,000 | $3,925,000 |
| Wootton Bassett | 6 | $598,333 | $1,700,000 | $3,590,000 |
| Written Tycoon | 6 | $583,333 | $1,800,000 | $3,500,000 |
| Stay Inside | 4 | $522,500 | $1,000,000 | $2,090,000 |
| Home Affairs | 12 | $347,083 | $625,000 | $4,165,000 |
| Too Darn Hot | 6 | $271,667 | $650,000 | $1,630,000 |
| So You Think | 4 | $242,500 | $340,000 | $970,000 |
| Tagaloa | 3 | $226,667 | $270,000 | $680,000 |
| Tassort | 4 | $217,500 | $370,000 | $870,000 |
