Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
At A Glance
A new format for the sale and a reduced size of Book 2 for 2025 makes comparisons with previous years difficult. In 2024, there were 446 lots catalogued across two full days of selling in Book 2, but in 2025, there are only 378 lots catalogued across Sunday afternoon and Monday.
The median for the first day of Book 2 dropped very slightly to $38,000, down from $40,000 after the larger first day of Book 2 in 2024. The average of $47,900 was down marginally from 2024’s first day average of $49,144, which had dropped sharply from the 2023 average of $68,721.
The clearance rate of 66.04 per cent is below 2024 Book 2 first day rate of 72.68 per cent, with another 259 lots scheduled to sell on Monday’s final day of Book 2.
First Light Racing and Tony Gollan purchased the top lot for the Sunday afternoon session, paying $170,000 for a Spirit Of Boom filly, whose 3-year-old half-sister Celestial Blaze (Husson) was a recent winner.
New format, new trends
Magic Millions changed the format of selling in 2025, compared to previous years, with no selling on Saturday, and a shortened day on Sunday. Combined with a smaller number of yearlings catalogued overall in Book 2, the gross for Book 2 is always going to be less than 2024, regardless of the market’s strengths or weaknesses.
One of the drivers for the change was the vendors in Book 2 felt they had less time to present their horses to the market, and 2025's format gave buyers all of Saturday and Sunday morning to do their inspections before the auction began.
“You can’t reflect on the gross sales in a year-by-year comparison given the difference in the number of horses offered today. The average was in line with last year, and for the good horses that walked in the ring, there was a great appetite from buyers and plenty of bidding,” said Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch.
“Vendors are meeting the market and being conservative with their reserves which is presenting an opportunity for buyers. Given what these horses can race for, be it Magic Millions bonus prizemoney through our sales series, or in general across Australia, there’s so much prizemoney around. People should be paying attention to the passed in lots from today or looking towards tomorrow.”
There were 36 passed in lots in Sunday’s session. And as to the perspection around the ground that the market has dropped away at the lower end, Bowditch said, “Buyers are being very selective at the lower end of the market. We are seeing a willingness to participate (in the market) but people are buying less volume than in previous years.”
“Buyers are being very selective at the lower end of the market. We are seeing a willingness to participate (in the market) but people are buying less volume than in previous years.” - Barry Bowditch
Spirit Of Boom’s top-priced filly
First Light Racing and Tony Gollan splashed out $170,000 for Lot 1097, a Spirit Of Boom filly presented by Eureka Stud. “I didn’t realise she was the sale-topper until a few minutes ago and I’m surprised she wasn’t in Book 1. We bought Abounding in Book 2 and look at her, she’s beaten a lot of Book 1 horses in winning the Guineas. You can obviously buy a good horse from Book 2,” said First Light Racing’s Tim Wilson.
“I know the 3-year-old from the mare really well, and she looks a stakes horse in the making. I love it when the mare gets a high-quality first foal, it means you can buy with confidence. She’s out of a fast Snitzel mare by Spirit Of Boom.”
Lot 1097 - Spirit Of Boom x Argie Bargie (filly) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Lot 1097’s 3-year-old half-sister Celestial Blaze (Husson {Arg}) is trained by Rob Heathcote and won at her second start at the start of December. She was a $40,000 purchase by Adrenaline Thoroughbreds from Eureka Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, and has earnings of $43,700 from her three starts to date.
“She’ll go to Tony Gollan, who is having unbelievable success with the stallion. We have a 2-year-old by Spirit Of Boom with him who we think highly of. It’s a ‘stars align’ moment, Tony is the best trainer of Spirit Of Booms going around.
“She’s a great bodied filly; I gave her my highest marks for the way she walks. You’d love to own her and watch her walking around the birdcage. She’s a gorgeous filly. We thought she was the best filly in Book 2.”
“She’s (Lot 1097) a great bodied filly; I gave her my highest marks for the way she walks. We thought she was the best filly in Book 2.” - Tim Wilson
The third foal of Argie Bargie (Snitzel) who has an unnamed 2-year-old colt by Saxon Warrior (Jpn), Lot 1097’s dam was very consistent for Kris Lees, winning three times and placing 12 times in 29 starts. Argie Bargie is a full sister to G3 Adrian Knox S. placed winner Rustic Melody, who also ran fourth in the G1 Australian Oaks. Their dam is G2 Prime Ministers Cup winner Laurinel Argie (Palace Music {USA}) who won eleven races.
“We’ve had an unreal sale. We bought seven horses in Book 1, mostly fillies and then we broke our rules to buy the Frankel colt. They’ve all been terrific horses at value.” First Light Racing, along with Neasham and Archibald Racing spent $900,000 on Lot 272, Vinery Stud’s Frankel (GB) colt from Cleanup (Dehere {USA}), making the colt a half-brother to Group 1 winner Nettoyer (Sebring).
Tim Wilson, Tyla Becker and Harry McAlpine | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“It’s a massive sale and we’ve had great support from the Magic Millions team. Georgia Everingham gave us amazing feedback from the farms. Georgia was the one who first found this filly for us at the farm, and she’s been all over us about her since then! We thought we could have a successful sale and it’s been terrific to execute that.”
| 1 | 272 | Vinery Stud | C | Frankel | Cleanup | First Light Racing Pty Ltd/Neasham & Archibald Racing | $900,000.00 |
| 2 | 1097 | Eureka Stud | F | Spirit Of Boom | Argie Bargie | First Light Racing Pty Ltd/Tony Gollan | $170,000.00 |
| 1 | 383 | Telemon Thoroughbreds | F | Wild Ruler | Face Forward | First Light Racing Pty Ltd/McEvoy Mitchell Racing/Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) | $150,000.00 |
| 1 | 617 | Widden Stud | F | Capitalist | Lucy Mae | First Light Racing Pty Ltd/Neasham & Archibald Racing | $140,000.00 |
| 1 | 881 | Ridgmont | F | Wild Ruler | Saratoga Treasure | First Light Racing Pty Ltd/Mick Huglin Racing | $120,000.00 |
| 1 | 23 | Wentwood Grange | F | St Mark's Basilica | Thinkyoucandance | First Light Racing Pty Ltd/Ciaron Maher Bloodstock | $100,000.00 |
| 1 | 911 | Emirates Park | F | Tassort | Shahad | First Light Racing/Neasham & Archibald Racing | $100,000.00 |
| 1 | 626 | Bell River Thoroughbreds | F | Anders | Madame Trop Vite | First Light Racing Pty Ltd/Ciaron Maher Bloodstock | $60,000.00 |
Table: First Light Racing’s 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchases
Snowden’s new entity buys Cosmic Force colt
Red Crown Racing, the new entity for Paul Snowden, purchased the second top lot of the first day of Book 2, Lot 1047, a Cosmic Force colt from Fernrigg Farm.
“He’d been a standout in the paddock from day one, always a sharp precocious colt, and really strong. We had to wean him early as he was so forward. We targeted this sale for him as he is a very typical Magic Millions horse and I’d expect to see him up early. We aimed him at Book 2 as he lacks a bit of depth in his pedigree, and we didn’t want him to get lost in Book 1. He’s done what we wanted,” said Rae-Louise Kelly of Fernrigg Farm.
“He’d (Lot 1047) been a standout in the paddock from day one... We aimed him at Book 2 as he lacks a bit of depth in his pedigree, and we didn’t want him to get lost in Book 1. He’s done what we wanted.” - Rae-Louise Kelly
Lot 1047 is the fifth live foal for Typecast (Exceed And Excel) who won twice, including once in Sydney, and her two named foals are 4-year-old gelding Star Of Robiglen (Shooting To Win) who has won twice, and 3-year-old gelding Dubai Gold (Pride Of Dubai) who has had only one start so far. Typecast is a half-sister to stakes placed Kardashing (Redoute’s Choice), whose 3-year-old filly Miss Kim Kar (Pierata) who has won three of her five starts this season. Further back, this is the family of R-Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Real Surreal (Real Saga).
“(The sale) has been tough. We had a couple of nice results in Book 1, but the market has turned. There’ll always be money for the best horses, but the bottom and middle section of the market has definitely dropped.”
Lot 1047 - Cosmic Force x Typecast (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
With one more lot tomorrow, Fernrigg Farm have sold five of their seven lots through the ring so far. In Book 1, a Too Darn Hot (GB) filly was purchased by Harvey Black for $200,000, and Proven Thoroughbreds and Pride Racing went to the same figure for a Captivant filly.
Healey’s Alabama Express filly
Queensland trainer Billy Healey began his training career in 2015 as a bright eyed 18-year-old, and now 10 years on, he’s kicking serious goals with Cosmic Fire (Cosmic Force) winning the Magic Millions Sunlight Consolation at the start of January. In early 2024, Healey Racing invested in a new property, and they enjoyed 15 winners and 25 placegetters for the year which was double their results in 2023. Sunday saw Healey purchase the third top lot of the day, Lot 1135, an Alabama Express filly for $135,000.
Lot 1135 - Alabama Express x Conflate (filly) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“I thought she was a really athletic filly, with a great walk, and a lovely attitude. Every time we had her out of the box, she was just tradesman like. She has a quality head, is quality all over, and comes off a great farm with Yulong doing a great job at the moment,” said Healey.
“I really like Alabama Express. I’ve had a look at a few over the last 12 months and was keen to get one in the stable and she was great value at the money.”
“I thought she (Lot 1135) was a really athletic filly, with a great walk, and a lovely attitude. She has a quality head, is quality all over, and comes off a great farm with Yulong doing a great job at the moment.” - Billy Healey
Lot 1135 is the first foal of unraced mare Conflate (I Am Invincible) who is a three-quarter sister to Listed winner Sangria (I Am Invincible). This is the fantastic Redoute’s Choice family, with Lot 1135’s third dam being G2 Magic Night S. placed Monsoon Wedding (Danehill {USA}), a full sister to the Champion Sire.
“I thought the sale held up okay. It’s Book 2, but the better ones will find their homes. The bidding was very strong on the better ones. I think if you take a nice horse anywhere, they’ll always make their money,” said Healey.
“It was competitive as a buyer. Magic Millions have done a tremendous job, the feedback from our clients is that they only want to race Magic Millions eligible horses. It’s absolutely insane. When we sent our expressions of interest to our clients, it’s the Magic Millions ones that all our clients want to be involved with. They sell themselves on the hope of getting to the Magic Millions Day.”
Top lots
| 1097 | F | Spirit Of Boom | Argie Bargie | Eureka Stud | First Light Racing Pty Ltd/Gollan Racing | $170,000 |
| 1047 | C | Cosmic Force | Typecast | Fernrigg Farm | Red Crown Racing | $140,000 |
| 1135 | F | Alabama Express | Conflate | Yulong | Billy Healey Racing/Furlong BStock | $135,000 |
| 1038 | C | Written By | Treasure | Newhaven Park | BJ Racing | $120,000 |
| 1115 | C | Capitalist | Blume | Tyreel Stud | Portelli Racing | $110,000 |
Top buyers
| First Light Racing Pty Ltd/Gollan Racing | 1 | $170,000 | $170,000 | $170,000 |
| Red Crown Racing | 1 | $140,000 | $140,000 | $140,000 |
| Billy Healey Racing/Furlong Bstock | 1 | $135,000 | $135,000 | $135,000 |
| Darby Racing | 2 | $67,500 | $105,000 | $135,000 |
| Portelli Racing | 2 | $63,500 | $110,000 | $127,000 |
| BJ Racing | 1 | $120,000 | $120,000 | $120,000 |
| Merrick Staunton | 2 | $55,000 | $80,000 | $110,000 |
| Matthew Smith Racing | 3 | $35,833 | $70,000 | $107,500 |
| Mishani Enterprises Pty Ltd | 2 | $53,000 | $70,000 | $106,000 |
| Ben Thompson | 2 | $50,000 | $60,000 | $100,000 |
Vendor aggregate
| Eureka Stud, Cambooya, Qld | 5 | $74,000 | $170,000 | $370,000 |
| Newhaven Park, Boorowa, NSW | 4 | $85,000 | $120,000 | $340,000 |
| Bowness Stud, Young, NSW | 7 | $41,357 | $105,000 | $289,500 |
| Baramul Stud, Widden Valley, NSW | 4 | $68,750 | $100,000 | $275,000 |
| Yulong, Nagambie, Vic | 2 | $115,000 | $135,000 | $230,000 |
| Noble Bend Farm, Greenmount, Qld | 4 | $47,500 | $85,000 | $190,000 |
| Tyreel Stud, Agnes Banks, NSW | 2 | $92,500 | $110,000 | $185,000 |
| Murrulla Stud, Wingen, NSW | 5 | $35,700 | $60,000 | $178,500 |
| Raheen Stud, Warwick, Qld | 6 | $23,500 | $45,000 | $141,000 |
| Fernrigg Farm, Denman, NSW | 1 | $140,000 | $140,000 | $140,000 |
Vendor average (2 or more sold)
| Yulong, Nagambie, Vic | 2 | $115,000 | $135,000 | $230,000 |
| Tyreel Stud, Agnes Banks, NSW | 2 | $92,500 | $110,000 | $185,000 |
| Newhaven Park, Boorowa, NSW | 4 | $85,000 | $120,000 | $340,000 |
| Eureka Stud, Cambooya, Qld | 5 | $74,000 | $170,000 | $370,000 |
| Baramul Stud, Widden Valley, NSW | 4 | $68,750 | $100,000 | $275,000 |
| Noble Bend Farm, Greenmount, Qld | 4 | $47,500 | $85,000 | $190,000 |
| Robyn Wise, Toowoomba, Qld | 2 | $42,500 | $70,000 | $85,000 |
| Valiant Stud, Dartbrook, NSW | 2 | $42,500 | $45,000 | $85,000 |
| Bowness Stud, Young, NSW | 7 | $41,357 | $105,000 | $289,500 |
| Murrulla Stud, Wingen, NSW | 5 | $35,700 | $60,000 | $178,500 |
Sire aggregate
| Spirit Of Boom | 4 | $87,500 | $170,000 | $350,000 |
| Capitalist | 3 | $70,000 | $110,000 | $210,000 |
| Written By | 3 | $60,000 | $120,000 | $180,000 |
| D'Argento | 3 | $59,000 | $105,000 | $177,000 |
| Pierata | 3 | $50,333 | $75,000 | $151,000 |
| Cool Aza Beel | 3 | $46,667 | $70,000 | $140,000 |
| Cosmic Force | 1 | $140,000 | $140,000 | $140,000 |
| Alabama Express | 1 | $135,000 | $135,000 | $135,000 |
| Tassort | 3 | $41,167 | $55,000 | $123,500 |
| Better Than Ready | 2 | $60,000 | $70,000 | $120,000 |
Sire average (2 or more sold)
| Spirit Of Boom | 4 | $87,500 | $170,000 | $350,000 |
| Capitalist | 3 | $70,000 | $110,000 | $210,000 |
| Written By | 3 | $60,000 | $120,000 | $180,000 |
| Better Than Ready | 2 | $60,000 | $70,000 | $120,000 |
| D'Argento | 3 | $59,000 | $105,000 | $177,000 |
| Hellbent | 2 | $56,250 | $80,000 | $112,500 |
| Pierata | 3 | $50,333 | $75,000 | $151,000 |
| Yes Yes Yes | 2 | $47,500 | $55,000 | $95,000 |
| Cool Aza Beel | 3 | $46,667 | $70,000 | $140,000 |
| Tassort | 3 | $41,167 | $55,000 | $123,500 |
