Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
At A Glance
Day 1 of the 2025 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale saw the average drop slightly to $88,557 down from $99,525 but similar to 2023’s $91,723.
The median returned to the 2023 figure of $70,000, down from $80,000 on day 1 of 2024.
The gross held steady at $13,283,500, comparable to 2023’s gross of $13,575,000 but down from $14,132,500 in 2024. The clearance rate was an improvement on last year, with 150 of the 190 lots offered sold, and only 13 withdrawn, putting it at 84.75 per cent at the end of day 1, compared to the same point in 2024 which achieved 78.89 per cent.
The sale-topper was Lot 15, a $450,000 Playing God x Clear Blue Sky colt purchased by Idan Young. Two other yearlings sold for $400,000 - a Zoustar x Leitfaden colt and a Playing God x Super Stardom colt. Last year's sale topper was a record for this sale at $625,000.
Parnham Racing Stables lead the buyers' tally going home with 10 lots for a total spend of $1.42 million, while the leading buyer by average was Pearce Racing who spent an average of $198,750 each on four lots.
Leading the way by average among the vendors on day 1 was Yarradale Stud who sold four yearlings at an average of $195,000, while the leading vendor by gross was Greenfields Lodge whose 10 sales equated to just over $1.1 million.
Playing God dominated the sale with three of the top four sellers; 20 sold for an average of $154,250 and leading the gross with over $3 million in receipts. He was also the leading sire by average (2 or more sold).
Sale topper comes early in the day
It was Lot 15 who topped the first day of the 2025 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale, and the Playing God colt was offered by Alwyn Park. “I’m rapt, he’s a lovely horse and rapt for the owners (Anita Vale). It’s a privilege to prepare a horse like that and the owners have bred some lovely horses and he looks like another one,” said Alwyn Park’s John Andrew.
Dan Morton will train for buyer Idan Young. “In my view, he was the nicest horse on the complex. A Playing God who we looked at a lot of times. He was well-found with a lot of the main players on him including Hong Kong. We are very happy to have him in our yard,” said Morton.
“He ticks every box, a real athlete, and Playing God can’t do anymore. There’s a new stallion on the page, we’ve had plenty of the family over the years too. The breeders, pound for pound, are one of the best in Australia, let alone over here, they breed proper horses.”
He is the first foal of Clear Blue Sky (Sessions), an unraced half-sister to Group 1 winner and young sire Portland Sky, who was sold by Alwyn Park Stud in 2019 at this sale. Dan Morton trained triple Group 1 winner Scenic Shot (Scenic {Ire}) from this family who won 17 races and over $3 million who was a graduate from Anita Vale Stud.
Lot 15 - Playing God x Clear Blue Sky (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
While nothing reached the record price set last year of $625,000, two lots made $400,000, being the Playing God colt from Super Stardom (War Chant {USA}) purchased by Pearce Racing and the Zoustar colt from Leitfaden (Choisir) purchased by Parnham Racing.
Lot 141 is the second foal of Super Stardom, who won twice at two, and was offered by Yarradale Stud. It’s a strong juvenile family with third dam being G2 Karrakatta Plate winner Born Priceless (Pricelessly {USA}).
Very locally driven sale
Aside from three lots who went to New Zealand, all the horses sold stayed locally with 129 of the 150 sold staying in Western Australia.
| WA | 129 | $ 11,438,500 | $ 88,671 |
| VIC | 12 | $ 1,030,000 | $ 85,833 |
| NEW ZEALAND | 3 | $ 395,000 | $ 131,667 |
| NSW | 3 | $ 205,000 | $ 68,333 |
| QLD | 2 | $ 195,000 | $ 97,500 |
Table: Spend by location
Unsurprisingly this meant that the leading buyers were all from WA, with Parnham Racing Stables purchasing 10 lots to lead the buyers chart spending $1.42 million with a top price of $400,000 on Lot 73, the Zoustar half-brother to Listed Sir Ernest Lee-Steere Classic winner Saintorio (Oratorio). This is the family of triple Group 1 winner Fangirl (Sebring).
“It was very competitive at the top end, and the middle of the road was a little bit soft, but the nice ones sold really well,” said Neville Parnham.
“The Zoustar is a lovely horse, very athletic, not your typical Zoustar type but should get a solid mile. He didn’t look like a speed demon but we knew what we were buying and hopefully we can get some benefit from that. He’s a good loose walker and a sensible colt.”
Lot 73 - Zoustar x Leitfaden (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Of the others, Parnham Racing purchased, Neville picked out the Playing God, Lot 51 who cost $300,000. Out of High Aims (Southern Image {USA}), he is a half-brother to a Listed winner Queen Alina (Mahuta) from an imported family which features Group 1 winner Miss Toshiba (USA) (Sir Ivor {USA}).
“I have the 2-year-old by Bondi who is showing good potential. The whole family has been fairly handy, and this particular colt took my eye. For mine, he was in the top three or four colts in the sale and the other two sold for $450,000 and $400,000,” Parnham said, referring to the top two priced Playing God colts on day 1.
“I was the underbidder on the Super Stardom one. This colt, in a lot of ways, more than those two, is like his sire. That’s why I liked him and he moved so well. A nice going walker and clean on x-rays and scopes. He was a no brainer and I was pleasantly rewarded to get him for good value.”
Neville Parnham | Image courtesy of Racing WA
A successful day in Perth
With the sale's median and average holding up compared to 2023, and slightly down on the record breaking sale of 2024, Magic Millions were pleased with the day, particularly the improved clearance rate.
“I thought today was a strong day for Western Australia. It’s the second most successful book 1 we’ve had there. There was a healthy clearance rate, a genuine market, and a really good spread of buyers,” said Barry Bowditch.
Barry Bowditch | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“We’ve sold more through the ring with more individual buyers than last year. And the clearance rate is sensational, especially when compared to the other sales so far this year which is a huge credit to vendors here."
Another interesting titbit is that in 2024 26 per cent of lots (across the whole sale) sold for $100,000 or more. Day 1 in 2025 saw 45 lots make that figure – representing 30 per cent of all sales, an increase on the expected figure from last year – which when combined with the slightly lower median means that the bottom half of the market was weaker than in 2024.
Leading vendor by gross
Greenfields Thoroughbreds, owned by Tony Patrizi, was the leading vendor with 10 lots sold for $1.1 million. Their top lot was Lot 99, a Written By colt who sold for $260,000. He is a half-brother to G2 Dane Ripper Stakes winner Comrade Rosa (Capitalist) out of Listed winner No Looking Back (Redoute’s Choice) and was purchased by Yenrise Pty Ltd.
“It’s been a massive result. We are all having a drink together and celebrating,” said Lachlan Donnelly.
“It was a very strong, even draft, and I was confident coming in that I didn’t have one standout horse and the results show that.” With a top price of $260,000 and an average of $110,250, the results certainly do indicate that Greenfields Lodge had an even draft.
On the whole sale, Donnelly was positive. “I think it was strong with an 84 per cent clearance rate which is super. Everyone has come expecting it to be tough and maybe that’ll be how it pans out tomorrow. But the strong horses sold well, and we were lucky to have strong horses. Let’s hope it stays strong and hope the clearance rate stays strong and everyone can walk away happy.”
Lachlan Donnelly | Image courtesy of Greenfields Lodge
Proven sires make their mark
Of the top 10 sires by average, they were all proven sires with Western Australia’s outstanding horse Playing God leading on all metrics. His stock were three of the top four lots sold, and with the largest number of horses catalogued he easily led by the end of day one on gross.
His figures are hard to argue with having 22 stakes winners, including two Group 1 winners from only 218 runners. Maschino and Manhattan Rain were the only other two Western Australian-based sires to make the top 10 on average.
Playing God | Standing at Darling View Thoroughbreds
Written By, whose 2-year-old filly The Playwright looks very special, was a surprise success for the day coming in second by average with three of his four lots selling for an average of $121,700.
Too Darn Hot (GB) continues to be loved in the sale ring, with both his two lots catalogued for the day selling at a $120,00 average.
Among the top 10 sires by average were two emerging horses whose first juveniles are showing enough that buyers had confidence to bid on them in a market that valued proven sires, being Farnan whose two sales averaged $112,000 and Bivouac whose four sales averaged $107,000.
Wild Ruler topped the first season sires with three lots sold for an average of $81,700, while locally-based first season sire Splintex had 14 yearlings sell for an average of $53,800.
Gallery: Young stallions whose progeny were sought-after on day 1
“The sale is predominantely held up by the local market. Westspeed is very important here and locals get behind the sale, as we’ve seen with most locals being sold here. We are so fortunate to have a sire of Playing God’s credentials here and his figures tell the story on his influence as he’s grossed over $3 million which is huge in the perspective of the day.”
Vendors by gross
| Greenfields Lodge, Capel, WA | 10 | 10 | $ 1,102,500 | $ 110,250 |
| Mungrup Pty Ltd, Narrikup, WA | 10 | 9 | $ 887,500 | $ 98,611 |
| Forest View Farm, Jindong, WA | 9 | 9 | $ 817,500 | $ 90,833 |
| Darling View Thoroughbreds, Mundijong, WA (As Agent) | 16 | 11 | $ 812,500 | $ 73,864 |
| Yarradale Stud, Gidgegannup, WA | 6 | 4 | $ 780,000 | $ 195,000 |
| Lynward Park Stud, Bullsbrook, WA | 6 | 6 | $ 755,000 | $ 125,833 |
| Mogumber Park, Bullsbrook, WA | 9 | 7 | $ 755,000 | $ 107,857 |
| Westbury Park, Pinjarra, WA | 9 | 7 | $ 607,500 | $ 86,786 |
| Ridgeport Holdings, Midland, WA | 4 | 4 | $ 590,000 | $ 147,500 |
| Gold Front Thoroughbreds, Gingin, WA | 10 | 8 | $ 575,000 | $ 71,875 |
Vendors by average (2 or more sold)
| Yarradale Stud, Gidgegannup, WA | 6 | 4 | $ 780,000 | $ 195,000 |
| Ridgeport Holdings, Midland, WA | 4 | 4 | $ 590,000 | $ 147,500 |
| Lynward Park Stud, Bullsbrook, WA | 6 | 6 | $ 755,000 | $ 125,833 |
| Price Thoroughbreds, Capel, WA (As Agent for G & G Bloodstock Australia Pty Ltd) | 3 | 2 | $ 250,000 | $ 125,000 |
| Greenfields Lodge, Capel, WA | 10 | 10 | $ 1,102,500 | $ 110,250 |
| Mogumber Park, Bullsbrook, WA | 9 | 7 | $ 755,000 | $ 107,857 |
| Mungrup Pty Ltd, Narrikup, WA | 10 | 9 | $ 887,500 | $ 98,611 |
| Dawson Stud, Myalup, WA (As Agent) | 6 | 3 | $ 285,000 | $ 95,000 |
| Forest View Farm, Jindong, WA | 9 | 9 | $ 817,500 | $ 90,833 |
| Westbury Park, Pinjarra, WA | 9 | 7 | $ 607,500 | $ 86,786 |
Buyers by gross (Day 1)
| Parnham Racing Stables | 10 | $ 1,420,000 | $ 142,000 |
| Pearce Racing | 4 | $ 795,000 | $ 198,750 |
| Gangemi Racing | 7 | $ 665,000 | $ 95,000 |
| Commercial Bloodstock Services P/L (FBAA) | 6 | $ 600,000 | $ 100,000 |
| Byerley Bloodstock | 3 | $ 500,000 | $ 166,667 |
| Corridor Bloodstock | 3 | $ 480,000 | $ 160,000 |
| Idan Young | 1 | $ 450,000 | $ 450,000 |
| Yenrise Pty Ltd | 2 | $ 365,000 | $ 182,500 |
| Ryan Hill Racing | 5 | $ 355,000 | $ 71,000 |
| Maureen Daly | 2 | $ 340,000 | $ 170,000 |
Buyers by average (2 or more bought)
| Pearce Racing | 4 | $ 795,000 | $ 198,750 |
| Yenrise Pty Ltd | 2 | $ 365,000 | $ 182,500 |
| Maureen Daly | 2 | $ 340,000 | $ 170,000 |
| Byerley Bloodstock | 3 | $ 500,000 | $ 166,667 |
| Corridor Bloodstock | 3 | $ 480,000 | $ 160,000 |
| Parnham Racing Stables | 10 | $ 1,420,000 | $ 142,000 |
| Commercial Bloodstock Services P/L (FBAA) | 6 | $ 600,000 | $ 100,000 |
| Gangemi Racing | 7 | $ 665,000 | $ 95,000 |
| Bridge Patrol Lodge Pty Ltd | 3 | $ 275,000 | $ 91,667 |
| Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) | 2 | $ 180,000 | $ 90,000 |
Sires by gross (Day 1)
| Playing God | 23 | 20 | $ 3,085,000 | $ 154,250 |
| Splintex | 19 | 14 | $ 753,500 | $ 53,821 |
| Maschino | 8 | 5 | $ 587,500 | $ 117,500 |
| Bivouac | 4 | 4 | $ 430,000 | $ 107,500 |
| Zoustar | 1 | 1 | $ 400,000 | $ 400,000 |
| Rommel | 7 | 6 | $ 377,500 | $ 62,917 |
| Written By | 4 | 3 | $ 365,000 | $ 121,667 |
| Blue Point (Ire) | 5 | 5 | $ 362,500 | $ 72,500 |
| Awesome Rock | 9 | 8 | $ 357,500 | $ 44,688 |
| Hellbent | 4 | 4 | $ 352,500 | $ 88,125 |
Sires by average (2 or more sold)
| Playing God | 23 | 20 | $ 3,085,000 | $ 154,250 |
| Written By | 4 | 3 | $ 365,000 | $ 121,667 |
| Too Darn Hot (GB) | 2 | 2 | $ 240,000 | $ 120,000 |
| Maschino | 8 | 5 | $ 587,500 | $ 117,500 |
| Farnan | 3 | 2 | $ 225,000 | $ 112,500 |
| Manhattan Rain | 4 | 3 | $ 330,000 | $ 110,000 |
| Bivouac | 4 | 4 | $ 430,000 | $ 107,500 |
| Dundeel (NZ) | 2 | 2 | $ 210,000 | $ 105,000 |
| So You Think (NZ) | 2 | 2 | $ 205,000 | $ 102,500 |
| Hellbent | 4 | 4 | $ 352,500 | $ 88,125 |
