At A Glance
The 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale concluded on Monday with the final session of Book 2 with 380 lots offered, down from 2024’s 448 lots. The clearance rate is down on 2024’s figure of 75 per cent, sitting at 69.73 per cent at final hammer.
The average price for Book 2 was $45,419, not too much lower than 2024’s average of $47,848, while the median dropped to $36,000 from $40,000 in 2024. The gross is not comparable given the much smaller size of Book 2 compared to 2024.
Book 1 grossed $206,625,000 down from 2024’s $225,153,000, while Book 2 added a further $10,673,500 making a combined sale total of $217,298,500, down from 2024’s total of $239,516,000.
Book 2 in 2025 saw no horses break the $200,000 mark, down from two in 2024, with the top lot in 2025 being the So You Think (NZ) colt from imported Marjoram (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) purchased by R S Bloodstock/Catheryne Bruggeman/Paul Moroney Bloodstock for $185,000.
Queensland-based buyers dominated the leading buyers' chart for Book 2 again in 2025. Adam Campton of Campton Racing was the leading buyer with 2 lots bought for $205,000.
Queensland’s Eureka Stud was the leading vendor with 13 lots sold, and only one passed in, for a gross of $980,000, at an average of $75,385. Yulong Stud were the leading vendors by average in Book 2 with three yearlings sold at an average of $93,333.
The leading sire in Book 2 was Spirit Of Boom who enjoyed 13 yearlings sold at an average of $90,462 for a gross of $1,176,000. In second place was Better Than Ready, whose 14 yearlings made a gross of $544,000. Of the first season sires, it was Tiger Of Malay who led Book 2 by gross with five yearlings sold at an average of $55,800.
A confidence booster, but not straightforward
Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch found many positives in a mixed market across both Book 1 and Book 2 for the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
“It’s been a massive fortnight with many detours and obstacles that we didn’t think we’d encounter, but overall when you reflect on the sale, it’s a confidence booster for the industry. Book 1 was fantastic and will be seen as a benchmark sale in the next few months,” said Bowditch.
“Book 2 is not straightforward, obviously. The lower end has become a trickier part of the market with buyers turning up and participating, but they aren’t buying the same volume as they have in recent years. To come away with an almost 70 per cent clearance rate at a similar average to last year is a satisfactory result. Overall, the volume change is the key. We had less horses (than 2024) and a similar number of buyers, but each buyer has also been looking to secure less horses.”
“Overall, the volume change is the key. We had less horses (than 2024) and a similar number of buyers, but each buyer has also been looking to secure less horses.” - Barry Bowditch
In 2024, the leading buyers by volume purchased 9, 8, and 8 horses with five buyers purchasing 4 horses each, while in 2025, this dropped to 5, 4, and then 12 buyers purchased three horses each.
“We’ve had lots of participation from Hong Kong, interstate, and buyers looking to pinhook into the 2-year-old sale. It was healthy enough, but would’ve been nice to sell more horses.
“From what I’ve found walking around yesterday and today, vendors are willing to meet the market and listen to offers. Get in touch with our team. There are plenty of nice horses who went unsold who can still be traded, and we’ll be doing our best to find people for those passed in lots, and build on the clearance rate to get it well into the high 70 per cent range.”
There were 102 passed in lots in Book 2, and a further 160 remain unsold from Book 1. For those sticking around for the rescheduled Magic Millions race meeting, Magic Millions are keen to get those unsold horses into new homes.
“We are looking forward to the big finale on Friday night. It was not the plan to be racing this Friday, we thought we’d be done by now, but it’s exciting to be finishing with a carnival finale. The Gold Coast is made for night racing and to finish with $13 million in prizemoney across seven races is going to be massive for Queensland Racing. Seven are dovetailing the broadcast of the 2YO Classic and the Guineas into the Big Bash coverage, which is a fun way to end the week.”
Moroney Bloodstock buys Classic prospect as top lot
The top lot for Book 2 went through the ring on Monday, being Lot 1276 a So You Think (NZ) colt who sold for $185,000 to R S Bloodstock, Catheryne Bruggeman, and Paul Moroney Bloodstock from the draft of Goodwood Farm in NSW.
Lot 1276 - So You Think (NZ) x Marjoram (Ire) (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“We thought he was the nicest staying colt in that part of the catalogue, and so much like So You Think. He walked like So You Think, moves like the High Chaparral and Sadler’s Wells line. We bought the dam in England, so it’s a family we know well, and it’s a high-class staying family,” said Moroney.
Lot 1276 is the second foal of Marjoram (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) whose first foal is an unnamed 2-year-old colt by Kingman (GB), and she has a St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) colt on the ground this season. Marjoram, a 15,000gns (AU$31,200) purchase by Paul Moroney Bloodstock, Armando Duarte, and Pegasus Bloodstock at the 2021 Tattersalls July Sale, is a half-sister to Listed York Galtres S. winner Martlet (GB) (Dansili {GB}), and this colt’s third dam is G1 Irish Oaks winner Margarula (Ire) (Doyoun {Ire}), dam of G1 Sydney Cup winner Grand Marshal (GB) (Dansili {GB}).
“We thought he (Lot 1276) was the nicest staying colt in that part of the catalogue, and so much like So You Think. We bought the dam in England, so it’s a family we know well, and it’s a high-class staying family.” - Paul Moroney
“He’s been bought for a client in Melbourne, and will have about eight weeks in the paddock before he goes to the educator. Our client won’t decide on a trainer until he’s had a few small preps with the pre-trainer, probably not really until he’s two. We bought him as a classic horse and think he has all the attribute to be a Derby horse and later a Cups horse.
“We just love the High Chaparral line and we know what those type of horses move like and look like and this colt fits what we wanted from that line. We sat back and waited for him and paid what was needed for him.
“We bought him (Lot 1276) as a classic horse and think he has all the attribute to be a Derby horse and later a Cups horse.” - Paul Moroney
“It’s very seldom that I open the bidding, but I was there from the beginning opening at $10,000 and going all the way through. We thought we’d get him for a bit less, we were hoping to pay $150,000, but you have to extend on the better ones. Luckily our client wanted him and stayed with him right to the wire. We are thrilled.”
So You Think has 59 stakes winners with 11 of those at Group 1 level, including G1 Sydney Cup winner Knight’s Order (Ire), G1 Australian Derby winner Quick Thinker, G1 Schweppes Oaks winner Sopressa, and three Guineas winners.
“We’ve ended up with five or six over the sale, and it’s been a long haul. We weren't that successful in Book 1 but bought some nice horses in Book 2 for a range of clients.
Paul Moroney and Catheryne Bruggeman | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“Book 1 was very strong, it was really hard buying in $200,000 to $500,000 mark. It held up very strongly, which is good for the rest of the sales from a vendors perspective going forward, but for us buyers it makes it tricky. There are a lot of people hurting at the moment and there’s not money in circulation, but that part of the market held up better than expected and it wasn’t just the big buyers involved, a big cross section of buyers were there. It was hard to buy the horse you really wanted. We got knocked out numerous times in Book 1 which was frustrating, but we’ve managed to buy some nice horses in Book 2.”
| 661 | Westbury Stud Ltd | C | Pierata | Miroslava (I Am Invincible) | Monarch Racing/Sears Racing Ladies/Catheryne Bruggeman/Paul Moroney Bloodstock | $200,000 | 1 |
| 1276 | Goodwood Farm | C | So You Think | Marjoram (Kodiac) | R S Bloodstock/Catheryne Bruggeman/Paul Moroney Bloodstock | $185,000 | 2 |
| 527 | Mill Park Stud | F | So You Think | It's a Myth (Sepoy) | Monarch Racing/Catheryne Bruggeman/Paul Moroney Bloodstock | $160,000 | 1 |
| 1315 | Riversdale Farm | F | Extreme Warrior | On a Given Day (Fastnet Rock) | Monarch Racing/Catheryne Bruggeman/Paul Moroney Bloodstock | $100,000 | 2 |
| 1222 | Hopetoun Farm | F | Pierata | I Like Red (Red Dazzler) | Sears Racing/Catheryne Bruggeman/ Paul Moroney Bloodstock | $45,000 | 2 |
| 1148 | Robyn Wise | F | Shalaa | Deep Gold (Deep Field) | Sears Racing/Catheryne Bruggeman/ Paul Moroney Bloodstock | $38,000 | 2 |
Table: Moroney Bloodstock purchases at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Boomer goes for more Spirit
Boomer Bloodstock (FBAA) teamed up with Beamish Bloodstock to go to $160,000 for Lot 1185, a Spirit Of Boom filly presented by Robyn Wise. “I thought she was, on type, as good as anything in the whole catalogue. I’m keen to buy QTIS fillies and was delighted with her. I will give her to Tony Gollan, and when we talked about her, he had another client who was keen on her, so we’ve partnered up,” said Craig Rounsefell of Boomer Bloodstock.
Lot 1185 - Spirit Of Boom x Foxarelli (filly) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“We have quite a few owners looking to buy QTIS fillies. With the program here as well as the Magic Millions series, there are many advantages to having QTIS horses trained here in Queensland and (hopefully) getting to the Magic Millions race day. We have a great association with Tony (Gollan) and are looking forward to this filly going into his system.”
Tony Gollan trained Spirit Of Boom and has had plenty of success with his progeny, led by Group 1 winner and now young sire Jonker.
Carig Rounsefell and Robyn Wise | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“There’s definitely found some softening in the market, in certain sectors, so we were able to buy well. The top end horses were very strong throughout and the buying bench seems a bit more selective than in previous years,” Rounsefell said on the state of the market.
Young sires step up
Tiger Of Malay was the best of the first-season sires by gross in Book 2 with five yearlings sold at an average of $55,800, a good return on his debut fee of $16,500 (inc GST), and above the sale average. His colt, Lot 1395, was the third top lot in Book 2, selling to Campton Racing for $165,000. Offered by Bowness Stud, the colt is the first foal of winning mare Streets Of Suemori (Shamus Award), from the family of recent Listed Caulfield Village S. winner Kin (Impending). Tiger Of Malay also enjoyed a 100 per cent clearance rate in Book 2.
Lot 1395 - Tiger Of Malay x Streets Of Suemori (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Lyndhurst Stud’s first season sire Barbaric was the next best, by gross, of the first-season sires in Book 2, selling all six of his catalogued lots at an average of $39,583, and these yearlings were produced off a $8800 (inc GST) fee.
Leading the first-season sires in Book 2 by average was Profiteer, who had two of his yearlings sell at an average of $72,500, however, he did have two more withdrawn and two pass in. Portland Sky averaged $70,000 with three of his six yearlings in Book 2 sold and the other three passed in.
Top lots
| 1276 | C | So You Think | Majoram | Goodwood Farm | R S Bloodstock/Catheryne Bruggeman/Paul Moroney Bloodstock | $185,000 |
| 1395 | C | Tiger Of Malay | Streets Of Suemori | Bowness Stud | Campton Racing | $165,000 |
| 1185 | F | Spirit Of Boom | Foxarelli | Robyn Wise | Boomer Bloodstock (FBAA)/ Beamish Bloodstock | $160,000 |
| 1195 | C | Spirit Of Boom | Glaciers | Eureka Stud | Danny Maher | $130,000 |
| 1260 | C | Spirit Of Boom | Little River | Toolooganvale Farm | Upper Bloodstock | $130,000 |
Top buyers
| Campton Racing | 2 | $102,500 | $165,000 | $205,000 |
| Chris Anderson Racing | 3 | $65,000 | $85,000 | $195,000 |
| Darby Racing | 3 | $63,333 | $105,000 | $190,000 |
| R S Bloodstock/Catheryne Bruggeman/Paul Moroney Bloodstock | 1 | $185,000 | $185,000 | $185,000 |
| John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) | 2 | $90,000 | $110,000 | $180,000 |
| Lucky Clover Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd | 3 | $58,333 | $90,000 | $175,000 |
| First Light Racing Pty Ltd/Gollan Racing | 1 | $170,000 | $170,000 | $170,000 |
| Curtis Racing Stables Pty Ltd | 3 | $55,333 | $90,000 | $166,000 |
| Riversley Park | 3 | $55,000 | $80,000 | $165,000 |
| Boomer Bloodstock (FBAA)/Beamish Bloodstock | 1 | $160,000 | $160,000 | $160,000 |
Vendor aggregate
| Eureka Stud, Cambooya, Qld | 13 | $75,385 | $170,000 | $980,000 |
| Baramul Stud, Widden Valley, NSW | 14 | $59,286 | $150,000 | $830,000 |
| Bowness Stud, Young, NSW | 16 | $49,750 | $165,000 | $796,000 |
| Newhaven Park, Boorowa, NSW | 10 | $51,450 | $120,000 | $514,500 |
| Murrulla Stud, Wingen, NSW | 11 | $44,409 | $85,000 | $488,500 |
| Widden Stud, Widden Valley, NSW | 15 | $31,867 | $110,000 | $478,000 |
| Raheen Stud, Warwick, Qld | 12 | $37,000 | $85,000 | $444,000 |
| Robyn Wise, Toowoomba, Qld | 10 | $43,200 | $160,000 | $432,000 |
| Goodwood Farm, Murrurundi, NSW | 8 | $50,938 | $185,000 | $407,500 |
| Lyndhurst Stud Farm, Warwick, Qld | 6 | $65,250 | $120,000 | $391,500 |
Vendor average (3 or more sold)
| Yulong, Nagambie, Vic | 3 | $93,333 | $135,000 | $280,000 |
| Eureka Stud, Cambooya, Qld | 13 | $75,385 | $170,000 | $980,000 |
| Lyndhurst Stud Farm, Warwick, Qld | 6 | $65,250 | $120,000 | $391,500 |
| Kenmore Lodge, Wyreema, Qld | 5 | $61,300 | $100,000 | $306,500 |
| Tyreel Stud, Agnes Banks, NSW | 4 | $61,250 | $110,000 | $245,000 |
| Riversdale Farm, Scone, NSW | 3 | $60,000 | $100,000 | $180,000 |
| Baramul Stud, Widden Valley, NSW | 14 | $59,286 | $150,000 | $830,000 |
| Toolooganvale Farm, Scone, NSW | 7 | $55,857 | $130,000 | $391,000 |
| Newhaven Park, Boorowa, NSW | 10 | $51,450 | $120,000 | $514,500 |
| Goodwood Farm, Murrurundi, NSW | 8 | $50,938 | $185,000 | $407,500 |
Sire aggregate
| Spirit Of Boom | 13 | $90,462 | $170,000 | $1,176,000 |
| Better Than Ready | 14 | $38,857 | $70,000 | $544,000 |
| D'Argento | 8 | $46,625 | $105,000 | $373,000 |
| Trapeze Artist | 11 | $33,818 | $110,000 | $372,000 |
| Pierata | 8 | $42,938 | $95,000 | $343,500 |
| Hellbent | 6 | $56,417 | $120,000 | $338,500 |
| Bivouac | 5 | $56,800 | $100,000 | $284,000 |
| Anders | 9 | $31,056 | $70,000 | $279,500 |
| Tiger Of Malay | 5 | $55,800 | $165,000 | $279,000 |
| Harry Angel | 4 | $63,750 | $100,000 | $255,000 |
Sire average (3 or more sold)
| Spirit Of Boom | 13 | $90,462 | $170,000 | $1,176,000 |
| Capitalist | 3 | $70,000 | $110,000 | $210,000 |
| Portland Sky | 3 | $70,000 | $110,000 | $210,000 |
| Harry Angel | 4 | $63,750 | $100,000 | $255,000 |
| Russian Revolution | 4 | $62,500 | $110,000 | $250,000 |
| Cosmic Force | 4 | $57,500 | $140,000 | $230,000 |
| Bivouac | 5 | $56,800 | $100,000 | $284,000 |
| Hellbent | 6 | $56,417 | $120,000 | $338,500 |
| Tiger Of Malay | 5 | $55,800 | $165,000 | $279,000 |
| Written By | 4 | $55,000 | $120,000 | $220,000 |
