Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
At A Glance
Day 2 of the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale showed the softening in the market across Book 2 with the average falling to $40,078, down from $47,545 in 2024 and $50,219 in 2023.
At $30,000, the median was slightly down on the 2024 figure of $35,000.
The gross was also down at $4,849,500 compared to $5,800,500 in 2024, although the number of lots sold stayed fairly static at 121 against 123 in 2024.
The clearance rate was 78 per cent, compared to last year's 84 per cent, but there was some good news with the clearance rate for Day 1 continuing to increase over the second day and hitting 89 per cent.
Williams Racing WA and Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) led by gross buying three yearlings for $350,000, while the local buying bench was strong with Ryan Hill Racing taking home the most horses (six) at an average of $16,583. Both Parnham Racing and Peter & Luke Fernie were active, each buying five yearlings at averages of $61,200 and $58,400 respectively.
Yarradale Stud was the leading vendor on Day 2 with 10 yearlings sold for a gross of $597,500, while Willow Dale Farm was the leading vendor by average (3 or more sold) achieving an average price of $76,200. Only four vendors achieved an average higher than the sale average (2 or more sold).
The sale topper for Day 2 was Lot 350, a Maschino x Burning Magic colt who was purchased by trainer Summer Dickson for $185,000, while nine lots made $100,000 or more.
Playing God led the sires’ table again with 10 yearlings sold for a gross of $812,500, also leading by average at $81,250. Splintex was leading first season sire with 13 sold for an average of $27,423.
Maschino leads the way with last minute book-topper
Alwyn Park’s Maschino closed off Book 2 with a bang, siring the top lot of the day; Lot 350, a colt out of four-time winner Burning Magic (War Chant {USA}), sold for $185,000 to Port Kennedy-based trainer Summer Dickson. Prepared by Ruby Racing and Breeding, the colt was bred by Goldlight Nominees and descends from enduring black type producer and Group 3 Flaming Heart (Salieri {USA}).
Lot 350 - Maschino x Burning Magic (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“I was on the phone to a new client for the stable and he asked me multiple times, ‘do you really like it?’ And I told him it was the only horse I wanted in the sale,” said Dickson. “We came to the sales on Wednesday and looked at the horse multiple times. I really liked the horse and I have a good feeling about him.”
Competition for the colt was fierce, and Dickson feared for a while that she would miss out.
“I honestly thought the horse would go for about $50,000,” she said. “When (the price) went into the hundreds, I thought I was out, but I got the phone call at the right time.
Summer Dickson | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
“I’m really thankful to have someone like that in the stable. I’m so excited to bring him back home.
“He’s a really strong, robust colt. He’s got a really big airway in him and he walks really strong from behind. He had everything that I look for in a horse.”
It was an outstanding result for Ruby Racing and Breeding, taking up almost two thirds of the team’s earnings from the second book at the close of sale.
“He’s (Lot 350) a really strong, robust colt. He’s got a really big airway in him and he walks really strong from behind. He had everything that I look for in a horse.” - Summer Dickson
“We are absolutely delighted,” Ruby Racing and Breeding Managing Owner Dan O’Bree said. “To sell a Maschino colt for $185,000 is amazing. I’m almost lost for words.”
Maschino was also the sire of the second top lot - Mungrup’s Lot 324, a filly out of G3 SAJC Fillies Classic-winning Wowee (Choisir), which sold to Williams Racing and Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) for $170,000. The rising 18-year-old, who stands for $8,800, finished third in the rankings for the book by aggregate, and second by average with $72,571 per lot, sitting just behind Playing God.
Admire Mars colt attracts plenty of attention
A colt by Arrowfield Stud shuttler Admire Mars (Jpn) attracted plenty of attention on the second day of the sale and ultimately was sold for the third highest price of the day, with Williams Racing and Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) signing the docket for $150,000. Presented by Price Thoroughbreds, as agent for G & G Bloodstock Australia, the colt is the first foal out of Hidden (Pariah), an unraced daughter of G1 Railway Stakes winner Covertly (Metal Storm), who won or performed in stakes races on both sides of the nation.
It is a family filled with Western Australian black type, as Covertly is half-sister to three other stakes winners, including, G3 Colonel Reeves Stakes winner So Secret (Danetime), as well as herself the dam of Detective (Snitzel), who took out the Listed Starlight Express Room Stakes and performed to Group 2 level before export to Hong Kong.
The colt is linked through his third dam, the triple Listed winner Most Secret (Bletchley Park), to $1 million earner Super Smink (Super One), winner of the G2 Karrakatta Plate and third in the Railway. The 4-year-old mare is over in Victoria presently, hoping to add a lucrative interstate raid to her record, and has accepted to run in the G1 Futurity Stakes at Caulfield this Saturday.
“He was a horse that, through the inspections, was one of our highest rated colts and was really high up in the talent rankings,” Hedge told The Thoroughbred Report. “So to get him for $150,000 in a very buoyant sale, we felt that represented good value.
Suman Hedge | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“Admire Mars is really well credentialed for Australia, he was a very effective miler in Japan and stands at a great stud. This particular colt has got a bit of pedigree behind him - Covertly has already left a daughter who has produced a stakes winner, and there are multiple stakes winners in the pedigree.”
Hidden's three-quarter-sister Secret Selection (Redoute's Choice) has produced eight-time winner Big Hearted (Hallowed Crown), a multiple stakes performer who has captured the Listed Singapore Gold Cup.
“Physically, he's a neat type of horse, very athletic and strong," Hedge continued. “Great movement, and a good step on him. We saw the horse out walk particularly well and he displayed a really good attitude.
Admire Mars (Jpn) | Standing at Arrowfield Stud
“We think he's got all the ingredients to make a very good racehorse, and of course, he will get every possible chance with Grant and Alana Williams.”
Lot 229 was the only progeny of triple Group 1 winner Admire Mars in the catalogue, making him a rare gem available in the west. A winner of four races as a juvenile, including the G1 Hai Futurity Stakes and G2 Hai Nisai Stakes, Admire Mars delivered his first two stakes winners in his native Japan over the four weeks; Namura Clara (Jpn) started him off with a mid-January win in the Listed Kobai Stakes, before Embroidery (Jpn) was victorious in the G3 Hai Queen Cup last weekend. He has stood four seasons at Arrowfield Stud for $22,000 (inc GST).
Lot 229 - Admire Mars (Jpn) x Hidden (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Darling View stallions dominate Perth
Playing God remained remained unchallenged as the leading sire by aggregate and average (for sires with three or more lots sold) at the close of selling on day two of the Perth sale; WA’s Champion Sire had 30 of his offspring sell for a gross of $3.9 million across the whole sale, averaging $129,917 per lot sold. His 10 yearlings sold on the second day amounted to a gross of $812,500, with an average of $81,250.
His top lot in Book Two - Lot 191, a colt out of R. Listed Magic Millions Perth 2YO Classic winner Cadenza (Oratorio) - was the fourth highest of the day, selling for $140,000 to Morton Racing from the draft of Willaview Park. He is a half-brother to A Lot filly Golden Opera, who was runner-up at her first two starts, the latter of which was behind last weekend’s 2YO Classic winner Do I Feel Lucky (Dirty Work). Playing God rewarded breeders this sale with a 5.2 time return on investment off of the $25,000 (ex GST for comparison) service fee that he stood for in 2022.
Lot 191 - Playing God x Cadenza (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The first yearlings from fellow Darling View Thoroughbreds resident Splintex were also well received, with 27 selling across the whole sale for an aggregate of $1.1 million, putting him just ahead of Maschino to finish second in the overall sires’ rankings. His 13 yearlings sold in Book Two averaged $27,423 to lead the first season sires for the second day. He finished the sale with a top lot of $100,000 and an average of $41,111, with an average return of investment of 4.1 times his $10,000 (ex GST for comparison) service fee.
Darley resident Bivouac, whose oldest crop are juveniles, was the leading sire outside of Western Australia by aggregate, with four of his offspring selling for $430,000 across the sale, averaging $107,500 per lot. Widden Stud’s Written By was the leading non-Western sire by average for three or more offspring sold, averaging $121,667 across his three progeny to sell.
Out of an $18.5 million sale gross at the time of writing, Darling View’s pair are responsible for $5 million in sales, and the top five stallions by aggregate - including Maschino, Gingerbread Man, and Manhattan Rain - amount of $7.5 million in sales between them.
Splintex | Standing at Darling View Thoroughbreds
100 per cent clearance helps Yarradale finish second day on top
Yarradale Stud, home to Gingerbread Man who was second leading sire by gross in Book Two to Playing God, finished the day on top with 100 per cent clearance over the 10 lots on offer and a leading gross of $597,500, averaging $59,750 per lot - this followed on from a stellar first day for the team, where they sold five out of six lots presented for an average of $168,000. Their top lot was Lot 225, a son of their resident stallion out of winning O’Reilly mare Good Fortune, a daughter of G2 Karrakatta Plate-winning Brava Fortune (Falbrav). The colt was a $120,000 purchase for Parnham Racing Stables.
The boost from the second day of selling enabled Yarradale Stud to finish the sale as the leading vendors by gross at $1.44 million across 15 lots sold, and overall third by average price - second among vendors with two or more lots sold - with an overall overall of $95,833. Darling View Thoroughbreds came in second by gross across the whole sale, selling 21 lots for an aggregate of $1.35 million, and Greenfields Lodge had 100 per cent clearance across their 14 lots to finish third, bringing home $1.24 million.
Willow Dale Stud were the leading vendors by average (three or more sold) in Book Two with $76,200 across five yearlings sold, which placed them third by average across the whole sale for vendors with three or more sold, with an average of $90,167 across six total lots. Price Thoroughbreds offered two lots and had their average significantly buoyed by their Admire Mars colt to finish on top with an average of $90,000.
Magic Millions team pleased with wrap up to Book Two
The Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale closed with a 78 per cent clearance across Book Two and 121 lots selling for an average of $40,079. This was a softening from last year's results of an 84 per cent clearance and average of $47,545 in 2024, but Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch was still pleased with how both vendors and buyers approached the sale.
“We have built upon what was achieved yesterday with the marketplace,” Bowditch said. “To have a clearance rate that is nearing 80 per cent, an average of $40,000 and a gross of $4.8 million is very acceptable for Book Two, and the clearance rate for Day One has now increased to 89 per cent!”
“We have built upon what was achieved yesterday with the marketplace.” - Barry Bowditch
Bowditch commanded the “great thirst” for quality horses amongst locals, who purchased 118 of the 121 lots sold in Book 2, accounting for $4.71 million of the book’s sales. The team-up of Grant and Alana Williams with Suman Hedge resulted in three purchases for a gross spend on the second day of $350,000.
There were 65 individual buyers across Book Two; Ryan Hill Racing were the most active buyers by quantity, spending $99,500 across six lots, with Parnham Racing Stables just behind them, spending $306,000 across five lots. Locals Peter and Luke Fernie and Trevor Andrews were also active through the day, purchasing five lots each.
“I would like to congratulate the vendors for creating a genuine market and giving the buyers a great opportunity to buy horses at a value price,” Bowditch said. “I’d like to thank the team - David and Rebecca here in Perth as well as the rest of the interstate team. It’s been a big build up from Pinjarra to here today.
Barry Bowditch | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Obviously the investment here in the Swan Valley is something that has improved the product that we are selling in the state. The Swan Valley continues to provide a viable venue that created a very genuine market in the west.”
Attention now turns to the Magic Millions Tasmania Yearling Sale on February 26.
Top 10 vendors by gross (day 2)
| Yarradale Stud, Gidgegannup, WA | 10 | 10 | $ 597,500 | $ 59,750 |
| Darling View Thoroughbreds, Mundijong, WA (As Agent) | 12 | 10 | $ 532,500 | $ 53,250 |
| Willow Dale Farm, Waroona, WA (As Agent) | 7 | 4 | $ 345,000 | $ 86,250 |
| Mungrup Pty Ltd, Narrikup, WA | 6 | 5 | $ 322,500 | $ 64,500 |
| Ruby Racing & Breeding, Kojarena, WA (As Agent) | 6 | 4 | $ 261,000 | $ 65,250 |
| Scenic Lodge, Muchea, WA | 6 | 5 | $ 196,000 | $ 39,200 |
| Gold Front Thoroughbreds, Gingin, WA | 7 | 7 | $ 193,000 | $ 27,571 |
| Rangeview Stud, Burekup, WA | 8 | 8 | $ 186,000 | $ 23,250 |
| Price Thoroughbreds, Capel, WA (As Agent for G & G Bloodstock Australia Pty Ltd) | 2 | 2 | $ 180,000 | $ 90,000 |
| Willaview Park, Narrikup, WA (As Agent) | 3 | 2 | $ 145,000 | $ 72,500 |
Top 10 vendors by average (2 or more sold) (day 2)
| Price Thoroughbreds, Capel, WA (As Agent for G & G Bloodstock Australia Pty Ltd) | 2 | 2 | $ 180,000 | $ 90,000 |
| Willow Dale Farm, Waroona, WA (As Agent) | 7 | 4 | $ 345,000 | $ 86,250 |
| Willaview Park, Narrikup, WA (As Agent) | 3 | 2 | $ 145,000 | $ 72,500 |
| Ruby Racing & Breeding, Kojarena, WA (As Agent) | 6 | 4 | $ 261,000 | $ 65,250 |
| Mungrup Pty Ltd, Narrikup, WA | 6 | 5 | $ 322,500 | $ 64,500 |
| Kingsgrove Stud, Serpentine, WA | 2 | 2 | $ 125,000 | $ 62,500 |
| Ridgeport Holdings, Midland, WA (As Agent) | 3 | 2 | $ 120,000 | $ 60,000 |
| Yarradale Stud, Gidgegannup, WA | 10 | 10 | $ 597,500 | $ 59,750 |
| Darling View Thoroughbreds, Mundijong, WA (As Agent) | 12 | 10 | $ 532,500 | $ 53,250 |
| Scenic Lodge, Muchea, WA | 6 | 5 | $ 196,000 | $ 39,200 |
Top 10 buyers by aggregate (day 2)
| Williams Racing WA/Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) | 3 | $ 350,000 | $ 116,667 |
| Parnham Racing Stables | 5 | $ 306,000 | $ 61,200 |
| Peter & Luke Fernie | 5 | $ 292,000 | $ 58,400 |
| Commercial Bloodstock Services P/L (FBAA) | 4 | $ 287,500 | $ 71,875 |
| Morton Racing | 4 | $ 228,000 | $ 57,000 |
| Summer Dickson | 2 | $ 209,000 | $ 104,500 |
| Jim Taylor | 3 | $ 160,500 | $ 53,500 |
| Trevor Andrews | 5 | $ 159,500 | $ 31,900 |
| Pearce Racing | 4 | $ 157,000 | $ 39,250 |
| Impressive Racing | 3 | $ 142,500 | $ 47,500 |
Top 10 buyers day 2 by average (2 or more bought)
| Williams Racing WA/Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) | 3 | $ 350,000 | $ 116,667 |
| Summer Dickson | 2 | $ 209,000 | $ 104,500 |
| Commercial Bloodstock Services P/L (FBAA) | 4 | $ 287,500 | $ 71,875 |
| Parnham Racing Stables | 5 | $ 306,000 | $ 61,200 |
| Peter & Luke Fernie | 5 | $ 292,000 | $ 58,400 |
| Ryan Fuller | 2 | $ 114,000 | $ 57,000 |
| Morton Racing | 4 | $ 228,000 | $ 57,000 |
| Tiarnna Noske | 2 | $ 112,500 | $ 56,250 |
| Jim Taylor | 3 | $ 160,500 | $ 53,500 |
| Impressive Racing | 3 | $ 142,500 | $ 47,500 |
Buyers Location
| WA | 118 | $ 4,711,500 | $ 39,928 |
| VIC | 2 | $ 88,000 | $ 44,000 |
| SA | 1 | $ 50,000 | $ 50,000 |
Top 10 sires day 2 by aggregate
| Playing God | 14 | 10 | $ 812,500 | $ 81,250 |
| Gingerbread Man | 9 | 9 | $ 542,500 | $ 60,278 |
| Maschino | 10 | 7 | $ 508,000 | $ 72,571 |
| Splintex | 17 | 13 | $ 356,500 | $ 27,423 |
| Manhattan Rain | 9 | 7 | $ 237,000 | $ 33,857 |
| Shooting to Win | 10 | 7 | $ 209,000 | $ 29,857 |
| A Lot (USA) | 10 | 6 | $ 180,500 | $ 30,083 |
| Ducimus | 3 | 3 | $ 160,000 | $ 53,333 |
| Admire Mars (Jpn) | 1 | 1 | $ 150,000 | $ 150,000 |
| Awesome Rock | 8 | 6 | $ 148,000 | $ 24,667 |
Top 10 sires by avg day 2 (2 or more sold)
| Playing God | 14 | 10 | $ 812,500 | $ 81,250 |
| Maschino | 10 | 7 | $ 508,000 | $ 72,571 |
| Gingerbread Man | 9 | 9 | $ 542,500 | $ 60,278 |
| Ducimus | 3 | 3 | $ 160,000 | $ 53,333 |
| Doubtland | 3 | 3 | $ 142,500 | $ 47,500 |
| Russian Camelot (Ire) | 2 | 2 | $ 90,000 | $ 45,000 |
| King's Legacy | 2 | 2 | $ 76,000 | $ 38,000 |
| Manhattan Rain | 9 | 7 | $ 237,000 | $ 33,857 |
| Snippetson | 4 | 4 | $ 132,000 | $ 33,000 |
| Universal Ruler | 4 | 4 | $ 123,500 | $ 30,875 |
Magic Millions Perth First season Sires by Average (both days)
| Wild Ruler | 3 | 3 | $ 245,000 | $ 81,667 |
| St Mark's Basilica (Fr) | 3 | 3 | $ 220,000 | $ 73,333 |
| Portland Sky | 2 | 2 | $ 145,000 | $ 72,500 |
| Tiger of Malay | 7 | 3 | $ 210,000 | $ 70,000 |
| Palace Pier (GB) | 1 | 1 | $ 60,000 | $ 60,000 |
| Acrobat | 3 | 3 | $ 130,000 | $ 43,333 |
| Splintex | 36 | 27 | $ 1,110,000 | $ 41,111 |
| Captivant | 2 | 2 | $ 62,000 | $ 31,000 |
| Glenfiddich | 1 | 1 | $ 22,500 | $ 22,500 |
Magic Millions Perth Leading Sires by Average (both days) 3 or more sold
| Playing God | 37 | 30 | $ 3,897,500 | $ 129,917 |
| Written By | 4 | 3 | $ 365,000 | $ 121,667 |
| Bivouac | 4 | 4 | $ 430,000 | $ 107,500 |
| Maschino | 18 | 12 | $ 1,095,500 | $ 91,292 |
| Hellbent | 4 | 4 | $ 352,500 | $ 88,125 |
| Doubtland | 4 | 4 | $ 342,500 | $ 85,625 |
| Wild Ruler | 3 | 3 | $ 245,000 | $ 81,667 |
| Dirty Work | 3 | 3 | $ 240,000 | $ 80,000 |
| St Mark's Basilica (Fr) | 3 | 3 | $ 220,000 | $ 73,333 |
| Blue Point (Ire) | 5 | 5 | $ 362,500 | $ 72,500 |
