2024 MMGC Magazine

MAGIC MILLIONS GOLD COAST YEARLING SALE AND CARNIVAL JANUARY 2024

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10/8/2023 12:21 pm

MAGIC MILLIONS 2024

#WHERETHEMAGICHAPPENS

Step outside the square

25 years ago Arrowfield stepped outside the square to give Australian buyers & breeders unprecedented access to Japan’s world-class stallions & bloodlines.

HITOTSU – ARROWFIELD GRADUATE

ARROWFIELD.COM.AU

Bhima has sold five individual G1-winners through Magic Millions since 2019 TROPICAL SQUALL G1 Flight Stakes

MANZOICE

G1 Victoria Derby

IMPERATRIZ Champion 3YO in NZ 2021-22 Champion Sprinter/Miler in NZ 2022-23 G1 Levin Classic G1 NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes G1 Waikato Railway Stakes G1 Waikato Sprint G1 William Reid Stakes G1 AJ Moir Stakes G1 Manikato Stakes

FORBIDDEN LOVE G1 Surround Stakes G1 George Ryder Stakes G1 Canterbury Stakes

MILITARIZE

G1 Golden Rose G1 Champagne Stakes G1 Sires’ Produce Stakes

Who will be next?

LAST SEASON

942 MILLION $11.56 HORSES

WON MORE THAN

IN BOBS BONUSES AND DOUBLE-UPS THIS IS ON TOP OF RECORD PRIZEMONEY PAID IN NSW

BONUSES CAN BE WON ON OVER

5400

NSW RACES

TO BE IN - MAKE SURE IT’S BOBS ELIGIBLE

IT PAYS TO RACE QUEENSLAND BRED...

FREE REGISTRATION FOR BREEDER & PURCHASER INTO QTIS. Queensland bred horses are eligible to race for:

$13M+

QTIS PRIZE MONEY BONUSES

$2M+

QTIS JEWEL RACEDAY

$1M

MAGIC MILLIONS QTIS RACE

$750K

KING OF THE MOUNTAIN

Visit the Racing Queensland marquee at the sale. * Obligations with the Australian Studbook still apply Correct Breeder must be identified to Australian Studbook for Breeder Bonuses Eligibility B Breedbacks attract existing fees and deadlines

www.racingqueensland.com.au/qtis

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS PUBLISHER Andrew Reichard ADVERTISING: Andrew Reichard Mobile: 0415 464 904 andrew@bluebloods.com.au Warren Wruck 0414 385 216 warren@bluebloods.com.au EDITORIAL Kimberly Gardner Renee Geelen Glen Latham Kristen Manning Trevor Marshallsea Jessica Owers Katrina Partridge Andrew Reichard Bianca Trathen BLUEBLOODS would like to thank all the participating vendors who provided their own photos.

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Val Hayward

PHOTOGRAPHERS Magic Millions Photographers: Bruno Cannatelli Sharon Chapman Sarah Ebbett Ashley Grant Lisa Grimm Bronwen Healy Dean Johnson Makoto Kaneko Luke Marsden Simon Merritt Michael McInally Katrina Partridge Flash Pony Photography Darren Tindale Samuel White Bluebloods Photographers: Bradley Photos Bruno Cannatelli Mark Gatt Lisa Grimm Steve Hart Katrina Partridge Darryl Sherer See Infinity

2024

REGULARS

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MM welcome

Government welcome

Katie Page-Harvey, Gerry Harvey and Barry Bowditch welcome you to the Magic Millions Carnival, Sales and Raceday.

Message from the Mayor and Minister.

12 Calendar of Events Your guide to an action packed week of events on the Gold Coast.

PRODUCTION MANAGER Margaret Reichard PRODUCTION David Reichard Oliver Jacobsen Alicia Anderson

PICTURE GALLERIES Unit 10/3 William Banks Drive, Burleigh Heads Qld 4220 • PO Box 2864, Burleigh BC, Burleigh, Qld 4220 • Phone: (07) 5658 1950 • Email: accounts@bluebloods.com.au Established 1982 by Brian Russell as The Australian Bloodhorse Review website: www.bluebloods.com.au PUBLISHED BY BADRANAD PTY LTD - ABN 98 002 825 069 Printed by Southern Impact, VIC • southernimpact.com.au. Typeset

by Bluebloods. While every care is taken in the compilation of this magazine, neither BlueBloods nor any of its agents will be held liable for any errors or omissions contained herein or their consequences either in original material or in any material (including advertisements) supplied.

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Barrier Draw

Raceday Socials

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Raceday Winners

Sale Day Faces

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More Magic

Polo & Showjumping

MAGIC MILLIONS Head Office 28 Ascot Court, Bundall, QLD 4217 • PO Box 5246, Gold Coast Mail Centre, QLD 9726 • Phone: +61 (0) 7 5504 1200 • Email: info@magicmillions.com.au • Website: www.magicmillions.com.au

2024 VENDORS

164 34 Vendors who are presenting drafts at this year’s sale.

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FEATURES

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It takes a journalist

The super sextet

Australia’s most famous journalist is also one of racing’s diehard fans.

Jessica Owers met senior investigative reporter Hedley Thomas.

Rarely will one single sale have such an impact on the racetrack and on a new wave of thoroughbreds …. Trevor Marshallsea looks at the first crop sires of 2024.

38 A star was born Denise Martin and Star Thoroughbreds have been a fixture of Australian racing for 30 years. As Jessica Owers found out, such longevity has had its secret weapons, namely good grace, fine manners and red lipstick.

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Duty Bound The canine personalities who featured in last year’s magazine proved so popular that we decided to feature a few more.

58 Not in Kansas anymore Once reluctant to work at an auction, for the past two decades Steve Hance has been an integral fixture at Magic Millions sales. His sage advice when it comes to interpreting radiographs has put many a buyer on the path to Magic Millions riches, but there is much more to the man than just having developed the ability to make x-rays ‘talk’.

76 Te Akau A 17-year-old boy headed to an Ellerslie race meeting one day in the early 1970s... Kristen Manning sits down with David Ellis.

92 kōst Nestled in the heart of bustling Broadbeach’s Oracle Boulevard is new kid on the block and culinary trailblazer, kōst Bar and Grill.

96 The men in black How do three mates turn a fledgling bloodstock business, with just a handful of mares, into a racing brand with one of the sharpest strike-rates in the country? Jessica Owers sat down with Black Soil Bloodstock to find out.

118 School of magic Magic Millions really could be called a school of magic when you look at some of the people who have graduated with full marks.

136 Sofia’s From its meticulously designed interior to the thoughtfully crafted menu, every aspect of Sofia’s Restaurant & Bar exudes a sense of refined simplicity.

138 Designing victory Ever wondered how the iconic Magic Millions National Race Series trophies are brought to life? Bianca Trathen sat down with Toren Vansleve, Creative Director of Gold Coast-based design powerhouse Potato Press, to unpack the fascinating process.

142 Style file Kimberly Gardner has a look at some of the style trends you will be seeing around the track this MM Carnival.

150 Glass Nestled within the picturesque Marina Mirage on the Gold Coast, Glass Dining and Lounge Bar has been the go-to for elegant Modern Australian fine dining since 2009.

152 Racing into industry contention Notice something different at the major Australian race carnivals?

Ponies and young riders sporting some of the most recognisable silks in the country have suddenly made an appearance. Tomorrow’s future racing participants may well be amongst them.

The Industry is banking on it.

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17/11/2023 10:08 am

WELCOME We are delighted to extend you and your family a very warm welcome to Queensland for the 2024 The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Carnival.

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cknowledged as the southern hemisphere’s largest yearling sale, the 2024 edition of our showpiece Gold Coast Yearling Sale will be the biggest and best yet!

We’ve got the numbers. We’ve got the results. The Gold Coast in January is where you need to be this summer.

Offering more yearlings than any other January sale in history, there will be more choice and more opportunity to purchase from the sale that produces more Group One winners and stakes performers than any other in Australia.

Join us from 3 January for the commencement of inspections of the finest selection of equine athletes that we are privileged to present on behalf of breeders throughout Australia and New Zealand. The auction of 1468 exceptional yearlings will be offered across seven sale sessions in Books 1 and 2 beginning on Tuesday 9 January.

In 2024 we invite you to share our passion for all things equine and experience more magic and more entertainment at The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Carnival.

Our Carnival is your Carnival.

The Pacific Fair Magic Millions Polo and Showjumping takes centre stage on Sunday 7 January at Doug Jennings Park, Main Beach. A day packed full of non-stop equestrian action on the polo field with internationally renowned horsemen and women on display whilst the popular showjumping competition includes a senior teams event with a $1.45 million prize pool.

Magic Millions has partnered with the Queensland Off-TheTrack Program to showcase retired racehorses with the exciting introduction of the Queensland Off-The-Track Cup. Open to all off-the-track thoroughbreds and their riders (16 years and over), 15 finalists will compete for $50,000 over a new 90cm showjumping class as part of the Pacific Fair Magic Millions Polo and Showjumping event.

Magic Millions sales and racetrack success go hand in hand over the Queensland Summer Racing Carnival, with $25 million in total carnival prizemoney on offer and 52 feature races programmed during an eight week period.

There’s more innovation, more races, more prizemoney and more opportunity to be rewarded with the ground-breaking expansion to the Magic Millions Race Series commencing this January.

The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Raceday on Saturday 13 January will be an eleven race card offering a record $14.25 million in prizemoney and Racing Women’s Bonuses.

As well as the prizemoney injection to The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic and the Gold Coast Magic Millions 3YO Guineas, now $3 million apiece, further enhancements designed to broaden the distribution of prizemoney include two separate divisions of the $500,000 The Debut, for unraced 2YO colts and geldings, and unraced 2YO fillies, and the introduction of a second rich $250,000 Magic Millions Maiden to The Wave Raceday on 6 January.

Horses offered at Magic Millions Yearling Sales in 2024 will be eligible to exclusively race for in excess of $20.7 million over 28 races nationally every year, when nominated to the world’s best Magic Millions Race Series. This includes the new six-race $5.25 million night meeting to be conducted annually on the eve of The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Raceday from 2025.

The delivery of our incredible Carnival would not be possible without the support of our partners.

We gratefully acknowledge our extraordinary naming rights partner in The Star Gold Coast, our strategic partner Tourism and Events Queensland and our long-term valued principal partner Racing Queensland.

We also acknowledge the significant support of TAB, our official wagering partner and new supporting partner for Magic Millions Racing Women, along with esteemed sponsors Pacific Fair, Seven West Media, Sky Racing Active, Coopers Forever Original and Aperol.

On behalf of the Magic Millions family we sincerely welcome you to the Gold Coast this summer to celebrate our shared love of the thoroughbred together with more magical Queensland sunshine.

We invite you to set up your 2024 by starting it in style at The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Carnival.

Gerry Harvey, Katie Page-Harvey & Barry Bowditch

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TOM TATE The Hon. Stirling Hinchliffe MP Message from the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Innovation and Minister Assisting the Premier on Olympics and Paralympics Sport and Engagement.

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elcome to the 2024 The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Carnival, a highlight on the It’s Live in Queensland events calendar and a wonderful opportunity to showcase the Gold Coast as a tourism destination.

The Gold Coast community is grateful to welcome visitors who fill their cafes and restaurants, stay in their accommodation, use local transport and explore our unique tourism experiences.

That’s why we support events through Tourism and Events Queensland’s Major Events Program because they bring a welcome boost to the local community and supports local jobs.

Events like the Magic Millions Carnival allows friends and family to reconnect and creates community pride.

We hope you enjoy your stay and return again in the near future.

Be sure to immerse yourself in the local culture and get the opportunity to explore some of our world-class tourism experiences in this beautiful region.

Congratulations to the event organisers and volunteers – we wish you all the best for a successful event.

Mayor Gold Coast

Right now, all eyes are on the Gold Coast as a city where ‘magic happens’. From major festivals to show-stopping events, the coast is the place to be in 2024.

And when it comes to top tier events, nothing tops the Magic Millions.

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very year, the Magic Millions delivers excitement in spades, thanks to the tireless work of Katie, Gerry and the team. On behalf of the Gold Coast, I thank you for your commitment to our city over many years.

To me, the real ‘magic’ is how this carnival reinvents itself, attracting new sponsors, fans and punters from across the world.

Building on success means understanding the audience and we all know that adding showjumping and polo has been a winner.

Congratulations to The Star Gold Coast and Pacific Fair for your support as major sponsors in 2024.

My message to those heading our way for the Magic Millions is: make it a one-way airfare as you won’t want to go back too early.

We are city famous for beaches, the hinterland, our waterways and world-class dining and entertainment precincts so stay a little longer and party a little harder in Australia’s favourite playground.

See you trackside.

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Wednesday 3rd – Tuesday 16th Gold Coast Yearling Sale Inspections

Friday 5th BMD Northcliffe SLSC Sportsman’s Luncheon About: The 39th Annual BMD Northcliffe Sportsman’s Luncheon is proudly brought to you by BMD Northcliffe Surf Club and Shaw and Partners Financial Services.

About: From Wednesday 3 January the Gold Coast Yearling Sale catalogued lots are available for inspection at the Magic Millions Sales Complex.

The public is welcome to come along to the Bundall complex to get a first-hand look into the world of Thoroughbred sales and racing.

Where: Magic Millions Complex, Bundall Time: From 8am to 5pm daily Tickets: Free Event

MC: Vince Sorrenti | Guest Speakers: Anna Meares, Tony Gollan, Ryan Maloney | Comedians: Darren Carr, Dave O’Neil.

Where: BMD Northcliffe SLSC, Surfers Paradise Time: from 11am Tickets: $250.00 per person includes full seafood buffet, 5-hour beer, wine & soft drink package (this event is currently sold out with a waiting list).

Email: Lee Vrolyks at info@northcliffesurfclub.com.au for enquiries

Friday 5th - Monday 8th Racing Queensland’s “Own the Morning” About: Grab a coffee and meet leading trainers, breeders and industry leaders for a relaxed walk and talk.

Covering a range of topics, this ½ hour information session is an opportunity for prospective, current and returning owners to engage with legends of racing.

Where: Racing Queensland Marquee (Near A Barn), Magic Millions Sales Complex Time: 8.30am Tickets: Free event Register your interest to attend: sswain@racingqueensland.com.au

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Saturday 6th The Wave Raceday About: The Aquis $1.6 million raceday marks two big weekends of summer racing at Aquis Park. The day showcases the $250,000 feature race for 3YO & 4YO The Wave, $150,000 Aquis Gold Nugget and $150,000 Aquis Gold Pearl plus four exclusive Magic Millions Races worth $1 million in prizemoney and a $200,000 Magic Millions Bonus if the winner of The Wave is Race Series nominated.

Where: Aquis Park, Gold Coast Turf Club, Bundall Time: From 10am Tickets: Available GCTC | Tickets from $15pp and Hospitality Packages from $280pp Members Day Pass Online only: $100 Website: www.gctc.com.au

Monday 8th Women In Racing Inc Australia Luncheon About: Women In Racing Inc Australia’s annual event is being held once again at the Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort.

The 2024 ‘Magic is in the Air’ luncheon includes a three-course luncheon and beverage package, VIP guest speakers, raffles and milliners and accessory displays.

Where: Horizons Room, Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Main Beach Time: From 12 noon

Sunday 7th Pacific Fair Magic Millions Polo & Showjumping

Tickets: Members $195 | Non-members $215 Phone Baslyn Beel 0411 698 484; or Jennifer Bartels 0438 741 242

About: Witness some of the country’s best Junior and Senior Showjumpers as they vie for a slice of the $1.45 million prize pool along with the new class for 2024, the Queensland Off-The-Track Cup with a prize pool of $50,000.

Watch action-packed, fast-paced Polo games with star players.

It’s a full day of events, perfect for the whole family, you won’t want to miss out!

Where: Doug Jennings Park, The Spit Time: From 9.00am Tickets: Available at Ticketek General Admission: Adults $35pp | Children: $15pp 18 & under (15 and under free) Concession: $15pp | Family Package: $50 (2 adults & 2 children 15 yrs & under) Pacific Fair Pavilion: $385pp More information:magicmillionspoloandshowjumping.com.au

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Monday 8th Carbine Club Luncheon About: The Carbine Club of Queensland will host Queensland’s biggest Racing Lunch celebrating the 2024 The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Carnival.

Tuesday 9th The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Barrier Draw About: The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Barrier Draw takes centre stage on the Surfers Paradise Foreshore.

Between 6.30am and 8.30am be mesmerised by the unique spectacle of Thoroughbreds thundering down the pristine sands of Queensland’s most iconic beach, Surfers Paradise and watch an informative stage show of all things Magic Millions.

The Barrier Draw will follow for the $3 million The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic and $3 million Gold Coast Magic Millions 3YO Guineas. Connections will draw the barrier from which their horse will start on Raceday, Saturday 13 January.

The day includes a three-course lunch with a four hour drinks package. MCs Alan Thomas and Bernadette Cooper will entertain guests along with guest speakers, Ray Hadley OAM and trainer David Eustace.

Where: The Star Gold Coast, Broadbeach Time: 12 noon Tickets: $240pp Bookings email: carbineclubqld@gmail.com

Where: Surfers Paradise Foreshore, Surfers Paradise (opposite Trickett Street) Time: From 6am Tickets: Free Event

Tuesday 9th – Tuesday 16th The Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale About: The flagship Gold Coast Yearling Sale attracts both national and international buyers for the fun and excitement of the Carnival and the serious business of selecting a champion racehorse.

Over the most recent racing season, the auction house is the number one sales source of Group 1 and black type winners in Australia.

Where: Magic Millions Complex, Bundall Time: Tuesday 9 from 11am Wednesday 10 from 10am Thursday 11 from 10am Friday 12 from 10am Saturday 13 from 6pm Monday 15 from 10am Tuesday 16 from 10am Tickets: Free Event

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Get Social Planning on attending any of our events? Check out the latest info on all the social channels and don’t forget to tag us in your photos and posts.

MAGICMILLIONS MAGICMILLIONS MAGICMILLIONSPOLO

Thursday 11th GCTC 2YO TAB Calcutta Dinner About: Join racing enthusiasts for a fun and relaxed night with dinner and drinks. TAB representatives will provide insight into the prestigious The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic, then the Calcutta action begins, conducted by Magic Millions auctioneers. A sell-out event each year not to be missed.

Where: Gold Coast Turf Club, Bundall Time: 6pm

@MMSNIPPETS

Tickets: Please visit: https://www.gctc.com.au/event/2024tab-2yo-calcutta-dinner/

THEMAGICMILLIONS

Individual tickets: GCTC Member: $170pp Non-member: $190pp Tables of 10: GCTC Members: $1,700 | Non-members: $1,900

MAGICMILLIONS.COM.AU

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Saturday 13th The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Raceday About: Head trackside for the 2024 $14.25 million The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Raceday featuring the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic and $3 million Gold Coast Magic Millions 3YO Guineas exclusively for Magic Millions graduates. With 11 thrilling races at the picturesque Gold Coast Turf Club, including $750,000 in Magic Millions Racing Women’s Bonuses, this Raceday has cemented its reputation on the international racing scene as a must attend event.

Where: Gold Coast Turf Club, Bundall Time: From 9am Tickets: Please visit www.gctc.com.au for GA tickets.

Wednesday 17th Magic Millions Widden Stud Golf Day About: One of the racing industry’s favourite pastimes is a relaxing game of golf. Widden Stud Golf Day provides Magic Millions vendors and buyers, trainers, jockeys and industry associates the perfect opportunity to unwind for the day at the RACV Royal Pines Golf Course. The day is open for anyone to join with any singles placed into teams of four to play Ambrose style.

Where: RACV Royal Pines, Benowa Time: From 11am Tickets: 4 ball Ambrose $160 per person – includes green fees, electric cart, drink vouchers and a BBQ luncheon.

Phone: Taylor Foley (02) 6549 9999 or email taylor@widden.com

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Journalist

IT TAKES A

by Jessica Owers

Australia’s most famous journalist is also one of racing’s diehard fans. Jessica Owers met senior investigative reporter Hedley Thomas.

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n 1887, on the first Tuesday in November, a tired racehorse trudged back to scale at Flemington with the Melbourne Cup in his pocket. Dunlop, to all but a few a lazy, one-paced plug, had won the Cup in race-record time, months after strangles had just about done him in.

In the stands, publican Richard Donovan, who coowned the horse, had won a fortune, and it was a long night at the Pastoral Hotel a few clicks east of Flemington. Never mind that Donovan was bankrupt just a few years later; the story was told and it was permanent, as all good Cup stories are.

Fast forward 136 years to Brisbane, to senior investigate journalist Hedley Thomas. Some handful of generations removed, his grandfather was Richard Donovan, or, more specifically, his grandfather’s mother’s grandfather. Thomas has an old cigarette card of Dunlop, looking ewe-necked and white-socked with Tom Sanders aboard. For a man wildly famous for his storytelling, the story of Dunlop is one of his favourites.

“It’s always fascinated me,” Thomas says, and his large, serious eyes light up. “I always knew about Donovan through my mum, and I knew from my dad that his father was a really keen punter.

Apparently he died listening to the races on a Saturday, with the transistor radio to his ear in the backyard.”

Thomas is a weapon in Australian journalism. His investigative work has decorated the most serious of mastheads, from the South China Morning Post to the Courier-Mail and The Australian. He is that vintage sort of reporter, with a Spirax notepad and an impatience to tell a good story the right way.

Thomas has won seven Walkley Awards (two gold) for his work in investigative journalism. He was News Corp’s youngest ever London correspondent, and he is in the Melbourne Press Club’s Media Hall of Fame, not that he’d ever tell you.

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In 2018, Thomas pressed his editor at The Australian to allow him time and budget to investigate the disappearance in 1982 of Lynette Dawson. It was a cold case that had crept up on Australians occasionally for nearly 40 years; a mild-mannered housewife who had vanished one summer day from her home in Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Her husband, Chris Dawson, had never been investigated for her murder, despite two coronial inquests suggesting as much. Thomas, who had dabbled in the case as far back as 2002, proposed a long-form investigate podcast, supported by stories in the paper, in days when podcasts were still shiny, new and untapped.

‘The Teacher’s Pet’ became a breathtaking success. Fourteen initial episodes, 220,000 words and “six months of shoe-leather reporting”. It went around the world, leading podcast downloads in the US, the UK, Canada and New Zealand, the only Australian podcast ever to do so. The response to it overwhelmed Thomas, who went from having four or five episodes in hand to having none in hand, such was the floodtide of new evidence that rushed at him after even just the first episode.

“When I started ‘The Teacher’s Pet’, I didn’t know how to do a podcast. I’d never done one,” Thomas says. “I’m a storyteller, so I knew how to write and I thought I could write quickly, but it got to this crazy situation where I had to produce 15,000 words a week, narrate them, factcheck and legal them. So much information started flowing in from people who were listening to episodes one and two that I had to circle back and interview them, then restructure the episodes that I thought I had completed. It meant that I lost the head start, the buffer, and I was doing episodes week to week.”

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Journalists cut their cloth on deadlines. It’s part of the job, but when 27 million worldwide listeners were downloading ‘The Teacher’s Pet’, it began to erode almost all aspects of Thomas’s life. It was the only story he worked on through 2018, a live, unfolding investigation into the disappearance and suspected murder of Lyn Dawson. Public pressure leaned towards a renewed investigation into the case and, with the podcast pulled down from Australian audiences during a subsequent trial, Chris Dawson was found guilty of his wife’s murder in late 2022. It was a win for justice, but a win for journalism too, and Hedley Thomas, a self-confessed introvert, as many writers are, was in the centre of it.

“Is it fame or just a bit of recognition?” he says. “I feel a bit awkward about that because I still go down to the Kenmore Tavern in my crocs, a bad shirt and board shorts.”

Thomas is a famous man now. Like most writers who ply their trades telling other people’s stories, he’s not always comfortable telling his own. He and his wife, former journalist Ruth Mathewson, live on acreage outside of Brisbane, in Brookfield with a labrador and two cows called Thelma and Louise. He eats raw onions à la Tony Abbott, and in conversation he is genuine and witty. But though built tall and broad, Thomas has a softness that probably cracked the back of his record-breaking podcast. He’s easy to talk to, which is obvious in his honied, near-addictive narration of ‘The Teacher’s Pet’.

The story of Dunlop is bobbing in the back of Thomas’s mind. He has questions about it, like how Richard Donovan ended up with the gelding in the first place.

Did he buy the horse? Was it gifted to him? One day he might write a book about it, and it quickly becomes clear that this driven journalist, too impatient to go to university and who instead joined the Gold Coast Bulletin at the age of 17, is a racing tragic.

“I was a teenager jumping the fence at the racetrack at Bundall so we didn’t have to pay the three bucks’

admission,” Thomas says. “We’d go punting for the day. I remember wagging school with a friend of mine, Darren Wilkes, to go to the Prime Minister’s Cup, which was a midweek meeting on a Tuesday or Wednesday, and this is going back to 1983 or 1984. I must have been attracted to gambling as well because we also used to go to an illegal casino that was above the gelati bar in Surfers Paradise, in the Cavill Mall.”

Thomas was born in Canberra but the Gold Coast was the making of him. He loved its crooks, cons and honesty. It wasn’t trying to be anything other than it was.

“I love the Coast,” he says. “I think I’m a much more effective journalist because I’ve got a great bullshit detector, better than most, and that’s because I grew up on the Gold Coast. It had a reputation through the 80s as a regional city that had great natural draws, but it certainly attracted these so-called white-shoed con artists, and, as a young teenager at high school, and then as a young reporter at the Gold Coast Bulletin, I reported on some of these people.”

Roots seem to matter to Thomas. At the darkest points of ‘The Teacher’s Pet’, he took refuge at a Main Beach apartment belonging to Gerry Harvey and Katie Page. Harvey Norman had been the primary sponsor of the podcast, and the company is pushing six years in its support of all of Thomas’s podcasts since.

“Katie must have respected what I was trying to do,” he says. “I know she believes very strongly in the power of podcasts to help solve crimes, but who would have thought ‘The Teacher’s Pet’ would become this global juggernaut, that her connection to it would end up where it is now?”

From the Harveys to John and Paul Messara, Thomas is a connected man in racing. You’ll find him in a corporate box or the celebrity tent on Magic Millions Raceday, but you’ll also find him working the ring with the punting public. He loves the strangeness and colour of the racetrack. He credits it with a lot of his people skills.

From the Harveys to John and Paul Messara, Thomas is a connected man in racing. You’ll find him in a corporate box or the celebrity tent on Magic Millions Raceday, but you’ll also find him working the ring with the punting public. He loves the strangeness and colour of the racetrack. He credits it with a lot of his people skills.

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“I love getting down into the public areas, into the bars and along the fence, separated from the VIPs and the silvertails,” he says. “The atmosphere down there is amazing. I love the egalitarianism of the track. I love it that John Messara could be as astute at tipping a horse to me as the bloke wearing pluggers and missing three teeth, who I bump into because he spilled beer on me as I made my way to the fence.”

Thomas has small investments in racehorses here and there. He knows a bit about bloodlines, but the only one that has captivated him is Dunlop, the 1887 Melbourne Cup winner. Dunlop was ordinary at stud, so it’s not a bloodline with numbers on its side, but the six-time Groupwinning broodmare Veloce Bella is one of its rare descendants. In 2013, a Zabeel yearling from the mare was heading to Karaka and, assisted

by John Messara, Thomas had notions to buy her. She proved wildly out of reach at $440,000, gavel down.

“I tried, and I mean really tried, to buy this offspring of Dunlop’s with this crazy idea that I would win a Melbourne Cup,” Thomas says. “It was going to be a repetition of history, but what are the chances? John Messara is such a wise and decent man. He must have thought he had a live one here.”

Journalism is a distrusted profession. In a recent Ethics Index, released by the Governance Institute of Australia, journalists ranked in the bottom 10 when it came to ethical perception, in hot company with Tik Tok and federal parliament. But there are journalists, and then there’s Hedley Thomas, for whom the ritualistic responsibilities of the career run deep.

During Chris Dawson’s recent trial, in which he was found guilty of the murder of his wife,

Thomas was in the witness box for three days in what felt like “a really intrusive fishing expedition”. His podcast was held up to the light as an example of egregious media interference in a criminal trial process, and it was inferred that an ‘over-zealous and uncensored investigative journalist’ was a risk to a fair trial.

Thomas takes exception to this, to judges and defence lawyers telling journalists how to practice journalism. In his podcasts, including the ratings hit ‘Shandee’s Story’, he has used journalism to hunt fact and truth in the name of storytelling. Claire Harvey, his hard-hitting colleague at The Australian, told him he’s a bit of a hero to most other journalists, while Leigh Sales, an award-winning reporter, said it perfectly.

“If you’ve done something wrong, there can surely be no more terrifying prospect than Hedley Thomas taking an interest.” It’s on the inside leaf of Thomas’s new book, The Teacher’s Pet. “I’m not an angry or aggressive person,” he says. “I’m pretty chilled. I’d rather have a peaceful, yielding sort of life, but I hate seeing wrongdoings. I hate seeing unsolved crimes that could be solved, and I can become relentless, focused and single-minded when it’s necessary.

I’ve had to stand up against some very strongwilled, clever people and not yield, but I’m very stubborn. My wife tells me I hate being told what to do, and I don’t like it when I’m being bullied or steered against my own will.”

The press, they say, must be brave as well as free, and it needs journalists like Hedley Thomas. He is yet to set his career interests on horse racing, and that’s probably just as well.

The press, they say, must be brave as well as free, and it needs journalists like Hedley Thomas. He is yet to set his career interests on horse racing, and that’s probably just as well.

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\ IT TAKES A JOURNALIST \ JESSICA OWERS

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\ 25

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\ BARRIER DRAW 2023

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A Star

by Jessica Owers

WAS BORN Denise Martin and Star Thoroughbreds have been a fixture of Australian racing for 30 years. As Jessica Owers found out, such longevity has had its secret weapons, namely good grace, fine manners and red lipstick.

I

f age is a question of mind over matter, Denise Martin doesn’t mind so it doesn’t matter. The face of Star Thoroughbreds is, by her own admission, a mature-age woman, but who’s asking? “A few people, actually,” she says. “I’ve been asked, not often but a few times, when I’m going to step back. I guess when people know you’ve been involved in a business for a long time in our industry, perhaps they think your career may be coming to a time limit.”

For Martin, it’s a little annoying, a bit like when Cher was asked if she was too old to rock ‘n’ roll. The music icon dashed off to check with Mick Jagger. “I wonder if they’re asking the same question of the mature-age men?” Martin says.

For nearly 30 years, Denise Martin has run Star Thoroughbreds up the board of Australian racing.

It started in the 1990s with a luckless Kenmare gelding called French Roulette, then continued into the summery heights of Danglissa until such horses as Sebring, Theseo and Driefontein.

There’s been D’Argento, Invincibella, Foxplay and Fiesta, not to mention Espiona. All along the way, Martin has been the felicitous captain of the ship.

“It’s been the greatest journey,” she says. “When I look back at it, I suppose I should be a bit surprised about the amount of success we’ve had, but I wasn’t going to have it any other way when I started all those years ago.”

As far as ownership syndicates go , there are few as enduring and successful in Australia as Star Thoroughbreds. The group’s purple silks and white stars are a racecourse staple, and a staple

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\ A STAR WAS BORN \ JESSICA OWERS

in the loftiest targets. Martin and her owners have won the Golden Slipper, the Epsom, the Magic Millions 2YO Classic, the Coolmore and Flight Stakes, the Tattersall’s Tiara and the Rosehill Guineas, to name a few. To date, Star’s total stakes haul is a mystery but significant, and there isn’t a more winning ownership group when it comes to Magic Millions.

Since 2006, Star Thoroughbreds has cheered home 11 individual winners of 14 Magic Millions races. Its first was Ulladulla at Wyong nearly 18 years ago, and horses like Conquestador and Lustica followed. Kinnersley won the Magic Millions Subzero, and Whittington the Magic Millions Snippets. Driefontein is the group’s 2YO Classic winner, while Jubilance and Deroche were winners of the Tasmanian features. Theseo won the Magic Millions Cup, and, lately, Invincibella ripped through three consecutive years of winning the Magic Millions Fillies and Mares.

Such results come from buying around 45 yearlings each year, give or take, and time behind the catalogue has given Martin an eye for a marketable racehorse. She loves a chestnut, and she gives equal weight to colts and fillies.

She has stories about the horses that were initially hard to syndicate, like Sebring, and those that sold in no time at all. She remembers prices, dates and people like it all happened yesterday.

And all of this success in racing came after Martin reinvented her life halfway through it.

She has been a school teacher and a highrolling manager in high-end hospitality before leaping, feet first, waist-deep, into the world of racehorse syndication. 

MMGC

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“It was about 1993 when I set out with this plan for Star Thoroughbreds,” she says. “I felt at the time that if I was going to do this, if I was going to develop my own business, I would have to make a total commitment to its success because I knew there’d be a strong element of a maledominated industry. People would think I wouldn’t survive and that I wouldn’t be successful, and why would I want to do this anyway? At the time, I had no pedigree in racing other than working at various hotels where racing people would stay, places like the Sebel Townhouse in Sydney, the Regent of Melbourne and, of course, Jupiters on the Gold Coast.”

and it was because I wanted to see if I could do it, if I could run my own business. But I wanted to contribute in some way, to do something where I wasn’t just a member of the industry by default, but somebody who had a significant place in it, and not for myself but for the business.”

It was through her hotel career that Martin made her initial alliance with Gai Waterhouse, one that lasted over 20 years. It was also through this career that Martin perfected the people skills that has made Star Thoroughbreds so successful.

“I knew it would happen for me because I was going to make it happen,” she says. “I came from a family where hard work was considered the formula to create success. So that’s what I did. I associated myself with the best trainer and I worked hard, and when Danglissa won us our first Group One and the Princess Series, I knew we had made it. I knew then that it was going to work.”

“I started by giving it five years,” she says. “That was what I told friends and associates at the beginning, but I genuinely wanted it to be a success.

I was giving the business a full commitment to create a high-quality brand. People asked me why I wanted to do it, why I wanted to start Star,

Martin was recreating her career in mid-life, which isn’t an easy thing to do. She’d had decorated jobs in hotels all around the world, from Australia’s capital cities to South Africa and London. She was divorced, independent, and while there’s no doubt she saw herself through tough times, her enthusiasm was never in question and she pursued success.

Martin talks about Star’s first winner at Wyong, a gelding called Slewzam, through to Danglissa, Sebring, and 

“The filly Invincibella is Waller’s favourite Star association to date. He said those three consecutive years when she won the Magic Millions Fillies and Mares is a vivid memory for the elation it brought everyone on the Gold Coast’s most spectacular day of racing.

And, according to Waller, it couldn’t have happened to a nicer person.”

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\ A STAR WAS BORN \ JESSICA OWERS

MMGC

\ 41

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\ A STAR WAS BORN \ JESSICA OWERS

“As far as ownership syndicates go , there are few as enduring and successful in Australia as Star Thoroughbreds. The group’s purple silks and white stars are a racecourse staple.”

all the top racehorses the group has competed since then. But she insists it’s not about her.

She shies away from taking the credit for any of it, deflecting instead to the loyal support of good owners.

Likewise, she has committed to the people side of her business as much as the business itself. For 21 years, she worked as closely with Waterhouse as a syndicator possibly can, and she has since been with Chris Waller at Rosehill for a decade. Her assistant, Irish ex-pat Emma Cully-Fuller, has been with her just as long, so if a business’s true reflection is how long it keeps its staff, Star Thoroughbreds must be among the best.

The Martin and Waterhouse alliance was a famous, fabulous one while it lasted. The split was big news in 2014, but Martin wasn’t, and still isn’t, about headlines or drama. Waterhouse remains one of the most memorable people in her life, but Martin moved quietly on because it was time to, and her training association with Chris Waller Racing has been just as good.

Waller is a private individual, which Martin respects. Though the Sydney trainer might have every right to be, he’s never bigger than his individual owners, and that’s a value that aligns heavily with Star Thoroughbreds.

“Denise is the same person every day,” Waller says. “She doesn’t let the emotions of racing get involved, accepting the good with the bad and the bad with the good. They’re the people that you really enjoy working with because it’s not always plain sailing. But with Denise, it is always enjoyable and it is always worthwhile.”

The filly Invincibella is Waller’s favourite Star association to date. He said those three consecutive years when she won the Magic Millions Fillies and Mares is a vivid memory for

the elation it brought everyone on the Gold Coast’s most spectacular day of racing. And, according to Waller, it couldn’t have happened to a nicer person. He has spent long enough with Martin to see how she operates on a professional and personal level, and to him, there’s not much difference between the two.

“Denise respects all of her clients’ investments,” he said. “And not only their initial investment but their ongoing investment. Repeat business is what it’s about, making sure you get a return. But that’s how she is as a person too. I would count her among my friends. If I had a list of 20 people that I had to invite to dinner, Denise would be there, possibly at the head of the table.”

For all her niceness, however, Waller said Martin has a tiger’s eye for thoroughbreds. She works closely with Brett Howard of Randwick Bloodstock during sales season, but she holds her own.

“She’ll try most stallions and she’s got a great eye herself,” Waller said. “She doesn’t need us.

She knows what she wants and she knows what will sell, and she can afford those horses that are good types by a stallion that hasn’t yet made a name for itself. Those type-horses are expensive but she loves them, so she finds her way through them and gets what she can.”

Martin isn’t one to fish around for praise or validity, which is probably why it comes her way so often.

“Respect, courtesy, consideration and kindness, these have always been important to me,” she says. “When you come home at night and look in the bathroom mirror, you want to be comfortable with what you see. I never want to be bigger than the business, I never want to be more powerful than anybody else. I just want to be seen to be somebody who takes pride in 

MMGC

\ 43

what she has created, and cares about her owners enormously. If I can give them a lovely racing experience, hopefully that is something they will find lasting because, unfortunately, success in anything is not guaranteed.”

Perhaps it’s this humility that makes her one of the popular, most-liked identities on the racing circuit. When her father died during COVID, she was swamped by flowers and well-wishes from all over the industry. She has friends everywhere. She is constantly reaching out to the people around her, checking in on their kids and sharing photos of everyday life. She goes walking with Cheryl Dufficy, calls up Ray Thomas regularly for idle chat, and John Singleton sings her praises. However, her non-racing group is just as large.

“When it’s all gone wrong at the races on a Saturday, I just love heading out to dinner with those friends, talking about interest rates and inflation and whether the government should have bought those submarines,” Martin says. “It’s good to put it all behind you sometimes, isn’t it, because we all have those days when things just don’t go to plan.”

Martin has never remarried. She says she couldn’t find space outside of Star Thoroughbreds. She is married to the business, which suits her just fine and the life it has provided has been rich. So what could be left?

“I’d love to win a Doncaster,” she says. “I don’t have a great passion for the staying events. I know that some people do and I respect that, but I’d love to win a Doncaster. We had an amazing day four or five years ago when D’Argento looked for all the world ready to win the Epsom, and 45 minutes before that, Fiesta looked for all the world ready to win the Flight Stakes. Fiesta got run down by Oohood over the last 20 metres, and D’Argento got run down by Hartnell on the line.

That’d be right, I remember saying to Emma. It was one of the most remarkable days.”

On race days, at yearling sales and just about anywhere really, Martin cuts the familiar, warm and feminine figure that has made her an industry celebrity.

She’s a woman’s woman, down to the stick of lipstick she will have hidden in a pocket or in her purse. It’s a decadesold habit acquired from Gai Waterhouse, and the colours range from lusty red to Barbie pink.

“It was said to me a long time ago that people want to feel proud of those with whom they work, and I think the least I can do, if not be fashionable, is present a very polished persona because that is how people expect their horses to be presented,” Martin says. “Lipstick is just a small part of it, as is shiny hair and polished fingernails.”

On race days, at yearling sales and just about anywhere really, Martin cuts the familiar, warm and feminine figure that has made her an industry celebrity. She’s a woman’s woman, down to the stick of lipstick she will have hidden in a pocket or in her purse.

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\ A STAR WAS BORN \ JESSICA OWERS

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THE

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DutyBound

S T U D D O G S PA RT 2

by Katrina Partridge

The canine personalities who featured in last year’s magazine proved so popular that we decided to feature a few more (apologies to the hundreds we could not include… being a horse magazine after all).

W

e asked owners what makes their dog/s an essential component of farm life. We received answers that ranged from their dog’s role in overseeing staff attendance, mustering cattle or supervising the seasonal truck arrivals and departures at the arrival yards (the dog being more than happy to accept the occasional meat pie as payment).

Other dogs prefer a day in the tractor to ensure farm work is up to speed, some elect to babysit children (or sick or injured foals), accompany staff on the feed run or whilst walking yearlings, guide reluctant horses down laneways, feature on the farm’s social media accounts, act as client liaison/conduct regular meet-and-greets or simply be a willing ear when the person with them was having a bad day.

Not all dogs are impeccably behaved: some steal grooming brushes from the stallion barn, others choose to swim in the artificial lake alongside the office (then traipse their muddy feet across the reception carpet), some insisted on regularly sleeping on the job, whilst still others chased kangaroos or rolled in cow manure. One thing is certain however: every dog - like their owner - is unique and their importance ubiquitous.

Harper, Attunga

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\ DUTY BOUND \ KATRINA PARTRIDGE

Anubis & Coco, Fernrigg

Bailey, Willow Park

MMGC

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Clifford & Ash, Newgate

Barney & Molly, Yarraman

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Coco, Cressfield

Kingsley, Newgate

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Polly, Zara & Dixie, Ashleigh-Riversdale.

Poppy, Ridgmont

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Titch, Newgate

Trent & Tex, Emirates

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Rocky & Tyson, Alma Vale

Just one animal seemed nonplussed with the attention being given to farm dogs; perhaps no surprise really!

Gem, Alma Vale 56

\ DUTY BOUND \ KATRINA PARTRIDGE

FIRST

YEARLINGS

BIVOUAC

IN 2024

Crowned World Champion Sprinter G1 Newmarket Handicap winner as a three-year-old like his sire, EXCEED AND EXCEL. G1 Darley Sprint Classic beating top-line sprinters Nature Strip, Libertini, Tofane, Santa Ana Lane.

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\ NOT IN KANSAS ANYMORE \ GLEN LATHAM

NOT IN Kansas ANYMORE

By Glen Latham

Once reluctant to work at an auction, for the past two decades Steve Hance has been an integral fixture at Magic Millions sales. His sage advice when it comes to interpreting radiographs has put many a buyer on the path to Magic Millions riches, but there is much more to the man than just having developed the ability to make x-rays ‘talk’.

B

orn in Kansas in America’s Midwest, but having grown up in places as diverse as Chicago and Copenhagen, scrutiny of Steve’s immediate pedigree leaves no clues to his future career, his sire a Church Minister and dam a PhD Psychologist. “On my Dad’s side I would have been the fourth generation of clergy had I continued the tradition but my Mother’s father was a rancher/farmer so I decided to follow that line of work. He was a huge influence on my life, a legitimate real-time cowboy and horse trader. When we were living, in say, Chicago, the first day of Summer break my grandfather would be there across the street wearing his big cowboy hat and the next day we’d be off to Western Oklahoma. Out there he ran cattle, grew alfalfa, lucerne, and cotton. That was where I got my introduction to agri-business.”

It was also Steve’s grandfather who introduced him to horses. “My grandfather had a feedlot and usually way too many horses. My memories are of us taking four horses to the sales and coming home with another eight, my grandmother stomping around saying ‘you took those horses to the sale to get rid of some’ and my grandfather saying, ‘yeah but these were such good deals.’ It was fun to spend time with him, particularly on horseback, he was larger than life.”

With solid nurturing from his grandfather, it looked a sure bet Steve’s career path was set. “When I eventually went to vet school, I fully expected I would go into stock production, beef cattle, feedlot etc. and I had opportunities to do that, and saw that as taking me back to the west. But the right people have a huge influence on our lives and I had a couple of great mentors. One was Rick DeBowes, a Professor

at Kansas State University and an equine surgeon, and the other was a graduate at Kansas State that became a friend, Larry Bramlage, now one of the leading equine orthopedic surgeons in the world.

Through them I became very intrigued with the idea of returning horses back to athletic performance. I loved surgery so that was the next logical step and by the time I completed my second year of vet school my mindset had totally changed and I was definitely going to pursue equine surgery. I then did an internship at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington before going to Ohio State University where I did a surgery residency. After that, I went back to Rood & Riddle and progressed from a staff surgeon to becoming a partner there.”

After a few years in Lexington Steve sought a different challenge. “I went to California for a few years but I badly missed the professional horsemen that did this all day every day at a level of awareness and knowledge that had them in tune with the horse. For them this was much more than a hobby, this was their livelihood, this was their passion.” Steve knew that a return to Kentucky would be more fulfilling so he headed east again but he returned equipped with a change in attitude. “One of the reasons I left Rood & Riddle was I didn’t want to do the sales work, I wanted to go to the surgery room and solve things and yet when I rejoined the veterinary community that was the open door I walked back through, and I have to be honest, I’ve never been as passionate about my career as I am right now. For something I disliked as an arrogant, young surgeon, I’ve learnt to sit back and enjoy.”

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\ 59

At that point Steve’s career could have meandered along, but he was about to get a phone call that would lead to Australia becoming a second home.

“When I came back to the veterinary profession, I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure I was going to remain a veterinarian. I was going to Lexington and I was still doing the sales when I got a phone call from Angus Atkins, asking for help. He said, ‘this radiographing thing is being forced down our neck a bit, and we think it is quite possible this will require a steep learning curve and we’d like to have someone assist.’

I was at that in-between stage of my career where you just sit there and think what is next, and I said Ok. Then Magic Millions asked if I would come out for their next sale. “I thought well, this is wonderful, I love the country, I love the adventures and I love meeting new people, but I thought it would be a oneoff. That was 21 years ago this January! My wife says it is unfortunate that most of my close friends live in the Southern Hemisphere, but I don’t know that that is unfortunate. Yes, it makes it difficult to pop over and have a beer with them, but anyway.’

The early years of optional radiographs of yearlings was quite cumbersome for the industry until more manageable protocols could be put in place and Steve was there at the coalface at the time. “When I was at Rood & Riddle we were coming up with the idea of a repository as there was too much litigation and arbitration. We were radiographing horses straight after the sale and on any day we might do 60 horses and then read the radiographs until two, three o’clock in the morning because the horse couldn’t leave the grounds until you had read them. We had to physically take the film out of the cassette and I think at one stage we had four darkrooms which meant we had four people in there processing the films. Norm Rantanen was a radiologist who would come in and we would take those films and go over to the motel Norm was staying at and go through the radiographs with Norm pointing out anything interesting along the way. Gee I learnt a lot from Norm.”

The Thoroughbred industry is renowned for being built on relationships and it is no different in the repository as Steve explains, “I’ve always tried to give honest answers, never rudely, but there are times when I’ve had to say to the veterinarian, ‘you know your client, you know the situation, and remember some of these horses will outrun what they’ve got going on radiographically. As the buyer’s veterinarian you know what they might have more difficulty with, i.e., knees, respiratory issues or tendons.’ I think it’s wonderful that over the years I’ve been able to build relationships with veterinarians to the point where I can comfortably ask difficult questions and know they will be well received.” But over the past two decades the exchange of knowledge has been a two-way street. “I have learnt so much from the vets in Australia but what is nice is that I can become a neutral sounding board in most of these instances.

It has been a fantastic thing for me on both a professional and personal basis to be associated with the Australian Thoroughbred industry, and I think the industry should be very proud of the veterinarians that it has.”

To some buyers the smallest speck on a radiograph can undermine their willingness to purchase the four-legged Ferrari that stands before them. Steve respects those buyers who understand not every issue will lead to a train wreck. “I’m always in awe of the really good horsemen and veterinarians that can clear away some of the fog and have more of an insight. When a horse beats all expectations I like to go back to the radiographs and ask what gave this horse more of an edge. I look and see if there was a reason I should have been more forgiving, and say ‘hey, he’s got this problem but he hasn’t got any secondary changes, is this something I haven’t paid enough attention to?’”

To some buyers the smallest speck on a radiograph can undermine their willingness to purchase the four-legged Ferrari that stands before them.

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\ NOT IN KANSAS ANYMORE \ GLEN LATHAM

“As an arrogant, young surgeon I thought I had so many of the answers. But after being humbled by horses that beat all expectations, I needed to go back and ask what made them exceptional?”

MMGC

\ 61

Steve isn’t just the bearded guy who reads the x-rays, he’s an avid hiker and traveler and has experienced things most Australians wouldn’t even consider. “I started spending a lot of time in Scone and developed a great friendship with Paul Adams who was at Scone Equine. Paul was going to Canada and invited me to hike with him in the Canadian Rockies. Once we had done that Paul said I really had to do the Western Arthurs traverse in Tasmania, so my son came with me and we did it, having a wonderful time. I don’t think I’ve ever been anywhere where I have felt so remote, and the moment you step out of the van you just go wow! Such a positive experience.”

“One of the best trips was when a vet friend contacted me to say his practice had bought a new fleet of vehicles, but the good news was they had kept the old ones as well. I was a little bemused why he was telling me this until he threw me a set of keys and said “I don’t care how far you drive this thing just go and have fun! I drove all over the eastern half of Australia with a one-man tent and a sleeping bag. I went to the Flinders Ranges, along the Great Ocean Road, I got lost and I went through the Snowy Mountains. That’s how you get to see the real Australia. You can go to a little camp site and if you need to boil some water you will meet the kindest, most wonderful people and one of the greatest gifts was to get to see the country, one little town after another.”

On that trip Steve had to do some smooth talking to placate the good folk of Dubbo. “When there I went to the sheep sale because I wanted to see the dogs work, but I almost got chased out of town when I pulled out my camera as the locals thought I might have been an animal liberationist. I don’t know what happened in the ten minutes I was in the office explaining I wasn’t a threat to them, but by the time I walked back out they were the friendliest people. I told them I had grown up with a grandfather who had feedlots and I was very much attached to agri-business and more interested in their dogs than their sheep. After that, a lot of people wanted to show me their dogs and their sheep so I hung around all day before driving to Broken Hill that night.”

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\ NOT IN KANSAS ANYMORE

“Steve’s rambling boots aren’t restricted to tramping around Australia and he has a love affair with Nepal and its people.”

MMGC

\ 63

Steve showed that even when going a little stir crazy mid-COVID he could bring a smile to those around him. “I was in hotel quarantine preparing for the 2021 Gold Coast Yearling Sale and I had taken along a red T-shirt and had brought a Santa hat, so on Christmas Eve I put them on to feel a bit festive. I already had a grey beard and glasses. During the day security called the room and told me I was to have a COVID check and instructed me to be ready for when the technician came to the door around 3pm. Now remember it has been several days since I’d interacted with real people and you can get a little goofy, so when I stuck my head around the door the lady said, “Holy s—t, it’s Father Christmas!” I said to her “C’mon let’s get on with this I have lots of places to be.” She said “Sir, you’re going nowhere” to which I replied, “you’re going to ruin Christmas.” Then when she stuck the swab up my nose I said, “Don’t you make Santa cry!” all done with great jest.

Steve’s rambling boots aren’t restricted to tramping around Australia and he has a love affair with Nepal and its people. “I sent some photos in for a contest called Ultimate Outsider run by an outdoor gear store and when I won the prize it was a trip to Nepal. I just absolutely loved the people and that led to friendships there and more trips. It’s the little things in life that, if you take time for them, can open up to some real insightful opportunities.”

Steve’s love of travel, or more accurately the peoples of countries like Australia and Nepal, gives an insight into what brings him pleasure. “Look I’m 61 and as I said before I’m more in love now with the industry than I was twenty, thirty years ago, but if you told me I couldn’t be a veterinarian I guess I’d like to be an anthropologist. Culture, people, it’s fascinating to me. How people live, adjust and flourish in their environments is amazing. There is little that is as rewarding as being ingratiated by a community so that you can experience and learn from their happiness.”

Having not long passed three score in age Steve is at that comfortable point where he can muse over

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\ NOT IN KANSAS ANYMORE \ GLEN LATHAM

so many of life’s lessons with a quiet smile. “As an arrogant, young surgeon I thought I had so many of the answers. But after being humbled by horses that beat all expectations, I needed to go back and ask what made them exceptional? I think that fits with the old Indian saying. ‘The Great Spirit gives you one mouth but two ears, and two eyes and you should use them in that proportion.’ That is a reflective and simple way to approach life. There is a difference between knowledge and wisdom; it is the humbling experiences and the quest to learn that grows wisdom. Hopefully, it is a collection of life experiences, relationships and re-evaluation that makes all of us more productive.”

He also recognizes that failing to pass on knowledge so the next generation can develop their own level of wisdom is one of life’s most heinous crimes. “One of the greatest privileges of being in the repository, say getting towards the end of the January sale when you are into Book 2, the horses aren’t bringing as much and the pressure is off a little, is when one of the practices will bring in a Junior vet and say, ‘sit next to Steve and if you have any questions just lean over and ask.’ It is then that I’m so grateful that I got to sit alongside Norm Rantanen in that motel room in Lexington him showing me the interesting things that he saw that day, or that I was privileged enough to be with Larry Bramlage when he was discussing with someone ‘that this is non-surgical and isn’t probably going to effect the horse’. To me that means I have earnt the trust of the Australian veterinarians if they want the next generation of vets to learn from my experience. If that’s what I’m meant to do then I am so grateful to have that opportunity.”

Given the frequency with which Steve passes through Australian customs and the sterling work he does behind the scenes, one thinks him a prime candidate for honorary citizenship. There’d be no shortage of positive character references, and who knows, even the farmers of Dubbo and a certain Brisbane COVID technician might attest to his suitability.

KINGMAN Invincible Spirit - Zenda (Zamindar)

TWO

5

GROUP 1 WINNERS FROM ONLY

KING COLORADO J.J. Atkins

ZARDOZI

VRC Kennedy Oaks

RUNNERS

IN AUSTRALIA OF KINGMAN’S 2020 SOUTHERN-HEMISPHERE CROP

Leading Northern-Hemisphere-based sire of three-year-old stakes winners (15) in 2023 more than Frankel, Into Mischief (both 13) and Galileo (10) Contact Shane Horan, Henry Bletsoe or Claire Curry +44 (0)1638 731115 | nominations@juddmonte.co.uk

www.juddmonte.com Correct to 9th November 2023

2023

Adam White & Rhys Smith

Andrew Williams & Sam Orton

David Chester & Basil Nolan

Andrew Dunemann, Neil Douglas & Mitch Cunningham

Andrew Noblet

Anthony Freedman, Mark Pilkington & Sam Freedman

Antony Thompson

Becca & Bruce Perry

Belinda Bateman, Samantha & Clementine Flanery

Ben Feldmann, Phil Wells & Nathan Bennett

Bjorn Baker

Adam Brandwood & Jamie Piggott

Tara & Angus Gold

Arthur Mitchell

Caspar Fownes

Ben & Mrs Au & Donna Newnham

Bill & Pat Frost

Peter Snowden

Bob Rose & Shane Wright

Ray Montague

66

\ SALEDAY FACES 2023

David Ellis

George Altomonte

Brendan & Jo Lindsay

Catheryne Bruggeman & Paul Moroney

Brian McGuire & Luke Wilkinson

Chris & Peter Watson

Richard Foster

Rob Crabtree

Danny O’Brien & Luke Wilkinson

Troy Corstens

Wayne Bedggood

Chris Munce & Arthur Hoyeau

David Bourne & Joseph Pride

Brian Siemsen & Harry Mitchell

Chris Waller, Denise Martin & Brett Howard

David Brideoake & Tommy Ryan

Bruce Slade & Barry Bowditch

Clarry & Maree Conners

Alan Acton & Tom Moore

Bryan Carlson, Sascha Watson & Dr Shalabh Sahu

Colin McKenna & John O’Neill

Brian Nutt

Craig Anderson

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\ 67

Dave Mee

David Redvers

David Vandyke

David Houston

Matthew & Melissa Smith

David Lui & Mark Newnham

Dean & Adam Watt

Dean Harvey & Lauren Dunning

Dean Hawkes & Ricky Yiu

Dean Hawthorne & Josh Rix

Debbie & Paul Kepitis

Dermot Farrington & Mick Flanagan

Dongsheng Hu & Carrie Hu

Duncan Ramage

Gai & Bert Vieira

Mixion Lam

Olly Tait

Holly Arnott & Willa Mitchell

68

\ SALEDAY FACES 2023

Emma Cully, Kathryn Wood-Enriquez, Oliver Enriquez & Denise Martin

Gabby & John Moloney

Hannah Wall

Gabby Nutt, Brae Sokolski & Ben Way

Gary & Ivy Diamond

John Foote

Michael Christian

Georgie Mitchell & Hermione Fitzgerald

Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou

LEADING BUYERS Glenn Burrows & John Kennedy

Harris Zhang, Sam Fairgray & Ben Gunn

The Hon. Grace Grace & Kelly Schweida

Henry Field & Calvin McEvoy

Graham Huddy

Noel Greenhalgh

2023

CHINA HORSE CLUB/ NEWGATE/GO/TRILOGY BOUGHT 18 AVERAGE $561,111 GROSS $10,100,000

Olly Koolman

GAI WATERHOUSE & ADRIAN BOTT RACING/KESTREL T’BREDS BOUGHT 21 AVERAGE $378,810 GROSS $7,955,000

Grania, Scott, Angus & Harry McAlpine

Greg Griffin

Richard Kelly

Guy Mulcaster & Henry Plumptre

Hubie De Burgh, Scott & Edwina Darby & Loren Wadsworth

James & Andrew Ferguson

CIARON MAHER BLOODSTOCK BOUGHT 12 AVERAGE $545,000 GROSS $6,540,000

James & Bill Mitchell MULCASTER BLOODSTOCK/CHRIS WALLER RACING P/L BOUGHT 14 AVERAGE $368,929 GROSS $5,165,000

Elaine Lawlor

Zoran Pasoski & Bevan Smith

James Clarke, Andrea Baker, Damon Gabbedy & Ben Willis

MMGC

\ 69

Michael & Chris Ward

Bill Wong & Merrick Staunton

James Harron, Fergus Doyle & Stephen Heath

Jeff Kruger, Apollo Ng & Su-Ann Khaw

Jamie Lovett & Luke Murrell

Jo Johnson & Lee Freedman

Jamie Walter & Steve O’Dea

Joe O’Neill

John Moore, Antonia Da Cruz & George Moore

Liz Dance, Darren Dance & Mike Rennie

John Moynihan, Helena Fedchanka, Richard Rigney, Phil Bauer, Tammy Rigney, Harry Mitchell, Barry Bowditch

Peter Morgan

Peter Orton

Jason Singh & Robbie Waterhouse

Royston & Catriona Murphy

JD & Ben Hayes

Matt Scown & Matt Cumani

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\ SALEDAY FACES 2023

Jimmy Unwala

Jo Griffin

John McArdle & Shane Nichols

John, Michael & Wayne Hawkes

Patty & Peter Tighe

LEADING BUYERS Jon Freyer & John Messara

Julian Blaxland & Suman Hedge

Kevin Payne, Gerry Harvey & Kevin Kelly

Linda Huddy & Marie Yoshida

Tony Dimitriadis

Tony Gollan

2023

YU LONG INVESTMENTS (AUSTRALIA) P/L BOUGHT 8 AVERAGE $620,000 GROSS $4,960,000

Annabel Neasham

TOM MAGNIER BOUGHT 3 AVERAGE $1,650,000 GROSS $4,950,000

Kris Lees & Lucas Miller

Lloyd Kennewell & Mat Becker

Lenny Russo & David Azzopardi

Lorilie & Gary Cunningham

Linda & Laurence Monds

Louis Le Metayer, Peter Walsh, Yuesheng Zhang, Peter O’Brien & Annie Walsh

CURRAN BLOODSTOCK BOUGHT 11 AVERAGE $437,727 GROSS $4,815,000

JAMES HARRON BLOODSTOCK COLT PARTNERSHIP BOUGHT 5 AVERAGE $950,000 GROSS $4,750,000

John O’Shea

John Sargent

Louis Mihalyka & Gary Portelli

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\ 71

2023

Mark Player & Robert Roulston

Matt Cumani

Matt Houldsworth

Michael Kent Jnr & Mick Price

Natalie Young & Trent Busuttin

Michael Kirwan, James Bester, Shane McGrath

Nathan Doyle, Lachlan Halloran-Gould & Trent Jorgensen

Michael Wallace & Michael Freedman

Nick Vass & Dane Robinson

John Kelly

Mathew De Kock & Robbie Griffiths

McCall Rounsefell, Vicky Leonard & Craig Rounsefell

Mick Malone

Johnny McKeever

Tom Kelly

Mitch Lowe & Neil Jenkinson

Michael & Jade Hickmott & Douglas Whyte

Bruno Cannatelli

72

\ SALEDAY FACES 2023

Padraig, Eloise & Rae-Louise Kelly

Paul Snowden

Peter Ford

Paul Messara, Martin Story & Shunsuke Yoshida

LEADING BUYERS Peter Liston & Peter Murray

Peter Moody & Anthony Mithen

Peter O’Brien & Tim Stakemire

Richard Jolly, Jake Toeroek & Chantelle Jolly

Sam Pritchard-Gordon

Siobhan Miller

2023

KIA ORA STUD P/L / TFI BOUGHT 4 AVERAGE $982,500 GROSS $3,930,000

Roy Chillemi & Jane Koch

SHEAMUS MILLS BLOODSTOCK (FBAA) BOUGHT 4 AVERAGE $906,250 GROSS $3,625,000

Richard & Will Freedman

Peter Raftopoulos, Justin Bahen & Brad Spicer

Sally Williams & Billy Slater

Satomi Oka & Masaji Kitagawa

Sam & Catriona Williams

Sam Matthews & Lindsey Smith

Matt Laurie

Will Johnson

Santo Guagliardo & Neville Parnham

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TAMMY RIGNEY BOUGHT 2 AVERAGE $1,600,000 GROSS $3,200,000

David Kobritz & Teresa Poon

MV Magnier & Clem Murphy

Sharnee & Tommy Berry

Simon Adams & Paul Willetts

Toby Liston & Matt Scown

Tony & Jo McEvoy & Jon Haseler

Simon Zahra

Zara & Mike Tindall, Gai Waterhouse & Katie Page

Tony Tang, Mrs Tang, Vicky Tang, Nicky Wong & Victor Lee

Stephen Gray, Vlad Duric, Eric Koh, Bridget Gray & Peter Twomey

Tom Magnier & Bruce Neill

Vin & Nic Cox

Stephen O’Connor, Sir Owen Glenn & Adrian Zurcher

Jason & Lucy Keegan-Attard

Wayne Kratzmann & Henry Dwyer

Tim Stakemire & John Camilleri

Tim Wilson & Ashleigh Dowley

Harry Perks

Jack Wolf

Roy Cheng & Kenny Man

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\ SALEDAY FACES 2023

Wylie Dalziel & Phillip Stokes

YP & King Cheng & Sara Ryan

TIME FOR SOME MAGIC MILBURN CREEK PRESENTS a hat-trick of Magic Graduates

Magic Time G1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes

Coolangatta G1 Moir Stakes G1 Lightning Stakes MM 2YO Classic

Zoukerette Listed Tatts Stakes

Milburn Creek info@milburncreek.com.au | www.milburncreek.com.au

HMC2313_MiCr_MMGraduateSuccess_Ad_Bluebloods_245x330mmPt_FA.indd 1

22/11/2023 12:55 pm

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\ TE AKAU \ KRISTEN MANNING

Te Akau

By Kristen Manning

A 17-year-old boy headed to an Ellerslie race meeting one day in the early 1970s...

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e’d never been to the races before, there was no equine interest in his family. He went to the track with $12 in his pocket and left with $84. A $72 profit that led to a life long passion... “I remember thinking that this is the easiest way to make money of all time!” he laughed.

The boy who “was hooked from that day on” was David Ellis.

Fast forward a few decades and the tangerine and royal blue silks of Te Akau Racing - run by David and his wife Karyn Fenton-Ellis - are immediately recognisable. They have been carried to victory in major races on outstanding horses including the mare who has won more Group 1 races this year than any horse, anywhere. The marvellous mare Imperatriz, graduate of the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

But more on her later!

Whilst David may not have hailed from a racing family, he always had a passion for agriculture - after spending school holidays at a friend’s farm deciding that this was the sort of life he’d like to lead. To that end he studied - first at the Flock House Agricultural College, then at Massey University where he acquired a Diploma Degree in Agriculture whilst also spending time shepherding on a sheep and cattle station.

His ambition from those early days was to own his own farm and in order to save the money to buy a property he began to work. And work hard - from the wee hours through to the afternoon at a freezing works and from the afternoon through to the evening painting houses; inside during the winter, outside over the summer months. And if that was not enough six days a week, on Sundays he pumped petrol... this was one determined young man!

By 1979 David had saved enough to buy “a very run down” 550 or so acres with the ambition to turn it into a successful sheep and cattle farm.

It was at around the same time that he began to dabble in racehorse ownership and it was in November 1978 that he enjoyed his first taste of victory with the leased Sovereign Edition mare Magnum. At her fifth start winning a 1400m maiden

at Paeroa, the mare - who would go onto produce the Gr.1 winning sprinter Mrs Selleck, was the very first horse to win in the tangerine and royal blue.

Colours David had designed on his trainer’s advice “make sure they are easy to see! I remember at the time thinking that if I could win ten races in those colours that would be incredible.”

That first win at a small midweeker a week after the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup win recorded by the New Zealand bred galloper Arwon - was a milestone.

Not just because a first win is always special... “it felt like I’d won the Melbourne Cup!” but because it led David to a realisation - that he really didn’t want to do this ownership thing on his own. “My trainer had to go and saddle up his next runner so I was left there drinking on my own, thinking that this was not as much fun as I’d hoped. From thereon I wanted to race with friends, to have people to celebrate with!”

And so Te Akau Racing was born.

Diversifying his sheep and cattle farm into a thoroughbred base, he purchased a neighbouring farm and established racing stables. He looks back at those days as being “hard work with moderate success.”

Though a Gr.1 winner did not take long with the privately purchased Cosmetique taking out the Easter Stakes at Ellerslie in 1986. Second to her that day was a chestnut by the name of Waverley Star who later in the year would earn hearts with his gutsy defeat at the hands of Bonecrusher in one of the most stirringly memorable runnings of the Gr.1 W.S Cox Plate.

A couple of years before that David made his first Trentham Yearling Sale purchase, a Sovereign Edition filly secured for $65,000. She made for a far from auspicious start to his career as a buyer... “the trainer said she was the slowest horse he’d ever had!” But after her purchase her family began to perform well and with Sovereign Edition fillies in demand, she was sold to Cambridge Stud - David the beneficiary of a great deal that saw him acquire $200,000 as well as a nomination to the great Sir Tristram which he sold for six figures.

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With Sir Tristram making his mark, David decided to chase his daughters and in the Spring of 1987 his $210,000 purchase - a filly out of a Sovereign Edition mare - made a winning debut at Te Rapa. Sentimentally named Sarah Fay after David’s daughter, she made her way to the Bart Cummings stables - for that master trainer winning the Listed Craven Plate in track record time.

Foaled three years after Sarah Fay was a Grosvenor colt purchased by David for $40,000 at the Magic Millions Trentham Yearling Sale... a horse who would play an important part in the career of one of Australia’s most successful trainers.

When taking out the 1992 Gr.1 Metropolitan Handicap, Te Akau Nick became Gai Waterhouse’s first elite level winner. And what a ride he took his trainer and his owners on - the following year such a game second to Vintage Crop in the Melbourne Cup. David has fond memories of not only the horse, but of the people surrounding him - Te Akau Nick originally trained by the late Colin Jillings, the New Zealand Racing Hall Of Fame member who he describes as “a great friend.”

Forging many friendships over the years, David has won - as a buyer, owner, breeder and syndicator lots of races - lots and lots in fact!

Overseeing a training operation - one that has grown from New Zealand into Singapore and most recently into Australia - that has sent out well over 2000 winners, Te Akau has celebrated over 260 stakes victories including horses who have won over 70 Gr.1 races.

The stars of the Te Akau show have been the multiple Gr.1 winners Avantage, Melody Belle, Te Akau Shark, Probabeel, Gingernuts and - of course - Imperatriz.

Not surprisingly David is rather proud of that star mare’s achievements, especially of the fact that “she has won more Gr.1 races this year than any horse in the world.”

A daughter of the two times Australian Champion Sire I Am Invincible and the winning Shamardal mare Berimbau, Imperatriz caught David’s eye at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale where it took $360,000 to secure her.

Selling her on behalf of her breeder Raffles Dancers, Bhima Stud’s Mike Fleming thought she may’ve actually been worth more than that

but was delighted that she was heading to such a good home. “When you sell yearlings out of mares owned by clients you want them to go to the sort of home that will let them develop,” he said, adding that Te Akau Racing is one such home - “they have the systems in place to give their horses every opportunity to fulfil their potential.”

David liked what he saw in Imperatriz, noting that she was “a really athletic filly who just wasn’t quite as strong as a lot of the other yearlings at the sale. I knew she would not be an early twoyear-old type but I could see the horse she was going to develop into.” Which is how David always goes about buying young horses, noting that “it is not quite so much what a yearling looks like on the day I buy them - I visualise what they will look like the day the jockey gets legged up.”

Spending a bit of quiet time at the farm before being broken in, Imperatriz did everything right from the start with David recalling that “everyone who rode her was impressed.” And one day David received the sort of phone call every owner dreams of getting - from Te Akau’s highly accomplished jockey Opie Bosson. “He rang me on the way home from track work and said ‘I’ve found one boss!’”

“To get good feedback from the world class judge that Opie is was pretty exciting,” David said.

Having saluted at debut, Imperatriz was quickly up in class taking out the Gr.2 Eclipse Stakes at just her second outing. It has been all up from there... the popular bay having won 17 of her 23 starts - amassing in excess of $5.3 million in stakes. The most prolific elite level winner and stakes winner for her sire, she has won eight Gr.1 races over 1200m, 1400m and 1600m.

Little wonder then that David is a fan of the Magic Millions sales ring with a number of his best performers found at the Gold Coast.

Including, from the same sale as Imperatriz, the Gr.1 winning sprinter Sword of State who now calls Cambridge Stud home. Noting that it is a big thrill to stand a stallion at such a prestigious farm, David has been supporting Sword of State with Te Akau mares and is excited by what he is seeing so far. “His foals look quite outstanding, he is a real chance.”

“I have had a lot of luck at the Magic Millions,”

“He rang me on the way home from track work and said ‘I’ve found one boss!’”

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\ ATE AKAU \ KRISTEN MANNING

“Imperatriz, the world’s most successful Group One winner in 2023”

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“My trainer had to go and saddle up his next runner so I was left there drinking on my own, thinking that this was not as much fun as I’d hoped.

From thereon I wanted to race with friends, to have people to celebrate with!”

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\ TE AKAU \ KRISTEN MANNING

David said, noting that his other Gold Coast success stories include the Gr.1 NZ 2000 Guineas winner Tell a Tale ($125,000 - 2007 National Yearling Sale) and a number of successful race mares who he returned to the Gold Coast to sell.

Such as the Gr.1 NZ 1000 Guineas heroine Costa Viva, a $100,000 purchase at the 2021 National Yearling Sale who Peter Ford purchased for $400,000 at the 2010 National Broodmare Sale. And the four times Gr.1 winner Princess Coup - a $260,000 purchase at the 2005 National Yearling Sale who was bought by E Thoroughbred for $3 million at the 2009 National Broodmare Sale.

And Te Akau’s most prolific Gr.1 winner - the two times New Zealand Horse of The Year Melody Belle who was purchased by the Written Tycoon Syndicate for $2.6 million at the 2021 National Broodmare Sale.

David buys horses for a variety of owners - groups both large and small as well as single owners and breeders. He loves buying from the sales, noting that “most breeders need turnover to survive - to pay service fees, to reinvest - so they tend to take their best horses to the sales.”

“So if you want great buying, you go to the sales,” he said, noting that “as soon as the catalogue comes out I spend two or three hours each night going through the pedigrees.”

David inspects horses at the sales and before - and at the time of our chat he was preparing for an upcoming trip to Newhaven Stud to inspect some youngsters whilst also checking in on two two Te Akau Gr.1 winners - Xtravagant and Cool Aza Beel.

David is delighted to have two stallions at Newhaven - “we like to do the best job we can for owners when we place a horse at stud but it is best that they end up at proven farms and to have two at such a proven stud as Newhaven is pretty exciting. They do such a great job giving their stallions every opportunity to succeed.”

Te Akau boast an excellent history of stallion success; from his base at The Oaks Stud Darci Brahma doing such a good job siring 57 stakes winners including twelve Gr.1 winners.

The son of Danehill and the Gr.1 Australasian Oaks winning Zabeel mare Grand Echezeaux was the first million dollar yearling purchased by David and when asked if he had any extra nerves that day he said “I am lucky, I don’t really feel the pressure - it’s just another day at the office. But it is,” he admits, “pretty good when those horses turn out to be good!” As Darci Brahma, with his five Gr.1 victories certainly did.

David and Karyn enjoy the wins - big and small - not only for themselves but for the joy it brings others; the owners as well as the Te Akau team of staff.

us!” he said, adding that they consider themselves lucky in regards to “having the best owners in the world” as well as “great staff who work really hard” and “our world class trainer Mark Walker.”

Te Akau only recently expanded, after considerable research, into Australia - choosing Cranbourne as their base.

And David could not be happier with the decision “everyone has been so kind to us and Cranbourne has the best facilities of any track we looked at, we had no hesitation in choosing to set up there.”

Appointing Ben Gleeson as Assistant Trainer, Te Akau currently have 15 horses in work at the Cranbourne stables including Imperatriz and the G1 1000 Guineas bound Zourion. And there are plans for expansion with the aim of accommodating up to 70 horses within the next two years - Mark Walker also training for outside clients.

Everyone works hard with David noting that racing is not just a job - “to succeed in racing you have to commit to 14 hour days, seven days a week! You have to give it your heart and soul and surround yourself with people who will do the same.”

“A lot of our staff have been with us for 20 and 30 years,” he said, taking great satisfaction from the love everyone has for the horses they work with.

On sales day David inspects the horses he likes two or three times but admits that first impressions are what matters most - “the first time I see a horse I have pretty much made up my mind about them.” He places around 40% of importance on pedigree, 60% on type, noting that there have been times when he has taken a punt on not liking one of those things about a horse whilst loving the other.

And each time a horse succeeds he enjoys the process “of going back and having a look at my notes.”

David met his wife Karyn when she, in her role as a Trackside television presenter, requested an interview with him at the yearling sales. “I said I would if she’d agree to go out for dinner with me!”

Next year celebrating their 20th anniversary, the couple work well together with family members also part of the team - including Karyn’s daughter JuliaRose, Te Akau’s Marketing manager who does such a great job running the company’s website and social media channels.

It is his passion for racing that keeps him going through the long hours and the sometimes demanding set-backs. Sometimes those involved in the game become jaded as the years fly by but David is no such person.

“I am a racing tragic,” he said. “ I still love going to the races and I am so lucky to be doing for a living what is actually my hobby.”

“Watching the thrill they get out of it is the thrill for

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23/11/2021 12:07:44 PM

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kōst

BAR & GRILL

By Bianca Trathen

Nestled in the heart of bustling Broadbeach’s Oracle Boulevard is new kid on the block and culinary trailblazer, kõst Bar and Grill.

The wow-factor of its light and luxurious Mediterranean aesthetic with rendered walls, elegant marble finishes, and arches for days, is rivalled only by its gastronomic greatness.

H

eroing premium local and domestic produce, farm fare, and sumptuous seafood, kōst’s trademark is its wood-fired wizardry thanks to the two-metre Mibrasa charcoal grill and oven. A palette-pleasing gamechanger and the first of its kind in Australia, it’s the ‘secret sauce’ cementing kōst as a foody fave. Accommodating up to 170 people, there’s a sophisticated cocktail bar, cocktail deck, indoor dining, a 12-seat private dining room, and plenty of outdoor dining options to soak up the summer breeze.

Dave Galvin is the visionary force behind kōst and other infamous GC nosheries like Mozza Mozza, Crafty’s Sports Bar, Bird Royale, and the soon to be Kirra Beach House. A hospitality legend with over 25 years’ experience and an all-round nice guy, he identified a gap in the market for an elevated bar and grill offering. Seamlessly weaving his passion for food, drink, design, and guest experience into the fabric of this establishment, it’s perfect for long lunches, date nights, drinks, and dancing.

The culinary helm is entrusted to Executive Chef Sebbie Keynon, whose expertise is the cornerstone of kōst’s gastronomic excellence. His impressive resume includes stints at hatted restaurants in Sydney and Melbourne, international ventures in Paris, London, and Moscow, and working alongside some illustrious household cheffing names.

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With more signature dishes than you can poke a fork at, one visit here just isn’t enough. Enjoy the delicate flavours of the kōst Ceviche with a 72-hour citrus dressing, the delectable Rangers Valley 45-day dry aged T Bone straight off the wood fire and charcoal grill, and the XL Bay Bug. Featuring an oversized Moreton Bay bug on a harissa bisque with a fennel garnish, it’s as much a feast for the eyes as it is the tastebuds.

The resort-inspired cocktails are fruit forward, well balanced, and just as popular with the man folk as the ladies. Speaking of, Lady Luck is a best-seller and kōst’s take on a Lychee Martini with coconut water and kaffir lime. Another popular pick is the Coconut Fat Washed Negroni, with tropical notes contrasting deliciously with the bitter undertones.

In an era where culinary innovation knows no bounds, kōst Bar and Grill stands as a beacon of exclusive yet non-pretentious eats excellence on the Gold Coast.

Already a firm favourite with locals and tourists alike, it serves up world-class coastal-inspired dining, with a hearty side of sensory immersion and it-girl vibes.

\ KŌST BAR & GRILL \ BIANCA TRATHEN

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THE NATIONAL MAGIC MILLIONS There is nothing quite like having a runner in a Magic Millions race and even better taking first place prize. The world’s first and richest sales restricted race series delivers an incomparable money-can’t-buy ownership experience.

With races programmed nationally for all ages and distances across a horse’s racing lifetime, the broad distribution of Magic Millions Race Series prizemoney is without equal.

With more races, more prizemoney and more feature racemeetings, there is more opportunity to participate in the fun of the series and share in the rich returns on offer year after year.

Nomination is exclusive to graduates of the Magic Millions Yearling Sales Series.

MAGIC MILLIONS RACE SERIES FROM 2024/25 RACING SEASON •

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Races for horses of all ages from 1000m-2200m

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•

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National Series across six states Ballarat - VIC Wyong - NSW Gold Coast - QLD Launceston - TAS Pinjarra - WA Murray Bridge - SA

NEW $5.25 million 6 race program Friday night Magic Millions eve racemeeting at the Gold Coast Turf Club - Including 5 x Magic Millions races of $2.25 million - NEW $250,000 Magic Millions Class 6 Plate - NEW $750,000 Magic Millions State Challenge Cup (BM 80, 1400m) - Plus NEW $3 million Open Slot race for 3YOs* (1100m) *Open race, not part of MM Race Series

•

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$1 million Magic Millions National 2YO Classic (1000m) at the Gold Coast every May from 2024.

\ EXPANDED RACE SERIES

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17/11/2023 10:53 am

INTRODUCING THE STAR GOLD COAST MAGIC MILLIONS CARNIVAL – 2025!

Saturday 4 January 2025:

The Wave Raceday featuring 3 x Magic Millions races & The Wave Bonus worth $950,000!

Distance

Prizemoney

Magic Millions Maiden Plate

Race

1100m

$250,000.00

Magic Millions Rising Stars 3YO & 4YO Class 4 Plate (C,G&E)

1300m

$250,000.00

Magic Millions Rising Stars 3YO & 4YO Class 4 Plate (F&M)

1300m

$250,000.00

Magic Millions Bonus on The Wave

1800m

$200,000.00

(if winner is nominated to MM Race Series)

Friday 10 January 2025:

Night meeting featuring 5 x Magic Millions races worth $2.25 million!

Distance

Prizemoney

Magic Millions Maiden Plate

Race

1400m

$250,000.00

Magic Millions Class 6 Plate

1200m

$250,000.00

Magic Millions The Debut (unraced 2YO C&G)

1000m

$500,000.00

Magic Millions The Debut (unraced 2YO F)

1000m

$500,000.00

Magic Millions State Challenge Cup (BM 80)

1400m

$ 750,000.00

TAB Open slot race for 3YOs*

1100m

$3,000,000.00

Saturday 11 January 2025:

The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Raceday featuring 9 x Magic Millions races worth $14.75 million!

Race The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL)

Distance

Prizemoney

1200m

$3,000,000.00

Magic Millions Racing Women’s Bonus - 2YO Gold Coast Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (RL)

$500,000.00 1400m

Magic Millions Racing Women’s Bonus - 3YO

$250,000.00

Magic Millions Cup (RL)

1400m

$2,000,000.00

Magic Millions Snippets

1200m

$1,000,000.00

TAB Magic Millions Fillies & Mares

1300m

$1,000,000.00

Magic Millions Subzero

2200m

$1,000,000.00

Racing Queensland Magic Millions QTIS Open

1300m

$1,500,000.00

TAB Magic Millions The Syndicate

1100m

$1,000,000.00

Magic Millions Country Cup

1200m

$500,000.00

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$3,000,000.00

\ 95 17/11/2023 10:53 am

men THE

IN BLACK

by Jessica Owers

How do three mates turn a fledgling bloodstock business, with just a handful of mares, into a racing brand with one of the sharpest strike-rates in the country? Jessica Owers sat down with Black Soil Bloodstock to find out.

I

t’s midday on a Monday at Eureka Stud, high on a hilltop overlooking Cambooya in mid spring. The sun is warm and the flies wicked, and the pretty Mayne’s pest that lines the roadside, with its purple livery in full pop, is everywhere. For Harry McAlpine, it’s business as usual as broodmares step forward for routine vetting, until Tony Gollan and Brian Siemsen stroll into the yard. They shake hands, share a joke and pick up where last they left off.

These three are the blood, brains and business of Black Soil Bloodstock, a breeding and racing operation based here at Eureka Stud on the Darling Downs. Siemsen is its principal, “the finance guy”, and McAlpine its bloodstock agent.

Gollan is its trainer, and, along with bloodstock consultant John Foote, they’ve had a hell of a year. It started last January when Skirt The Law won the Magic Millions 2YO Classic, collecting a $1.5 million winner’s cheque (that included an all-women’s bonus). Then in May, Black Soil was back at the Gold Coast to sell its stakeswinning star Isotope. Siemsen expected around $1 million, and Isotope sold to Yulong for $2.3 million.

Each of these men is very different. They’re a breeder, a horse trainer and an insurance guru. Siemsen is the founder and CEO of Claim Central, and a man that took just six years to turn a fledgling company into something worth $55 million. McAlpine, on his childhood home at Eureka, is a third generation studmaster and Tattersalls representative in this part of the world, while Gollan has been Queensland’s metropolitan premiership-winning trainer for 10 successive seasons.

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\ THE MEN IN BLACK \ JESSICA OWERS

But they’re all Queenslanders, reared on the dirt of the Darling Downs. The black soil. They’re a similar age and they’re genuine friends, and the success they’ve had with Black Soil Bloodstock has been a community effort. It’s also a long way from the original idea that was Boom Time Racing.

“What a terrible name,” Siemsen says. “Who came up with that?” The three men are sitting around Grania McAlpine’s dining table on the deck of the Eureka homestead.

“I’m pretty sure it was me, actually,” Siemsen adds, and McAlpine and Gollan chime in that it certainly was. It might be a thing they won’t let him forget.

Boom Time Racing was Siemsen’s foundation company. It kicked off around 2014 when the half-brothers Spirit Of Boom and Temple Of Boom ran first and second in the Doomben 10,000. Siemsen was a major shareholder in both horses, Gollan trained the pair and the McAlpines had bred them. The two horses raced in Eureka colours, and their success was the start of something very big for Siemsen.

“After Spirit was retired, I spoke to these guys about what I should do with my share,” Siemsen says. “I had 35 percent of Spirit Of Boom but I knew next to nothing about breeding horses, and I didn’t have a mare at that stage. I went to Harry to ask him about it, and then I spoke to Tony, who put me in touch with Johnny Foote and that inner circle. I ticked along like that for a couple of years, but it wasn’t until four or five years ago that we had a proper conversation about the actual business of Black Soil.”

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\ THE MEN IN BLACK \ JESSICA OWERS

Black Soil Bloodstock was registered in September 2018. McAlpine remembers it coincided with Spirit Of Boom’s breakthrough crop, which had left everyone spinning with its overnight success.

“I was leaving Inglis at about the same time to come back here to the farm to give them a hand,” McAlpine says. “That was about the time Brian wanted to become more involved, and Tony put us in touch to say we should sit down and look at things a bit more seriously, which we did.”

Siemsen doesn’t commit lightly. It’s not in his nature, which is usually how high-achievers operate in private enterprise. But, after committing to breeding racehorses, he discovered quickly that Black Soil Bloodstock wasn’t as simple as buying a mare, putting her to Spirit Of Boom and then counting the cash. It proved maddeningly difficult.

“Our first couple of seasons were awful,” he says. “But you get that in business. The first thing I was trying to work out was if we were doing anything wrong, but I also understood that’s just breeding. You can have a bad consecutive run and then get onto a good run. Harry had said we needed to get better mares, so the quality was what I wanted to concentrate on, remembering this was a time when I was still buying colts. I can tell you, those lessons the first couple of years were reasonably expensive.”

Today, the Black Soil mantra isn’t about colts. It’s about buying or breeding smart fillies, allowing Gollan to do something with them on the track, and then breeding them back to good stallions.

“We got disciplined,” Siemsen says, “but I wouldn’t even say we got real discipline until the last 12 to 18 months.”

Isotope was a maturity turning-point for Black Soil Bloodstock. In 2019, at the time of her purchase as a Magic Millions yearling in January, the group also bought the stakes winner The Actuary, whom they later sold privately, and Bleu Zebra, who is now part of the Black Soil broodmare band. These three fillies were among the four that McAlpine and Gollan picked up in one hit that summer on the Gold Coast.

“It actually coincided with me being in Europe and having nothing to do with the sale, so they did a good job,” Siemsen says. “But let me be clear. I gave them a spending limit, and by the time I woke up that morning on the other side of the world, these guys were celebrating four great purchases at double the value of what I had set.”

Laughter erupts around the table. There is no sympathy for Siemsen.

“We were shooting well that year,” McAlpine says, and they all laugh some more.

In its first year, and with small numbers, Black Soil ended up with upwards of 44 percent winners to horses bought. The stakes conversion was even better, and these are figures that Siemsen keeps on top of. They’ve had horses like Isotope, the stakes winners Niedorp and Miami Fleiss, while Skirt The Law is the latest star. Loosely, Siemsen thinks that of the first 10 horses he raced in partnership with Gollan, McAlpine or both, six or seven were first-up winners.

Siemsen and Gollan go back a long way. They were 15 when they met at a softball game in Toowoomba, they shared a house later on in town, and Siemsen dated Gollan’s sister for four years. They’re good early memories before Siemsen went to Sydney to play first-grade football, and before Gollan was a household name.

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“The first horse I trained for Eureka and the McAlpines was Temple Spirit, who was the mother of Temple Of Boom and Spirit Of Boom,” Gollan says. “I came out here to the farm one day to look at some spellers I had in the paddock, and I saw her and tried to bullshit my way through that I could buy her, a bit like Brian does, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t sell any of her. Luckily enough, Colin McAlpine called me up a few months later to give her to me to train, and I won seven or eight with her from 15. She was pretty handy.”

Temple Of Boom was Temple Spirit’s first foal, which Gollan bought as a yearling on the Gold Coast in 2008, costing $40,000. The following year he bought Spirit Of Boom for $90,000. This line of horses was how Gollan started training for the McAlpines, and it was a critical association that has had long-lasting consequences.

“I would describe it as life-changing,” Gollan says.

“I remember, as a young trainer in Toowoomba, wondering how I was going to get ahead. I knew the leading trainers up here all trained for the big studs, which were just on our doorstep, but I wasn’t really in with any of them. So I started to send some spellers out here to Eureka, and I was fortunate to have a terrific relationship with Harry’s grandfather, Colin, who was like a second father to me, to be truthful. We were mates and because of that, other owners saw the Eureka colours coming out of my stable, which was the best possible advertisement for me.”

Blood is thicker than water, they say, but not by much when it comes to these three. Harry McAlpine was just leaving school when Gollan was training Temple Of Boom.

“I remember he tipped the horse at its first start at 40/1,” McAlpine says, recalling the January 2009 when the gelding indeed won first up. “I thought Tony was a legend after that.”

It was always part of the plan that Gollan would train the Black Soil horses. Siemsen credits Gollan with that push to really understand the breeding side of the business, to not just wing it.

“I pestered these poor guys with probably the silliest of questions for the better part of a year and a bit,” Siemsen says. “But I’m not one to sit on the sidelines until I learn it all. I’m one to get in the game and learn as I go. Maybe that’s good, maybe it’s bad. I don’t know. But I’ve found what the formula is right now, so why change it?

These guys are buying horses that are winning in the colours, and it’s on rinse and repeat now.”

The Black Soil colours are distinctive, unmistakeable even. Niedorp was the first to carry them, and if you look at them correctly, the upside-down A is, in fact, a horse’s head with

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\ THE MEN IN BLACK \ JESSICA OWERS

two eyes, two ears and a blaze. When you see it, you can’t see anything else. When Skirt The Law won the Magic Millions 2YO Classic, she replaced the black livery with pink to represent her allfemale syndicate, and it was a day that none of them will forget. The filly pinned her ears and set her neck to win by two lengths from a typically sharp, typically quick Magic Millions field.

“It’s like winning a Group One,” Gollan says. “It’s not a Group One but it feels like one. It’s such a hard race to win. You buy a horse a year earlier, even within the year sometimes, and you think about all the thousands of people that are buying horses to win this race. Most people are harbouring ambitions to get back to the Gold Coast for it, but it’s an awfully hard thing to win.”

On the verandah of the Eureka homestead, it’s pushing mid-afternoon. The light is changing, shifting quietly to the west, and Siemsen and Gollan have planes to catch. It’s almost a twohour push back to Brisbane.

Nearby in the yards, Bleu Zebra is waiting to go back out with her colt foal by Stay Inside, and somewhere on Eureka, Niedorp is strolling around in the Queensland sun with her filly

by I Am Invincible. So too Miami Fleiss in foal to Zoustar. They’re just three of the rockstars coming through for Black Soil Bloodstock, a company that is only just getting going.

“The exciting side of it is there are still fillies coming off the track,” McAlpine says. “We’ve really only retired three of them so far, and I could name five or six that are going to come to the barn when they’re done. So from only a small broodmare band of about five, we bred two Group Two winners last year and we’ve bred five stakes winners. It feels like we’re punching well above our weight.”

In simple terms, that’s a stakes winner a year since 2018. It’s unusual, and McAlpine says as much. Siemsen’s eyes, pale like a glass of water, light up, while nothing seems to surprise Tony Gollan. Their differences are what make these men an interesting set, and outside of the bloodstock and business, the banter is thick and the mateship good.

“We never argue, at least not over the horses,” Gollan says, and Siemsen chimes in. “There’s no point arguing with Tony,” and they laugh like old friends all over again.

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raceday

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raceday

SOCIALS 104

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Pacific Fair fashions on the field

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raceday FACES

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raceday TAKE

2

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Book your new yearling’s home journey with us.

•

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2024-RB-Transport.indd 180

22/11/2023 8:14 am

MEET THE NEW VOBIS FAMILY

Learn more for your chance to share in Australia’s richest owner and breeder incentive scheme*

Racingvictoria.com.au/vobis *As stated in TDN News, 9 August 2022 – breeder bonus schemes reaching new heights

CHARM STONE

2YO winner of the Ottawa Stakes 3YO dual

Stakes Winner Bred, raised & sold

by Emirates Park

MANAAL

2YO winner of the Gimcrack Stakes Bred, raised & raced

by Emirates Park

BODYGUARD

2YO winner of the Maribyrnong Trial Bred, raised & sold

by Emirates Park

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\ THE SUPER SEXTET \ TREVOR MARSHALLSEA

The SEXTET

By Trevor Marshallsea

Rarely will one single sale have such an impact on the racetrack and on a new wave of thoroughbreds …

F

arnan. King’s Legacy. Tagaloa. Peltzer.

Prague. Anders. Each one of them is a graduate of the vintage 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and each have their first progeny on offer in the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

They all graced the ring at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast auction, selling across a wide range from $260,000 to $1.6 million. They crossed paths on the most esteemed fields of battle in all becoming stakes-winners, three at Group 1 level, and four earning more than a million dollars.

Now, five years on, this super sextet is back, as it were, among the most keenly sought of Australia’s first season sires.

Prague and King’s Legacy were two of only nine million-dollar colts at the 2019 sale, between them earning $1,582,250 in prizemoney and winning five stakes races, including King’s Legacy’s pair of two-year-old Group 1s.

These achievements have since been dwarfed in monetary terms by their stud careers - more than justifying investment in colts at the top end of town, and securing individual legacies which help make up the wider story of the sale of 2019.

These six would confront each other often on the track, in power-packed careers which pulled in 14 stakes races combined, including some of the most illustrious on the calendar.

Out of Australia’s five two-year-old G1s in 2020, four were claimed by this sextet. Tagaloa triumphed in the 2020 Blue Diamond, Farnan dominated in the time-honoured Golden Slipper, before King’s Legacy claimed the ATC Sires’ Produce-Champagne Stakes double. It’s not often that one single sale has produced such a

dominant line of colts on the racetrack.

And the pair who missed the Slipper came back for spring three-year-old success. Anders completed four straight wins by bolting home in Rosehill’s The Rosebud and San Domenico Stakes. Peltzer was second in the latter, but then won the G2 Stan Fox Stakes and the $1m Bondi Stakes back-to-back.

All six became sires, with a patronage that continued their histories of booming returns on investment.

Farnan, the nation’s Champion 2YO, winner of four stakes races and close to five times his purchase price, went to Kia Ora Stud in a monster deal made after his Slipper win, covering 192 mares and producing 122 live foals off an initial service fee of $55,000.

He’ll have 39 yearlings from his first crop at this year’s sale, 19 colts and 20 fillies, and if his weanling sale results are any guide - with 18 sold at an average of $112,000 last year - expect heads to be turned.

King’s Legacy won just over $1m, but recouped his purchase price many times over in a deal to stand at Coolmore, where he sired 132 first crop live foals at $33,000. He has 43 sale bound for January, and had 24 weanlings sold last year at a $65,000 average..

Tagaloa, having won at G1 and G3 level, earning five times his yearling price, was retired to Yulong Stud - who bought in after his Blue Diamond triumph - and sired 110 live foals at $33,000 in his first crop. He’s represented on the Gold Coast by 15, after 10 of his weanlings averaged $44,500 in 2023. 

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The flying Anders went to Widden Stud and was in keen demand, covering 184 mares for 120 live foals in season one at $16,500. He has 26 catalogued, and had 18 weanlings fetched a mean price of $36,000.

Peltzer, who turned that $260,000 purchase price into $1.05 million in prizemoney, made just about the same in his first year at stud, siring 65 live foals from his initial fee at Twin Hills of $16,500. His flag will be flown at the Gold Coast by six colts and one filly, after 14 of his weanlings sold for an average of $27,750.

Kia Ora also swooped to stand Prague, whose 64 first crop foals off a $16,500 fee have ended with six colts and eight fillies going to the Gold Coast. The 13 of his weanlings sold last year averaged $29,400.

All in all, the Class of 2019 provided a sparkling array of colts who’ve not only flown the Magic Millions banner high on the track, but have made impressive early strides at stud as well.

“All up, 36% of the first season sired yearlings in 2024 are sired by 2019 graduates,” said Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch.

“That’s a shining indictment on the extraordinary influence the Gold Coast Yearling Sale is having on the industry and the Australian Thoroughbred in general.”

In total, 23 first season sires are represented at this year’s Magic Millions showpiece. They include two graduates from other editions of the sale in another San Domenico Stakes winner in Kitchwin Hills’ Graff, and Kingstar Farm’s Time To Reign.

Also sure to attract attention will be the first progeny of Darley’s triple G1 winner Bivouac, Vinery’s Golden Rose-Caulfield Guineas double victor Ole Kirk, Widden Victoria’s Russian Camelot - the only northern hemisphere-bred winner of a Derby in Australasia - and Wootton Bassett, who began shuttling to Coolmore in 2021 after making great strides through his first six years of runners in Europe.

“All up, 36% of the first season sired yearlings in 2024 are sired by 2019 graduates,” said Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch. “That’s a shining indictment on the extraordinary influence the Gold Coast Yearling Sale is having on the industry and the Australian Thoroughbred in general.”

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\ THE SUPER SEXTET \ TREVOR MARSHALLSEA

THE CLASS OF 2019

KING’S LEGACY - Lot 417 - Redoute’s Choice - Breakfast in Bed

FARNAN - Lot 206 - Not A Single Doubt - Tallow

ANDERS - Lot 765 - Not A Single Doubt - Madame Andree

TAGALOA - Lot 266 - Lord Kanaloa - Vasilissa

PRAGUE - Lot 34 - Redoute’s Choice - Purely Spectacular

PELTZER - Lot 219 - Sebring - The Huntress

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Magic

THE SCHOOL OF

H E N RY P LU M P T R E In the early 1990s, when Henry Plumptre came aboard Magic Millions in the department of yearling selection, they were tough ‘ol times.

“The whole world, economically, had just fallen off a cliff,” he says. “The end of the 1980s was a very messy affair for every sector of western economies, and the horse industry fell particularly hard because we were in a superfluous industry. We didn’t save lives or make food, and I think equine values might have dropped by more than 60 percent.”

For Plumptre, they were the best of times in the worst of times. From about 1991 until 1994, he worked as a yearling consultant for Magic Millions as the company rebooted from financial chaos.

“Survival,” he says. “All the sales companies had been hit terribly hard and they had huge amounts of debt, but they were incredible years. I can think back to some of the people I worked with, like Carl Waugh and Jan Peacock. David Chester I’ve known since I first came to Australia, and Val Hayward is still there.

They were great times. I absolutely loved it.”

Plumptre spent three years at Magic Millions. During that time, he watched the catalogues blossom as horses like Mahogany sailed through them.

Plumptre was there, was even instrumental, when the company expanded into Asia, sponsoring races in Singapore.

After his tenure, the Englishman moved on to some of the most prolific responsibilities in the industry. For 16 years, until mid-2017, Plumptre was the managing director of Godolphin Australia, after which he became the CEO of the rebranded Cambridge Stud, a position he holds to this day.

“Working with a man like Carl Waugh at Magic Millions, it gave me a very good perspective on survival,” he says. “Magic Millions went through some enormous highs and some enormous lows, and it taught me the values of being tough and seeing a way through a difficult time. They were very educational years for me. Very educational.”

Plumptre is highly educated. He speaks patiently, sees things objectively, and his wealth of living is written all over his memories. He remembers everything.

“Did those years at Magic Millions teach me to deal with people? Yes they did,” he says. “I met a lot of people, particularly in that early Singapore environment, and I had to make it work. We had to get those people to a sale and we had to prove we could run a race up there. Anyone that knows me will tell you I’m a good talker. I could talk the legs off a chair, but the rules of engagement when it comes to horses are different. I learned to listen to people in those formative years, and it really paid off in my later years.”

When Plumptre headed to Magic Millions in 1991, he’d worked at Arrowfield and Widden, and he had a bloodstock agency doing several things at once.

He was even an expert witness on tax fraud. Among Plumptre’s best alliances was the one emerging with Lloyd Williams, the pair seeing an opportunity to buy well in a downwards market, and it was how Mahogany came into their lives in 1992.

After 16 years at Godolphin since, and another six at Cambridge Stud, Plumptre has chased bigger rainbows. But Magic Millions, even in those troubled, early years, was unforgettable.

“When the first million-dollar race was announced, I was working at a stud in Newmarket,” he says. “I remember reading all about it. Everyone wanted to know what these mad Australians had come up with. At Magic Millions, I was surrounded by people with great peripheral thinking powers, people that could actually do things and achieve things. Being around them probably prepared me for a bigger role in my life, definitely.”

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Magic

THE SCHOOL OF

VIN COX Late in 2011, and not long after Gerry Harvey and Katie Page bought Magic Millions outright, the boy-faced Vin Cox became the company’s managing director, succeeding Dr Stephen Silk who, in turn, had succeeded David Chester.

C

ox had worked as a bloodstock agent for Inglis for 16 years, and independently for a further six before his appointment to Magic Millions. He was sharply minded and thorough, a horseman with a good eye, and there was something about his pleasant ways and good manners. He seemed always the gentleman.

“I was approached by someone to go and see Gerry Harvey, which I did,” Cox says. “At the time I was running my own bloodstock agency, and I sat down with Gerry and had a chat for a couple of hours. He asked me to come back and see Katie, which I did about a week later, and a number of weeks went by before they rang me back to offer me the job. That was how it all came about, and it really was the beginning of something.”

At the time, Cox and his wife Nicole lived in Sydney. They had three young boys and they upped sticks for the city on the sand with its famous thoroughbred auction house.

“I was managing director of Magic Millions from March 2011 to January 2018,” Cox says. “I’d not had a role of that seniority before, and certainly not in terms of leading an industry company.

I was reasonably well-known as a bloodstock agent, but I’d never led an organisation of that magnitude.”

In 2011, when Cox was appointed, Magic Millions was in its new Harvey era. The company was young and driven, as was its team.

“When we charged over the trenches, we were all together,” Cox says, recalling his best memory as a leader of a lively, loyal Magic Millions staff. “When I left seven years later, everyone went up a rung, and I thought that was a great thing, that they weren’t skirting far and wide for replacements.”

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\ SCHOOL OF MAGIC

In 2018, after departing Magic Millions, Cox became the managing director of Godolphin Australia. Very recently, he took the position of general manager at Yulong, and these are top-shelf, high-achieving appointments that occurred seamlessly after Cox’s years on the Gold Coast.

“Magic Millions gave me quite a significant profile, through stakeholders and through sponsors,” he says. “Also through Katie’s and Gerry’s connections, and through big business and government, which I’d never been exposed to in any of my roles previously. It was quite enlightening, so looking back on it, you could say Magic Millions catapulted me to another level.”

Cox was at the helm when the company’s January raceday was first announced and then first occurred in 2016. It was Queensland’s first $10 million race meeting and a Cox-plied partnership between the auction house and Racing Queensland. He described it as a gamechanger, and he was right. In 2023, the sevenyear partnership was renewed to the tune of $14.75 million by 2025.

And still, to this day, Cox lives on the Gold Coast. He didn’t desert it for Sydney, Melbourne or the Hunter Valley. The Gold Coast can do that to people; its warm streets and endless sunshine take hold, until it seems absurd to live anywhere else.

“We moved up there for the Magic Millions gig all those years ago, and we love it now,” Cox says. “You won’t prise us out with a crowbar.”

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Magic

THE SCHOOL OF

T O N Y ‘ T U B B A’ W I L L I A M S When Tony ‘Tubba’ Williams started at Magic Millions in 2003, he’d already been around the traps.

A jockey, breeder, an agent at Dalgety Bloodstock... Williams had even run his own sale company for nine years in Victoria.

I

’d worked in the thoroughbred industry for 28 years by the time I started at Magic Millions,” he says, which would have made him one of the most qualified of New South Wales managers.

“But make no mistake,” he says, “the role I held at Magic Millions put me to another level within the industry. Even though I’d had a lot of experience and I’d done quite a lot, and I would say I was pretty wellknown, going to Magic Millions really established me in this business, especially in respect to my contacts.”

From 2003 until 2012, Williams was New South Wales manager for Magic Millions. To the role, he brought a new benchmark to yearling inspections and private sales, preferring to first inspect horses at foot, and then reinspect them again as yearlings. It gave him a broader picture of individual progress or decline, and today that practice is universal.

Williams initially lived on the Gold Coast early in his role, but later relocated to the Hunter Valley where the majority of his responsibilities were. The roads were long and the journeys largely solo, but for Williams, the memories are good.

“It was fantastic to be involved for that long,” he says. “Those were the years when David Chester was managing director, and then Vin Cox towards the end, and the working environment was fantastic.

Everyone did their job and they did it well, and I was given a lot of freedom. Magic Millions’ attitude to credit and looking after its clients was critical to the development of the company, and it has continued to evolve in that direction to this day.”

Williams is the stallion director at Newgate Farm now, bringing 48 years to one of the largest operators in the game. He’s still one of the good guys, that sort of relatable, high-achieving fellow that everyone likes. After wrapping up at Magic Millions, he was the managing director of Goffs UK before coming home to Newgate, opportunities he credits to his time on the Gold Coast.

“If it wasn’t for Magic Millions, I’m certainly not head-hunted by Newgate Farm,” he says. “And I certainly would not have got that position at Goffs if it weren’t for my tenure at Magic Millions and what I’d been able to achieve there. Magic Millions was a wonderful entrée internationally for me, make no mistake about that.”

Through much of 2023, Williams shed nearly 40 kilograms to weigh-in at the Bong Bong picnic meeting in November. It was a riding renaissance, and he rode trackwork and barrier trials to earn the ticks and checks for his riding licence. Pushing 63, he was a media hit all year.

It wasn’t exactly the second coming of Tubba Williams... more like the eighth or ninth for a man that continues to reinvent his wheel. But he never forgets where he came from, and one of those places is Magic Millions.

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Magic

THE SCHOOL OF

PAU L W E E K E S Paul Weekes can be found these days at the Shoalhaven City Turf Club, a long way from the clatter and clamour of the Magic Millions sale ring. But when he casts his mind back to his days as the company’s chief financial officer (CFO), he is wistful.

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n a working sense, they were the best times of my life,” he says. “I loved it. I loved the horse industry and I loved the people I met through it. I was reluctant to leave, and I wouldn’t say I’ve regretted it ever since because I’m too old now to be doing what I was doing then, but it was that sort of job where the work seemed to blend into the social life. All my friends were either colleagues or people in the industry.”

Weekes was the financial controller at Magic Millions for about 12 years, variously from 1998 until 2010.

Before he was ever associated with the company, he was a Sydney accountant working on its receivership, which was a colourful chapter in the earliest days of the auction house.

Weekes relocated to the Gold Coast with a plan to be there for a couple of years. Over 10 years later he was still there, seeing through the eras of Gerry Harvey, John Singleton and Rob Ferguson buying in, Don Hancock as managing director and David Chester ever present.

“I had a dual role of finance, and then pretty much everything else that David didn’t want to deal with,” Weekes says.

Weekes has a lively mind. He is animated, and those years at Magic Millions under Harvey, ‘Singo’ and Ferguson seemed to suit him. The energy of the workplace was brilliant and he thrived in it.

“There was never a dull moment,” he says.

After Magic Millions, Weekes moved on to Racing NSW, where he was an executive officer in the country division. He held that position for six years before a brief stint in a similar role at Aquis Farm, and now he is the general manager of the Shoalhaven City Turf Club.

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\ SCHOOL OF MAGIC

It’s a quieter life than the Gold Coast, with richly varied days of racing to hopping on a mower like Forrest Gump.

“I couldn’t get the horse industry out of my blood when I left Magic Millions,” Weekes says. “I went back to Sydney and worked for Racing NSW, and I’ve since found myself here at Nowra for the last four years.

I’m trying out every aspect of the industry apart from jockey, by the looks of things.”

Among the things he credits to his years at Magic Millions, his people skills rank first.

“I developed a lot as a person because of it,” he says.

“I got a lot more confidence dealing with people at all levels. One minute you were talking with billionaires and the next you were chatting with the guy unloading horses off a truck. I think I was pretty good at thinking on my feet, but it was a time in my life when I had to make a lot of decisions quickly. There were a lot of things happening all at once all the time.”

Weekes is pushing 60. If he misses the buzz of those years at Magic Millions, he also admits he couldn’t keep pace with “the long hours at sale time and the sleepless nights. I don’t think my mind or my body could keep up any more.”

At Nowra, he is a Magic Millions graduate with some of the best credentials going for a country race club, helped along somewhat by the boisterous, pioneering years he spent crunching numbers on the Gold Coast.

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SKIRT THE LAW Better Than Ready-Outlaw Kate

$2,000,000 THE STAR GOLD COAST MAGIC MILLIONS 2YO CLASSIC (PLUS $500,000 RACING WOMEN’S BONUS)

2nd Platinum Jubilee, 3rd Summer Loving | Margins: 1.5 lengths x 1 length | Distance: 1200m | Time: 1 minute 9.96 seconds Cost: $170,000 at 2022 Gold Coast Yearling Sale | Breeder: Lyndhurst Stud Farm | Vendor: Lyndhurst Stud Farm Buyer: Gollan Racing/John Foote B’stock/Black Soil B’stock | Trainer: Tony Gollan | Jockey: Ryan Maloney

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SKIRT THE LAW

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FASHION LEGEND

$2,000,000 GOLD COAST MAGIC MILLIONS 3YO GUINEAS

Deep Field-Sarong

2nd Yellow Brick, 3rd Hell I Am | Margins: 0.3 length x 0.2 length | Distance: 1425m | Time: 1 minute 23.02 seconds Cost: $260,000 at 2021 Gold Coast Yearling Sale | Breeder: Rosemont Stud | Vendor: Rosemont Stud | Buyer: Bon Ho Trainer: Richard & Will Freedman | Jockey: Joshua Parr

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FASHION LEGEND

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YELLOW BRICK

RACING WOMEN’S BONUS $250,000 MAGIC MILLIONS RACING WOMEN’S BONUS – 3YO GUINEAS

The Mission-Magical Mist

Position past the post: 2nd | Cost $20,000 at 2021 Gold Coast National Yearling Sale | Breeder: Aquis Farm | Vendor: Waylon J Stud Buyer: Tony Sears Racing/Paul Moroney Bloodstock | Trainer: Tony & Maddysen Sears | Jockey: Ben Thompson

EZEKEIL

$500,000 MAGIC MILLIONS COUNTRY CUP

Divine Prophet-Pure Intentions 2nd Situation Room, 3rd King Gutho | Margins: 3.5 lengths x 0.8 length | Distance: 1300m | Time: 1 minute 10.72 seconds | Cost: $220,000 at 2020 Gold Coast Yearling Sale | Breeder: Bowness Stud | Vendor: Bowness Stud | Buyer: Aquis Farm | Trainer: Cody Morgan | Jockey: Jamie Kah

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RUSH HOUR

$500,000 MAGIC MILLIONS THE DEBUT 2YO PLATE

Russian Revolution-Pearl Congenial 2nd Getty, 3rd Storm the Ramparts | Margins: 0.5 length x 0.2 length | Distance: 900m | Time: 53.17 seconds Cost: $130,000 at 2022 Gold Coast Yearling Sale | Breeder: S F Bloodstock, Blake Sandblom P/L, Winstar Farm | Vendor: Newgate Farm Buyer: Calibre Racing/Nathan Doyle Racing | Trainer: Nathan Doyle | Jockey: Koby Jennings

ALPINE EDGE

$1,000,000 RACING QUEENSLAND MAGIC MILLIONS QTIS OPEN

Better Than Ready-Freezethemillions 2nd Ef Troop, 3rd Dr Why Not | Margins: 2 lengths x 0.8 length | Time: 1 minute 15.76 seconds | Cost: $140,000 at 2020 Gold Coast Yearling Sale | Breeder: Yarramalong | Vendor: Yarramalong Park | Buyer: Edmonds Racing/Kestrel B’stock & Lucky Clover T’breds | Trainer: Toby & Trent Edmonds | Jockey: James McDonald

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SKY LAB

$1,000,000 FRIZELLE SUNSHINE MAGIC MILLIONS SUBZERO

Real Impact-Gold Mission 2nd Street Dancer, 3rd Outlandos | Margins: 0.3 length x 0.2 length | Distance: 2200m | Time: 2 minutes 14.37 seconds Cost: $48,000 at 2019 Gold Coast Yearling Sale | Breeder: Arrowfield Pastoral | Vendor: Arrowfield Stud | Buyer: Paul Perry Racing Trainer: Paul Perry | Jockey: Jason Collett

BROOKSPIRE

$1,000,000 TAB MAGIC MILLIONS FILLIES & MARES

Hinchinbrook-Be Inspired

2nd Kiku, 3rd Me Me Lagarde | Margins: 0.8 length x 0.2 length | Distance: 1300m | Time: 1 minute 15.79 seconds Cost: $300,000 at 2019 Gold Coast Yearling Sale | Breeder: Mr J Chapman | Vendor: Bhima Thoroughbreds (As Agent) Buyer: Chris Waller Racing/Brae Sokolski | Trainer: Chris Waller | Jockey: James McDonald

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KING OF SPARTA

$1,000,000 IT’S LIVE IN QUEENSLAND MAGIC MILLIONS SNIPPETS

I Am Invincible-Octavia

2nd Shooting for Gold, 3rd Vowmaster | Margins: 1.5 lengths x 0.5 length | Distance: 1200m | Time: 1 minute 9.27 seconds Cost: $700,000 at 2020 Gold Coast Yearling Sale | Breeder: Yarraman Park Stud | Vendor: Yarraman Park Stud Buyer: China Horse Club/Newgate B’stock/Starlight Racing | Trainer: Peter & Paul Snowden | Jockey: James McDonald

CENTREFIRE

$1,000,000 MAGIC MILLIONS THE SYNDICATE

Shooting to Win-Coco Kerringle 2nd Eleven Eleven, 3rd Scallopini | Margins: 0.2 length x 2 lengths | Distance: 1200m | Time: 1 minute 9.48 seconds Cost: $100,000 at 2018 Gold Coast Yearling Sale | Breeder: Yarraman Park Stud | Vendor: Yarraman Park Stud | Buyer: Munce Racing Trainer: Chris Munce | Jockey: Tim Clark

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VINCO

$1,000,000 WHISPERING ANGEL MAGIC MILLIONS CUP

I Am Invincible-Percussive 2nd Oscar Zulu, 3rd Holyfield | Margins: 0.8 length x 0.2 length | Distance: 1425m | Time: 1 minute 23.13 seconds Cost: $400,000 at 2018 Gold Coast Yearling Sale | Breeder: HJ Mitchell, AD Mitchell, FW Mitchell | Vendor: Yarraman Park Stud Buyer: McEvoy Mitchell Racing | Trainer: Tony Gollan | Jockey: Ben Thompson

SILENTSAR

$250,000 MAGIC MILLIONS MAIDEN PLATE

Russian Revolution-Silent Cash

2nd Bel Air, 3rd Sha of Gomer | Margins: 0.2 length x 0.5 length | Distance: 1200m | Time: 1 minute 8.33 seconds Cost: $300,000 at 2021 Gold Coast Yearling Sale | Breeder: H Field, Hollymount Stud P/L | Vendor: Sledmere Stud | Buyer: Gerald Ryan/Sterling Alexiou | Trainer: Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | Jockey: Brenton Avdulla

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LATAKIA

$250,000 MAGIC MILLIONS RISING STARS 3YO & 4YO FILLIES & MARES

Deep Field-Xandretta 2nd Bella Rouge, 3rd Vaccine | Margins: 0.5 length x 1 length | Distance: 1300m | Time: 1 minute 14.94 seconds Cost: $520,000 at 2021 Gold Coast Yearling Sale | Breeder: G Walsh, L Maxsted, P & C Allen, G Hayes, H Hayes Vendor: Attunga Stud | Buyer: Black Soil B’stock/John Foote B’stock/Gollan Racing | Trainer: Tony Gollan | Jockey: Craig Williams

SPIRITUALISED

$250,000 MAGIC MILLIONS RISING STARS 3YO & 4YO COLTS, GELDINGS & ENTIRES

Spirit of Boom-Personalised

2nd Mobstar, 3rd West of Africa | Margins: 1.8 lengths x 0.1 length | Distance: 1300m | Time: 1 minute 14.81 seconds Cost: $575,000 at 2021 Gold Coast Yearling Sale | Breeder: Musk Creek Farm | Vendor: Musk Creek Farm | Buyer: Gollan Racing/John Foote B’stock Trainer: Tony Gollan | Jockey: James Orman

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Sofia’s

RESTAURANT & BA R

By Bianca Trathen

From its meticulously designed interior to the thoughtfully crafted menu, every aspect of Sofia’s Restaurant & Bar exudes a sense of refined simplicity.

Housed within the renowned Oasis Shopping Centre in Broadbeach, it’s a testament to the enduring allure of Mediterranean flavours and the artistry of hospitality.

O

wner Henry Hunt, with a keen eye for Euro-chic aesthetics, strikes a harmonious balance between classic Mediterranean elegance and a contemporary, on-trend charm. The entrance, adorned in duck egg blue, white, and brass, stands as an inviting prelude to the covered dining area.

Flanked by fringed umbrellas in the same serene palette, it sets the tone for what lies ahead.

Marble tables are complemented by coastal wood and white chairs. There’s also a showstopping terrazzo bar offset with striking statement arched shelves and cascading lush greenery, creating an ambience rich in understated opulence. Accommodating up to 100 guests, it’s the perfect destination for any occasion, be it a leisurely lunch, dinner with friends, a sneaky cocktail, or an exclusive private event.

Executive Chef Dan Paulman commands the kitchen, presenting a tantalising array of handmade pastas, wood-fired bread, fresh seafood, and exciting shared plates. The journey starts with Sofia’s signature housemade bread, served with extra virgin olive oil, oregano, and a sprinkling of salt, plus an array of tastebud titillating starters. Live oysters, opened to order and served natural with a side of chardonnay mignonette are a must, as is the salumi and cheese menu, prepared using a flywheel slicer and served with a light drizzle of olive oil.

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The pièce de résistance, however, is Sofia’s famous Cacio e Pepe. Fit for two people, the linguine enriched with cream, cracked pepper, and sea salt is ceremoniously served tableside in a 40kg Parmesan wheel, aged to perfection for 2.5 years. Levelling up this culinary masterpiece is the Heirloom Tomato Salad, a refreshing interlude of fresh basil, truffle, and balsamic reduction. Or diners inclined towards the grill will find solace in the mouthwatering 220g Yellowtail Kingfish, accompanied with braised fennel and salsa verde, or the Wagyu Striploin MS5+; 200g Westholme Wagyu Striploin with chimichurri, red wine roasted onions, and lemon.

For wine connoisseurs, Sofia’s offers an extensive selection of over 250 labels, ensuring that even the most discerning palate finds its perfect match. And for cocktail aficionados, it’s all about the The Spicy Margarita. A beloved favourite made with love by the expert Sofia’s mixologists, enjoy a tantalizing blend of bird’s eye chili-infused Olmeca Altos tequila, Cointreau, fresh lime juice, passionfruit puree, and house-made syrup.

For those seeking a taste of coastal European sophistication with fresh ingredients and the finest local produce, the name on everybody’s lips is Sofia’s.

\ SOFIA’S RESTAURANT & BAR \ BIANCA TRATHEN

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by Bianca Trathen

VICTORY Unbridling the Secrets Behind Magic Millions Race Series Trophies Ever wondered how the iconic Magic Millions National Race Series trophies are brought to life? I sat down with Toren Vansleve, Creative Director of Gold Coast-based design powerhouse Potato Press, to unpack the fascinating process.

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any would agree that trophies represent triumph, success, and a whole lot of hard work. Whilst this rings true, they are so much more than a ‘prize’ or symbol of achievement. Trophies embody design as both a highly skilled artform, and a catalyst for evoking emotional response.

Toren Vansleve from Potato Press certainly understands this interplay. Refreshingly humble and down-to-earth, she and her trailblazing team design and manufacture all awards nationwide for the $20 million Magic Millions Race Series.

Potato Press – not just a catchy name Potato Press is a Gold Coast born and bred creative company, offering bespoke design, production, and finishing in-house. Their client list reads like the who’s who of big-ticket brand names across multiple industries. Think Jetstar, Stone & Wood, Mantra Group, the Australian Army, Village Roadshow, and Quicksilver to name a few.

Boasting a second office in California, their success isn’t just national - it’s global. Potato Press have even worked with NASA, creating their Software of the Year Award, Invention of the Year Award, and the James Kerley Awards.

In other words, they’re an ‘it girl’ in the awards design and production landscape.

Their relationship with Magic Millions started in 2019, assisting with some last-minute plaques for the ground-breaking Racing Women initiative trophies. Clearly impressed with the high quality, detail-driven output and fast turnaround, the rest as they say, is history.

The trifecta approach; collaboration, connection, and creativity The design process is certainly not something which happens overnight. Each year, Toren will

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meet with Magic Millions Race Series Manager Cassandra Simmonds, to discuss briefs, budgets, and visions.

“It’s a very collaborative process,” says Toren.

“Once we understand the directive, our creative team gets to work. We combine Cassandra’s ideas with our creative expertise to develop multiple concepts.”

“We are constantly designing and redesigning to brainstorm fresh ideas. When we’re all confident a design aligns with the essence of Magic Millions, conveys a connection to the specific event, and is visually and functionally on-point, in-house production kicks off at our Gold Coast factory.”

Toren and her team approach each race series trophy design as a blank canvas, weaving in elements of the ‘Race Series design blueprint’ they have finetuned over the years.

“We always draw inspiration from a horse or horseracing aesthetic to create linkage and purpose, but not always in a literal sense,” says Toren.

A stunning example of this is the unique and opulent trophy created for the Magic Millions Country Cup 2023 award.

“For this one, we were inspired by the floral arches you see at many race days. We were able to utilise a variety of materials to create the desired effect, including laser cut floral details and a laser cut gold horse silhouette to add a touch of luxury. The logo and text were then laser etched on to the body of the trophy.”

Another is the Magic Millions Western Australian and Tasmanian Racing Women’s Bonus, a concept steeped in strength and elegance.

“This piece married a variety of materials including a glossy rose gold mirror and an Australian native

\ DESIGNING VICTORY \ BIANCA TRATHEN

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\ DESIGNING VICTORY \ BIANCA TRATHEN

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Creative Director of Potato Press Gold Coast - Toren Vansleve

“We use a mix of high-quality timbers and acrylics and have incorporated materials like leather to represent the saddle, whips, and boots. This is one of the job highlights, being able to really run with our creativity, do things differently, and escape that ‘off the shelf’ vibe.”

Eucalypt timber. A minimalist racehorse feature was used as a hero of the piece, accompanied by a stylised racetrack shape. An elegant rose gold laser cut was embedded into the base of the award, framing the laser etched award titles.”

Destination meets innovation Something else often celebrated in the designs is the race series location, helping build a unique award ‘identity’ and sentiment.

“We like to use materials which reflect the look and feel of the destination. For example, when we’re designing for Gold Coast races, we use lots of natural timbers to represent the beautiful beaches and golden sands.”

Toren explains that they also enjoy experimenting with different materials, stepping outside the box of traditional award aesthetics.

“We use a mix of high-quality timbers and acrylics and have incorporated materials like leather to represent the saddle, whips, and boots. This is one of the job highlights, being able to really run with our creativity, do things differently, and escape that ‘off the shelf’ vibe.”

One such example is the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas trophy. The Potato Press team crafted a unique sculptural base for the prestigious award out of hand-veneered Australian hardwood and black acrylic ribbed sections. The focal piece was a black anodised metal horse head on top, with layers of metal and gold to illustrate the powerful anatomy of a horse.

Flexing this creative muscle, however, never compromises the three core components of each race series award design: quality, refinement, and practicality.

Form, function, and supporting local In addition to ticking the boxes mentioned above, practical applications must also be considered during product design and development.

“Thinking about how the awards will look on the stage, how people will hold them – these things need to be built into our designs. For example, we need to be sure that if somebody grabs the trophy a certain way, it won’t break!”

Cassandra Simmonds has nothing but praise for Toren and Potato Press’ ability to produce on-brand, visually captivating and functional awards, which really tell a story. Plus, she loves supporting a local Gold Coast business, led by a female designer and fellow horse enthusiast.

“Many horse trophies are what you’d expect – stock standard cups, vases, and plates. But Potato Press awards are different. They’re created by a team of innovators, led by Toren and her innate passion for horses.

There’s a real beauty in that.”

Toren grew up riding dressage, surrounded by a close-knit group of friends who owned racehorses. This upbringing kindled an enduring admiration for these magnificent animals, and an understanding of their construct and nature.

Backed by a high performing team, Toren’s affinity with horses is part of the secret sauce elevating the Race Series trophies to ‘colt’ status.

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by Kimberly Gardner

DOUBLE TROUBLE As fashion bridges gaps between womenswear and menswear, more couples, united by their unique connection, are translating that into their racing wardrobes. Couples who match together stay together.

INVESTED The perfect vest brings instant polish to Magic Million’s Barrier Draw and Sales.

A sleeveless blazer is your answer to effortless January dressing.

PERFECT PASTEL This racing season, fall into graceful ease of lilac, cornflower blue and blush pink. These soft and delicate shades have the power to create a calm and relaxing atmosphere, conveying a sense of lightness and harmony in any marquee.

1. Yellow suit Leo Lin, David Jones | 2. White bag, Prada | 3. Blue shirt, Gucci | 4. Pink heel, Scanlan Theodore | 5. Pink suit Gucci | 6. Beige heel, Scanlan Theodore | 7. Lemon hat, Martina McGrath Millinery | 8. Gold necklace, Bvlgari 9. Lilac suit, Leo Lin | 10. Tan hat, Martina McGrath Millinery | 11. Tan suit, Country Road | 12. Gold bangle, Bvlgari

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\ STYLE FILE \ KIMBERLEY GARDNER

MAGICAL THINKING Polo is having a fantasy moment.

Tip... breathtaking fabrics such as Scanlan Theodore’s blue floral dress will not only keep you cool but definitely look the part.

IN HER SHOES Gucci’s white sling backs prove platforms can be just as stunning as their thin heeled counterparts. These and wedges are the only shoes that will survive a day at the polo.

1. Blue dress, Scanlan Theodore | 2. Blue sunglasses, Scanlan Theodore 3. White bag, Prada | 4. White shoe, Gucci | 5. Pink suit, Leo Lin, David Jones 6. Multicoloured earrings, Zara | 7. White suit, Urbbana 8. Pink dress, Leo Lin, David Jones | 9. Natural hat, Martina McGrath Millinery 10. Floral dress, Leo Lin, David Jones 11. Pink headband, Somewhere Here Millinery | 12. Floral perfume, Gucci

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WALK THE LINE The stiff formality associated with pinstripes gets a more comfortable makeover with languorous fabric that allows for movement.

COMING IN HOT This season race wear emphasises luxury without preciousness. These irresistible pieces herald a new kind of versatility, levelling up any outfit.

NEW CAST In 2024, we embark on a mission to find exciting new labels from Pacific Fair to spotlight true individuality. Meet the discoveries!

1. Yellow suit, Leo Lin, David Jones | 2. Natural hat, Martina McGrath Millinery | 3. Tan bag, Louis Vuitton | 4. Black heels, Prada 5. Print dress, Gucci | 6. Black hat, Martina McGrath Millinery | 7. Stripe tank, Scanlan Theodore | 8. Black bag, Prada

ITALIAN COAST Whether you are on vacation, or simply want to dress like you’re on one, look no further than the Amalfi Coast trend.

Think elevated florals, crisp fabrics, sun dresses and wide-leg trousers. Perfect for polo and show jumping!

CAPPELLO FEMMINILE Instantly recognisable, the Venetian boater. There has never been a hat that equates to Polo as this one.

1. Floral dress, Leo Lin, David Jones | 2. Red hat, Martina McGrath Millinery 3. Tan bag, Saint Laurent | 4. White sunglasses, Scanlan Theodore 5. Gold slides, Zara | 6. Red dress, Scanlan Theodore | 7. Natural boater, Martina McGrath Millinery | 8. Printed 2 piece, Gucci | 9. Green 2 piece, Leo Lin

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\ STYLE FILE \ KIMBERLEY GARDNER

SUNSET SHADES This is a colour trend that has a shade to match every skin tone. Drawing inspiration from the warming hues of the setting sun, starting at tangerine and reaching to perfect pink via burnt orange. Everyone is a winner.

LIP SYNC The dictum that simplicity is the new luxury rings especially true this season. Find a match for your outfits from Gucci lipsticks available at Pacific Fair STRONG SUIT It is a suave and sophisticated crowd who gathers on the GC for Magic Millions, so men can take on a modern masculinity without fear.

1. Salmon suit, MJ Bale | 2. Pink bag, Oroton | 3. Coral lipstick, Gucci 4. Pink headband, Martina McGrath Millinery | 5. Orange skirt, Oroton 6. Pink dress, Aje | 7. Pink heel, Billini

SPEAKING VOLUMES 1950s shapes derived from draping and big volumes proves to be a standout trend across all events. Don a strapless Scanlan Theodore dress for polo to fantastical Leo Lin outfit to the races, volume will always pack a punch.

TRACK CHANGES 3 piece suit for men? Sitting on the fence is ill advised in today’s world, dapper is the word!

TO DIE FOR A bag that upends our understanding of the perfect accessory - hence perfect outfit.

Bvlgari silver bag will win every time.

1. Blue dress, Scanlan Theodore | 2. Grey 3 pce suit, MJ Bale | 3. Silver cufflinks, Gucci 4. Grey dress, Scanlan Theodore | 5. Black headband, Prada 6. Silver bag, Bvlgari | 7. Black flat, Prada | 8. Floral dress, Leo Lin, David Jones

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GOING

How are you going?

Very well thanks with EVGOING, smooth and reliable.

It’s a long way from Copacabana beach in Brazil to the glorious beaches of the Gold Coast where the famous Magic Millions sale and race series is showcased However, Brazilian Michel Araujo has found the transition worthwhile starting a new life in this great part of the world, where he has established his own fully electric transport company, EVGOING. EVGOING has an all Tesla fleet which provides the perfect solution of zero emission transportation for business or private travel while reducing environmental impact.

EVGOING’s services provide comfortable, efficient and low emission transportation for the corporate traveller, offering airport transfers, point-to-point transport, special occasions, event drop offs and pickups and even wedding transportation. They can even maximise your experience with real estate tours, where you can concentrate on the properties while they look after the travel logistics. EVGOING also provides opportunities for drivers to join the company, whether as an employee, a Tesla owner-driver associate, or by leasing one of their fleet of Teslas.

Michel Araujo founded the business in 2018, and was soon joined by his new business partner, fellow Brazilian Gui Di Narda, where together they developed a comprehensive business plan for the future of EVGOING. Michel explained, “Our aim was to provide a chauffeur quality service, with the functionality of ride hailing services such as Uber, at rates which are extremely competitive for a premium service, while promoting environmental consciousness, by generating zero emissions in line with government objectives.”

“We provide quality training for our drivers and provide the latest Tesla model 3 and Y vehicles offering clean, and spacious cars for both our drivers and passengers.”

“My business partner Gui, has been instrumental in obtaining our primary objective of achieving Carbon Neutral Certification. This achievement positions us to deliver an enhanced carbon emission report to end-users. Moreover, for companies utilising EVGOING services, this reporting becomes a powerful tool, enabling them to effectively reduce their overall greenhouse emissions and manage energy consumption/production.

By leveraging this report, businesses can

align with the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Scheme (NGER), a government initiative introduced in 2008.” ”Our own developed ‘state of the art’ app enables private passengers to make bookings, while our partner operator and web applications empower venues such as hotels, restaurants, function centres, event managers and both small and large corporations, to seamlessly manage and make single or multiple bookings with us. By utilising our platform, they can unlock exclusive loyalty discounts and can access their detailed carbon emission report.”

EVGOING is currently based in Southeast Queensland, centred on the Gold Coast, with a fleet of 50 vehicles currently available for hire across the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Gold Coast and Byron Bay regions. As the business grows, opportunities will arise in other capital cities, but for the moment EVGOING will have plenty of cars available for the Magic Millions racing and sales carnival in early January, offering friendly reliable pick-up and delivery in chauffeur driven comfort at very realistic rates.

Australia gave the world Jack Brabham, Alan Jones, Mark Webber, Daniel Ricciardo and our potential first female F1 driver, Melbourne born Aiva Anagnostiadis, while Brazil has produced Emerson and Wilson Fittipaldi, Ayrton and Bruno Senna and Felipe Massa to name a few.

Both nations have a love affair with and great respect for the automobile sector.

Michel and Gui are determined to make a success of their new enterprise with high quality, safety, reliability, zero emissions and value for customers.

EVGOING can be contacted via its website evgoing.com.au or via the App on Apple Store or Google Play, or our EVGOING team is happy to take direct bookings for Magic Millions clients directly on 1300 269 810.

www.evgoing.com.au

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Verna Metcalfe

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Proud suppliers to Brisbane Racing Club, Harness Racing NSW and the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

Glass

D I NING & LOUNGE BA R

By Bianca Trathen

Nestled within the picturesque Marina Mirage on the Gold Coast, Glass Dining and Lounge Bar has been the go-to for elegant Modern Australian fine dining since 2009. Whether basking in the golden hues of sunset, or dining under the star-studded sky, the Broadwater views from this multiple award-winner are nothing short of breathtaking.

T

his stunning venue is characterised by a fluid integration of indoor and outdoor dining spaces, including a snug yet sophisticated lounge area.

With the ability to comfortably seat up to 120 guests inside and an additional 80 outside, it’s ideal for chic functions, celebrations, and special occasions. Or, for those seeking a more intimate setting, there’s a private dining room for to up to 10 guests, ensuring an exclusive experience for cosier gatherings.

The inspiration behind Glass’s styling is steeped in timeless elegance. The decor exudes an understated luxury that complements the natural beauty of its waterfront location. The result is an atmosphere that is both refined and welcoming, setting the stage for an unforgettable lunch or dinner.

A favourite amongst locals and visitors, Glass is the brainchild of Patrik Gennari, a luminary in the Gold Coast’s hospitality scene. Boasting a diverse portfolio that includes A-lister venues like La Luna Dining, La Luna Beach Club, MĀRE by La Luna Beach Club, Maggie Choo, Koi, The Roosevelt Lounge, and The Loose Moose, Gennari’s expertise and passion for his craft are palpable in every aspect of Glass.

At the heart of Glass’s allure lies its award-winning Modern Australian cuisine. Head Chef Greg Roberts has been with the restaurant since opening, serving up a bold five-star menu that celebrates the region’s

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bountiful produce. From succulent seafood to decadent cuts of Australian beef and lamb, each dish celebrates the culinary craftsmanship that defines Glass.

For a taste of the menu, start with a round of Jalapeno and Lime Oysters and a small share plate of Baby Squid served with Asian slaw, lemon, and sesame ginger mayo. For the main event, two dishes in particular are simply unmissable. Each has featured on the menu since Glass’s inception, standing the test of time for good reason. Fish lovers will adore the Grilled New Zealand Whole Sole, with vongole clams and lemon butter sauce. Or, if you’re a fan of sumptuous steaks, you can’t go past the signature 500g Black Angus Chateaubriand. Designed to share, it’s accompanied by truffle mash, broccolini, beans, red wine jus, and béarnaise. Pair your meal with crowd favourite cocktail, First Lady, with Wildflower Gin, Peche Liqueur, 183 Yuzu Syrup, and Citric Acid, or a glass of wine from the expertly curated wine list.

Whether you’re seeking a romantic evening, leisurely meal, or a celebratory gathering, Glass is a firm favourite on every foodie’s bucket list. Welcoming guests for lunch and dinner from midday daily, this iconic restaurant promises an experience that lingers long after the last bite.

\ GLASS DINING & LOUNGE BAR \ BIANCA TRATHEN

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Racing

INTO INDUSTRY CONTENTION

By Katrina Partridge

Notice something different at the major Australian race carnivals? Ponies and young riders sporting some of the most recognisable silks in the country have suddenly made an appearance. Tomorrow’s future racing participants may well be amongst them.

The Industry is banking on it.

I

t’s mid winter in Queensland and misty rain sweeps across Eagle Farm racecourse. In the shadow of the latest trackside multi-storey apartments, a cluster of pony club riders and their mounts congregate to practice something new: a two-point seat and bridged reins. The morning ticks on and small groups progress to cantering down the racetrack as trained observers monitor rider control plus pony movement and attitude. Speed is not the key to securing a spot in the final heats. Rider skill and the pony’s calmness under pressure is paramount. Parents watch on and iPhones are raised to capture the action for the all-important social media accounts. Above it all an authoritative voice suddenly rings out in a tone reminiscent of school ‘PLEASE remember everyone - a steady canter ONLY!’ (One pony takes the go slow order a little too literally and elects to drop his head to graze the lush turf rather than pursue the finish line; automatic disqualification alas but in the decision comes a little of what this sport aims to teach: the lessons of life.)

In its appealing combination of children and ponies that bring back so many treasured childhood memories for so many - as well as highlight a new way to engage with an entirely new audience of racegoers - it’s understandable why pony racing has ignited the imagination of race crowds across Australia. Popular in the UK and US, the sport gained traction in Australia via a small number of pop-up exhibition races in 2022; from there the National Series was formed. In 2023/24 participating clubs are the BRC, MVRC, WATC, the GCTC, the ATC and the SAJC before the Finals in Sydney over the Autumn. In total 120 riders aged nine to fifteen years will compete across 12 qualifying races [at six individual race days] with 10 riders in each race.

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\ RACING INTO INDUSTRY \ KATRINA PARTRIDGE

Catering for riders in two different age and height categories, the two finals will see the winners and runners-up from each state compete in their sponsor’s racing colours.

Whilst it is easy to get caught up in the jubilation of a child’s inaugural race win it is important to emphasise that pony racing is not actually about speed; rather the sport has been introduced to assist children in advancing their riding ability and horse husbandry skills, learn how to better control their pony, balance, and their fitness and well-being (mental and physical).

It is also - and perhaps most importantly - a chance to learn about and explore the vast range of career opportunities available in the thoroughbred industry.

These opportunities extend well beyond riding roles to all number of positions in the racing industry from bloodstock analysis, media and marketing, breeding and sales, hands-on horse care and veterinary to associated equine health services, nutrition, farming etc.

Staged under the banner of Thoroughbred Industry Careers (TIC) and Pony Club Australia (PCA), the brainchild for Australian Pony Racing is TIC Chief Executive Officer Lindy Maurice.

Like many in the Industry, Lindy grew up with and loved horses. Come the end of Year 12 however a meeting with her school’s careers advisor left her disillusioned with the lack of potential employment opportunities that combined with her first love: her horses.

“Here are all these young riders 30 years later and nothing has changed. What are we doing as this juggernaut - Racing - to engage these people in terms of careers? What are the pathways for these people?

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We are crying out for staff and here are all these kids riding around so what are we doing to marry the two together?”

In 2019 Thoroughbred Industry Careers was born. The not-for-profit industry organisation aims to promote careers in the Thoroughbred Racing and Breeding Industry by introducing grassroots programs. Adrian Bott/Gai Waterhouse Racing, Arrowfield Stud, the Australian Turf Club, Chris Waller Racing, Godolphin Australia, Lindsay Park Racing and McEvoy Mitchell Racing were the founding stakeholders of TIC and are amongst those providing the knowledge, expertise and investment necessary for the development of TIC. One of the first things Lindy did when assuming her new role as TIC CEO was to meet with the CEO of Pony Club Australia and tell them that they were about to get a major sponsor. Pony Club had the one thing that Maurice wanted access to: large numbers of horse-mad youngsters.

Pony Club is no different to many things in life. Some children have wealthy parents, a string of five ponies and are - even from a young age - sponsored riders or school representatives. Others wear hand-me-down jodhpurs and boots and come to Pony Club mounted on a trusted 17 year old pony that taught their siblings to ride and who is wearily patient with proceedings having done it ten times before. These ponies are the ones that are never sure where their day will end up: showjumping, at the beach, out on a long lazy hack or plaited for a show. Today it’s all about them dipping their hooves into the world of thoroughbred racing; a world that precious few ponies or their riders - know much about.

“95% of kids at Pony Club fit the bill,” says Lindy. “These are hard-working, horse-loving people and I wanted this sport to be accessible to everyone from day one. You don’t need to come in with brand new gear that we have made you buy, you can use a saddle and pony that you already have. I didn’t want it to be elitist at all.

Pony Clubs raise their hand to host a taster day.

“A Taster Day is the first step,” explains Lindy. “They are really relaxed and fun. The riders do half a day on horse health and half a day riding. Half a day they are off the horses learning how to take a temperature, how to know if their horse is sick, all the vital signs, electrolytes, and recovery. They learn more about horse health there than they otherwise would in their lifetime. The other half day is teaching them about balance and control, bridging of reins, a two-point seat which they can use in eventing and showjumping as well. There is no racing on that day.

They also learn about careers, we touch on everything.”

The majority of people who live and work in the horse industry can sometimes forget that those who reside outside our familiar boundaries often have little

understanding or appreciation of what is involved.

Industry names and faces that are so familiar to us are in fact strangers to everyone else. Not surprisingly then, when allocated their racing silks and told who they represent the children look bewildered then almost relieved when asked to go and ‘google your sponsor’; an amusing anecdote for those of us standing in the crowd but a salient message nonetheless and one that touches the core of what this race series is about: enhanced knowledge and making connections.

“By the end of those taster days, we would have hosted around 350 riders across Australia. Those kids will then know all the different careers they can do, whether it’s a journalist, whether it’s a bloodstock agent, a trainer whatever it may be.”

Next step is the training days. Riders and ponies are selected from the taster days (and have expressed interest) to further their skills towards displaying their ability and control on a racetrack. Race day fields of ten are selected from these training days (in two age/height categories) to compete on a racetrack in a qualifying race.

With each passing hour, gear check, in hand and under saddle parade, and with every canter down the racetrack you start to appreciate what is involved in getting these kids to the races.

“Training Days go for the whole day now and we split the groups so little kids are in the morning and the older ones are later on. Eagle Farm was the first one we did.

That’s all about assessing the horse in that environment and seeing if they want to just stop and pick the grass or shy at the finishing post. The riders will all be ok on that day but it’s about assessing whether the ponies will be ok in that environment. That’s where you select your final fields. It’s very different from when we were young.

We have noticed that a lot of these kids are arena riders.

They don’t get out in the open and ride like we did when we were kids.”

Leading into race day there are vet checks, the children have to record their pony’s temperature for the three days prior to the race and Ariat sponsors a pick of the yard on race day so children and parents are encouraged to go to a lot of effort with their plating and presentation.

Children are also expected to have researched the trainer, stud, auction house, owner or breeder behind the race silks they are wearing as they may be asked about them on the day.

On the day of their qualifying race at a racecourse along with its brimming grandstands, a barrage of media and lights, on-course signage, a race caller, loudspeaker announcements and the noise of large cheering crowds can be exciting for a child never exposed to racing previously.

On the day of their qualifying race at a racecourse along with its brimming grandstands, a barrage of media and lights, on-course signage, a race caller, loudspeaker announcements and the noise of large cheering crowds can be exciting for a child never exposed to racing previously.

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\ RACING INTO INDUSTRY \ KATRINA PARTRIDGE

“The kids love it beyond love it!”

“The kids love it beyond love it!” says Lindy. “If anyone feels anxious we ask them to talk to us. You have some kids that get very nervous in sport in general and that’s why I purposefully brought Lisa Coffey on board as an ambassador as she is a psychologist and will be at the race days with us to assist any children feeling nervous.

Kids bury a lot of that stuff so having a professional on the team is great. Lisa will be giving the kids strategies for dealing with nerves. That’s just another element of the programme. We talk a lot about horse health and now we are also bringing in the people’s health side of things as well.”

The sport may be in its infancy, but the children are already demonstrating a highly strategic approach to race day tactics.

“They all have tactics which I didn’t realise they would do. So they have all started clueing into that. Do I get a good start? Do I start quickly? Do I start slowly and then improve? I didn’t realise they would strategise so much.

I guess I am always amazed at how much they just love it, and how happy it makes them. I love seeing those kids like a little girl at Moonee Valley this year. She got there really early and her pony was all ready so she spent the rest of her time helping everyone else with their ponies

and finishing their plaits. You really do see some lovely things, particularly that bond between the kids and their ponies.”

TIC is also finding ways to involve children who didn’t qualify for the race (due to a pony misbehaving for example) in the wider race experience.

“You can’t be what you can’t see,” says Lindy. “And the beauty of social media is that other children can see that 8-year-old Georgia just commentated on Sky on a race day so they start thinking ‘I can do that too’. They love horses. So what else are they good at? And I can almost guarantee you that you can combine those skills with a job and you’ll then give that child a good life as they are doing what they enjoy every day.

“This is not about racing. This is about exposing a future generation to all the different careers. It’s an educational program, more than a pony racing series. The reason we are doing this is to engage with the world which we hope will be our future staff. We employ 75,000 people in the industry but we didn’t have a grassroots strategy on how to engage that future workforce.”

Thanks to the work of a very determined Lindy Maurice, they do now.

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All your racing and bloodstock needs covered!

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COROEBUS JOINS ILLUSTRIOUS COMPANY WITH ASCOT WIN - PAGE 16

Nature Strip blitzes rivals in King’s Stand romp Chris Waller-trained gelding on top of the world after dominating Group 1 sprint at Royal Ascot

Read Tomorrow's Issue For It’s In The Blood What's on Metropolitan meetings: Kensington (NSW), Sandown (VIC), Doomben (QLD), Belmont (WA) Race meetings: Strathalbyn (SA), Cambridge (NZ) Barrier trials / Jump-outs: Beaumont Newcastle (NSW), Mornington (VIC), Warrnambool (VIC), Burrumbeet (VIC), Toowoomba (QLD) International meetings: Ascot (UK), Hamilton (UK), Nottingham (UK), Ripon (UK), La Teste Buch (FR), Kenilworth (SAF) International Group races: Ascot (UK) Prince Of Wales’s Stakes (Gr 1, 1m 2f), Queen Mary Stakes (Gr 2, 5f), Queen’s Vase Stakes (Gr 1, 1m 6f), Duke Of Cambridge Stakes (Gr 2, 1m), Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed, 5f)

Nature Strip

MARK CRANHAM

Alex Wiltshire @anz_news

Chris Waller, a trainer to have accomplished

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so many top level feats in a young yet already illustrious career, described it as “breathtaking”,

N

ature Strip (Nicconi) carried the

while James McDonald - troubled just for a

hopes and dreams of Australia

moment until he realised the only horse within

on the opening day of Royal

four and a half lengths of the sprint king was

Ascot and duly delivered in

riderless - said it was “scintillating”.

emphatic fashion to dominate yesterday’s

ROYAL ASCOT REPORTS

Baaeed confirms world number one status Baaeed (4 c Sea The Stars - Aghareed by

“It means a lot. To be able to perform on the

Kingmambo) produced yet another scintillating

King’s Stand Stakes (Gr 1, 5f ) and leave no

big stage with a horse from another hemisphere,

performance to win yesterday's Queen Anne

doubt as to which horse is the world’s best

it’s not easy and it’s pretty special. It was a

Stakes (Gr 1, 1m) at Royal Ascot, taking his

sprinter.

perfect journey with Continued on page 3>>

career tally to eight wins Cont. on page 15>>

WATERHOUSE, BOTT AND MCKEEVER TEAM UP ON DERBY RUNNER-UP HOO YA MAL - PAGE 24

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NATURE STRIP BLITZES RIVALS IN KING’S STAND ROMP << Continued from page 2

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the right horse and I’m honoured to be

training Nature Strip,” an emotional Waller said.

“It was a good display, he’s a very good horse and he has been for a very long time. He’s in the twilight of his career but he’s learned to be a racehorse now. He was a tricky horse early on.

“Australia has a huge racing industry and a huge breeding industry and to showcase our breeds and what we do, it’s important. The ratings stack up, he’s the highest rated sprinter in the world, but until you do it on the main stage, it’s another story. It just reminds everybody how strong we are in Australia.”

Victory marked a 137th Group 1 win for Waller, with this the first outside Australia, despite having run close with Brazen Beau (I Am Invincible) who ran second in the 2015 Diamond Jubilee Stakes (Gr 1, 6f ) at Royal Ascot.

That tally of elite-level wins includes 25 Group 1 wins with the Nature Strip connections

incomparable Winx (Street Cry) and a Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m)

MARK CRANHAM

victory this season with Verry Elleegant (Zed), and Waller rated this triumph among the best of his achievements.

old entered the course to a chorus of cheers from the large contingent

“It’s right up there,” Waller said. “I’m very lucky to have had many very

of Australians who had made the journey to Europe’s premier racing

special moments, but this is right at the top.”

carnival.

In a race billed as an international faceoff between Nature Strip (7 g

With a furlong to run still those cheers escalated to jubilant

ex Strikeline by Desert Sun) and American raider Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) -

celebrations with 9-4 chance Nature Strip - rated the world’s best sprinter

backed strongly late to assume 15-8 favouritism - the popular seven-year-

at 124 - running home the most dominant Continued on page 5>>

STILL the only horse ever to WIN THREE G1 sprints at Royal Ascot

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ARROWFIELD Stepping outside the square has been part of Arrowfield’s DNA from the beginning.

Founded in 1985 by a Sydney stockbroker who had to build the farm from the ground up, Arrowfield soon attracted attention for doing things differently.

Danehill, the stallion shuttle and the reverse shuttle, Chile’s Champion Sire Hussonet and a series of global breeding partnerships are all among the pioneering projects pursued by Arrowfield and John Messara over the past four decades.

The rewards for yearling buyers have been spectacular, which is why Arrowfield tops the Australian Vendors Black Type Premiership across the past three seasons.

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\ ARROWFIELD

The Stud’s boldest move was in 1998, when it sent the first Australian mares to be mated with Sunday Silence in Japan. The timing was exquisite: Japanese racehorses were just beginning to make a global impact and Sunday Silence had just won the third of his 13 stallion premierships.

The results included 7 yearlings sold for more than $1 million, among them Arrowfield’s Group 1-winning Magic Millions graduate Sunday Joy, dam of Champion More Joyous.

A quarter-century later, Japanese horses have won the big 3 (Cox Plate, Melbourne & Caulfield Cups) and this season’s $10 million Golden Eagle among several major Australian races.

Sunday Silence appears in the pedigrees of 15 Australian sires, three of them on Arrowfield’s roster, and three bred and sold

by Arrowfield at Magic Millions: Group 1 winners Hitotsu and Tagaloa, and Group winner Anders.

The 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale is a milestone in Arrowfield’s ever-evolving Japanese project because it marks the return of Hitotsu’s sire Maurice to the Australian yearling market and the first Australian yearlings by Japan’s Champion 2YO Admire Mars.

Maurice’s first 21 Australian stakes performers (12 of them Arrowfield graduates) have emerged from only 145 runners. The size and quality of his current yearling crop reflect his growing status as a leading sire with a strong affinity for mares

by Danehill’s sons and grandsons.

No surprise that most of Arrowfield’s dozen Magic Millions yearlings by Maurice are bred that way, including the first two lots highlighted by Bloodstock Manager Jon Freyer and Sales Manager Sally Gordon: Lot 59, Maurice-Princess Charlotte filly - “A lovely quality filly from a great family, bred on the successful Maurice/Redoute’s Choice cross and thriving in the prep.”

Lot 462, Maurice-Bandol colt - “Cast in the same mould as his sire, he’s from a fast Snitzel mare, is well-balanced and looks tough.”

By Sunday Silence’s Champion son Daiwa Major, Admire Mars offers a fresh take on Japanese breeding, as a specialist miler and unbeaten in four starts at two, including the Hanshin Asahi Hai Futurity S. G1.

He did even better at three, winning the Tokyo NHK Mile Cup G1 in a sizzling 1:32.4 and becoming the only 3YO to claim the Hong Kong Mile G1, defeating multiple Group 1 winners Waikuku, Beauty Generation, Indy Champ and Zaaki.

Lot 399, Admire Mars-Adamina filly “A very racy filly from a sharp Snitzel mare.

She has a lot of her sire’s qualities.”

Lot 856, Admire Mars-Legend Emma filly - “An excellent first foal and very typical of the Admire Mars progeny.”

They are now thoroughly entrenched on the leading sires list, but multiple Champion Sire Snitzel and barnmate Dundeel were calculated risks for Arrowfield when they went to stud. The rewards for buyers and breeders have been bountiful and both continue to compile imposing statistics.

Snitzel added 12 new stakeswinners, including his second Golden Slipper G1 winner Shinzo, and a fourth 2YO Sires’ title to his extraordinary record in 2022/23. He also celebrates 12 stakes-siring sons - six of them bred and sold by Arrowfield. In fact, more than 40% of Snitzel’s Group 1 winners are Arrowfield graduates.

Lot 460, Snitzel-Azila colt - “A gorgeous colt with a lot of quality and a great attitude.”

Lot 775, Snitzel-Iffranesia colt - “Lovely strong type with a really good shoulder, great forearm, girth and hip.”

Dundeel made his first appearance among Australia’s top 10 sires in 2022/23, thanks to his third 2YO Group 1 winner Militarize (also winner of the Golden Rose G1), Derby winner Dunkel and Group-winning mare Hope In Your Heart. Add Melbourne Spring Group winners Sunsets (also Dundeel’s 19th Group 1 performer) and Ain’tnodeeldun, plus Group 1-placed trio Miracle Of Love, Tannhauser and Townsend, and Dundeel’s Autumn is set to be lively.

Lot 461, Dundeel-Baaqyah colt - “He’s always been a classy colt, beautifully balanced and athletic.”

Lot 570, Dundeel-Deepwood Vale colt “Excellent first foal from a Redoute’s Choice mare, with loads of quality, good bone, length and scope.”

As a Champion 3YO Colt and the last masterpiece of Arrowfield legend Redoute’s Choice, The Autumn Sun was a natural fit for the roster and he has attracted outstanding support from the start. Six stakes performers, including Group winners Autumn Ballet and Autumn Angel (both purchased from Arrowfield), among his first 48 runners have already lit up The Autumn Sun’s path to greatness.

Lot 734, The Autumn Sun-Grisi colt “A precocious, well-muscled colt who looks early like his full sister dual Group winner Autumn Ballet.”

Lot 305, The Autumn Sun-Time Check colt - “A ready-made racehorse, he’s a nice mover with a lovely strong profile and three winning siblings including Group-placed Willinga Beast”.

Like The Autumn Sun and Admire Mars, Castelvecchio is that rare colt who won at Group 1 level at two and three. His first crop 2YOs are in major Sydney and Melbourne stables and he offers an obvious option for broodmare sires and lines that have already worked with his sire Dundeel.

Lot 329, Castelvecchio-Valley of Light colt - “Another quality colt from this mare, and bred on the same cross as Militarize.

A handsome colt with a great attitude.”

Lot 383, Castelvecchio-Zelrosa filly “A sharp filly very much in the mould of her sire, well-muscled, racy and ready to run.”

Jon Freyer adds, “We’re also looking forward to presenting the first yearling out of Champion mare Arcadia Queen, a colt by Champion Sire I Am Invincible.

He’s a magnificent, big, bold individual with real presence and charisma like his mother. We feel he bodes well for her broodmare career.”

Japan’s Horse of the Year and 6-time Group 1 winner Maurice returns to scale after his final triumph in the 2016 Hong Kong Cup G1. His yearlings return to Magic Millions in 2024.

2024 draft Lot

Col/Sex

59 B/F 81 B/F 102 Br/C 116 B/C 119 Br/C 132 B/C 142 B/F 143 Ch/F 158 B/C 170 B/C 192 B/C 229 B/C 281 B/C 305 Ch/C 318 B/F 329 B/C 383 B/F 391 Ch/C 399 Ch/F 403 B/F 410 Ch/F 442 B/C 452 B/C 460 B or Br/C 461 B/C 462 B/C 470 Ch/C 491 B/C 493 Br/F 564 B/C 570 B/C 585 Ch/F 595 Ch/F 671 B or Br/F 680 B/F 706 B/C 729 B/C 734 B/C 775 Ch/C 784 Ch/C 787 B/C 816 B/F 826 B/F 856 Ch/F 896 B/F 901 Ch/C 915 Ch/C 929 Ch/C 954 Br or Blk/C 958 B/F 959 Br or Blk/C 990 B/C 991 Ch/F 1001 B/C 1002 B/C

Sire

Dam

Maurice (JPN) Princess Charlotte Snitzel Re Edit Kizuna (JPN) Riversleigh (JPN) The Autumn Sun Royal Tithe Snitzel Run to the Beat (CAN) Castelvecchio Santa Rocks Dundeel (NZ) Scandaleuse (USA) The Autumn Sun Scarlet Dream Dundeel (NZ) Sekiyama Castelvecchio Shabaia Snitzel Sierra (JPN) The Autumn Sun Special Code (USA) Maurice (JPN) Teaspoon The Autumn Sun Time Check (USA) Maurice (JPN) Tuudelu Castelvecchio Valley of Light (GB) Castelvecchio Zelrosa Admire Mars (JPN) Zurla Admire Mars (JPN) Adamina Shalaa (IRE) Adviso (USA) Snitzel Albanilla (GB) I Am Invincible Arcadia Queen Dundeel (NZ) Autumn Wild Snitzel Azila (FR) Dundeel (NZ) Baaqyah (NZ) Maurice (JPN) Bandol The Autumn Sun Believe Yourself Maurice (JPN) Brazilica Snitzel Bright Path (JPN) Wootton Bassett (GB) Dargana Dundeel (NZ) Deepwood Vale Maurice (JPN) Didn’t Mention It Maurice (JPN) Double Ranga Shalaa (IRE) Fire Gully Dundeel (NZ) Flying Bliss Kingman (GB) Gena (FR) The Autumn Sun Gravity Zero The Autumn Sun Grisi Snitzel Iffranesia (FR) Maurice (JPN) In a While King’s Legacy Inishowen Maurice (JPN) Julkkis Maurice (JPN) Kneeling Admire Mars (JPN) Legend Emma (IRE) Written Tycoon Luna Mia Written Tycoon Madame Pauline Maurice (JPN) Maracas The Autumn Sun Meraki Miss Maurice (JPN) Miss Match (ARG) Pariah Miss Sharapova (NZ) Lonhro Miss Siska Dundeel (NZ) Ms Rodarte Lope de Vega (IRE) Muchly (GB) Snitzel Nanyo Venus (JPN) Brazen Beau Nelum (GB)

www.arrowfield.com.au | Scone, NSW Paul Messara: 0438 248 258 Jon Freyer: 0408 583 888 Sally Gordon: 0421 080 021 Alison Brassil: 0439 338 630 Mitchell Ralph: 0475 258 950

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Shaquero, brilliant winner of the ATC Gr3 Breeders; Plate at his first start and the $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic at his fourth start has a Capitalist half brother as Lot 669 in Attunga Stud’s 2024 MM draft.

ATTUNGA Stud

Brian Nutt is renowned for the top quality yearlings sold by his Attunga Stud over a long period and for the tireless work he put in to help establish the current Scone racecourse when it was in its fledgling stage. His reputation as one of the Hunter Valley’s finest horsemen is a byword in the industry.

Attunga Stud’s established brand moved to a new farm a few years ago after selling their original property to neighbouring Yarraman Park Stud, and the new property is located on the proven producing paddocks of Wakefield Stud, best known for Gr1 winner Subzero. Their first Magic Millions Gold Coast draft from the new farm already includes three year-old Rubicon Crossing who was a winner in NZ on debut, then twice Listed placed before being transferred to Australia as an early three year-old where she has won again.

Brian is looking forward to the 2024 Magic Millions and spoke to Bluebloods about his draft.

How would you sum up your 2024 draft?

“No superstars this year, but a solid draft across the board with a mixture of stallions, including proven stallions, and a couple of nice Bivouacs and a North Pacific,” he said.

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What has been your most satisfying result at the Magic Millions?

“Going back a few years, I sold the last ever yearling that Brian Agnew bred. We were hoping to get around $200,000 for it and it made about $550,000. I was constantly on the phone to him during the sale while he was extremely ill in hospital. He subsequently passed a few weeks later. To sell his last ever commercial yearling was a privilege.”

Attunga Stud will present a draft of fourteen yearlings at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, led by Lot 669, a half-brother, by Capitalist, to Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Shaquero whose three wins at two were all in black type, the others being the Gr3 Pago Pago Stakes and Gr3 Breeders’ Plate. This colt is bound to draw attention as a sibling to a winner of the race so closely tied to this sale, and to add to his appeal, his dam, Fimatino is a winning half-sister to the dam of Gr1 winner and good sire Shamus Award, as well as to Singapore Stewards Cup winner Ghozi. “He’s a dead ringer for his sire.”

For long term investors who want a racehorse with a guaranteed place at stud. Attunga is offering Lot 369, a Deep Field half-sister to Gr3 Maribyrnong Plate winner Vinicunca and a full

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Brian Nutt is renowned for the top quality yearlings sold by his Attunga Stud over a long period and for the tireless work he put in to help establish the current Scone racecourse when it was in its fledgling stage.

2024 draft Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

46 57 177 340 369 425 621 624 665 669 771 885 921 923

B or Br/C B/C B/F Br/F B/F B/F B or Br/C B/C B/F Ch/C B/C B/C B/C B or Br/F

North Pacific Pinova Lonhro Previous Brave Smash (JPN) She’s a Fairy Capitalist Vincere Volare Deep Field Xandretta Hellbent Anabaa’s Legacy (NZ) Shamus Award Elimbari Bivouac Elouera Bivouac Fiendish (USA) Capitalist Fimatino King’s Legacy I Like Toucans Too Darn Hot (GB) Love Somebody Hellbent Marple Miss Brazen Beau Mashrabiya

Brian Nutt: 0418 264 012 Anna Nutt: 0400 847 944 offie@attungastud.com.au Scone, NSW

Dam

Brian and his daughter Anna

sister to Magic Millions Rising Stars winner Latakia, out of winning mare Xandretta, who is a half-sister to Gr1 winner Carry On Cutie (granddam of Gr1 winner The Mission). This is a strong early maturing family with plenty of upside. From this same family is Lot 771, a King’s Legacy colt who is the first foal of Carry On Cutie’s daughter I Like Toucans, making her a half-sister to the dam of Gr1 winner The Mission.

Hellbent filly, Lot 425, is a half-sister to Listed winner Economics and stakes placed winner Wolf Moon, out of group placed city winner Anabaa’s Legacy, from the family of Gr1 winner Ball Park and $1.3million earner and group winner Victorem; while Hellbent colt, Lot 921, is out of city winning mare Marple Miss, a half-sister to Gr1 winner and sire Shamus Award from the family of Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Shaquero.

Too Darn Hot colt, Lot 885, is a half-brother to Gr3 winner Matchmaker and three other winners, and his dam Love Somebody is a daughter of the very tough race mare Dynamic Love who won seven races including the Gr3 Stan Fox Stakes.

Capitalist filly, Lot 340, is the second foal of Gr2 placed winner Vincere Volare (I Am Invincible). From the same family is Lot 621, a Shamus Award colt who is a half-brother to Vincere Volare and is also a three-quarter brother stakes placed Conscious (So You Think), out of group placed two year-old winner Elimbari, a half-sister to boom juvenile and Gr2 Silver Slipper winner Amelia’s Dream. This is the family of Doomben Slipper winner and Magic Millions 3YO winner Shalt Not. Lonhro colt, Lot 57, is the fourth foal of Previous, a daughter of Listed winner Yesterday from the Catbird, Danbird, Donna Cara, Donna Dior family and recent stakes winner Vast Art. Previous’ first foal is a winner.

Who are some people who have been influential for your journey in breeding racehorses?

“Brian Agnew, Martin Byrne, and Greg Kelly, they’d be the main ones along the way.”

Which past champion do you wish you could have seen at the races?

“My favourite horse as a child was Tobin Bronze, so I’d say him.” Tobin Bronze (Arctic Explorer-Amarco, by Masthead) won 28 of his 60 starts including nine Gr1 races such as the Cox Plate-twice (1966 and 1967), Victoria Derby, and Caulfield Cup. With exciting proven and upcoming sires represented in this draft such as Bivouac, Brave Smash, Brazen Beau, Capitalist, Deep Field, Hellbent, King’s Legacy, Lonhro, North Pacific, Shamus Award, and Too Darn Hot, the Attunga 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearlings should be on everyone’s inspection list.

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2023 Magic Million Baramul graduate ESPIONAGE by Zoustar winning the time-honoured ATC Randwick Breeders’ Plate at his first and only start.

BARAMUL Stud

Baramul Stud had the perfect start to the 2023/24 racing season with million-dollar graduate Espionage winning the Gr3 Breeders’ Plate on debut. Sold at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2023, the colt immediately made an impression, and more incredibly, third placed Prost was from the same draft, while Repose ran third in the Gr3 Gimcrack on the same day.

Recently retired group winner and exciting new stallion Best of Bordeaux, Gr2 winner Zenzella, and Listed winners Vienna Princess, Stroll, and Me Me Lagarde, all come from recent Baramul Stud Gold Coast drafts as does seven time Group One winner Alligator Blood.

The historical property will present an impressive draft of 55 yearlings in 2024 by a huge range of stallions, such as All Too Hard (4), Better Than Ready (3), Bivouac (2), Brazen Beau, Capitalist (2), Dundeel, Exceedance (2), Farnan, Flying Artie (2), Frosted, Hellbent, I Am Invincible (3), King’s Legacy, Ole Kirk (4), Pierata (2), Shalaa, Snitzel (8), So You Think (2), Spirit of Boom, Star Turn (2), Street Boss, Toronado, Wootton Bassett, Written Tycoon (4), and Zoustar (4).

On paper, there are several exciting pedigreed lots in this draft, led by Best of Bordeaux’s

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half-brother by Written Tycoon as Lot 520, and he is the third foal of city winner Chateau Cheval, a half-sister to Gr1 winner Casino Prince.

A filly with huge residual value is Lot 659, a Wootton Bassett filly out of dual Gr1 winner and Champion 2YO Filly Fashions Afield, dam of Gr2 Todman Stakes winning son Kiss and Make Up. Eight yearlings by Champion Sire Snitzel include Lot 384 a full sister to Gr2 winner Zennzella (Snitzel) out of Gr3 winner and Gr1 placed Zennista, who is closely related to Gr1 NZ Thousand Guineas winner Platinum Witness. A full brother to Listed winner Vienna Princess (Snitzel) is Lot 727 and he is the fourth foal of winning mare Graciousness, a half-sister to Gr1 winner and sire Casino Prince and three other stakes winners.

A half-sister to Baramul’s exciting group winning two year-old Espionage, Lot 786, is the fourth foal of city winner In Times of War, a daughter of group winner Military Rose. Snitzel colt, Lot 241, is the first foal of Gr3 placed winner Statuesquely, from the family of Gr1 winner Lotteria.

A half-sister to stakes placed winner Improvement is Snitzel filly, Lot 326, whose two year-old winning dam is out of tough Gr2 winner and Gr1 placed Ferragamo, winner of eleven races.

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2024 draft Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

11 20 21 106 107 110 202 241 245 326 338 348 384 422 520 583 591 600 659 705 713 727 765 786 869 871 925 939 969 1035 1040 1076 1120 1145 1149 1161 1211 1220 1249 1252 1266 1279 1288 1303 1304 1330 1337 1349 1350 1374 1432 1450 1451 1454 1465

B or Br/F Ch/F B/C B/F B/F Br or Blk/C Ch/F B/C B/C Ch/F B/C Ch/F B/F B/F B/C B/C B/F B/F B or Br/F B/C B/C B/C Ch/C Ch/F B/C B/C B/F Br/F B/C Ch/F B or Br/C B/C Ch/C B/C B or Br/F B or Br/C B/C B/C B/C Gr/F B/C B/F B/F B/C B/C B/F Blk/C B or Br/C B/C B or Gr/C B/C B or Br/C B/F B or Br/C B/F

Ole Kirk Ostentatious Diva Snitzel Palazzo Cristallo I Am Invincible Palazzo Pubblico Bivouac Roll the Bones Zoustar Rosa Moyessi Street Boss (USA) Rose Pattern Zoustar Slow the Flow Snitzel Statuesquely Capitalist Stella Sea Sun Snitzel Upgrading I Am Invincible Villa Moura (NZ) Zoustar Walk the Streets Snitzel Zennista (NZ) Zoustar Amplified Written Tycoon Chateau Cheval I Am Invincible Diamond Solitaire Capitalist Domesticated Snitzel Down the River Wootton Bassett (GB) Fashions Afield Written Tycoon Gaya Written Tycoon Glamour Cat Snitzel Graciousness Star Turn Hyannis Port Snitzel In Times of War Spirit of Boom Limehouse Written Tycoon Lipari Snitzel Medaglia Valore So You Think (NZ) Minniti All Too Hard Mnemonic King’s Legacy Alpine Explorer (NZ) Ole Kirk Antonia Toronado (IRE) Cappella di Piazza All Too Hard Delectable Dora Flying Artie Ex Lady Exceedance Farringdon Hill (NZ) Brazen Beau Fraudulent Ole Kirk Kakakakatie Bivouac La Silva Flying Artie Magically Better Than Ready Malibu Sunset All Too Hard Miss Jakeo Farnan Mother’s Milk (NZ) Exceedance Niall Pierata Our Starlight Pierata Palazzi Signorili Shalaa (IRE) Queen Magdalene Ole Kirk Ready for You Better Than Ready Rookwood (NZ) So You Think (NZ) Rose of Pania Frosted (USA) Scratches Star Turn The Quick One Better Than Ready Uzbekistan All Too Hard Victoria Road Hellbent Viva la Romance Dundeel (NZ) World Joy

baramul@baramulstud.com.au Paul Thompson Widden Valley Rd, Widden NSW 2328 (02) 6547 0506 admin@baramulstud.com.au

Golden Slipper runnerup and young sire prospect Best Of Bordeaux is another star Baramul Magic Million graduate.

Brilliant broodmare and stakes placed winner Lipari’s Written Tycoon colt, Lot 871, is a half-brother to three stakes winners; Gr1 winner Levendi, and Gr3 winners Wu Gok and Marcel from Madrid, while Lipari is out of Gr1 winner Tully Thunder.

Stroll’s half-sister by Zoustar, Lot 348, is out of winning mare Walk the Streets, a daughter of Listed winner Kakakakatie; while a half-brother to Listed Phelan Ready Stakes winner Palazzo Spirit is Lot 21, an I Am Invincible colt who is the fourth foal of Listed winner Palazzo Pubblico, from the family of WA Oaks winner Moreish and Gr2 winner and Gr1 Victoria Oaks placed My Sienna.

A full sister to Listed placed two year-old winner All Sassed Up, Lot 1330, is the fifth foal of Queen Magdalene, a half-sister to the dam of Ranting, from the family of Gr1 winners Danelagh, Vengeance of Rain, Dizelle and Pinot.

The first live foal of winning mare Fraudulent (Trusting-Roedean) is a colt by Brazen Beau, and he’s worth a mention simply because his dam is so cleverly named, being out of a quality racemare who was disqualified after winning the Gr1 Blue Diamond (and who is now the dam of Listed winner Me Me Legarde).

What has been your most satisfying result at the Magic Millions?

“Selling million dollar plus horses is very rewarding and it’s even better when they come out and perform in the way Espionage has,” said Paul Thompson.

How would you sum up your 2024 draft?

“Complete is the one word answer. I feel we have a horse for everyone.

There are a number of yearlings every bit as precocious as last year’s draft and there are some that will perform better as three year-olds.”

Which past champion do you wish you could have seen at the races?

“Makybe Diva! I’ve been fortunate enough to witness Black Caviar, Octagonal and the likes. Seeing those types of champions or giving them a pat is like shaking hands with a rock star for me.”

If someone asked to be your apprentice and learn all that you know, what would you teach them?

“Be smarter than me. I’ve dedicated my life to the wellbeing of horses and trying to understand them, and unfortunately I don’t always have the same rapport with people.”

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BELL River

Bell River and the Ferguson family are proven racehorse producers having bred horses like Extreme Choice and Ace High, and they’ve taken all that knowledge and experience to their new property, which is beginning to show the same level of high quality results that everyone associates with their name.

Bell River will present sixteen yearlings at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, including a filly, Lot 469, by Extreme Choice; the Gr1 winner and sire that they bred. A half-sister to Listed winner of eight races, All Too Royal, this filly is out of Gr1 winner Bel Mer who has a 100% winners to runners record as a broodmare.

Bell River’s graduate Chrysaor showed promise at two, and now at three, he’s won the Gr2 Callander-Presnell Stakes and was one of only five yearlings they took to the Gold Coast in 2022 which was their first draft back at the Coast after a few year’s break.

Written Tycoon filly, Lot 468, is the second foal of Listed winner Beauty, who is a half-sister to two other stakes winners, giving this filly huge residual value, and this is the family of juvenile Gr1 winner Summer Passage.

“My family have been on the land in Australia for five generations,” said Bell River’s James Ferguson.

“We brought all that experience to our new property at Dungog, and believe that this year’s draft is the culmination of our hard work in setting up this farm over the last five years.”

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Bell River have backed first season sire and Gr1 Golden Slipper winner Farnan with five yearlings in this draft. A colt, Lot 768, is the second foal of brilliant racemare and Gr1 Galaxy winner I Am Excited, who won seven races, is a half-sister to Gr3 winner Flippant, and is from the family of Gr1 winners Atlantic Jewel, Commanding Jewel, and

Bell River will present sixteen yearlings at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale

2024 draft

Russian Emperor. The other colt, Lot 166, is out of winning mare Serious Doubts, who is a half-sister to Gr2 winner of eleven races Decision Time. The other Farnan yearlings in the Bell River draft are fillies led by the first foal of Gr2 winner Prophet’s Thumb, Lot 62, and this filly’s dam is a half-sister to group winner More Prophets. Lot 179 is a filly out of Extreme Choice’s half-sister She’s Our Choice; while Lot 419 is a filly who is the first foal of Amazing Belle, a half-sister to NZ Champion and 14-times Gr1 winner Melody Belle.

in word for word what he was saying when he was looking for room up the straight on the big horse.”

A filly by proven sire Maurice, Lot 796, is the first foal of dual Gr3 winner Irithea who won eight races, and is from the family of Japan Cup winner and very good sire Epiphaneia.

“Buying Bel Mer for $70,000 then putting her in foal to Extreme Choice for what I think you could get in at about $10,000 at the time and then selling that resultant foal for $800,000 at the 2023 Magic Millions.”

Which past champion do you wish you could have seen at the races?

“Marauding. I remember meeting Ron Quinton as a little kid at my first Magic Millions. I googled and watched his ride on Marauding in the Slipper where he filled me

What makes the Magic Millions sales and races special?

“It’s the only sale in the Southern Hemisphere where it catches every participant’s attention from the general public to the top end of town. It’s the biggest event of the year for our industry.”

Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

55 62 136 166 167 179 345 419 468 469 768 796 1013 1084 1181 1240

B or Br/F Ch/F Ch/F B/C Ch/F B/F B/C B/F Ch/F B/F B/C Ch/F B/F Ch/F B/C Br/F

Spirit of Boom Farnan Hanseatic Farnan Bivouac Farnan Too Darn Hot (GB) Farnan Written Tycoon Extreme Choice Farnan Maurice (JPN) Anders Churchill (IRE) Anders Graff

Premeditated Prophet’s Thumb Sassy Dragon Serious Doubts Set to Skelter She’s Our Choice Volks Lightning (NZ) Amazing Belle (NZ) Beauty Bel Mer I Am Excited Irithea Northern Glory Centra Spur Heat of the Fire Love Her Madly

What has been your most satisfying result at the Magic Millions?

ANDREW: +61 428 649 475 JAMES: +61 409 899 448 JOCK: +61 457 741726

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Imperatriz as a yearling

I

BHIMA

mperatriz, Militarize, Manzoice and Forbidden Love. Bhima’s stunning graduate record at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale should have all buyers flocking to inspect this season’s offerings. Bhima are the only vendor to have sold a Gr1 winner at four successive sales; Militarize was sold in 2022, Manzoice in 2021, Imperatriz in 2020, and Forbidden Love in 2019.

How would you sum up your 2024 draft?

“Through the whole draft we have a good range of sires and given our record, I’m sure there’s going to be some exceptional racehorses come out of it,” said Bhima’s Mike Fleming. “Someone just has to be smart enough to pick the right ones. The three by Bivouac look very sharp forward horses. Everyone is always trying to get a line on the first season sires at Magic Millions and these three look like the right sort of horses to appeal to buyers looking for early types. Our Dundeel colts are standouts, especially with the year he’s had, led by our graduate Militarize.”

Bhima’s Gr1 winning Magic Millions Gold Coast graduates are supported by Gr2 winner Four Moves Ahead, Gr3 winner, and Gr1 placed Prague, Gr3 winner Maximillius, Listed winner Rhapsody Rose, and Gr1

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\ BHIMA \ RENÉE GEELEN

placed Military Expert, and all of these horses were sold from 2018 to now.

In 2024, Bhima will present 29 yearlings at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, and the stallions represented are Admire Mars, Bivouac, Blue Point, Capitalist, Deep Field, Dundeel, I Am Invincible, King’s Legacy, Lonhro, Russian Revolution, Shalaa, Snitzel, So You Think, Super Seth, Toronado and Wootton Bassett.

Siblings to group winners include Lot 477, a Capitalist half-brother to super sprinter Imperatriz out of Gr2 placed Berimbau; Lot 66 a Capitalist half-brother to Gr1 winner Stratum Star and Gr3 winner and Gr1 placed Prague; Lot 926 an I Am Invincible half-brother to Gr2 Karrakatta Plate winner Valour Road; Lot 596 a Capitalist half-brother to Gr2 winner Four Moves Ahead and Gr3 winner Emeralds; Lot 371 a Bivouac half-brother to Gr2 winner Kemalpasa; and Lot 28 a Wootton Basset half-sister to Gr3 winner Naranco.

What makes the Magic Millions sales and races special?

“It’s the first sale of the year, where everyone heads to get the first bite of the money. Magic Millions do a great job of putting on a strong, diverse buying

Bhima are the only vendor to have sold a Gr1 winner at four successive sales; Militarize was sold in 2022, Manzoice in 2021, Imperatriz in 2020, and Forbidden Love in 2019. bench, and if your horse is physically ready to be up early, it’s the best place for them to be. This sale gets your horse in front of the buyers who will give them the best chance to be a great racehorse.”

Bhima will present a few yearlings whose dams were outstanding racemares including a King’s Legacy colt, Lot 307 who is the first foal of Gr1 winner Toffee Tongue, a full sister to Hong Kong Horse of the Year Werther and to Gr3 winner Gobstopper. Blue Point filly, Lot 105, is out of Gr3 winner Rocket Commander whose first two foals are winners; while So You Think filly, Lot 956, is out of Gr3 winner Miss Promiscuity whose first two foals are winners; and Toronado filly, Lot 525, is out of Gr3 winner China Star.

Who are the most influential people in the industry today?

“I have to give a shout out to Vicky Leonard,” said Fleming.

“What she’s done with Kick Collective and Kick Up

is outstanding. She’s been influential with our transparency on how we sell our yearlings by giving buyers all the information they require. Buyers know exactly what product they are buying – rearing, raising, prepping and on which land and with which people. We were one of the first people who sat down with her when she looked to branch out on her own, and the way she’s progressed her own company, and the way she’s supporting the industry as a whole with Kick Up is really valuable. Don’t underestimate her.”

Which app on your phone do you use the most?

“Ardex, especially in the breeding season.”

Bhima’s record as producers of Gr1 winners stands above other farms, and if the past is any indication of the future, there is bound to be another Gr1 winner among their 29 strong draft for the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

2024 draft Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

28 66 99 105 123 164 196 261 294 302 307 317 324 356 368 371 408 477 525 596 626 703 732 797 882 907 926 956 972

Br/F B/C Gr/F B or Br/F B/F B/C Br or Gr/F B or Br/C B/F B/F B/C Ch/F B/F B/F B/C B/C B/C B/C B or Br/F Ch/C Br or Blk/F B/C B/C B/C Br or Blk/C Br or Blk/F B/C B or Br/F B/C

Wootton Bassett (GB) Patsy Boyne (IRE) Capitalist Purely Spectacular (NZ) King’s Legacy Rina Bettina (NZ) Blue Point (IRE) Rocket Commander Deep Field Sacredvista King’s Legacy Serenade Admire Mars (JPN) Simogramor (NZ) Shalaa (IRE) Super Oasis Blue Point (IRE) The Tide is High (NZ) King’s Legacy Tiberias (FR) King’s Legacy Toffee Tongue (NZ) Bivouac Turn My Heart (USA) I Am Invincible Unbelievable (IRE) Russian Revolution Whenever King’s Legacy Wonderland (IRE) Bivouac Yarra Bank Dundeel (NZ) Ain’t She Smart Capitalist Berimbau Toronado (IRE) China Star (NZ) Capitalist Doulmera (USA) So You Think (NZ) Elusive Nature Super Seth Garden of Swans (GB) Snitzel Gresset Dundeel (NZ) Is What it Is Lonhro Love Freedom Lonhro Maiya Nova I Am Invincible Melba Avenue So You Think (NZ) Miss Promiscuity Bivouac Moet Belle (NZ)

www.bhima.com.au 3 Moobi Road, Scone 2337 • (02) 6545 1000 Mike Fleming: mike@bhima.com.au • 0448 254 365 Kate Fleming: kate@bhima.com.au • 0409 311 794

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BLUE GUM Farm

B

uyers are in for a treat with the inaugural Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft from Victoria’s Blue Gum Farm.

The historic property has traditionally only sold yearlings in Victoria, and they have an incredible record achieving stakes horses with twenty percent of the horses they’ve sold at auction in the last four years, such as this season’s exciting two year-old stakes winner Bold Bastille, and Gr1 winner September Run. Coming to the Gold Coast represents a new phase in the development of Blue Gum Farm as a superior vendor of high-quality racehorses.

Blue Gum Farm will bring ten yearlings to the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2024, and their exciting Snitzel colt, Lot 332, is sure to be busy during the inspection times.

The second foal of unraced mare Vaujany (Lonhro), a full sister to Gr2 winner Ghisoni (dam of recent Listed winner Renosu), and a half-sister to current stakes placed winner Andermatt (Snitzel) and to the dam of current Hong Kong group winner Larkspur Run (Shamardal). This is a family on the rise, and this colt’s second dam is Gr2 winner and Golden Slipper placed Portillo.

Bold Bastille winning MVRC Inglis Banner 2YO S on 28/10/23

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\ BLUE GUM FARM \ RENÉE GEELEN

Russian Revolution is quickly becoming a star stallion with Gr1 winner Communist, and several group winners including Libertad whose ownership has close connections to Blue Gum Farm which will present two colts

by Russian Revolution. Lot 393 is a colt out of Aalto (Pierro) who is a daughter of group winner Miss Mooney Mooney, from the family of emerging successful sire Better Than Ready; while Lot 501’s dam, Calzini Bianchi (Show a Heart) is a half-sister to 2019 Champion 3YO in Singapore, and 2020 Champion Stayer in Singapore Top Knight (Zoustar) who has ten wins, four at Listed level.

Proven sire Shamus Award’s colt, Lot 63, is the third foal of two year-old winner Prosecution (Choisir) who is a full sister to tough racehorse Religify (Choisir) who won thirteen races, three at Listed level, while another sister is the winning dam of Chrysaor who at his most recent start won the $1m CallanderPresnell Gr2 at Randwick. Prosecution is also a half-sister to group placed winner Shojiki (Redoute’s Choice). This is the family of Hong Kong Horse of the Year Silent Witness.

Chrysaor winning the $1million CallanderPresnell Gr2 at the Sydney Spring Carnival.

His close relation is Lot 63 in the Blue Gum Farm draft.

2024 draft

An Exceed and Excel filly, Lot 566, from winning mare Dawaa (Lonhro) who is out of Gr1 winner Rewaa, from the family of Gr1 winner Sense of Occasion.

The Maurice/Redoute’s Choice cross is magical with five stakes winners already in the bag including Gr1 winner Hitotsu, and Blue Gum’s filly, Lot 861, is the third foal of imported mare Libra a Vous (Redoute’s Choice) who is a halfsister to Champion 3YO Miler and Gr1 winner French Fifteen and to Listed winner Night Run. A half-brother to two stakes placed winners, Lot 242, is by young sire Castlevecchio, and his dam, Statuette, is a winning daughter of group winner Estatuilla; while Star Turn filly, Lot 531, is the third foal of winning mare Cinzia, who is from the family of group winners King Ivor, Snake Eyes, Linney Head, and Call Me Henry.

One of the last few Deep Field colts is Lot 480, and he is the second foal of Big Band, a full sister to Gr3 SAJC Breeders’ Stakes winner Broadband. This is an early maturing branch of the Anamoe family which also includes Gr1 winners Yourdeel, Anamato, Dealer Principal and Grand Armee.

Rounding out the draft is a colt by young sire Prague, Lot 770, who epitomises early speed, as his dam is a young half-sister to Gr3 winner Sweet and Speedy, out of Gr3 winner Speedy Natalie, who is in turn out of Listed Gimcrack Stakes winner Speedy Bell.

Blue Gum Farm has been known as “The Proven Source” for buyers and breeders in Victoria for over 40 years and their inaugural select yearling draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast 2024 yearling sale is sure to attract plenty of attention.

Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

63 242 332 393 480 501 531 566 770 861

B/C B/C B/C Br or Blk/C B/C B or Br/C Ch/F B/F B/C B/F

Shamus Award Castelvecchio Snitzel Russian Revolution Deep Field Russian Revolution Star Turn Exceed and Excel Prague Maurice (JPN)

Prosecution Statuette Vaujany Aalto Big Band Calzini Bianchi Cinzia Dawaa I Am Speedy Libre a Vous (FR)

Sean Dingwall (Principal / Owner) Ph: 0414 555 901 | E: sean@bluegumfarm.com.au Mark Lindsay (Sales & Nominations Manager) Ph: 0474 347 252 | E: mark@bluegumfarm.com.au

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BOWNESS Stud

Generational success at Bowness Stud continues with their farms producing horses such as Gr1 winners Trapeze Artist, Youngstar, Funstar and Media Award, while their recent Magic Millions Gold Coast drafts have produced Gr2 winner Paradee and many others.

Located in the south-west slopes of NSW, Bowness Stud covers 3200 acres and grows all its own feed.

With over thirty years in breeding and racing, Bowness knows how to provide trainers and owners with the types of racehorses who will provide an exciting race day experience.

Bowness Stud’s John North has been a stalwart of the industry but has handed over the reins to his daughter Jocelyn and son-in-law James who spoke to Bluebloods.

How would you sum up your 2024 draft?

“We are bringing an outstanding draft of yearlings that offers many opportunities for the Magic Millions race series,” said James Daly. “Across the board, they are a very good bunch of quality horses and will provide people with a range of prices and a variety of stallions who are on the up.”

What has been your most satisfying result at the Magic Millions?

“Turning up each year with a new draft of horses and making sure they find good homes is always exciting.

It’s the whole circle too. I like to watch each horse progress as racehorses.”

In 2024, Bowness Stud will present twenty yearlings at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, including eight by their resident second season sire and Gr1

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winner D’Argento. Winner of the Rosehill Guineas and placed multiple times in Gr1 company against the likes of Winx, Hartnell, and Happy Clapper, D’Argento’s first crop were bought by many good judges and will be given every chance to succeed on the track. In the stables of Chris Waller, Matthew Smith, Gary Portelli, John O’Shea, David Payne as well as Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, D’Argento’s first crop sold up to $230,000 at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Five D’Argento colts include Lot 1234, a half-brother to four winners (of 19 races) and this colt is only the fifth foal of Lift All Boats (Commands) whose 100% winner producing record is noteworthy. A colt from Listed winner Plain Magic is Lot 1317, while both Lot 1343 and Lot 1359 are out of tough race mares who won seven races each (Rock on Zariz and Sadler’s Wish).

There are three nicely related D’Argento fillies in this draft: Lot 1051, from four-time winning mare Because We All Can (Hussonet) has two winners from her first two foals, and is closely related to Horse of the Year Weekend Hussler (Hussonet), while Lot 1361’s dam, Saggiatore (Galileo) is a winning half-sister to Listed winner Follow Gold, who is the dam of Gr1 winner Driefontein, and to Listed winner Export Gold, dam of stakes winners Dubai Gold and Forest Gold. Lot 1209 is the first foal of Just In The Clear, a winning daughter of Gr2 placed winner Innocent Lady.

Bowness Stud will also present yearlings by Alabama Express, American Pharoah, Blue Point, Churchill, Cool Aza Beel, King’s Legacy, Omaha Beach, Peltzer, Smart Missile and Yes Yes Yes.

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In 2024, Bowness Stud will present twenty yearlings at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, including eight by their resident second season sire and Gr1 winner D’Argento.

King’s Legacy filly, Lot 506, is out of Caribbean Concert, a winning half-sister to Randwick 1000m track record holder De Lightning Ridge whose six race wins included the Gr2 Challenge Stakes. Both Caribbean Concert and De Lightning Ridge are out of stakes winner Nanny Maroon.

Yes Yes Yes colt, Lot 1372, is out of Schifty Thinker, a winning daughter of a stakes placed winning Snitzel half-sister to Hong Kong group winner and multiple times Gr1 placed Tourbillon Diamond (ex Eric the Eel).

Blue Point colt, Lot 634, is the second foal of winning mare Enduring Love, a daughter of stakes winner Holy Moly from a strong running family; while American Pharoah filly, Lot 1086, is out of winning mare Champagnelifestyle, from the family of Gr1 winners Rough Habit and Addictive Habit. Lot 1214, a colt by Peltzer, is the first foal of winning mare Kiaria, a halfsister to group placed winner Hill Spy, out of Gr3 winner Shanzero.

If you took on an apprentice, what would be the first thing you’d teach them?

“The art of handling horses and to listen to instructions and don’t break the machinery.”

Which app on your phone do you use the most?

“The weather.”

Bowness Stud’s long history of breeding high quality racehorses is a strong launching pad for their young sire D’Argento, and as they say ‘we only succeed if you do.’

James and Jocelyn Daly are set to see Bowness move forward under their stewardship, ensuring the same level of horsemanship the farm is renowned for.

2024 draft Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

506 634 878 975 1051 1086 1089 1203 1209 1214 1234 1317 1334 1343 1359 1361 1370 1372 1388 1423

B/F Br/C Br/C B/F Br/F B/F B/C Br/C B/F B/C B/C B/C B/C Gr/C Gr/C B/F B/F B/C B or Br/C B/C

King’s Legacy Caribbean Concert Blue Point (IRE) Enduring Love D’Argento Lonhrolite Alabama Express Moodhilla D’Argento Because We All Can American Pharoah (USA) Champagnelifestyle Smart Missile Charlotte’s Star Omaha Beach (USA) Island Breeze D’Argento Just in the Clear (NZ) Peltzer Kiaria D’Argento Lift All Boats D’Argento Plain Magic Omaha Beach (USA) Rainbow Serpent D’Argento Rock on Zariz D’Argento Sadler’s Wish D’Argento Saggiatore Churchill (IRE) Scarlett Rouge Yes Yes Yes Schifty Thinker Cool Aza Beel (NZ) Singho D’Argento Tamerett

Dam

www.bownessstud.com.au James Daly 0428 821 390 1238 Moppity Rd, Young NSW 2594

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OVERPASS a stunning Corumbene graduate at $75K has now won over $4.5million.

CORUMBENE Stud

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Corumbene Stud’s reputation for producing precocious, Gr1 winning juveniles remains unchallenged; think of Golden Slipper winners like Overreach and Sebring and Blue Diamond Stakes winner True Jewels. But the recent deeds of Overpass have reminded the market there is both value and longevity to be found in the farm’s boutique Gold Coast draft.

Buyers will have to be patient and keep their powder dry awaiting the arrival of the first Corumbene offering which won’t sell until the Friday. Offered as Lot 774, this son of Deep Field out of the Tale Of The Cat mare Icedginger looks tailor-made for the Asian market as a strong half-brother to the Listed Fireball Stakes winner Samantha.

The talent of Amelia’s Jewel is unquestioned and on her home soil she had previously only been beaten once, yet the Corumbene bred Overpass was able to outrun her and rivals like Group 1 performers Bella Nipotina, Asfoora and Uncommon James, with a brilliant display of sustained speed to win the inaugural The Quokka. A $75,000 purchase, Overpass has now won $4.8 million, a more than reasonable return on investment by Darby Racing. The potential for another massive payday for the wider market lies in the stud’s outstanding 2024 Magic Millions draft.

Corumbene’s Farm Manager Zoe Wilson gave us the lowdown on each of their seven strong draft beginning with this colt of which she said “He’s a lovely type with a great walk and attitude, this mare always seems to produce very nice types. He’s definitely a colt that will appeal to the Hong Kong market.”

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The first Corumbene filly on offer hails from the same family, her grandam Loveday another half-sister to True Jewels this time by Danzero.

This lady will go through as Lot 867 and is by first season sire Ole Kirk, the brilliant winner of both the Gr1 Golden Rose and Caulfield Guineas,

The potential for another massive payday for the wider market lies in the stud’s outstanding 2024 Magic Millions draft.

2024 draft Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

774 867 888 1100 1163 1348 1384

Br/C B or Br/F Br/C Br or Blk/F Ch/F Ch/F B/C

Deep Field Ole Kirk Pierata Pariah King’s Legacy Menari Astern

Icedginger Lilith Loveland Cloak of Night Fulmina Romincka Sheer Style

Corumbene Stud

out of the four-time winning Hinchinbrook mare Lilith. “She’s a very neatly put together filly very much like her mother. She certainly looks a speedy, early type and also has that touch of attitude you find in good race fillies.”

In a quality draft the Pierro colt out of the Not A Single Doubt mare Lovelands may well prove the pick of the bunch, with Zoe very excited to get him to the Gold Coast. “He is a really, really nice colt. He’s the first foal of a sister to the leading Hong Kong galloper Southern Legend. He’s my pick of the draft with a great attitude, a really nice walk and carries plenty of presence. He is giving every indication he will prep up nicely and I expect when he walks out of his box he will make people take notice”, she explained.

Buyers looking for a ready-made filly shouldn’t bypass Lot 1100, a very nicely put together daughter of Pariah and the Lonhro mare Cloak Of Night. Carrying a similar coat colour to her damsire, this filly is a halfsister to four winners from as many to race for her dam, led off by the Chris Waller trained Amati, Stakes placed last season in Melbourne and remains in training. Zoe put it that “She is definitely a speedy looking type of filly and her preparation is going very nicely.”

The first crop of dual Gr1 winning juvenile King’s Legacy make their yearling sale debut on the Gold Coast and Corumbene will present an attractive daughter of his out of the four-time, metropolitan winning Snitzel mare Fulmina. Zoe said, “She’s a very neat well balanced filly and looks likely to be a nice, early running type for someone.”

Book Two offers buyers one of their last chances to buy a Menari, Corumbene taking his daughter out of Romincka to Bundall where she sells as Lot 1348. Dam of three winners so far, Romincka is out of Corumbene’s outstanding mare Hasna who was third in the Golden Slipper before dominating in both the Gr1 AJC Sires’ Produce and Champagne Stakes’. “She is a typical Menari, bigger and rangier than the average filly. Tall, she will grow into a lovely filly,” Zoe told us.

The Dunedoo farm’s last offering is one that comes with a pedigree oozing Magic Millions Classic potential. A colt by Astern, he is out of another daughter of Snitzel in Sheer Style who was amongst the better juveniles of her year winning twice including the Magic Millions Clockwise Classic at Ballarat before running third in the RL Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic.

“He’s a nice style of horse. Over the first few weeks of his preparation this colt has matured and developed nicely and he has a great attitude.

He is definitely one for buyers looking for a real racehorse.”

Corumbene’s policy of only taking their best stock to market is reflected in the farm’s exceptional success rate, there will be many canny buyers making a beeline for the Chester barn come early January.

corumbene@alto.com.au www.corumbenestud.com.au Zoe Wilson (Stud Manager): 0428 115 528 Dunedoo, NSW

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CRESSFIELD Cressfield are giving buyers a chance to access their best families with their 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft loaded with twelve fillies, and five colts. The farm has long built a reputation on their wonderful broodmare band, so this represents a huge opportunity for breeders.

How would you sum up your 2024 draft?

“Filly dominant. But with a nice spread of sires and types represented,” said Operations Manager Liesl Wickson.

Incredibly tough group winner Quilista won nine times and placed another nine times in 32 starts.

Her third foal, a Snitzel filly, will be offered as Lot 75, and Quilista is a half-sister to group winner, Red Can Man, who is showing similar durability having won nine races in Perth and over $1.3million and is still racing. “A big powerhouse filly, plenty of substance, with great depth across her hindquarters.”

Gr1 winner Mid Summer Music has proven herself as a broodmare with Gr3 winner Hellfest (Fastnet Rock) and stakes placed two year-old winner Euphoric Summer (Not a Single Doubt). Her current yearling filly, Lot 935, is by exciting Gr1 winner Bivouac.

“A neat, racey shaped balanced filly.”

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What has been your most satisfying result at the Magic Millions?

“There have been many great moments and some great prices for horses, but honestly given how much effort goes into producing and prepping these yearlings, a sale with a 100% clearance is without doubt the most satisfying.”

Gr2 Ian McEwen Stakes winner Wild Rain won eight races and two of her first three foals are winners.

Her yearling filly, Lot 362, is by four-time Champion Sire Snitzel, and is from the family of Northerly and Overpass. “A well-developed forward type with a good shoulder, girth and hip length.”

Proven Gr1 sire Wootton Bassett is an exciting addition to the Australian scene, and Cressfield will offer his filly out of Misstook (Fastnet Rock) as Lot 966. This filly’s dam is a full sister to brilliant Gr2 winning sprinter Passive Aggressive and Gr3 winner Missrock, from the family of Gr1 winner Mrs Onassis. “Thrown to her grandsire in Fastnet Rock, a big powerful filly with a lovely loose walk and great overstep.”

Regally bred filly, Lot 640, is by Gr1 winning two year-old King’s Legacy out of Epitomise (More Than Ready), a winning half-sister to Gr1 VRC Oaks winner

Cressfield are giving buyers a chance to access their best families with their 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft loaded with thirteen fillies, and five colts.

2024 draft Personal and three other stakes horses.

“An attractive filly, with a lot of scope.”

Cressfield bred successful young sire Headwater and two lots have a connection to that brilliant sprinter. Lot 1058 is a filly out of tough racemare Black ‘n’ Tough, who won thirteen races, including two at Listed level, and a full sister to this yearling filly has recently won three times. Lot 597 is by Hellbent out of Headwater’s winning half-sister Dove Lake. “A classic style of thoroughbred, a solid well conformed type that is hard to fault.”

A Lope de Vega half-sister to Listed Wagga Wagga Cup winner Wicklow and group placed winner Waterford, Lot 347, is out of winning imported mare Wake Up. “A good walking filly with a great shape to her to hindquarter, combined with a neat rein makes her look like a fast type.” Pierata filly, Lot 91, is out of stakes placed winner Regimental Band, a daughter of Lilliburlero, a daughter of Gr1 winner Regimental Gal. “An exceptional maiden attempt from the mare, this filly doesn’t lack in strength or bone and by a sire set to make some waves.”

With only five colts in the Cressfield draft, one of the highlights for Gold Coast buyers must be Lot 85, as both sire and dam won the Magic Millions 2YO Classic. By 2016 winner Capitalist, this colt is out of 2013 winner Real Surreal, whose only foal to race is a winner. Real Surreal is a half-sister

to group winner Benny’s Buttons. “A later foal that is developing extremely well and set to catch up to his peers, he has a lovely frame and will furnish into an imposing colt.”

Gr1 winner Secret Agenda (Not a Single Doubt)’s colt by Capitalist (Written Tycoon) is Lot 150. Secret Agenda’s first foal is a recent winner, and this colt is closely related to Gr3 winner Enthaar (Written Tycoon).

“A compact, powerful and robust early type.

A true Magic Millions yearling.”

Which past champion do you wish you could have seen at the races?

“I was working in NZ when I first heard about Sunline. Prior to then I hadn’t taken a lot of notice of the racing industry.

There was something about her quirky, tough nature that appealed to me and in some ways opened the door for my interest in the industry.”

Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

29 75 85 91 150 347 362 400 597 640 679 935 945 966 1058 1237 1295

B or Br/C B/F B/C B/F B/C Ch/F Ch/F Ch/F Br/F B/F B/F B/F Br/C B or Br/F B or Br/F Gr/C Ch/F

Hellbent Snitzel Capitalist Pierata Capitalist Lope de Vega (IRE) Snitzel Headwater Hellbent King’s Legacy Headwater Bivouac Zousain Wootton Bassett (GB) Headwater All Too Hard Graff

Paxos Miss Quilista Real Surreal Regimental Band Secret Agenda Wake Up (GER) Wild Rain Adelie Dove Lake Epitomise Floreana Mid Summer Music Miss Amelia Misstook Black ‘n’ Tough Little Nikkas Oh Learned One

Who are the most influential people in the industry today?

“The people that have the most influence are the people with their hands on horse leads, the people that wake up early, that get their hands dirty, do the mundane tasks and put their personal safety on the line. Without them the industry would not function.”

www.cressfield.com.au 02 6545 0500 liesl@cressfield.com.au Parkville, NSW

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Bodyguard winning the prestigious Maribyrnong Trial S-LR at his only start .He is a $1.6m graduate from Emirates Park’s 2023 Magic Millions draft and a typical of the quality on offer from the farm.

EMIRATES Park

Emirates Park’s steady build up in both numbers and quality on the Gold Coast has been noted, and, importantly, rewarded through the success of graduates like Charm Stone and Bodyguard.

And the success stories don’t have to be seven figure yearlings, there is something in this year’s draft for every budget.

If we had to name three horses pivotal to the reemergence of the Emirates Park brand as a commercial vendor they would have to be Charm Stone, Bodyguard and Tassort. A dual Gr.3 winner including the Ottawa Stakes at two, there is no better advertisement for investing in quality and trusting Emirates Park than Charm Stone.

Then there is Bodyguard, who at his only run reaffirmed the declaration made by Charm Stone by winning the Listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes in outstanding fashion and setting himself on a path to the Golden Slipper. Both horses came through the Magic Millions ring, and both look sure to repay their purchase price, and then some.

But as Emirates Park’s Bryan Carlson explained “Importantly those horses at the top end of the market like Charm Stone and Bodyguard are

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returning a dividend, but it doesn’t matter the budget, we are producing quality horses for all levels of the market.”

The other name on the rise is Tassort. It was a show of faith by Emirates Park that the stud retained all of their first crop Tassorts to race, a decision that was vindicated by the determined win of Manaal, his first starter, in the Gr.3 Gimcrack Stakes.

In the expectation that the market will be desirous of his stock, Emirates Park will take to the Gold Coast five fillies and a colt. Amongst them is Lot 277 a half-sister to last season’s Gr.3 WATC Sires’ Produce Stakes runner up Brave Strike suggesting precocity runs on both sides of the family.

Bryan also believes Lot 999 carries plenty of quality and is a Tassort half-sister to Bohemian Lad who won at his first start as a two year-old.

The dam Nahab is a Snitzel three-quarter sister to the Gr.1 The Galaxy winner Sweet Idea and her Gr.2 winning brother Showtime.

Moving away from the Tassorts, a colt to go through as Lot 190 has a fascinating pedigree

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Manaal by Tassort winning the Gr3 Gimcrack S at Randwick and blazing the trail for her exciting young sire who is represented by six lots in the 2024 Magic Millions draft.

2024 draft Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

5 6 76 173 181 190 277 316 331 617 668 920 937 993 999 1024 1055 1122 1150 1331 1392

B or Br/C Ch/F B/F B/F Ch/C B or Br/C B/F B/C B/F B/C B/F Ch/C Ch/F Br/C B or Br/F B/F B/F B or Br/F Ch/C B/C B/F

Tassort Olympic Dream Bivouac One Funny Honey (USA) I Am Invincible Ra Ra Epic Mehmas (IRE) Shahad Zoustar Sheikha I Am Invincible Shumookh Tassort Taste of Money Capitalist Tumooh Street Boss (USA) Varenna Miss Dubious Electra Tassort Figlmuller Capitalist Maroon Bay Written Tycoon Military Reign Pierro Murtle Turtle Tassort Nahab Tassort Zem Factor Aylmerton Berdini Wootton Bassett (GB) Diala Admire Mars (JPN) Fastnet Heart Invader Quick Verse Tassort Siyaadeh

Murrurundi NSW 2338 www.emiratespark.com.au Bryan Carlson: 0415 275 885 e: bryan@emiratespark.com.au

Dam

being by reigning Champion sire I Am Invincible out of the Gr.2 Golden Pendant and Tristarc Stakes winner Shumookh. Shumookh in turn is out of the outstanding Emirates Park mare Shamekha who pretty much did it all on the track winning the Gr.1 Coolmore Classic and the Gr.1 Autumn sprint double of the T J Smith and All Aged Stakes. And Shumookh is already off to a flying start with her first foal already a winner this year in Britain as a two year old.

The farm will also showcase a pair of Capitalist’s best colts led off by one out of the Fastnet Rock mare Tumooh making him a half-brother to Bodyguard. By a Magic Millions 2YO Classic and Golden Slipper winner out of a daughter of a Golden Slipper winner in Mossfun, the colt’s credentials leave nothing to be desired. Bryan summed him up simply as “a quality colt”.

The other Capitalist also has a quality pedigree, his twice winning dam Maroon Bay the mother of four winners from as many to race including the brilliant Ebhaar, winner of the Listed Merson Cooper Stakes. Maroon Bay is a full sister to Merchant Navy who of course won the Coolmore Stud Stakes and the Diamond Jubilee Stakes and to Jolie Bay, dam of Gr1 Caulfield Guineas winner Joliestar at the recent Victorian Spring Carnival, so this colt has an illustrious family.

For fans of the former top filly Sunlight there is Lot 181, a Zoustar colt out of Sheikha. His twice winning dam was placed third in the Gr.3 Kindergarten Stakes at Randwick and given she is a Sebring half-sister to Sunlight that makes the colt a three-quarter relation to the three-time Gr.1 and Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner.

Amongst the draft Emirates Park will offer five quality yearlings on behalf of Merricks Station from Victoria. Bryan is impressed with the I Am Invincible filly out of the three time winning Drumbeats mare Ra Ra Epic that sells as Lot 76. Ra Ra Epic is one of nine winners out of Miss Argyle amongst the others being the comet that was three-time Gr.1 winner Incentivise and exciting young New Zealand based sire Ardrossan.

Early shoppers should be all over the filly by Bivouac out of the excellent producer One Funny Honey that sells as Lot 6. By an exciting first season sire she is a half-sister to Gr.1 Kingsford-Smith Cup winner Vega One, and to One More Honey, winner of the Gr.2 Sweet Embrace Stakes at two.

Merricks Station have also sent up a smashing Pierro colt out of Murtle Turtle, a winner at two and twice Gr.3 placed as a juvenile and a Written Tycoon filly out of the Listed winner Military Reign.

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Cifrado winning the Spirit of Boom Classic on 13/5/2023

E

EUREKA Stud

ureka Stud has been producing champions for over 85 years, and their current crop of Magic Millions graduates includes the $1m BRC Sires Gr2 winner Cifrado and stakes winning Sky On Fire and Malaboom, while last year’s draft have only just turned two producing Territory Ash who was beaten a nose on debut at Eagle Farm and the promising Barbie’s Sister.

How would you sum up your 2024 draft?

“It is our usual sharp running draft specially selected to focus on Magic Millions. We have a lot of nice Spirit of Booms, his progeny keep getting better as he gets these nicer mares, and Encryption kicked off his career with a dual Gr2 winner in first crop so we are excited to offer more by him here,” said Harry McAlpine.

What makes the Magic Millions sales and races special?

“The culmination of the Queensland summer racing carnival which is exciting as we always have a lot of graduates running on Magic Millions race day, and then we come to the sales to sell the next crop for the following year’s races. It’s always good to watch them and see where they end up.”

In 2024, Eureka Stud will present twenty-four yearlings including eleven by resident successful sire Spirit of Boom, and four by their emerging sire, Queensland’s Champion First Season Sire in 2022/23 Encryption.

Encryption’s first crop, who have just turned three, include Gr2 winner Cifrado, sold by Eureka at this sale.

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An Encryption half-brother to stakes placed two year-old winner Maqsad, Lot 1277, is out of Moojeh (More Than Ready), a half-sister to seven-time Gr1 winner Grand Armee, and to the dam of Listed winner Dissolved. This is the family of Gr1 winners Anamoe, Anamato, and Drum. Lot 1305 is a half-brother to stakes placed two year-old winner Excused, out of USA stakes winner Pardon who is a daughter of Gr1 winner Furlough. Lot 1367 is a colt out of five-time city winner and stakes placed Sarisara, who is a half-sister to Gr3 winner Boomsara. Sarisara is a proven broodmare with three winners from her first four foals, with two of those still racing, so this is a pedigree on the move.

Gr1 winner Spirit of Boom’s 23 stakes winners, led

by Gr1 winner and now young sire Jonker, continue to show his own will-to-win. With eleven yearlings by him in the Eureka Stud draft, a few highlights on paper are five well-related fillies, led by a full sister to Gr3 winner Boomsara who has earned over $1.7million, Lot 27, is also a half-sister to five other winners, and her dam, Passara, is a half-sister to the dam of Gr3 winner Chapter and Verse. A half-sister to Gr3 winner Charge (Zoustar) is Lot 72, and her dam Queen of the Falls is winning half-sister to Gr2 winner and Gr1 placed Elite Falls. A half-sister to Eureka Stud sold two yearold Listed winner Sky on Fire, Lot 625, is the third foal of city winner Elusive Meteor (Northern Meteor) who is a daughter of Listed winner Golden Pedigree.

Lot 673 is a half-sister to two stakes placed winners, out of winning mare Fitna (Fastnet Rock) who is closely related to Gr1 winner The Mission and Carry on Cutie.

In 2024, Eureka Stud will present twenty-four yearlings including eleven by resident successful sire Spirit of Boom, and four by their emerging sire, Queensland’s Champion First Season Sire in 2022/23 Encryption.

The Spirit of Boom colts in this draft include a full brother to stakes winning two year-old Perudo, Lot 1176 out of winning mare Goodlookin Gambler, a half-sister to Gr1 winner Scenic Peak. A half-brother to stakes winner Peacock (Lonhro) is Lot 1201, whose winning dam Iridescente is a half-sister to Gr1 winners Absolute Champion (Hong Kong Sprint) and Wylie Hall (South African Derby and Turffontein Presidents Champions Challenge); while Lot 1410 is out of Gr3 winner Steflara (Zabeel) who has been a fantastic broodmare, leaving five winners, two stakes placed including the dam of Gr1 winner Flit.

Eureka Stud will also present yearlings by All Too Hard, Anders, Better Than Ready, Bivouac, Deep Field, Harry Angel, Too Darn Hot, Toronado, and Zousain.

Eureka Stud bred Gr3 winner Wisdom of Water’s halfsister, Lot 90, by first season sire Bivouac is out Regal Tier, a winning half-sister to Listed winner of nine races Tierqualo. Regal Tier has left four winners from four to race with Wisdom of Water winning five races and over $1.1million.

A rare Deep Field colt with a stallion’s pedigree is Lot 764; the first foal of four-time winning mare Hussterical (Beneteau) who is a full sister to two yearold Listed winner Lady Jivago, who is out of a half-sister to Not A Single Doubt.

Which past champion do you wish you could have seen at the races?

“Gunsynd. Who wouldn’t love a Queensland champion that won 29 races!” Gunsynd (Sunset Hue-Woodie Wonder, by Newtown Wonder) was the 1972/73 Horse of the Year and won 29 of his 54 starts, including nine Gr1 races. He retired to Kia Ora Stud where he left six stakes winners and is the damsire of champion Emancipation.

The McAlpine family’s Eureka Stud is synonymous with racing and breeding on the Darling Downs, having sent forth a steady stream of elite performers over the years.

Eureka’s current broodmare band and its two exciting young sires are ensuring the tradition will continue, the 2024 Magic Millions draft is one of Eureka’s finest and well worth full inspection.

2024 draft Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

2 27 72 90 231 388 448 485 625 673 711 764 831 866 1053 1176 1194 1201 1277 1305 1338 1367 1395 1410

B/F B/F B/F B or Gr/F B/C Br/F B/C B/C B/F Br/F Ch/F B/C Gr/C Br/F B/C B/C B or Br/C Br/C Ch/C B or Br/C Ch/C Ch/C B/F B or Br/C

Toronado (IRE) Spirit of Boom Spirit of Boom Bivouac Zousain Spirit of Boom Spirit of Boom Spirit of Boom Spirit of Boom Spirit of Boom Harry Angel (IRE) Deep Field Encryption Too Darn Hot (GB) Better Than Ready Spirit of Boom Spirit of Boom Spirit of Boom Encryption Encryption Anders Encryption All Too Hard Spirit of Boom

Odelia Passara Queen of the Falls Regal Tier Spirit’s Choice Zoom By Assertory Bleu Zebra Elusive Meteor Fitna Glaciers Hussterical Kusama Lightfeet Lady Believe ‘n Achieve Goodlookin Gambler Indulgent Iridescente Moojeh Pardon (USA) Rebel Cry Sarisara Slainte Steflara

www.eurekastud.com.au Eureka Stud, Cambooya, QLD 4358 Harry McAlpine: 0407 736 317 Scott McAlpine: 0408 700 724 Angus McAlpine: 0417 745 347 harry@eurekastud.com.au

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FERNRIGG Farm R

ae-Louise and Padraig Kelly’s highly regarded Fernrigg Farm has had a momentous year in its development, the couple having recently acquired a second property in Denman not far from the home farm. This quality 285 acres will cater for mares and foals of clients to augment the existing commercial yearling operation.

Rae-Louise was excited about the future when she spoke to Bluebloods, “We are already installing new fencing on the Denman property and it marks our progress in the industry. We have a wonderful draft for Magic Millions with yearlings by a wide range of excellent sires such as Zoustar, Exceed And Excel, Deep Field, Maurice and Proisir to mention a few. There should be something to suit discerning buyers at all levels of the market, our results on the track have been exceptional in recent years.”

This is no idle boast as Fernrigg sold MM 2yo Classic winner Shaquero for $160k at MM. He also won the Gr3 Breeders’ Plate at his first start and then the Pago Pago Gr3 as a 2yo returning his owners over $1.49 million to date. Other star Fernrigg graduates include Gr3 Breeders’ Plate runnerup Mach Ten, Excellent Proposal a 200k MM graduate who is now Gr1 placed in Hong Kong with earnings

over A$3.29 million and last but not least the Hong Kong rising star Beauty Eternal winner of a Gr2 at his current most recent outing in midNovember and scoring in three stakes races at his last four starts for earnings of A$3.5 million as we go to press. And rising.

Two other notable Magic Million graduate success stories from Fernrigg worth mentioning are the flying fillies Sweetened and Penthouse, both stakesperformers.

Sweetened (byZoustar) ran 2nd in the SAJC Lightning H while Penthouse (by Capitalist) shows that bargains can be found, selling for $55K at Magic Millions and has gone on to win three races, over $200K and is multiple stakes placed includig a 3rd to In Secret in the Woodlands S at Scone. Her residual value has soared.

Fernrigg’s fine reputation is attested to by the range of skilled industry professionals, acknowledged good judges, who have purchased yearlings in recent years. They include Anthony Freedman, Belmont Bloodstock, Bjorn Baker, Busuttin Racing, Darby Racing, Ciaron Maher, John Foote, Lindsay Park, Laurel Oak, James Harron and China Horse Club. It’s a who’s who of the industry.

Mach Ten

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Fernrigg Farm will present sixteen yearlings at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale with a mix of proven and exciting young sires; All Too Hard, Astern, Bivouac, Capitalist, Deep Field, Dirty Work, Exceed and Excel, King’s Legacy, Maurice, Proisir, Star Turn, Tagaloa, Written By, Zousain and Zoustar.

For buyers who like the certainty of proven stallions, Fernrigg Farm have several yearlings of interest. A Zoustar half-brother to Listed winner Snickerdoodledandy (Snitzel) is Lot 551, and his dam is Gr3 winner Crafty Irna, a daughter of Gr1 winner and Singapore Horse of the Year Zirna. Fernrigg Farm purchased Crafty Irna as a broodmare a couple of years ago and she looks to be an excellent addition to their broodmare band.

Deep Field filly, Lot 560, screams residual value being out of Listed winner Dance With Her, who won twelve races, two at Listed level and was multiple times group placed, and her first three foals are all winners (of nine races).

Dance With Her is a full sister to group winner and Gr1 placed Son of Maher, both out of stakes winner Dance Hit. The progeny of recently crowned NZ Champion Sire Proisir are sure to be sought after, and Fernrigg will present his colt, Lot 587, who is the second foal of stakes placed two year-old winner Diva Express, whose first foal is a two year-old filly by Super Seth. There is plenty of two year-old form in this family with Diva Express being out of a half-sister to NZ Champion 2YO Spring Rain, while Gr1 winner Mo’unga also features in this pedigree.

Exceed and Excel filly, Lot 312, is a threequarter-sister to Gr2 Magic Night Stakes winner Calliope (Exceed and Excel), dam of 2023 Gr2 winner Kallos, and to Gr3 winner Zethus (Exceed and Excel), and to Gr3 winner Bacchanalia (Exceed and Excel) and Listed winner Aquitaine (Exceed and Excel). She is the first foal of her two year-old winning dam, Tragic and this yearling filly’s third dam is Gr1 winner Bulla Borghese.

Two year-old stakes winner Everage’s All Too Hard colt, Lot 1143, is from the family of recent Gr3 winner Wollombi; while Capitalist filly, Lot 932, is out of a winning half-sister to Gr1 winner Linton, and to the dam of group winner Heatherly, dam of this season’s group winner Red Resistance.

With five Gr1 winners already on the board, Maurice is quickly becoming one of the most exciting sires in Australia. Fernrigg Farm will present two yearlings by Maurice, with the filly, Lot 1217, being a full sister to Listed placed winner Morioka (Maurice). Her dam is Gr3 winner of five races Koonoomoo from the family of Hong Kong galloper Jeune King Prawn. The colt, Lot 1287, is out of an imported High Chaparral mare who is a half-sister to Gr3 winner Perugina and to the dam of Gr1 winner La Pelosa.

Of the first season sires, there is already plenty of talk about the first crop of Gr1 winner Bivouac, and Fernrigg Farm have a nicely related filly by him on offer. Lot 744 is the second foal of Listed winner Heaven’s Deal (Spirit of Boom), and closely related to Gr1 winner Incentivise and promising sire Ardrossan.

Blue Diamond winner Tagaloa is represented

by Lot 1026, a half-sister to Paynt Battle,

Calliope, Gr2 Magic Night S winner by Exceed and Excel whose ¾ sister by Exceed And Excel is lot 312 in the 2024 Fernrigg Magic Millions draft.

a stakes placed winner this year in America, and her winning dam, Ziptomylu is a half-sister to two stakes winners Kathmanblu and Kathballu.

Dual Gr1 winner King’s Legacy’s filly, Lot 385, is out of city winning mare Zero Tolerance who is a half-sister to stakes winners Prima Nova and Bonaichi (dam of Extra Choice), and this filly’s second dam is Gr1 winner Bonanova.

With a strong selection of yearlings and a diverse range of pedigrees and stallions, the Fernrigg Farm draft looks likely to continue their stellar record of producing excellent racehorses.

How would you sum up your 2024 draft?

“GIRL POWER! Last year the majority of our mares produced fillies and fortunately for us there were some pretty sharp ones amongst them. They definitely headline our draft. I think the Metza X Capitalist filly has so much power, she is a beast. The Exceed and Excel out of Tragic has a huge pedigree, is extremely athletic, and looks exactly like she’s supposed to on paper.

Heaven’s Deal, by one of my favourite young stallions Bivouac, has me in awe every time I see her sail across the paddock, and the Deep Field X Dance With Her oozes quality.”

What makes the Magic Millions sales and races special?

“Every year the race day gets bigger and more exciting. We’ve been fortunate enough to produce a winner of the race from our draft which was a proud moment for us all. I’ve also experienced the thrill of being part of a women’s syndicate who raced another star colt that we bred at Fernrigg and it certainly doesn’t get much better. The hype and buildup, participating in the barrier draw, the entire occasion was phenomenal. Magic Millions really know how to turn it on.”

Which people in the industry have been the most influential for you?

“Susan Corbett who owns Girsonfield Stud in Scotland, Terry Doherty from Watership Down Stud in Newbury, and Mike Cline of Lane’s End Farm in Kentucky are three people I will be forever grateful to.”

How would you sum up the internet?

“Dangerous!! Especially now that I’m a mother.

Google should be shutdown.”

2024 draft Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

312 385 499 551 560 587 744 932 1026 1143 1217 1260 1287 1307 1315 1445

B/F B/F Br/C B/C Ch/F Br/C Ch/F B/F Ch/F B/C B/F Ch/F B/C B/C B/F B/F

Exceed and Excel King’s Legacy Dirty Work Zoustar Deep Field Proisir Bivouac Capitalist Tagaloa All Too Hard Maurice (JPN) Written By Maurice (JPN) Astern Star Turn Zousain

Tragic Zero Tolerance Caesarissa Crafty Irna Dance With Her Diva Express (NZ) Heaven’s Deal Metza Ziptomylu (USA) Everage Koonoomoo Meghapushpa Neds Bypass (IRE) Pastis Petit Cheval Typecast

www.fernriggfarm.com Rae-Louise: 0452 531 561 rae-louise@fernriggfarm.com Denman, NSW

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HIGHGROVE Stud Ron Gilbert’s Highgrove, located on the rich chocolate soil of the Darling Downs is renowned for breeding and raising yearlings that live up to their promise with elite racetrack performance.

are a horse addict, going to the sales is the only way to satisfy the craving. And the Gold Coast, popular as it is, remains one of the world’s most underappreciated assets. What a setting.”

It is a mark of the confidence that buyers have in the quality Highgrove offerings that repeat buyers of yearlings from the farm include such good judges as Gai Waterhouse, George Moore, Star Thoroughbreds, Darby Racing, Triple Crown, Yulong, Mick Price and McEvoy Mitchell Racing.

These people all know their onions and make carefully considered purchasing decisions.

Which app on your phone do you use the most?

Bluebloods spoke to Ron Gilbert about the 2024 Magic Millions sale.

How would you sum up your 2024 draft?

“This is our biggest ever January offering for Magic Millions, because it’s the most forward, precocious types we have had in one crop and I feel that’s what buyers are looking for at this sale.

They just about pick themselves as they develop on our farm.”

What makes the Magic Millions sales and races special?

“It’s the excitement of being the first yearling sale and social event for the whole industry in such a beautiful part of the world. When you

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\ HIGHGROVE STUD \ ANDREW REICHARD

“StockLight and Oz Weather. StockLight is a great way to keep track of stocks and shares which are one of my other passions in life. As breeders, we are farmers, so the vagaries of the weather are of prime concern. We can’t control it, but we can be prepared for the various short term trends.”

What has been your most satisfying result at the Magic Millions?

“You might be surprised to learn it was the sale of Dusty Tycoon for 160k.

She was a Written Tycoon filly out of the Redoute’s Choice mare Sponsored, who was well grown, but not perfect in the hocks. Mick Malone is a talented horseman, a great judge, who saw her good points and knew he could largely forgive her faults, so he bought her for a MiRunners syndicate. We’re talking microshares for 500 plus owners. Dusty Tycoon proved forward enough to win her first 2yo start before Xmas in front of 500 rapturous owners, many of them new to the sport. What a result, what a celebration.

Noire, Gr2 winner of $694k. Her stakes placed, multiple stakes producing 3/4 sister Global Dream has a quality colt by Golden Slipper winner Farnan in the 2024 Magic Millions as Lot 716 in the Highgrove draft.

Ron Gilbert is very focussed on breeding youngsters that not only sell well but live up to expectations on the track.

2024 draft Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

253 273 662 683 716 720 870 919

B or Br/F Br/C Ch/C B/C B/C Br or Blk/F Br or Blk/C Ch/F

Snitzel Subsequent Russian Revolution Tangalle Trapeze Artist Fast Return Bivouac Folk Song Farnan Global Dream Pierata Gone to Paris Pierata Limerock Lass Bivouac Marli

www.highgrovestud.com.au Ron Gilbert: 0418 700 007 Westbrook, Darling Downs, Queensland

Dam

She went on to win 5 races and over $308k, which gave me tremendous satisfaction as both a breeder and vendor.”

The Highgrove draft for Magic Millions 2024 comprises eight yearlings, five colts and three fillies by top quality sires Bivouac (2), Farnan, Pierata (2), Russian Revolution, Snitzel and Trapeze Artist. They include a Snitzel filly who is a full sister to Highgrove’s Gr1 graduate Summer Passage, a Russian Revolution colt from the family of Gr1 winner Pierata, and a Farnan colt from the the Highgrove star mare Global Dream who is a three-quarter sister to the Gr2 winner of $694k Noire and is herself already the dam of Gr3 Breeders’ Plate winner Global Quest, to name but three.

Ron Gilbert is very focussed on breeding youngsters that not only sell well but live up to expectations on the track. “I’m very interested in planning the matings of our mares, as apart from using quality stallions, I believe to succeed in the long run we have to produce horses with decent pedigrees, whether bred on a proven nick or with a pedigree that has features I like such as combinations of influential ancestors. The results to date are very encouraging, the winners and stakeswinners off the farm keep coming. To date they include Gr1 winners Summer Passage and Wanted, Gr2 winners Shrapnel, Noire, Attention, Thronum and Fravashi, as well as Breeders’ Plate winner Global Quest, the talented Verne who defeated In The Congo at level weights and won two of his only three starts, plus Legally Bay, the dam of international Gr1 winner Merchant Navy, and Cythera, Snapped and Jet Spur who became a good bread and butter stallion.

For a boutique farm with small numbers to sell each year, that’s a good result, but I’m always looking to improve our batting average by buying mares from influential families and striving to learn from past results to improve the matings, it’s an ongoing process, we learn as we go.

This year we have already seen the recent emergence of young Highgrove graduates such as Aardvark who ran 3rd at his first and only start to date in the time-honoured Listed MRC Debutant S, trial winner Fearless who ran 4th in the ATC Breeders’ Plate at his only start, the brilliant first start 3yo winner Lively and the impressive trialler Marais who has gone for a spell. Those four alone are certain to do us proud over the next couple of seasons.

I’m very pleased with the overall quality of our 2024 Magic Millions yearlings and look forward to parading them for prospective buyers.

And a glass of red and dinner with friends and clients after a long day at the sales.”

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Run Harry Run is a rising star of the turf with three successive wins culminating in the Gr3 MRC Blue Sapphire S at the 2023 Victorian Spring Carnival. He is the latest in a stellar list of Magic Millions graduates for Kenmore Lodge.

KENMORE Lodge

188

Kenmore Lodge 2022 Magic Millions graduate Run Harry Run has lived up to his name, running to impressive victories in all three of his last four lifetime starts, culminating in a stylish win in the 1400m Gr3 Blue Sapphire S at Caulfield in the Spring. He should arguably be unbeaten and is a testament to the horsemanship of Cameron and Kellie Bond who offered him at Magic Millions. His owners are just as delighted as Run Harry Run has already amassed $408K in prizemoney, more than recouping his sale price of $280K. And he’s not done yet.

How would you sum up your 2024 draft?

With horses like Gr1 winner Winning Ways, Playing God, and Tyzone coming off the farm at Kenmore Lodge in Queensland’s Darling Downs, both Cameron and Kellie prefer their horses do the talking for them. Experienced across a broad range of equine pursuits, the Bonds offer the full range of sale preparation and education to clients and have topped the Magic Millions 2YOs in Training Sale on several occasions. Listed placed winning three yearold Artillery is a recent Kenmore graduate, as is city winning two year-old Fleetwood.

Kenmore Lodge have a reputation for finding good types over flashy pedigrees, and it makes for common sense to inspect all their draft, not just the ones mentioned here with commercially exciting pedigrees. Two colts with outstanding pedigrees are both by four-time Champion Sire Snitzel; Lot 1004, is the first foal of winning mare Never Listen who ran second in the Gr1 VRC Oaks, and is a halfsister to Listed winner Rose of Peace. Exciting Gr1 4th three year-old Coeur Volante is closely related.

This colt’s second dam, Gr2 winner Rose of War,

\ KENMORE LODGE \ RENÉE GEELEN

“As good as ever, if not better than ever,” said Cameron Bond succinctly. The Kenmore Lodge draft for 2024 is a good size with 39 yearlings catalogued by sires such as Admire Mars, All Too Hard, Astern, Better Than Ready, Brave Smash, Capitalist, Dubious, Encryption, Exceedance, Farnan, Headwater, Hellbent, King’s Legacy, Merchant Navy, North Pacific, Pierata, Power, Russian Revolution, Shalaa, Snitzel, Spirit of Boom, Star Turn, Trapeze Artist, Written By and Zousain.

OUTBACK BARBIE, winner of over $1.59 milllion, her close relation by Spirit Of Boom is Lot 1019 in the Kenmore Lodge draft.

2024 draft also ran second in the Gr1 VRC Oaks and is a half-sister to three other stakes winners, while third dam, Savana City won the Gr1 AJC Oaks.

A half-brother to Listed winner Ranch Hand (Fastnet Rock) who ran fourth in the Gr1 Coolmore Stud Stakes is Lot 933, a Snitzel colt out of city winner of six races Mezulla (Shamardal). Mezulla is a daughter of group placed winning mare Vamperalla.

A Russian Revolution filly, Lot 103, has bucket loads of residual value, being the first foal of a winning half-sister to group winner Summer Monsoon, from the Redoute’s Choice family. Lot 407 is a Better Than Ready filly out of group winner Aimee whose first foal is a winner this season.

Lot 134 is a North Pacific half-brother to Magic Millions Guineas winner Fashion Legend from the family of Gr1 winner Wrap Around; while a Pierata half-brother to Gr2 Karrakatta Plate winner Whispering Brook is Lot 1043. Hong Kong’s brilliant Cordyceps Six’s half-sister by Power is Lot 1363; while Lot 1431 is by Zousain from Gr3 winner The Filly. A Dubious half-brother to Listed winner My Khalifa is Lot 1292.

A pair of Capitalist fillies are sure to catch the eye; Lot 185 is the second foal of winning mare Shining Eagle, a half-sister to stakes winner Being Fabulous, and both are out of Gr1 winner Dashing Eagle, while Lot 827 is the second foal of a winning daughter of Gr1 winner Trust Antonia.

Don’t make the mistake of overlooking those yearlings we didn’t have enough space to cover in this article. There’s bound to be a gem of an athlete among Kenmore Lodge’s 39 yearlings and good judges will find them.

What makes the Magic Millions sales and races special?

“It’s a great atmosphere and all the good horses that the sale produces make it great.

The race day is good too.”

Which past champion do you wish you could have seen at the races?

“Sunline. She used to break everything’s heart out in front. I was riding trackwork as a kid at the time and never got to see her.”

Exceedance began his career in spectacular fashion when his first runner, Dublin Down, won the Gr3 Maribyrnong Plate, and Kenmore Lodge have an Exceedance colt, Lot 1090, out of winning mare Chemistry (Shamardal) who is a daughter of Oaks placed winner Tick By. Spirit of Boom is one of Queensland’s best stallions, and Kenmore Lodge have a colt, Lot 1019, by him who is the third foal of tough race mare Now You See who won seven races and is closely related to Outback Barbie (Spirit of Boom), while the filly, Lot 1428, is from the family of recent Gr1 winner Tom Kitten.

www.kenmorelodge.com 420 Rosenberger Road Wyreema, QLD 4522 cameronbond@bigpond.com Kellie Bond: 0407 657 538 Cameron Bond: 0487 884 285

Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

103 134 185 286 405 407 430 465 557 630 636 721 756 811 827 884 893 933 1004 1019 1043 1080 1090 1246 1292 1324 1335 1342 1346 1357 1363 1368 1407 1426 1428 1431 1436 1452 1467

B/F Russian Revolution B/C North Pacific Ch/F Capitalist B/C All Too Hard B/F Farnan B or Br/F Better Than Ready B/F Headwater Br/C Pierata B/C Pierata Br/F Pierata B/C Farnan Ch/C Brave Smash (JPN) B or Br/F Pierata Ch/F Encryption B/F Capitalist Br/F Trapeze Artist Ch/C Admire Mars (JPN) Br/C Snitzel B or Br/C Snitzel B or Br/C Spirit of Boom B/C Pierata B/F King’s Legacy B or Br/C Exceedance B or Br/C Shalaa (IRE) Ch/C Dubious B/C Dubious Br or Blk/C Hellbent B/F North Pacific B/C Written By B/C Headwater B/F Power (GB) B/F King’s Legacy B/C Merchant Navy B/F Dubious Br or Blk/F Spirit of Boom B. or Br/C Zousain Br/C Astern Ch/C Star Turn B/C Dubious

Roam Free Sarong (NZ) Shining Eagle Terrifying Afiado Aimee Aneesa Baubo (NZ) Crystal Nights (NZ) Emtevee Queen Enide (GB) Good Music Holdin’ My Own Jennifer Juniper Knockout Girl Love Me Quietly Lucky Helmet Mezulla (NZ) Never Listen Now You See Artful Whisper (USA) Cariad Chemistry Lyricist O’Reilly’s Charm (NZ) Pretty Face Rambla de Flores Riviera Rocknavar Sables Sandcastles Scarlet Tycoon Splendid Teeka Temptress The Filly (NZ) Tiarazou Vienna Queen Written

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As a 2yo, Time To Reign defeated BIVOUAC, YES YES YES, COSMIC FORCE & TASSORT

KINGSTAR Farm

K

ingstar Farm will launch the first yearlings by their resident sire Time to Reign at the upcoming Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Time to Reign won the Silver Slipper and is a half-brother to Golden Slipper winner She Will Reign, making him the type of early maturing horse that buyers at this sale tend to like. Kingstar Farm have two colts by Time To Reign in book one of the sale; Lot 747 is out of Gr3 winner Hi Belle, making him a half-brother to current stakes placed winner Wild Belle, from the family of Gr1 winners I Do, and Court Ruler. Lot 810 is out of group placed winning Irish mare Jehannedarc, whose first two foals are winners.

Kingstar nominations manager Conor Phelan is enthusiastic about the farm’s 2024 Magic Millions draft. He spoke to Blueboods.

How would you sum up your 2024 draft?

“Exceptional, we’ve got a couple of genuine showstoppers in the draft that will make everyone’s shortlists and no weak links. The first crop of Time To Reign are great types and we’ve made sure to showcase some of the better pedigreed types.”

What has been your most satisfying result at the Magic Millions?

“The winning post is where the buyers want to be, so selling Stakes Winners like Wollombi and Stay Inside is the benchmark, but to produce a million dollar

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\ KINGSTAR FARM \ RENÉE GEELEN

colt last year was a real milestone for Kingstar. We’re a young farm so to have buyers invest in our progeny with such confidence already is very satisfying.”

Extreme Choice and Kingstar Farm have had plenty of luck together already, including Gr3 winner Wollombi who Kingstar sold from their inaugural Gold Coast draft in 2021. In 2024, they bring Lot 942, an Extreme Choice colt who has plenty to like about him. “He is a very, very special colt. He is a standout and will certainly be on everyone’s wishlist.” A half-brother to dual Gr3 winner Our Playboy, his unraced dam is a half-sister to Gr1 winner Pierata and Gr3 winner Ashokan, making his second dam the Gr3 winner November Flight.

Proven sire Capitalist is represented by Lot 574, a colt who is the third foal of Demand Attention, a winning daughter of champion racemare Makybe Diva. If you subscribe to the daughters of champions theory, this colt fits perfectly. Two Deep Field yearlings are rare offerings, and both are fillies so there is plenty of residual value for buyers. Lot 459 is the third foal of winning mare Azarose, who is a half-sister to multiple group winner Artistry, from the family of Samantha Miss, Cronus, and Miss Fabulass; while Lot 685 is the first foal of Forest Fantasy, an unraced full sister to Gr1 winner Takedown.

Russian Revolution is having an outstanding season, and Kingstar Farm have two of his yearlings on offer.

Unite and Conquer was a boom two year-old. His first crop have just turned two, and already showing that his own stock will be the same as himself.

The colt, Lot 829, is out of city winner Kuchinskaya who is from the family of Tuscan Sling, Assertive Approach, Outlaws Revenge, Immortal Love, Imlovin’ya, and many others. The filly, Lot 676, is the first live foal for Flaming Rose who is an unraced half-sister to stakes winners Tangled, Sebrose, and Maule’s Creek, and all are out of Gr1 winner Bramble Rose.

Kingstar Farm will present two yearlings by first season sire North Pacific (Brazen Beau) in book one. Lot 344, a colt, is the second foal of tough racemare Volkoff who won twelve races including two at Listed level, while the filly, Lot 514, is the second foal of stakes winning two yearold Champagne Boom.

Rounding out their book one draft is Lot 824, a filly

by Cosmic Force, whose oldest crop have just turned two, and she is a half-sister to winner Remorseless who ran second in the Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic (RL), and her dam is a winner from the Redoute’s Choice family.

Cosmic Force is off to a great start to his stud career with Devine Force being a very impressive winner of his first two starts in Brisbane.

A few months in racing can be a lifetime. Writing about Kingstar Farm’s Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling draft in November and trying to predict what will happen come

sale time, takes a crystal ball especially when it comes to their young sire Unite and Conquer.

Unite and Conquer was a boom two year-old. His first crop have just turned two, and already showing that his own stock will be the same as himself. “It bodes well that the first two year-old trial in Australia was won by a Unite and Conquer, named Switch to Go, and the fastest breeze up at the Inglis 2YO sale was a Unite and Conquer, who then sold to Hong Kong for $110,000.” Kingstar Farm have two fillies by Unite and Conquer in book two of this sale; Lot 1113 is out of Cross Court, whose three named foals are all winners, and Lot 1259 is out of Gr2 placed winner Megawatt, whose first foal is a city winner.

Kingstar Farm have a Time To Reign filly in book two, Lot 1253, who is from the family of Not A Single Doubt, and her dam’s first foal is already a winner.

Their book two draft is rounded out with yearlings

by Brutal, Cosmic Force, and North Pacific.

Which app on your phone do you use the most?

“Weather App (scrolling for rain) and a Punting App (following Kingstar graduates).”

2024 draft

Undefeated 2YO Devine Force is already qualified for 2024 Magic Millions Classic.

Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

344 459 514 574 676 685 747 810 824 829 942 1113 1118 1253 1258 1259 1344

Blk/C North Pacific Volkoff B/F Deep Field Azarose (NZ) Br/F North Pacific Champagne Boom Ch/C Capitalist Demand Attention Ch/F Russian Revolution Flaming Rose B/F Deep Field Forest Fantasy B/C Time to Reign Hi Belle B/C Time to Reign Jehannedarc (IRE) Br/F Cosmic Force Killcareless B or Br/C Russian Revolution Kuchinskaya Ch/C Extreme Choice Mischief Night B/F Unite and Conquer Cross Court B/F Brutal (NZ) Daughter O’Fortune B/F Time to Reign Manhattan Bridge B/C Cosmic Force Medici Madonna B/F Unite and Conquer Megawatt (NZ) B/C North Pacific Rock the World

www.kingstarfarm.com.au 463 Dalswinton Road, Denman, NSW 2328 Adam Cook; adam@kingstarfarm.com.au 0427 901 201 Conor Phelan; conor@kingstarfarm.com.au 0437 842 852

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Skirt The Law by Better Than Ready wins the 2023 Magic Millions 2YO classic, her half-brother by Nicconi is Lot 17 in the 2024 Lyndhurst draft.

LYNDHURST W

ith the exception of just one race the Magic Millions Gold Coast raceday is all about speed, and if you are serious about having a runner on the fantastically rich card then Lyndhurst Stud’s Jeff Kruger reckons Better Than Ready is the stallion to get you there.

And who can argue with him. In each of Better Than Ready’s six crops he has had at least one runner in the Classic and of course his daughter Skirt The Law brilliantly won the 2023 edition. Jeff explained, “Overall, Better Than Ready is a tremendous sire but in particular he is a tremendous juvenile winner-getter.

Every season he is high up on the juvenile winners’ and individual winners’ tables. In the history of Australian breeding only one stallion has sired more individual two year-olds winners in his first crop, and that was Without Fear in the late 1980’s. And he backs it up every year, consistently getting twenty or so two year-old winners, so getting the Magic Millions Classic winner last year was just the icing on the cake. He has already sired three winners of Magic Millions races, Skirt The

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Stud Farm

Law in the Classic and Alpine Edge and The Odyssey both won the QTIS Open Quality, so he’s really the go-to stallion for Magic Millions success.” And last season Better Than Ready created a little bit of history becoming the first Queensland stallion to surpass $10 million in earnings in a season. As the Lyndhurst slogan says, “if you want an early runner, look no further.”

This year seven of the 13 strong Lyndhurst draft have the brilliant sprinter as their sire, the remainder made up of first crop sires Earthlight and Time To Reign, and promising young stallions in Tassort, Brave Smash and Dubious.

Despite the expected demand for the Better Than Readys he isn’t the sire of Jeff’s pick of the draft.

“We have a Nicconi half-brother to Skirt The Law that will go through as Lot 17 and he will probably be the star lot in our draft. As a late October foal he won’t be the finished product when he steps in the ring, but it won’t take long for him to catch up. He’s a precocious looking type by a stallion I think is underrated even though he sired one of the world’s best in Nature

Last season Better Than Ready created a little bit of history becoming the first Queensland stallion to surpass $10 million in earnings in a season.

Strip. He is a consistent winner-getter and this colt is certainly a nice type.” And he has a pedigree page, his dam Outlaw Kate was Listed placed at two and is out of She’s Got Gears, a brilliant winner of the Listed Ottawa Stakes at two at Flemington but better known now as the dam of the mercurial Gr1 William Reid Stakes winner Masked Crusader.

is another lot with a real Magic Millions pedigree for besides being a Listed winner at Moonee Valley and runner up in the Gr2 Blue Diamond Prelude, the brilliantly fast Scorched Earth also won the Magic Millions SA 2YO Classic. Their dam Scorched is a full sister to Furnaces who won the Gr3 Kindergarten Stakes further emphasising that precocity runs through the family.

Getting back to Better Than Ready and when pressed to single out his best Jeff couldn’t split two very nice fillies with the first interestingly in Book 2, Lot 1345, the threequarter sister to the tough Queensland star of a season back in Apache Chase. “She’s a really good sort, I’m a little surprised she’s not in Book 1.” Apache Chase won the Gr1 Kingsford-Smith Cup amongst nine wins while his Danehill half-brother Churchill Downs won the Gr2 Bill Stutt Stakes and was third in the Golden Slipper. No wonder then Rockette Rocket, their Captain Sonador half sister and dam of the filly for sale, was able to win nine races as well.

Lot 1276 is a Better Than Ready colt out of Monte Bella, a Bel Esprit mare who has a 100% record from her five foals to race. Amongst them is Muschialli, a full brother to this yearling and now a five time winner, four in Brisbane metropolitan company and earnings just shy of $250,000.

Jeff then told us “My second pick on type would be Lot 145, the half-sister to Scorched Earth, and being out of an Exceed And Excel mare she is bred on the same cross as Skirt The Law and should be well received.” Here

So there you have it, a baker’s dozen good reasons to inspect the Lyndhurst draft, a move that will greatly enhance your chance of having a Magic Millions raceday runner in years to come.

The other Better Than Readys are Lot 1108, a half-brother to cult favourite Oink, Lot 97 a full sister to the Listed winner Better Get Set out of the Fastnet Rock mare Ridolfi, Lot 473, a half-sister to the Listed placed Foxwedge filly Goldifox and a colt out of Redoute’s Choice’s daughter Louisiana Miss that sells as Lot 1239.

2024 draft

Better Than Ready, the stallion who continues the Lyndhurst tradition as one of Australia’s most prolific sires of 2YOs and Magic Millions day runners. His 2024 offering will be his best ever.

Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

17 97 145 473 1108 1208 1224 1239 1251 1254 1276 1345 1354

Ch/C B/F B/F B/F Br/C Ch/F Gr/C B/C B/F B/C B/C B/F B/C

Nicconi Better Than Ready Better Than Ready Better Than Ready Better Than Ready Dubious Brave Smash (JPN) Better Than Ready Earthlight (IRE) Tassort Better Than Ready Better Than Ready Time to Reign

Outlaw Kate Ridolfi Scorched Bella Vedera Coogee Coozifa Jump Start Lady Enid Louisiana Miss Mai Gluck (GB) Mash’hoodah Monte Bella Rockette Rocket Ruth’s Secret

www.lyndhurststud.com Lyndhurst Lane, PO Box 348, Warwick Qld 4370 Jeff Kruger 0429 076 610 jeff@lyndhurststud.com•

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English, was one of the best sprinting mares in recent memory. Her Snitzel colt bred on a proven Gr1 nick will be one of the highlights of the 2024 MM.

NEWHAVEN Park The initial crop of Newhaven Park’s first season sales sire, champion 2yo Cool Aza Beel will be one of the star attractions at Magic Millions 2024 with 17 yearlings spearheading Newhaven’s own draft. The fabled Boorowa farm has been one of Australia’s best and most respected breeders during three successive generations of the Kelly family’s stewardship. John Kelly Snr stood the legendary Wilkes, his son Richard stood top sires such as Marauding, Luskin Star and Zeditave, and now in turn his son John has continued the family tradition by standing the stallions Xtravagant and Cool Aza Beel and preparing premium sales yearlings. The first of Newhaven’s new boys Xtravagant got the farm off to a flying start siring almost 5% SW/R already, and Cool Aza Beel is a tremendous prospect to follow on.

John Kelly commented, “Cool Aza Beel was the champion 2yo of his year in NZ, with his two biggest wins coming over 1200m in the 2yo Karaka Million and the Gr1 ARC Diamond S, he was a brilliant sprinter. We love his pedigree,

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it works so well with the mares he is covering in Australia. His broodmare sires in turn are Testa Rossa, Red Ransom and the great Bletchingly, a wonderful speed pedigree to complement his champion sire Savabeel. To put the icing on the cake he is inbred to the Blue Hen mare Special within five generations, a pattern common to Star Kingdom, Sir Tristram and Danehill. He’s from the elite sprinting family of Malaguerra, Libertini and current sprint sensation Hawaii Five Oh.” Newhaven’s reputation as a winner producing farm is attested to by the industry’s leading judges who are repeat buyers of the farm’s yearlings such as Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Ciaron Maher, David Ellis, Yulong, Belmont Bloodstock, Anthony Freedman, Annabel Neasham, Champion Thoroughbreds and Darley.

Newhaven’s stellar list of sales graduates is industry leading, a record that justifies the hard work and careful planning of pedigrees.

It includes recent Gr1 winners In The Congo ($1.76million including the ATC Golden Rose Gr1), Odeum ($980k including the Gr1 MRC 1000 Gns), Shout The Bar ($1.3 million including the Gr1 ATC Vinery Stud S and Gr1 VRC Empire Rose S), as well as Kissonallforcheeks ($1.7 million Gr2 winner, Gr1 placed), Lavish Girl ($451k Gr2 winner), Sunsets ($351k Gr3 winner and Gr1 placed from only 9 starts ) and Encap ($390k, Gr3 winner and Gr1 placed from only 7 starts). They have returned almost five times their total purchase costs, have massive residual values and several are still in work. Quality and value can always be found in Newhaven’s yearling offerings.

John Kelly spoke to Bluebloods about the farm’s 2024 MM draft.

How would you sum up your 2024 draft?

“We have a lovely draft of horses, we’re particularly excited to be offering a great group by Cool Aza Beel. His speed on the track, his fast damsires, his great looks all give us the feeling he’s as good a prospect as we’ve ever had to offer breeders and buyers. Most of our yearlings are out of young mares, stakes winners and dams of stakes winners.

We have a Cool Aza Beel filly from the family of Zoustar, another who is a halfsister to Gr2 winner Lavish Girl, just to name a couple.

And how can I not finish by drawing attention to the Snitzel colt out of our Champion Australian sprinting mare English. He’s bred on the Gr1 cross, Snitzel over Encosta De Lago mares.

There are three Gr1 winners already bred on that cross, all colts, Sword Of State, Summer Passage and Invader. Out of just 80 runners that’s freakish. And our colt is a cracker.”

What makes the Magic Millions sales and races special?

“Everyone in the industry gets together after a long stud season in the holiday capital of Australia. It really is the most wonderful place to go. Magic Millions offers tremendous prizemoney and they do such a great job of getting buyers there and promoting the sale.”

How would you sum up the internet?

“My second home.”

What changes would you like to see in the breeding or racing industry?

“I would appeal to breeders not to be in such a stampede to get every single mare covered in the first few weeks of the season. It compresses the season unnecessarily. Research has shown that later foals are just as likely to be stakes winners in proportion to numbers. As far as early foals go, nature takes its course and mares will miss eventually despite having early foals.”

Which past champion do you wish you could have seen at the races?

“Vain! He was by our champion sire Wilkes and several good judges including John Hawkes have told us he was the best sprinter they have ever seen. Now he’s become an important influence in pedigrees, when we see his name we give the pedigree a tick.”

Cool Aza Beel, Newhaven’s champion 2yo will have a quality offering of 17 yearlings in the farm’s 2024 MM draft.

“We have a lovely draft of horses, we’re particularly excited to be offering a great group by Cool Aza Beel”

2024 draft Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

101 226 250 260 285 287 330 373 456 578 599 633 635 637 641 650 692 707 745 751 803 846 936 986 1052 1094 1102 1200 1241 1247 1399 1400 1402 1411 1413

Br/C B/F Ch/F Gr/F B or Br/F Ch/C B/F B/F B/C B or Br/C B/F B/F B/C B/C B/F B/C B/F B/C B/C B/F B/C B/C Ch/C B/C B/F B/F B/C B/F B/C B/F B or Br/C B/C B/F B/C B/F

Brazen Beau Trapeze Artist Ole Kirk Ole Kirk Cool Aza Beel (NZ) Fierce Impact (JPN) Cool Aza Beel (NZ) Capitalist Cool Aza Beel (NZ) Shamus Award Cool Aza Beel (NZ) Cool Aza Beel (NZ) Snitzel Harry Angel (IRE) Xtravagant (NZ) Spirit of Boom Capitalist Cool Aza Beel (NZ) Cool Aza Beel (NZ) Cool Aza Beel (NZ) Cool Aza Beel (NZ) Cool Aza Beel (NZ) Proisir Xtravagant (NZ) Written By Flying Artie Graff Cool Aza Beel (NZ) Cool Aza Beel (NZ) Cool Aza Beel (NZ) Cool Aza Beel (NZ) Cool Aza Beel (NZ) Cool Aza Beel (NZ) Cool Aza Beel (NZ) Written By

Riverina Storm South of France (USA) Stratuzy Supara Tennessee Fling Testa Secret Vanderlune Yes to the Dress (USA) Aware Despacito Down the Hatch Ends in Tears English Ennazus Estate Fairway Lady (USA) Frolic Gesture Heriz Hittite Jacquetta Lady of Crebilly Mifflin Moshki Bee Circus Collage Irene Lucky Louie Madam Devine Somebody Someone Like You Sparkle Stregheria Sugarparma

(02) 6385 8335 John Kelly 0412 654 620 jknewhavenpark@bigpond.com

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RHEINWOOD R

heinwood Pastoral Co has been located in the picturesque Southern Highlands of NSW for the past thirty years and has a very strong record of producing quality racehorses led by this season’s three-year-old Libertad. The Russian Revolution colt won his first three starts in succession, two of those at Gr.3 level. Dual Gr.1 winner Albert The Fat grew up at Rheinwood, as did Unchain My Heart. Western Australian Listed winning fouryear-old Upper Limits was bred and sold by Rheinwood at the Magic Millions Adelaide Sale, while stakes placed Beauty Missile came from their last Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft. Rheinwood Pastoral only took three yearlings to the Gold Coast in 2021 with Beauty Missile and smart city winner Cadetship already showing promise on the track in the Chris Waller stable for Star Thoroughbreds.

In 2024 Rheinwood Pastoral Co will present five yearlings for sale and manager Kirsty Willis said, “We are very much looking forward to getting back to Magic Millions again.”

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Pastoral Co.

How would you sum up your 2024 draft?

“Our draft for 2024 is very diverse and should appeal to a variety of buyers. We always eagerly await the progeny of the first season sires and we are absolutely thrilled with our King’s Legacy, North Pacific and Prague yearlings. Maurice needs no introduction and the Arrogant Belle filly looks a real racy type.

Winning Ruperts are tough and train on, this filly is certainly tough! Overall they are a nice solid draft of horses that all work hard and eat well, they are just thriving in their prep, all good signs for their future trainability.

We are very excited for what the future holds for them.”

Rheinwood horses are “Bred in the Cold..

Hot on the Track!”

Rheinwood Pastoral Co’s only colt is by first season sire North Pacific, Lot 670, he is the fourth foal of Financial District (Manhattan Rain), a half-sister to Gr.3 winner Miss Darcey and to the dam of Rheinwood’s Libertad. This colt’s second dam is a Listed winner, while his third dam is Gr.1 winner Lurestina.

“The North Pacific is a nice big strong colt with plenty of substance and bone, he is a forward mature type from a running family that has this season produced dual G3 winner Libertad.”

Dual Gr.1 winning two-year-old King’s Legacy (Redoute’s Choice) trained on at three to place in the Gr.1 Golden Rose. Rheinwood’s King’s Legacy filly, Lot 908, is out of winning mare Majestic Faith (Denman), who is a threequarter-sister to Listed winner Black Minx (Lonhro), dam of fan favourite Gr.3 winner and Gr.1 placed So Si Bon. “The Majestic Faith filly is a real queen, she is a very attractive filly, with good size, strength and scope.”

Lot 1383 by Kia Ora’s Gr2 winning first season sire Prague out of a half-sister to Listed winner Best Is Yet To Come from the family of twoyear-old stakes winner Quattro Quinta and Gr.2 winner Everswindell.

“The She Has Arrived is a good looking filly, she is strong and looks fast! We love the Pragues and she is typical of the good quality stock he is throwing.”

Proven sire Maurice’s filly, Lot 1042, is the third live foal of her dam Arrogant Belle, and Maurice is the most exciting stallion that Arrogant Belle has visited so far. Her first foal is a winner, and she is from the family of Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Catnipped.

“The Maurice is a racy, athletic filly. She looks a real racehorse. Has enough size and scope, looks like an early running type.”

Unbeaten two-year-old and group winner Winning Rupert filly, Lot 1381, is out of winning mare Seritza (Sebring) who is from the family

of group winning juveniles Nediym’s Glow and General Beau.

“The Winning Rupert filly is a hardy, compact filly that is ready to run, wouldn’t surprise if she was back for the big race here next year.”

Who have been the most influential people for you in racing?

“I couldn’t name any specific people that have been ‘most’ influential to me within the industry, I am personally motivated every day by the hard work and dedication of so many industry participants from all walks of life.

The trainers, jockeys, stud and stable staff, vets, farriers, most importantly my amazing staff here at the farm who show up for us day in day out, rain, hail or shine. They work so hard, dedicating their life to the well-being of the horses at Rheinwood and toil endlessly in pursuit of producing us top class equine athletes! I so admire their dedication.”

What makes the Magic Millions sales and races special?

“There is no better place in the world for any thoroughbred enthusiast than the Magic Millions Carnival on the Gold Coast in January!

With the beautiful weather, golden beaches and array of delicious restaurants, it is the perfect location to showcase the next crop of yearling talent and enjoy the first class racing action! The MM carnival sees eager buyers and hopeful vendors gather for two weeks of fun, excitement and spectacle! It’s been so enjoyable to see the addition of the Polo and recently the Showjumping events to further showcase our beautiful thoroughbreds to the world!”

Libertad, multiple Gr3 winner from just 5 starts was bred and sold by Rheinwood.

2024 draft Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

670 908 1042 1381 1383

Br/C B/F B or Br/F B or Br/F B/F

North Pacific King’s Legacy Maurice (JPN) Winning Rupert Prague

Financial District Majestic Faith Arrogant Belle Seritza She Has Arrived

Kirsty Willis - 0411 866 009 kirsty@rheinwood.com.au Ray Willis - 0411 722 031 E: willis@acenet.com.au Mittagong NSW

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RIDGMONT Farm Ridgmont Farm’s second draft for the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale is a product of their worldwide search for quality broodmares.

Farm director Mitch Cunningham spoke to Bluebloods. “Magic Millions is our favourite time of year, and we couldn’t be more proud of the thirteen yearlings we have brought to the coast.

Our draft represents an opportunity to invest in progeny by the best sires that the Northern Hemisphere has to offer in Frankel, Wootton Bassett and Too Darn Hot, as well as our own brilliant colonial stallions in Zoustar, So You Think, Capitalist, Spirit Of Boom, Pierro, King’s Legacy, Hellbent and Anders. These eight colts and five fillies represent our best draft yet! We have made a significant investment in bloodstock over the years, however our key strategic investment has been in our people. Chris Phillips brings with him a wealth of experience and leadership developed through his years at Juddmonte and Waikato Studs. Our Yearling Manager, Jakub Vitek’s obvious expertise and finesse is on show with every draft we bring to auction. Our Broodmare Manager, Stephanie McDonald is the backbone of the operation at home. They are supported by Chris, Allison, Drew, Tayla, Will and their team, and this draft is a testament to them, and our collective endeavour to produce the best.”

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Frankel’s record globally is unrivalled, and Ridgmont must be thrilled to have a Frankel colt to sell in 2024. Lot 612 is the first foal of Edith Piaf (Le Havre), a half-sister to Gr2 winner of eight races Home of the Brave, and from a fast and precocious European family that has also produced group winners Rashbag and Suggestive.

A half-brother to Gr1 Queensland Derby winner Kukeracha and Gr3 winner Cameo, Lot 50, is a colt by Too Darn Hot. His dam, Portrait of a Lady, was a winner in the USA and her six winners have won eighteen races between them. This colt’s second dam is Gr1 Irish Oaks winner Alydaress.

A royally bred King’s Legacy half-sister to Gr2 winning two year-old Not An Option, Lot 526, is out of Gr2 winning Savabeel mare Chintz, herself a half-sister to Gr1 winner Chenille. Dual Gr1 winner Mo’unga (Savabeel) is closely related to this filly’s dam.

In Ridgmont’s inaugural draft, Light Up The Room’s Lonhro colt sold for $450,000 and he has recently been named Apollo Ridge. This year, Ridgmont will present his Capitalist halfbrother, Lot 865, who is the second foal of stakes placed daughter of So You Think, the damsire of Golden Slipper winner Fireburn. Ridgmont

“Magic Millions is our favourite time of year, and we couldn’t be more proud of the thirteen yearlings we have brought to the coast.”

2024 draft Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

44 50 157 175 323 394 526 612 648 649 850 865 868

B/C Br/C B/C B/F B/C B/C B/F B or Br/C B/F B/F Ch/C Ch/C B/F

Pierro Pickin’ Time Too Darn Hot (GB) Portrait of a Lady (USA) So You Think (NZ) See Me Rock Wootton Bassett (GB) Shantou Zoustar Unassailed Zoustar Aaralyn King’s Legacy Chintz (NZ) Frankel (GB) Edith Piaf (IRE) Anders Expertea Spirit of Boom Face Forward Capitalist Lakshmibai Capitalist Light Up the Room Hellbent Limbo Down (NZ)

will present another Capitalist colt, Lot 850, whose dam, Lakshmibai, is a half-sister to Gr1 winner Earthquake, and Listed winners Pandemic and Palomares. Recent Gr1 winner Madame Pommery is another close relation to this colt.

Two colts by Zoustar will garner plenty of attention. Lot 323 is a halfbrother to group placed winner Shalailed out of city winning mare Unassailed who is a half-sister to stakes winners Great Esteem and High Esteem. Boasting the stallion family of Starspangledbanner, Lot 394 is out of winning mare Aaralyn, a half-sister to Gr1 winner Amicus and stakes winner Cheer Leader.

Pierro colt, Lot 44, out of stakes placed Pickin’ Time has a hot current family with his dam being closely related to recent Gr1 winner Fangirl.

Pickin‘ Time is a half-sister to Reprisal who is a stakes winner of seven races from the family of Gr1 winner Special Harmony. So You Think colt, Lot 157, is out of a young winning daughter of Listed winner and Gr1 placed See Me Rock.

One of five fillies in the Ridgmont draft is Lot 649, by Spirit of Boom, from the winning Charge Forward mare, Face Forward whose first two foals are winners. This family descends from triple Gr1 winning American mare Tappiano and we all know how well American families are going in Australia.

Wootton Bassett’s European record makes him one of the most exciting additions to the shuttle ranks, and Ridgmont will present his filly, Lot 175, who is out of winning mare Shantou, a daughter of group winner and Gr1 placed Shanzero.

Hellbent filly, Lot 868, is particularly well related being a three-quarter sister to the stakes placed winner of five races Joviality. Her dam, Limbo Down, is from the family of Gr3 Black Opal winner Handsome Ransom.

Anders has been very popular with breeders, thanks to his scintillating speed on the track, and his interesting pedigree being by Not a Single Doubt out of one of the few rare mares by Kentucky Derby winner War Emblem. His filly, Lot 648, is the third foal of city winning mare Expertea, whose first foal is a winning three year-old this season, and this is the family of Gr1 winners Neroli, and recent group winner Aft Cabin.

Mitch Cunningham summed up the Magic Millions “Whilst we are based in the Hunter Valley, we are proud Queenslanders, and this sale is perpetually highlighted in the calendar. From the quality of bloodstock on offer, to the hospitality and social events, and underlined by my favourite race day of the year, this week is special!”

Mitchell Cunningham - 0438 774 436 101 Segenhoe Road, Segenhoe NSW 2337 Mitch@ridgmontfarm.com

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ROSEMONT Stud

Fashion Legend is a Gr.3 winner, sold by Rosemont for $260K who went on to win over $1.5 million.

Rosemont Stud lived up to the brand of ‘breeding brilliance’ with Gr1 winner and Magic Millions Gold Coast graduate Mr Quickie, who earned over $2million as a racehorse after being sold by Rosemont for $115,000. Many of their other Magic Millions graduates have shown plenty of profit for buyers too, such as Gr2 North Star Lass (sold by Rosemont for $260,000 and was on-sold as a broodmare for $1.525million), Gr3 Fashion Legend (who has earned over $1.5million off a purchase price of $260,000), Gr3 Chica Fuerte (sold as a yearling by Rosemont for $300,000, earned $350,000 as a racehorse and was on-sold as a broodmare prospect for $900,000), and promising group placed three year-old Gates.

Rosemont Stud will present a strong draft of seventeen yearlings at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, with youngsters by Bivouac, Blue Point, Encryption, Exceed and Excel, Hanseatic, I Am Invincible, Maurice, Shamus Award, Starspangledbanner, Zousain and Zoustar.

How would you sum up your 2024 draft?

“It’s an exciting draft with strong pedigreed individuals whose type match their outstanding profiles,” said bloodstock General Manager Ryan McEvoy. “It’s probably the strongest group we’ve ever taken as a collective with high profile commercial sires and plenty of yearlings out of stakes winning dams or out of mares who have produced a stakes winner. When you assess the stakes results from any given weekend invariably the winners are from stakes winning or stakes producing dams. I’d like to think that anyone reading the catalogue will be impressed with the Rosemont draft and furthermore when they inspect the draft at the sale.”

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I Am Invincible filly, Lot 805, is the first foal of dual Gr3 winner Jamaican Rain, from the family of Gr1 winner Outstrip (sire of Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip). She is all quality and bred on the larger, very successful I Am Invincible – Encosta De Lago cross.

Two Exceed and Excel colts will catch the judges’ eyes; Lot 709 is the first live foal of Gr2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes winner Gift of Power who was a tough racemare, winning eleven races with three of those as a two year-old. This colt is from the Eight Carat family of Don Eduardo, Octagonal, etc. Lot 962 is a half-brother to Gr3 two year-old winner Treasurway and this colt is only the third foal of four-time winning mare Miss Toorak Flyer.

“We can’t be more excited to present the first crop yearlings by the brilliant Hanseatic. He was such a scintillating two year-old himself that was so highly rated by many a fine judge. He was the most popular sire in Victoria in his first season at stud and now his first yearlings hit the market.” An explosive two yearold who won three races, all in black type company, including the Gr3 Blue Diamond Prelude (c&g) and was second to Tagaloa in the Gr1 Blue Diamond, Hanseatic will be represented in the Rosemont Stud draft by five colts, led by the half-brother to Gr1 winner Krone, Lot 1398, whose dam is a half-sister to Gr1 winner Universal Prince and Universal Queen.

The third foal of Gr1 Tattersalls Tiara winner Tycoon Tara is Lot 320 and his dam won ten races with six of those in group company. Gr3 winner Cameo’s colt, Lot 502, is well-related, as his dam is a half-sister to Gr1 Queensland Derby winner Kukeracha.

\ ROSEMONT STUD \ RENÉE GEELEN

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Rosemont Stud lived up to the brand of ‘breeding brilliance’ with Gr1 winner and Magic Millions Gold Coast graduate Mr Quickie, who earned over $2million as a racehorse after being sold by Rosemont for $115,000.

What makes the Magic Millions sales and races special?

“It’s clearly in the forefront of breeder’s minds many, many months in advance. A sale that has simply become a staple for any breeder, buyer and thoroughbred enthusiast for the early part of January. Who wouldn’t want to be there? The Gold Coast atmosphere, weather and the many events surrounding the actual sales and race-day make it a true carnival feel. Magic Millions have established an awesome couple of weeks, from a vendor viewpoint they do a superb job in putting together a large, diverse buying bench and the graduates’ success speaks for itself.”

What has been your most satisfying result at the Magic Millions?

“We took great delight in seeing Will Freedman buy a horse like Fashion Legend (Deep Field) on spec and, along with Richard, take him through to winning the $2m 2023 Magic Millions 3YO Guineas. Multiple Gr1 winner MR QUICKIE was raised at Rosemont and sold at Magic Millions as was Gr2 winner NORTH STAR LASS who was sold at the completion of her racing for over $1.5m. From a sales perspective we sold a subsequent stakes horse GATES (Frankel) for $950,000 to Dalziel Bloodstock and Peter Moody. These are just a few of many great stories for Rosemont at this sale. Our draft and our results really stack up over time.”

Which past champion do you wish you could have seen at the races?

“PHAR LAP. When you see him in the Melbourne Museum he is such an imposing horse, it would have been cool to see him live, a big shiny chestnut that dominated like he did and was so celebrated by an adoring public in the midst of the great depression.”

Sensational 2YO HANSEATIC stands at Rosemont and they will present five of his finest at the 2024 Magic Millions.

2024 draft Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

3 92 138 215 320 389 449 482 502 589 709 805 873 962 1238 1302 1398

Ch/C B/C B or Br/F B/C B/C B/C Br or Blk/C Br/C B/C Ch/C B/C B/F B/F B/C Ch/C Ch/C Ch/C

Hanseatic I Am Invincible Zousain Maurice (JPN) Hanseatic Starspangledbanner Shamus Award Bivouac Hanseatic Zoustar Exceed and Excel I Am Invincible Blue Point (IRE) Exceed and Excel Encryption Hanseatic Hanseatic

Oh Five Glory Reign (IRE) Satyricon Soft Sand Tycoon Tara Zoujea Attessa (USA) Bim Bam Boom Cameo Divine Quality Gift of Power (NZ) Jamaican Rain Loiret Miss Toorak Flyer Lope de Lady Our Secret Sister Soft Landing

rosemontstud.com.au (03) 5220 6500 Ryan McEvoy 0439 802 837 ryan@rosemontstud.com.au

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SEGENHOE Stud

Joliestar wins the Gr1 Thousand Guineas on 18-11-2023

The majority of farms wish they could boast of a 16% success rate for winners offered at auction. But Segenhoe sets the bar for excellence far higher, and when they speak of 16% it refers not to winners, but to Stakes performers sold at auction over the past five years. That makes it clear the Segenhoe draft is the obvious starting point for buyers wanting to give themselves the best chance of racing at the elite level.

Headline acts by Segenhoe graduates have been In Secret, King Colorado, I Am Me, Tiz Invincible, Amazonian Lass and the mighty Amelias Jewel. Then to cap it all off the two spectacular consecutive Gr1 wins by front running Pride Of Jenni established her as one of the best mares in training and Joliestar’s emphatic win in the prestigious fillies classic the Gr1 1000 Guineas on the final day of the Victorian Spring Carnival really put the icing on the cake for the farm’s graduates.

Farm Manager Brian Clarke spoke to us about just of few of his favourites.

Brian began with a colt that should be challenging for top of the sale, Lot 423, the I Am Invincible Amuletum full brother to Tiz Invincible bred by Phoenix Thoroughbreds. “We are really looking forward to selling this colt. Tiz Invincible won two legs of the Princess series and was unlucky in the Gr1 Flight Stakes. The colt is a very well-balanced individual with a great temperament.” It doesn’t hurt that his dam is a half-sister to the Gr1 Cox Plate winner Anamoe.

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Flicking over a couple of pages in the catalogue Brian came to Lot 474, So You Think’s daughter out of Bellevue Girl. “She is a beautiful filly by arguably the best sire in Australia at the moment. So You Think sired The Everest winner Think About It and previously sired outstanding fillies like Nimalee, Nakita Jane and Fasika.

This filly has great size and strength and exudes quality, and like most of her sire’s stock she has a terrific action.

She is a half-sister to the young sire Bellevue Hill out of a fast Exceed And Excel mare, her damsire is one of the best we have in Australia for passing on speed. In short, the filly is the perfect package.”

Another filly that can expect little rest on inspection days will be Lot 623, the full sister to dual Gr1 winning sprinter In Secret, by I Am Invincible out of Eloping.

“This pedigree needs no introduction Segenhoe having sold In Secret out of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale for $900,000. Bred by the partnership of Segenhoe and Longwood Farm, this filly has a lot of the same qualities of her sister and is sure to be one of the most popular lots at the sale”.

Brian explained that buyers looking for the ideal two year-old should add Lot 476 to their ‘must inspect’ list.

“Bred by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalfa al Maktoum, he’s by Snitzel who has already given us the Golden Slipper winners Estijaab and Shinzo, out of the five time winning mare Benetoite who was good enough to run fourth in the Gr1 Coolmore Classic. This fellow is what you would expect from a typical Snitzel and looks a fast, two year-old type.”

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That makes it clear the Segenhoe draft is the obvious starting point for buyers.

In Secret

Another Snitzel, and one with plenty of pedigree to back up his good looks is Lot 492, a colt out of Breakfast In Bed making him a three-quarter brother to young sire King’s Legacy. Of course King’s Legacy is another Segenhoe/Magic Millions success story selling through this ring for A$1.4 million to James Harron before winning a pair of Gr1’s at two.

There is no doubt Zoustar is the hottest young sire in the land, the Coolmore Stud Stakes win of Ozzmosis further evidence of his potency. Segenhoe will take their homebred colt out of Pretty in Pink to Bundall and Brian thinks he is a terrific sort. “This horse has great quality, a terrific action and is a tremendous representation of what his sire produces.”

Brian saved one of the best until last, the Snitzel – Warranty colt bred by Fairway Thoroughbreds.

A three-time winning, twice Listed placed daughter of All Too Hard, Warranty comes from the family of Gr1 Railway Stakes winner Gathering and of the Gr3 winner Florentina who later became the dam of four time American Grade 1 winner In Italian. “An outstanding colt from a deep black-type family that John Camilleri has had great success with in the past, we are very excited about this colt’s prospects,” said Brian.

So those were Brian’s top picks, seven horses from the 38 strong draft, and by coincidence as close to 16% as you can get!

That is the briefest of run downs on what is a standard, stellar Segenhoe draft for the Gold Coast. The statistics say finding a Stakes performer amongst their offerings will be easy, it’s up to you to decide just which one. www.segenhoegroup.com.au Aberdeen, NSW 02 6543 9777 Peter O’Brien: 0411 852 149 Brian Clarke: 0448 302 436 Dennis Gilmanov: 0488 716 339

2024 draft Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

56 84 141 159 183 193 251 267 299 339 350 358 380 392 421 423 439 474 476 489 492 497 553 563 615 623 666 718 739 754 761 783 814 838 858 879 952 979

Br/C Ch/C Ch/C Br/F Br/C B/F B or Br/C B/C Ch/F Ch/C B/C B or Br/C B/C B/C Br/C B/C B or Gr/F B/F B/C B or Br/C B/C B/C B/F Ch/C Br/C B/F B/C B/C B/C B/F Ch/C B or Br/C B or Br/F B/C Br/C B or Br/F Br/F Br/F

Zoustar Zoustar Anders Wootton Bassett (GB) I Am Invincible Dundeel (NZ) Russian Revolution Farnan Capitalist Zoustar Snitzel Bivouac Capitalist Too Darn Hot (GB) Street Boss (USA) I Am Invincible Pierro So You Think (NZ) Snitzel So You Think (NZ) Snitzel So You Think (NZ) So You Think (NZ) Ole Kirk Too Darn Hot (GB) I Am Invincible Wootton Bassett (GB) Zoustar Snitzel Brazen Beau Bivouac Farnan Farnan Zoustar So You Think (NZ) Russian Revolution So You Think (NZ) So You Think (NZ)

Pretty in Pink Ready to Soar Sayahailmary Sempre Libera Shillelagh (NZ) Sierra Win Street Secret (USA) Sylpheed Thunder Lady (NZ) Villami Warranty Whitehaven Zara Bay A Time for Julia Amelia’s Love Amuletum (GB) Appian Way Bellevue Girl Benitoite Bound for Earth Breakfast in Bed Brulee Crimson Dawn (GB) Danoiserie El Estoora (NZ) Eloping Fiera Vista Goddess Hard As Hold Me Closer Houston Benefactor Impulsive Jezzabba Lady Cosmology Lesley’s Choice Look to the Stars Miss Foxwood Moosirra

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Gr1 winner QAFILA has a 7/8th sister in the 2024 Magic Millions draft as Snitzel filly Lot 386.

SILVERDALE Farm Steve Grant’s Silverdale Farm at Avoca in the fertile NSW Southern Highlands has in its first few years of operation built an enviable reputation for producing horses that perform on the track.

Already from this year’s sales they have produced promising 2yos Sovereign Hill and G2 placed Eneeza. These two are following up early Group 3 - 2yo winner Subterranean and 2yo Champion Fireburn. Manager Rob Petith is particularly excited about the farm’s draft of seven, three colts and four fillies, for the 2024 Magic Millions in January.

He spoke to Bluebloods, commenting that ”It’s a privilege to work for Steve, he’s constantly striving for excellence and inspiring us to keep improving and fine tuning everything we do. We are very happy with the overall quality of this Magic Millions draft. They are all very forward types, ideally suited to Magic Millions, and by leading commercial sires capable of siring 2yos. “ These are not idle words, Silverdale has shown itself to be a committed seller with buyers of the farm’s quality yearlings including Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Ciaron Maher, Arrowfield, James Bester, Legend Bloodstock, Yes Bloodstock, Newgate Colt Syndicate, Price Kent Racing and Yulong Stud, just to name a few at prices ranging

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\ SILVERDALE FARM \ ANDREW REICHARD

from $20k to $1.8 million and lots of horses sold in the middle market 200k to 350k range.

The farm is set on beautiful rolling country which now includes the recently added adjoining property Cloudlands. “This gives us even more flexibility, we have big undulating paddocks right through the farm so the horses can grow and fully develop to their full athletic potential “ The infrastructure at Silverdale is second to none, the care and attention to detail evident right throughout the farm, from well ventilated barns to walking machines, round yard, access ways, landscaping through to drainage and land management.

How would you sum up your 2024 MM draft?

“Our draft has Gr1 winners and Gr1 performers on every page, spearheaded by two fillies by quadruple Champion sire Snitzel who is a wonderful sire, and a colt and a filly by hot commercial sire Zoustar who sires Gr1 winners of both sexes, colts by Gr1 sires Capitalist and Deep Field, while our seventh yearling is by the flying race record setting Anders, a son of the great Not A Single Doubt. He is a young stallion throwing beautiful stock.

As with previous years we are aiming to present yearlings that particularly suit this sale.”

Steve Grant’s Silverdale Farm at Avoca in the fertile NSW Southern Highlands has fast built a reputation for producing horses that perform on the track.

2024 draft Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

113 161 278 297 386 471 931

Ch or Gr/C B/F B or Br/C Ch/F B or Gr/F Ch/F B/C

Zoustar Snitzel Capitalist Anders Snitzel Zoustar Deep Field

Rotator Sense of Hite (NZ) Tatcee Think Icon Zighy Bay (USA) Bella Rosa Merited

1091 Sheepwash Road, Avoca NSW 2577 0410 464 345 rpetith@grantbloodstock.com.au silverdalefarm.com.au

Taking the Silverdale draft in turn, Rob Petith offered his comments on each yearling: Lot 113 ch or gr c Zoustar – Rotator by Not A Single Doubt.

First foal of a multiple winning Gr3 placed mare from the family of the great sire Fappiano and inbred to his family. By the sire of MM 2YO Classic winning, multiple Gr1 champion filly Sunlight and Gr1 Coolmore Classic winning colt Ozzmosis.

“Very good first foal, extremely athletic, great mover, his dam was runnerup in that early 2YO benchmark, the ATC Widden S.” Lot 161 b f Snitzel – Sense Of Hite by Street Sense (USA) Half-sister to SP Quintessa from a 100% winner producing mare. This filly has the same pedigree pattern as Silverdale bred Golden Slipper winner Fireburn.

“A lovely scopey Snitzel filly with a good action, from a family on the up and this filly really suits the sale.”

Lot 278 b or br c Capitalist – Tatcee by Foxwedge Second foal of a five race winner, by Golden Slipper winner and Gr1 sire Capitalist from the family of Gr1 performers Summer Passage and Shania Dane.

“This is a very good colt out of an attractive mare who puts a great shape into her foals. She’s done a fine job here.”

Lot 297 ch f Anders – Think Icon by So You Think Half-sister to winner of five races bred on the same Danehill son/So You Think cross as Silverdale bred Golden Slipper winner Fireburn.

“We loved this filly as a weanling and she’s fulfilled our expectations.

She’s a lovely mover.”

Lot 386 b or gr f Snitzel – Zighy Bay by Tapit Investment quality filly who is a 7/8th genetic relative of Gr1 SAJC Derby winning filly Qafila. Half sister to three winners.

“Wow, this filly is a belter, forward, athletic, tough. I love her and she will have great residual value.”

Lot 471 ch f Zoustar – Bella Rosa by Snitzel By the sire of Magic Millions superstar Sunlight from the family of Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Catnipped. A magic pedigree.

“This filly will go early, she’s very athletic with a huge action. Her dam won the Gr3 Ottawa S. as an early 2YO and she’s very similar.”

Lot 931 b c Deep Field – Merited by Fastnet Rock Bred on a similar cross to Deep Field’s Gr1 winners Portland Sky and Al Muthana and Gr1 placed Quantum Mechanic. Out of a mare by Australia’s leading active broodmare sire.

“He’s a ripper, a terrific colt out of a talented mare. I’m reluctant to pick a favourite, but love this bloke.”

What makes the Magic Millions sales and races special?

“After we have all worked so hard through the season, it’s such a great place to go for a sale. The atmosphere is fantastic, the beaches and restaurants are out of this world, there’s a great holiday feeling. And of course there’s a horse sale with terrific race incentives. We catch up with clients and friends, meet new people. Where else would you rather be?”

Which past champion do you wish you could have seen at the races?

“Vain, the great son of Wilkes. I’ve heard so much about him and he’s such a great name in our pedigrees.”

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SULLIVAN Bloodstock S

ullivan Bloodstock will showcase their third draft of yearlings at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. The bourgeoning business of experienced horsewoman Sherah Sullivan took a small inaugural draft to the Gold Coast in 2022 and that draft already has two three year-old winners this season including Magic Mogul whose trainers deemed him good enough to run in a Listed race as a two year-old, and La Petite Angele who has won two from only six starts to date.

How would you sum up your 2024 draft?

“It’s a little bit cliché, but it’s the best group of horses we’ve assembled for a sale to date,” said Sullivan.

“We’ve focused on good types and have been very selective to meet the market. Across the board, they are a very nice bunch of horses that I’m really happy with. It’s quite early for us as a brand. We have a bit of success out of our first draft, and we have a really nice spread of horses this year with a nice mix of proven and unproven sires.”

Sullivan Bloostock will present eight yearlings by Brazen Beau, Hanseatic, King’s Legacy, Ole Kirk, Snitzel, Street Boss and Tagaloa.

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\ SULLIVAN BLOODSTOCK \ RENÉE GEELEN

For those who like the theory that daughters of champion mares make great broodmares, Snitzel filly, Lot 409, is the first foal of an unraced Hinchinbrook daughter of Gr1 winner Rewaaya. Rewaaya’s seven foals to race are all winners, including the dam of stakes placed winner of 13 races Alshibaa. This is the family of Gr1 winner Sense of Occasion.

A half-sister to dual Listed winner of eight races Newhart (Fighting Sun) is Lot 813, a Brazen Beau filly, who is also a half-sister to stakes placed winner Derasa (Squamosa), from the family of Gr1 winners Fantastic Light and Your Song.

Anamoe’s sire Street Boss is represented by a colt, Lot 475, the first foal of an American half-sister to sixtime Gr1 winner English Channel who was the USA Champion Turf Horse in 2007, while Gr2 winning two year-old Lucida is out of this yearling’s dam’s half-sister.

Tagaloa filly, Lot 522, is a half-sister to stakes placed winner Hoover Lucy and two other winners, while her dam is six-time winning mare Chelsea Hotel, a daughter of American stakes winner Chelsey’s Image (Holy Bull).

Sullivan Bloodstock will showcase their third draft of yearlings at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Two yearlings by first season sire Ole Kirk feature in the Sullivan Bloodstock draft. The colt, Lot 607, is the second foal of city winning mare Ducale (I Am Invincible) who is a full sister to group winner Nettuno; while the filly, Lot 220, is the second foal of a full sister to group winner Tenley (Medaglia d’Oro) and a half-sister to group winner Biscayne Bay (Sebring). This is the famous Skating family of Vancouver.

King’s Legacy filly, Lot 451, is a half-sister to stakes placed winner of five races Ironedge (Shamus Award), out of stakes placed two year-old winner Australia Day and this is the family of Kermadec.

Hanseatic colt, Lot 402, is out of Gr3 winner Adorabeel (Savabeel) who has already left two winners at stud. This is a global family which includes dual Gr1 winner and Canadian Horse of the Year Arravale, as well as local stakes winners Palia and Just Awesome.

Which app on your phone do you use the most?

“Instagram, its a good tool to promote the farm via pictures.”

Sullivan Bloodstock’s handle is @sullivan_bloodstock

What makes the Magic Millions sales and races special?

“I love it. I love going up there. Magic Millions do it very well, they cater very well for their clientele and families, they put a lot of money into the showjumping and polo event. It’s the first sale of the year and everyone’s keen to catch up, so it’s always a buoyant atmosphere.”

What has been your most satisfying result at the Magic Millions?

“Snapdancer selling for $3.2million (at the 2023 MM National Broodmare Sale). We are only a new farm and to have a mare like that in our second year of selling was incredible. It’ll be hard to beat that one. A very special moment.”

2024 draft Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

220 402 409 451 475 522 607 813

Br/F B/C B/F B/F Br/C B or Br/F B/C Br/F

Ole Kirk Hanseatic Snitzel King’s Legacy Street Boss (USA) Tagaloa Ole Kirk Brazen Beau

Sonja Adorabeel (NZ) Al Naseem Australia Day Belveeta (USA) Chelsea Hotel Ducale Jesting

Sherah Sullivan 0402 415 784 sullivanbloodstock@gmail.com

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TELEMON T

Thoroughbreds

he land underneath Telemon Stud has a massive connection to the Golden Slipper and this continued when their resident sire Sidestep sired Kiamichi. Originally called Telemon in 1844, the farm was renamed Noble Park in the 1990s and stood Golden Slipper producing sires Success Express, Mossman and Written Tycoon, and the farm was purchased in 2018 by Dan and Rae Fletcher and returned to its original name.

“In the first small group of yearlings offered when we launched we offered twelve yearlings via Magic Millions: eleven reached the track as two year-olds with a remarkable seven two year-old winners and a further three placegetters who all have bright futures,” said Dan Fletcher. “Among that group was Party For Two (Sidestep) who won twice at two and ran second in the Gr2 Blue Diamond Prelude (f).

She is currently being aimed at the Summer Carnival and returned a five length winner in an open three year-old city race in October.

Abounding (Rich Enuff) was also in that draft and is a city winner who was runner up in Gr3

Ken Russell Classic. She is currently being aimed at the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas and has already won as a three year-old. Our farm has a genuinely remarkable record of producing top performers (Buffering, Gold Edition, Zoustar, etc) and our mission is to build upon that over time.”

In 2024, Telemon Stud will present their third ever draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling sale with eighteen yearlings by sires Blue Point, Brazen Beau, Earthlight, Farnan, I Am Invincible, Jungle Cat, Microphone, Pierata, Russian Camelot, Spirit of Boom, and Sun City.

How would you sum up your 2024 draft?

“Good! We have tried to target the sale with horses who are capable of winning the Magic Millions 2YO Classic next year. We’d like to think we have some in the mix.”

What makes the Magic Millions sales and races special?

“For Telemon, it’s great to have a local sale as the start to the calendar. It’s logistically easy

Party For Two is a multiple winner and Gr2 placed in the Blue Diamond Prelude, who emerged from Telemon’s initial Magic Millions draft.

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\ TELEMON THOROUGHBREDS \ RENÉE GEELEN

Sunlight, spectacular winner at the Magic Millions 2YO Classic, 3 Gr1 races and over $6.5million was bred and raced by Telemon in partnership.

The quality will continue at Magic Millions 2024.

2024 draft for us, being just down the road, and it’s a good early opportunity to take our more forward types to this sale. Overall, it’s unique with the race series attached to it, and has scope for all sorts of horses, not just early maturing types.”

Perfectly suited for the Magic Millions race series is Lot 1006, an I Am Invincible filly who is the first foal of Gr3 placed two year-old winner Niccovi, who also placed in the Magic Millions WA 2YO Classic, and is from a strong winner producing family that includes Gr1 winner Campanologist.

The Golden Slipper connection continues with a colt by Farnan, Lot 95, who is the second foal of four-time winning mare Reprimand, whose first foal is a winner, and Reprimand is a full sister to Gr2 winner and Gr1 placed Fiesta (I Am Invincible).

A pair of Spirit of Boom fillies is led by Lot 153, the second foal of Golden Gift winner Secret Lady who is a half-sister to Listed winner of eight races Acromantula, out of good Perth two and three year-old, Listed winner of ten races, For Your Eyes Only. Lot 401 is a half-sister to Listed winner Charleise, winner of five races, out of winning mare Adio (Lonhro).

“We would also (humbly) suggest that we know what a good horse is all about: we have bred and raced in partnership the wonderful

Sunlight, Russian Camelot, Sisstar, Absolute Flirt, Veight, Party For Two, and most recently Blue Stratum who was runner up on debut in the Gr3 Maribyrnong Plate.”

Four yearlings by the aforementioned Gr1 winner Russian Camelot are highlighted by the half-brother to group placed winning Telemon graduate Abounding, Lot 1443, out of stakes placed winner Transonic who is out of Gr1 placed winner Jet Past. Lot 788 is a filly who is the first foal of city winner of six races Insensata; while a colt, Lot 1034, is out of Gr1 South African Golden Slipper placed Almashooqa.

What positive changes have you seen in the breeding or racing industry recently?

“The welfare side of things is integral to our existence, and we are doing an overall better job, and we are also making progress in showcasing that. The perception of what we are doing is almost as important as doing the work.”

Which past champion do you wish you could have seen at the races?

“Kingston Town.”

Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

95 118 153 238 401 534 788 1006 1032 1034 1106 1130 1134 1136 1172 1185 1267 1443

B/C B/C B/F B/F B/F B or Br/F B/F B/F B/F B/C Ch/C Ch/F B/C B/F B or Br/C B/C B or Br/C B or Br/C

Farnan Microphone Spirit of Boom Blue Point (IRE) Spirit of Boom Brazen Beau Russian Camelot (IRE) I Am Invincible Jungle Cat (IRE) Russian Camelot (IRE) Sun City Earthlight (IRE) Russian Camelot (IRE) Sun City Pierata Jungle Cat (IRE) Jungle Cat (IRE) Russian Camelot (IRE)

Reprimand Rumble Doll Secret Lady Springbok Girl Adio Clear Motive Insensata Niccovi Alcina (GER) Almashooqa Conchita Dream First El Mansura Elusive Air (USA) Goanna Ga Ga Henny’s Princess (USA) Miss Kindilan Transonic

100 Oaky Creed Road, Innisplain Qld 4285 07 5544 1003 0455 559 412

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Ozzmosis carries the CHC brand to a dashing victory in the Gr1 Coolmore Stud S 1200m at Flemington.

W

THE Chase

e are accustomed to seeing China Horse Club’s distinctive colours at the forefront of Gr1 racing, but what is becoming just as prevalent is the CHC brand on the shoulder of elite Gr1 winners. Randwick Guineas winner Communist is a CHC bred, but the horse that typifies the excellence the Club seeks is the flying Ozzmosis, dominant winner of the Gr1 Coolmore Stud Stakes. In January The Chase, the Club owned farm at Sutton Forest, will take their second draft of eleven quality yearlings to the Gold Coast, all bred and prepared to give buyers the opportunity to repeat the dose.

Understandably China Horse Club’s Australian representative Michael Smith is delighted with the success of CHC breds over the past year. “It shows the market we can consistently breed and offer for sale top class horses. “We’d been knocking on that Gr1 door with CHC bred Gold Coast graduates Revolutionary Miss Giannis and Meritable being runners up in the Blue Diamond, JJ Atkins & NZ 2000 Guineas respectively, so it was very satisfying to see Ozzmosis go one better and win Australia’s premier 3yo stallion making race down the famed Flemington straight with such conviction.”

Given this is just the second draft The Chase will take to Bundall, we asked Michael what progression he had observed from the highly successful 2023 draft? “Every year we endeavour to raise a better athlete through

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improving the genetics we offer and how we raise our young stock. Alex Kingston’s addition as our farm manager 18 months ago has been a big contributor to that. All eleven yearlings we are offering are by proven stallions and eight are out of Stakes producing or Stakes performing mares. They have been raised on good undulating country to be athletes.” With all eleven having the pedigree and upbringing to star on the turf, we asked Michael to give us his opinion on a few he feels the market will clamour for Lot 372: A Zoustar filly out of the Gr3 winner Yattarna

by Exceed And Excel. Michael said of her “A lovely athletic filly. She looks like a back end 2yo and Darley Princess Series special for the spring like so many of Zoustar’s good fillies have been. She’s out of a Gr3 winning Exceed and Excel mare to add icing to the cake.”

Lot 506: Another Zoustar filly, this time out of Capella, a daughter of Rip Van Winkle. “I think this filly is very special. Very forward and strong, she’s a well-made filly with a great action. She just looks a guaranteed two year-old and one to aim at the top juvenile races including the Magic Millions Classic. Out of the winner of the Gr2 Eight Carat Classic, her dam has already produced a 2yo Stakes performer in Lambda.”

Lot 556: A So You Think colt out of Crystal Flute by Encosta De Lago making him a half-brother to New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas runner up Meritable.

In January The Chase, the Club owned farm at Sutton Forest, will take their second draft of eleven quality yearlings to the Gold Coast.

“I think he is outstanding. He has a proper pedigree from the family of Redoute’s Choice, the mare is already a Gr1 producer and So You Think couldn’t be going any better having sired The Everest winner in Think About It. This horse looks every inch the athlete, medium sized, great head with a lot of quality and a lovely action and outlook.”

This family has already had an update producing the Flemington Listed winner Schwarz.

Lot 698: A Deep Field filly out of Galina by Smart Missile.

“She’s the epitome of an Aussie 2yo; square and strong with great depth to her she looks forward and ready to get up and run. She is out of a half-sister to Russian Revolution from the family of Home Affairs, so there is plenty of class in the family and of course they aren’t making any more Deep Fields.”

Lot 740: An I Am Invincible filly out of New Zealand One Thousand Guineas winner Hasahalo by Savabeel. “She has one of the best pages in the book and has the physical to match, a lovely sharp filly that oozes quality. In addition to being a Gr1 winner at 3, Hasahalo was a dynamic 2yo as runner up in the Gr2 Wakefield Pre-Christmas, winner of the G3 Eclipse and runner up in the Karaka Millions. She also has two Stakes winning half-sisters about to start producing. It’s a two dam pedigree page that could soon be just the one dam.” Hasahalo’s half siblings Hasabro, All Saints’ Eve and All Hallow’s Eve are all Stakes winners.

Along with that sextet The Chase team will also parade smashing colts by Savabeel and Flying Artie, and smart fillies by Exceed And Excel, Capitalist, and Shamus Award, all more than worthy of inspection because the chances are that CHC brand will be in featured in plenty more Gr1 photos in the near future.

2024 draft Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

8 65 372 504 556 698 740 757 789 881 1020

B or Br/C Br or Blk/C B/F B/F B or Br/C B/F B/F B/C B/F Br/F B/F

Flying Artie Savabeel Zoustar Zoustar So You Think (NZ) Deep Field I Am Invincible Russian Revolution Exceed and Excel Shamus Award Capitalist

Ordos Honor Purcentage Yattarna Capella (NZ) Crystal Flute Galina Hasahalo (NZ) Holyhead Inspired Estelle Lot Three Four One Nurse Kitchen (NZ)

Lot 757: A Russian Revolution colt out of Holyhead by Pierro. “One of the best Russian Revolution colts we have bred. A powerful, imposing horse, he’s from the family of Ozzmosis, Learning To Fly, Hips Don’t Lie etc.”

Michael Smith: 0455 405 136 michael.smith@chinahorseclub.com Alex Kingston: 0447 264 718 alex@thechasefarm.com.au

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Espiona winning the Coolmore Classic

TORRYBURN Stud The inspiration for Dorothea McKellar’s famous poem, I Love A Sunburnt Country, Torryburn Stud now inspires racetrack success with seven Gr1 winners bred on the farm in the past decade. Their 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast draft contained Gr1 Coolmore Classic winner Espiona who has earned over $2.8million, while Gr1 winner and young sire Home Affairs was catalogued but withdrawn from the same draft.

In 2024, Torryburn Stud will present a draft of eleven yearlings at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, with seven fillies giving buyers a rare chance to buy into some of Torryburn Stud’s great families.

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“With two exciting mares who were bred at Torryburn currently racing, led by Magic Millions graduate Espiona who had just won the $2million The Invitation at time of writing taking her earnings to almost $3million and Hope In Your Heart, a multiple Gr1 performer with earnings in excess of $1.7million, we believe Torryburn gives buyers a good chance of finding a champion mare,” said Mel Copelin.

“Torryburn also raised Gr1 mares Dixie Blossoms and Eldorado Dreaming. The past 20 years have been dedicated to improving and perfecting the farm and our practices. We undertook a major rejuvenation in 2015 and now the results are shining through.”

How would you sum up your 2024 draft?

“A well rounded collection of quality yearlings who should be at all price points including first season sires Ole Kirk and King’s Legacy, and proven sires Capitalist, Deep Field, Exceed and Excel, Toronado, Brazen Beau and Pierro.”

The first foal of Torryburn Stud raced Toryjoy (Street Cry) is Lot 310, a Brazen Beau filly. Toryjoy won five races, all in the city, and was Listed placed. She is a half-sister to Listed winner Landing and Gr1 placed winner Almashooqa, out of group winner Joy Of Flight. “A very balanced and strong filly, while still being feminine, she is a fantastic physical for a first foal and we think she’ll turn a few heads.”

Bred to go early, Lot 809, is a filly by Exceed and Excel and is the second foal of two-year-old winner Jedastar, who ran second in the Gr3 Blue Diamond Preview (f) to Catch Me. Jedastar is a daughter of Listed winner Devoirs. “Torryburn have retained the mare’s first foal, a two-yearold filly by Zoustar and early reports have been promising.”

Toronado filly, Lot 567, is the first foal of De Chorus Line, a half-sister to Hong Kong Champion Sprinter and Gr1 winner Hot King Prawn and dual Gr3 winner Siren’s Fury. “A glamourous grey from our revered and much loved De Chorus family, this filly has always rated highly and she is one not to miss.”

King’s Legacy filly, Lot 363, is the first foal of Torryburn Stud raced Willowheart, who won her first two starts in succession and three races in total, and is from the family of Gr1 winner Forensics. “An eye catching filly, with excellent balance and great action.”

Lot 61 had a big pedigree boost recently when Tom Kitten won the Gr1 Spring Champion Stakes as this King’s Legacy filly’s dam, Progressive, is a winning full-sister to the dam of Tom Kitten and Listed winner Promotions.

Torryburn Stud’s Gold Coast draft has a couple colts of note including a Pierro half-brother to Gr2 winner Packing Rockstar and recent Listed Gosford Guineas winner Anavinci, out of Champion 2YO in NZ and dual Gr1 winner Anabandana; while Lot 576, is a Capitalist colt out of Gr1 placed winner Denmagic from the family of good sire Magic Albert.

What makes the Magic Millions sales and races special?

“It the first sale of the year in the best location. There’s a huge buzz to the place and everyone is excited to be hunting the next big horse.”

What has been your most satisfying result at the Magic Millions?

“For us it’s not about what we profit in the sale ring, it’s all about results and repeat custom. Espiona is our best Magic Millions graduate to date and we are certain we can produce a few more like her.”

Which app on your phone do you use the most?

“WhatsApp! We use it on the farm to communicate all things from feeding instructions, treatments, movements and even communications to some of our overseas owners.”

2024 draft Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

61 310 363 426 500 567 576 755 809 987 1269

B/F B or Br/F Ch/F B/C B/F B or Gr/F Ch/C B/F B/F B/C B/C

King’s Legacy Brazen Beau King’s Legacy Pierro Deep Field Toronado (IRE) Capitalist Spirit of Boom Exceed and Excel Ole Kirk Yes Yes Yes

Progressive Toryjoy Willowheart Anabandana California Rogusta De Chorus Line Denmagic Holder Sunset Jedastar Mrs Boxall Miss Shanti

www.torryburnstud.com.au 02 4938 9739 Torryburn, NSW

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TWIN HILLS Stud There is a buzz of excitement around Twin Hills Stud as January approaches, and rightly so. Olly Tait takes a quality draft to the Gold Coast led by the first yearlings of resident sire Peltzer.

Olly explained just how important the first sale of the year was for a progressive farm. “Every year the Gold Coast Sale is a hugely exciting event and as a commercial stud farm, of great significance in our calendar, an opportunity to show off many of our best horses for the year. It’s also exciting to be supported by our clients with such nice horses to take to the sale. This sale sets the tone for the year so you have to take top class horses and I think our 2024 draft is reflective of that.” As evidence of that approach all 18 Twin Hills entries have been deemed good enough to sell in Book 1.

When asked about the draft as a whole Olly pointed to the strength of the freshman sires saying, “We have a number of horses by first season sires, and of course the most exciting for us is Peltzer having three yearlings in the draft by him, all horses worth looking at both physically and on pedigree.”

When discussing what the market might make of the Peltzers, Olly was pragmatic saying, “Being

by So You Think he’s not the sort of horse you imagine is going to produce early two year-olds,

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but then he was unbeaten in three runs at two and was a fast horse. The wonderful thing about So You Think, which is embodied in Peltzer, is he was placed in a Melbourne Cup, then sired a Sydney Cup winner, but now also an Everest winner. That shows the outstanding versatility of So You Think’s progeny and Peltzer is part of that story as, arguably, the most precocious So You Think thus far. It is realistic to think he will pass on those speed genes, and be capable of producing an early runner.”

The pages of all three Twin Hills’ Peltzers make for interesting reading but the one that stands out is Lot 575. “Of the trio the most noteworthy is the colt out of Demetria, a half-sister to the Blue Diamond winner Samaready who has gone on to produce a Golden Slipper winner in Shinzo.”

In Olly’s opinion, “He’s a stunning colt.” He also has a Magic Millions connection, Samaready also being the dam of Exhilarates the brilliant winner of the Magic Millions 2YO Classic. This colt is a half-brother to the Gr3 placed Plutocracy.

In total there are seven Peltzers catalogued for the Gold Coast, Olly’s remaining pair losing nothing in comparison. As Lot 547 he takes north a filly out of Cosmic Powers who has already bred a two year-old Stakes winner in Lord Cosmos.

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Yellow Brick, brilliant winner of 6 of 12 starts and $1.4million is one of three individual winners out of the High Chaparral mare whose Smart Missile filly is Lot 905 in the Twin Hills draft.

▼ ▼

Peltzer by So You Think stands at Twin Hills and the multiple Group winner of over $1million, an undefeated 2YO himself, will be offering his first seven yearlings at Magic Millions 2024 with three quality youngsters in the Twin Hills draft.

2024 draft Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

25 77 79 82 341 378 381 541 547 569 575 588 748 808 817 905 910 996

B/F B/C B/F B/C Br or Blk/F B/C Br/F B or Br/C B or Br/F B or Br/C B/C B/C B/F B/F B/C B/F B/F B or B/C

Bivouac Yes Yes Yes Blue Point (IRE) Proisir Lonhro Wootton Bassett (GB) Lonhro Brutal (NZ) Peltzer Hellbent Peltzer Harry Angel (IRE) Spirit of Boom Proisir Toronado (IRE) Smart Missile Farnan Peltzer

Parakeet Rain Spirit Raison d’Etre Ready Steady (NZ) Virgo Zafina Zegota Command More Cosmic Powers Decor Demetria Divine Day High Low Bet Jazamour (NZ) Just a Blur Magical Mist (NZ) Majestic Trick (USA) My Obsession

And then there is Lot 996, a colt out of the three-time winning Lonhro mare My Obsession, dam of the Stakes placed juvenile Vagrant.

As touched on earlier the Twin Hill draft has a distinctly fresh look about it; besides the Peltzers there are youngsters by first crop sires Wootton Bassett, Bivouac and Golden Slipper winner Farnan. “Another horse that is interesting to us is the first of the Wootton Bassett’s out of a mare called Zafina, a most athletic, quality colt. There is a lot of chat about the Wootton Bassetts having taken everything before him in Europe. Time will tell how he goes in Australia, but this fellow is a fine advertisement for the stallion.” Selling as Lot 378 he is from a speedy family that produced consistent Gr2 sprinter Go The Knuckle. “We also have one of the first Bivouacs and one of the first of the Farnans, two fabulously talented speed horses, and given their combination of physique, pedigree and sire power, we hold high hopes for these two fillies.” The Bivouac, Lot 25, is the first foal out of the Kermadec mare Parakeet, a half-sister to Holler from the family of Microphone, while the Farnan is out of Majestic Trick who hails from a speedy American family and goes through as Lot 910.

While the draft is chock full of progeny by young sires, Twin Hills will offer opportunities to buy quality horses by stallions firmly established in the marketplace like a red-hot Proisir, Spirit Of Boom, Toronado and Smart Missile. When pushed to give his opinion on one that might provide both quality and value Olly offered up Lot 905, Smart Missile’s daughter out of a great producing mare in Magical Mist, dam of the Group winners Splendiferous, Ballistic Boy and Yellow Brick. In Olly’s opinion “A glorious filly with a heap of quality and a pedigree to match. There won’t be many horses in the catalogue that are siblings to three individual Stakes winners.”

So with the quality on offer both on paper and in the flesh, it is no wonder Olly and the team can’t wait to get to the Gold Coast.

+61 (0)2 6942 2268 twinhillsstud.com OLLY TAIT +61 (0)487 170375 olly@twinhillsstud.com CHRIS KENT +61 (0)417 439887 ckent@twinhillsstud.com

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TYREEL Stud This summer marks ten years at Tyreel Stud for Linda and Laurence Monds, and the list of great racehorses they have produced in that time is extensive. From their recent Magic Millions Gold Coast drafts alone, they have sold Gr1 winner Montefilia, Gr2 winner Every Rose, Gr3 winners Olentia, Perfect Thought, Parry Sound, and Listed winners Snickerdoodledandy, Wild Vixen, and Paret. Given the average size of their Magic Millions Gold Coast drafts is around six yearlings, in percentage terms, these results are spectacular, and that’s not even taking into account the good horses they’d sold through other sales.

“In February 2024 it will be ten years since we purchased Tyreel Stud and started planning the business model we wanted to achieve,” said Linda Monds. “We started with zero broodmares ten years ago and a farm that was in need of a refurbishment, such as fencing, shedding, roadways, waterway reconstruction, paddock rejuvenation, basically a complete overhaul. For the last nine years we have had a major project to contend with each year. The farm has never looked better, and we are so incredibly proud of the journey we have had, the team we have beside us, the broodmares that reside here, the foals we are producing and the yearlings we are presenting, but above all we are continually

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rewarded by the constant presence of Tyreel bred, raised and sold athletes’ on-track performance.”

In 2024, Tyreel will present ten yearlings at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

The first foal of Snit Ball (Snitzel) who is a full sister to two year-old Gr1 winner Summer Passage, is Lot 207, a colt by proven Gr1 sire Capitalist.

“A well-proportioned colt exuding a racy build, characterized by substantial girth and a powerful hindquarter, he is a true Magic Millions prospect,” said Tyreel Stud Manager Alex Barlow.

A Snitzel filly, Lot 664, from stakes placed city winner of five races, Festival Miss (Bernardini) comes from the family of Gr1 winners Regal Power, and Arcadia Queen. “An exceptional filly, endowed with inherent strength and power. She exhibits the traits of a promising two year-old, combining keen intelligence with abundant quality.”

Proven sire Exceed and Excel continues to leave quality juveniles who train on, and his filly, Lot 767, is the first foal of Listed winner I Am Eloquent (I Am Invincible). Her second dam is also a stakes winner, Choice Words (Choisir). “From day one, this filly has left us impressed and excited. She maintains a balanced physique, a lively walk, complemented by a pleasing shoulder and girth – one to keep a close eye on.”

With ten well-credential yearlings on offer in 2024, the last decade of success at Tyreel looks set to continue into the future.

2024 draft Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

207 284 398 440 658 664 738 767 798 897

B/C B or Br/C B or Br/C Ch/C B/F B/F B/C B/F B/F B or Br/C

Capitalist Ole Kirk All Too Hard Street Boss (USA) Ole Kirk Snitzel Street Boss (USA) Exceed and Excel King’s Legacy Dirty Work

Snit Ball Tender Adagirl Aqua d’Ivina Fashion Icon Festival Miss Happenings I Am Eloquent Isabella Lunar Light

www.tyreel.com Linda Monds m: 0427 948 244 e: linda@tyreel.com

Two colts by Anamoe’s sire Street Boss come highly credentialled.

Lot 440 is the first foal of Aqua d’Ivina (Pierro) who won five races (four in the city) and is a full sister to stakes winner Parry Sound (Pierro), both being out of Gr.1 winner Aqua d’Amore (Danehill). “This sharp colt embodies natural muscle, an excellent physique, and has promising two year-old potential.” Lot 738 is the second foal of Happenings (Exceed and Excel), an unraced daughter of Listed winner Happy Hippy (Shamardal) and this colt’s dam is also a half-sister to two stakes placed winners. “A swift and robust colt, displaying a well-developed hip and hindquarter. He possesses extensive scope, embodying the attributes of a nimble racehorse.”

All Too Hard continues to shine as a stallion, and his colt, Lot 398, is the second foal of winning mare Adagirl (Lonhro) who is a daughter of Gr2 winner Adaline. “He presents as a robust colt boasting a well-defined physique. His graceful movements allow him to cover the ground with ease. This colt possesses a lovely temperament, showcasing his quality and commanding presence.”

Four yearlings by first season sires add excitement to Tyreel’s draft with two by Gr1 Golden Rose and Gr1 Caulfield Guineas winner Ole Kirk (Written Tycoon). Lot 284 is a half-brother to city winner Orpheum who ran fourth in the Gr3 Gimcrack Stakes. Their dam, Tender (All American), won three races and is from the family of Gr1 winner Kapchat. “A colt boasting quality, size and a graceful stride, with a pronounced overstep.”

Lot 658 is a filly who is the second live foal of Fashion Icon who is a winning half-sister to Listed Inglis Millenium winner Espaaniyah and this is the family of Gr1 winner She’s Extreme. “An elegant filly evolving beautifully into her frame, showcasing a graceful, athletic gait that we eagerly anticipate presenting.”

Gr2 Schillaci Stakes winner Dirty Work (Written Tycoon) is represented by a colt, Lot 897, is the first foal of Gr2 placed city winner of four races, Lunar Light (Akeed Mofeed) who is a daughter of American stakes winner Lunar Mist. “This colt exhibits consistent growth week by week, showcasing remarkable quality and an attractive conformation. We’re eagerly anticipating his journey up north.”

A filly by first season sire and dual Gr1 winner King’s Legacy (Redoute’s Choice) completes the impressive Tyreel Stud draft. A half-sister to group placed winning current three year-old Veecee, Lot 798, is the third foal of Isabella (Poet’s Voice), an unraced half-sister to Listed winners Golden Pistols and Keep The Faith. “A filly of considerable size and scope, featuring ample width and a deep girth. We eagerly look forward to presenting this delightful filly.”

With ten well-credential yearlings on offer in 2024, the last decade of success at Tyreel looks set to continue into the future. “Our success is not only due to the horses we have raised and sold but also clients who have entrusted us to sell their yearlings on their behalf. We have been very fortunate to have been supported by loyal, long standing clients,” said Linda Monds.

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Vinery’s multiple Group 1 winning Champion, Ole Kirk, will be represented by an outstanding first crop at Magic Millions 2024, including seven in Vinery’s own draft.

VINERY Stud

Shouts of joy rang out at Vinery when their Gr.1 winning sire Exceedance’s first runner, Dublin Down, won the Gr.3 VRC Maribyrnong Plate. Dublin Down was a Gold Coast Magic Millions graduate from Edinburgh Park Stud, while Vinery’s own yearling drafts have produced many other wonderful racetrack graduates like multiple Gr.1 winner Artorius, Golden Slipper winner Farnan, and 2YO Magic Millions winner Exhilarates to name just a few.

“Buyers have come to expect yearlings of the highest quality from Vinery,” said Vinery’s Harry Roach, “and this year’s Magic Millions draft is certainly no exception. We offer physical athletes with pedigrees to match, by a very healthy cross section of the country’s best credentialled stallions both young and proven. Our graduates have quite a strong record at the Magic Millions and this is something that everyone from Vinery takes great pride in.

“There is a genuine excitement from everyone involved with Ole Kirk to be showcasing his first crop yearlings. A great number of people who bred to him have spoken very highly of his stock from the day they were born, all the way through to now, which is consistent with what we have seen at Vinery.

He is represented by 35 Book 1 yearlings, which is a testament to their quality. To have a young stallion with his credentials, consistently leaving stock of such quality makes for a highly promising period ahead.”

With 41 yearlings on offer, Vinery’s draft is packed with commercial sires, brilliant pedigrees, and every horse has been brought up on Vinery’s proven Gr.1 producing land. The stallions represented in the

Vinery will showcase Ole Kirk’s first crop with seven yearlings, including a half-sister to Gr.3 SAJC Breeders’ Stakes winner Kooweerup, Lot 414, out of Gr.1 winner Allez Wonder, whose seven foals to race

How would you sum up your 2024 draft?

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draft are All Too Hard, Zoustar, Bivouac, Snitzel, Deep Field, Exceed and Excel, Exceedance, Flying Artie, Ghaiyyath, Kingman, Lonhro, Maurice, Microphone, Pariah, Pierro, Russian Revolution, Shamus Award, So You Think, Star Turn, Tagaloa, The Autumn Sun, Too Darn Hot, Castlevecchio, Contributer, Toronado, Wootton Bassett, Written By, and of course their first season sire Ole Kirk.

\ VINERY STUD \

▼

$2.2 million earner and multiple Group 1 winner, Artorius, was a Vinery graduate from the Magic Millions.

Down (by Exceedance) wins the ▼ Dublin time-honoured Gr.3 Maribyrnong Plate getting his Vinery based sire off to a flying start at stud. Vinery will offer three yearlings

by Exceedance.

2024 draft

are all winners. A half-sister to recent stakes placed winner Get Up Girl, Lot 695, is out of Gr.2 winner and Gr.1 placed Fursa. Lot 121, a filly, the first foal of group placed winner Saas Fee who is a sister to Gr.3 Maribyrnong Plate winner Hard Landing, out of Gr.1 winner Snitzerland.

“We are ecstatic with the start Exceedance has had with his first crop 2YOs. For his first runner to be a Gr.3 winning 2YO is about as good as it gets. While we believe in him so much, it was fantastic to see him begin on such a positive note and actually do it.

A win like that really sets the tone for what is to come into 2024 and beyond.”

Vinery will feature three yearlings by Exceedance, whose first crop have just turned two. Lot 120 is a colt out of Gr.3 winner Runway Star, a half-sister to Listed winner What You Need, from the family of Gr.1 winner Fashions Afield. A colt out of city winner Sharpness, Lot 176, is closely related to recent Gr.1 winner Zougotcha; while the filly, Lot 874, is out of Lady Oracle, a halfsister to the dam of Gr.1 winner Kementari.

What makes the Magic Millions sales and races special?

“There is an intangible feeling that goes with being on the Gold Coast in summer, which almost makes it feel like a working holiday, and Magic Millions really embraces that.”

What changes would you like to see in the breeding or racing industry?

“The biggest threat in my eyes to both the breeding and racing industry is public perception. Vicky Leonard’s Kick Up has been a fantastic and much needed initiative that addresses the misinformation and misconceptions surrounding our industry and highlights the human connection with the horses. I think the next step is further promoting this information and content across a wider viewership to further educate the public, and I would like to see a collaborative racing and breeding industry approach towards that.”

Who are the most influential people in the industry today?

“Trainers. They have a direct impact over the success and management of the racehorses, which in turn influences stallion success, owner engagement, and horse welfare. We are very fortunate to have the best trainers in the world here in Australia to entrust our horses with. They also receive the most media airtime and do a great job in promoting our great sport. There is more responsibility attached than just being a horse trainer in 2024!”

Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

68 78 87 120 121 129 176 211 247 293 357 414 420 447 458 498 518 539 555 604 613 663 672 695 760 762 791 802 815 847 854 887 911 1033 1044 1121 1168 1389 1420 1433 1459

B/C B/F B or Br/C B/C B/F B/C B/C B/F B/F B/C B or Gr/F B/F Br/C Ch/C B/C Br/F B/F Br/F Br/F B/C B/C B/F B/F Br/F Ch/F B/C B/F B/F Ch/C B/F B/C B/F B/C B/F B/F B/C Ch/F B/C B/F B/C Gr/F

Toronado (IRE) Pussycat Dream (GB) Kingman (GB) Rainbow Falls (IRE) So You Think (NZ) Realms of Light (GER) Exceedance Runway Star Ole Kirk Saas Fee Ole Kirk Sanaya Exceedance Sharpness Castelvecchio So Magic Exceed and Excel Stellaris Microphone The Spell The Autumn Sun White Moss Ole Kirk Allez Wonder Lonhro Ambereen (FR) Tagaloa Assertin Mischief Too Darn Hot (GB) Axella Wootton Bassett (GB) Butters (USA) Snitzel Champagne Ready Deep Field College Girl Shamus Award Crossyourheart (NZ) Bivouac Dreams and Wishes Russian Revolution Eiffel Tower Bivouac Femme Fireball Zoustar Fit and Ready Ole Kirk Fursa Russian Revolution Hot Summer Night Ole Kirk Humaliwo Pierro Interram Ole Kirk Ivory Rose (GB) Star Turn Joyful Journey Exceedance Lady Oracle (GB) Deep Field Laughen Hard Snitzel Love You Lucy Ole Kirk Manasari Tagaloa All Salsa Pariah Assertive Sound All Too Hard Devil Moon Maurice (JPN) Giovanna Run Ghaiyyath (IRE) Singing River Written By Sweet Love Contributer (IRE) Thelittleracketeer Flying Artie White Sage

Peter Orton: 0418 276 454 Adam White: 0414 800 918 Harry Roach: 0401 970 006 www.vinery.com.au adam@vinery.com.au

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WAIKATO Stud

W

aikato Stud’s Chittick family have been sitting on the top shelf of thoroughbred breeding for thirty years. In that time, Waikato Stud has been awarded Champion New Zealand Breeder ten times, Savabeel has been Champion Sire on eight occasions, and now young gun Super Seth is flying from the gates with his first juveniles. Waikato Stud consistently leads New Zealand as a producer of Gr1 winners.

When Waikato Stud present a draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale, they bear close watching. The results speak for themselves with their 2021 sales graduates including Gr.1 winner Major Beel, Listed winner Avebury, and stakes placed city winner Hoops. Waikato Stud’s silks have been prominent in the winner’s circle with Gr1 TJ Smith Stakes winner I Wish I Win, Gr1 winner Skew Wiff, and Gr1 winner Never Been Kissed, and in 2024, Waikato Stud will present eight yearlings at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

What makes Waikato Stud so successful?

The underlying principle of raising horses at Waikato Stud is to be as natural as possible. Mark and his father Garry both believe that a major asset is the land the horses are raised on in the Waikato region of New Zealand.

“Waikato Stud, and probably other properties in these parts, is made up of volcanic ash on top of sand, so the subsoil is very free draining,” Garry

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\ WAIKATO STUD \ RENÉE GEELEN

said. “It’s a big thing to rear horses on ground where they are never cold through the winter as it reduces their energy requirements. The protein levels in the grass here would never be below 20 per cent.”

It’s a rare luxury in farming, where the natural elements are so good and healthy that human intervention isn’t needed, or even wanted.

“We’re forever asking, what would they be doing in the wild?” Mark says. “What would they be doing if they were rearing themselves?

We leave all our colts together right until we start the yearling prep basically, and they fight and scrap and carry on and they get bumps and bruises, but I think it’s good for them. Likewise, we love running our young horses in eight to 10-acre paddocks in groups of six or so, keeping everything as natural as possible.”

I Wish I Win’s tale is emblematic of Waikato’s ethos. Born with deformed limbs, I Wish I Win was not subjected to corrective surgery a testament to the ‘less is more’ philosophy.

But that doesn’t mean the horses are left entirely to themselves - far from it, in fact.

There are many management options that can be taken to assist in correction, with the stud focusing on natural management strategies. “Each foal is under the vigilant care of experienced hands,” explains Chittick. The stud’s team, seasoned in nurturing foals, embraces patience and natural growth, eschewing

premature interventions that could mar a horse’s potential.

“Any foal born here at Waikato Stud has a constant and very experienced eye over them from the minute they’re born.

And all our management team are thinking the same way, as natural as possible with no pressure applied.

They’ve all had experience with horses going through our system with that philosophy, and they’ve seen the results,” Chittick explained.

And importantly, Chittick noted that for some horses less intervention and a more patient approach means not spoiling their chance as a racehorse.

What are you most excited about this Magic Millions?

“Waikato Stud’s Gr1 winner Super Seth’s first crop have just turned two, and as this is being written in November, Super Seth has already sired two winners. Lot 300 is a Super Seth colt out of Listed winner Thy, a half-sister to Gr1 winner La Diosa and Gr3 winner and Gr1 placed Solid Billing.”

What other positives do you see in the draft?

“Waikato Stud’s group winning sprinter Ardrossan’s oldest foals are three year-olds and he’s showing excellent

promise as a sire with three Listed winners from his first sixteen runners (18% SW to runners). Waikato Stud will present his yearling colt, Lot 806, out of Savabeel mare Jammu, from the family of Gr1 winner Sharvasti, and recent Hong Kong group winner and Gr1 placed Tourbillon Diamond.

Waikato Stud’s resident multiple Champion Sire Savabeel, a former Gold Coast Yearling Sale graduate, has three yearlings in the Waikato Stud draft.

A Savabeel half-sister to Gr2 winner Promise of Success, Lot 257, is out of winning imported mare Summer School, who has also produced city winner Summerbeel (Savabeel) who is currently racing, and this filly is from the family of multiple Champion Sire Galileo.”

How would you sum up your 2024 draft?

“We’ve had success selling some great racehorses at the Gold Coast, Major Beel being one of the latest successes and he won the 2023 Gr1 Australian Derby,” said Mark Chittick. “We are very proud to bring this draft over, as our Australasian strike rate of 7.1 percent Group winners to yearlings offered is one of the best and we know this draft will contain top class racehorses. Just look for the WS!”

Superstar quality by Super Seth on offer at Magic Millions.

I Wish I Win, winning the ATC (Randwick) TJ Smith S-Gr1, $3m on 1/4/23

It’s a rare luxury in farming, where the natural elements are so good and healthy that human intervention isn’t needed, or even wanted.

2024 draft Lot

Col/Sex

45 257 300 327 565 752 806 904

B/C B/F B/C Br/F B/F B or Br/C B/C B/F

Sire

Super Seth Savabeel Super Seth Savabeel Super Seth Savabeel Ardrossan Tivaci

Dam

Pink Graffiti (NZ) Summer School (IRE) Thy (NZ) Urban (NZ) Date Night (NZ) Hoity Toity (NZ) Jammu (NZ) Magazine (NZ)

521 Tower Rd, Matamata, 3440 +64 7 888 7717 New Zealand waikatostud.com

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Spywire wins his initial 2yo start brilliantly at Rosehill, focussing the spotlight firmly on his young Widden based sire Trapeze Artist and becoming yet another MM success story from the Widden Draft of 2023.

WIDDEN Stud

Widden’s brilliant commercial sire Zoustar capped a memorable Spring with his daughter Joliestar’s decisive win in the elite fillies Classic, the Gr1 1000 Guineas over 1600m at Caulfield. Her victory followed closely on the Gr1 win of Zoustar’s flying son Ozzmosis in the stallion-making Coolmore Stud S over 1200m down the Flemington straight.

They were satisfying and wonderfully timed wins for Widden and Zoustar with the 2024 Magic Millions Sale fast approaching and Ozzmosis’ win had a touch of of deja vu about it. Not so long ago in 2018 Zoustar supplied the trifecta in the same race to emphatically announce that he had arrived as a major force on the Australian commercial breeding landscape. His previous winner was the mighty filly Sunlight; this time it was the colt Ozzmosis, completing the circle.

Although good news often comes in threes, for Widden it extended to fours. For not only did $1.25 million 2022 MM graduate Schwarz, also

by Widden’s Zoustar, score an impressive stakes success for the Rosemont-Victorian Stallion Alliance at the prestigious Victorian Spring Carnival, but a few days later at Rosehill, Spywire, a $520k

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\ WIDDEN STUD \ ANDREW REICHARD

graduate from the 2023 MM sale, by Widden’s young gun Trapeze Artist, recorded a brilliant “all the way” first-up win at Rosehill for his high profile ownership group led by Ozzie Kheir.

Widden’s Matt Comerford commented, “These are wonderful results for our farm as we head to the 2024 yearling sales. These feature wins by our proven sires will keep the spotlight firmly on their next crop, but all of us here at Widden are just as excited to be able to present the first sales crops of our young sires Anders, Doubtland, Dirty Work and Russian Camelot. There will be some wonderful opportunities for buyers who can count on the Widden quality continuing with their stock.”

Widden, now operating in both NSW and Victoria, with the farm’s headline act being Zoustar based in the Widden Valley, the valley of champions, ably supported by his son Zousain who ran a gallant second to Sunlight on that earlier memorable occasion.

Widden will send a premium draft of 77 lots to MM 2024, 40 colts and 37 fillies by Australia’s leading commercial sires. The draft includes 43 lots

2024 draft

Schwarz by Zoustar scores at Flemington in Spring to become another successful Widden MM graduate.

by Widden’s own sires, 11 by Zoustar, 12 by Trapeze Artist, nine by Zousain, six

by Written By, two by first season sires Anders and Doubtland and one first season sire Russian Camelot. There are also youngsters by champion sires I Am Invincible and Snitzel as well as by Deep Field, Wootton Bassett, Farnan, Pierro, All Too Hard, Capitalist, Spirit Of Boom and Peltzer, among the many highlights.

Yearlings from some of Australia’s best thoroughbred families include an I Am Invincible half-sister to Gr3 winner Sisstar who is a full sister to Widden heroine Sunlight. There’s a ¾ brother by Zoustar to his own Gr1 colt Zougotcha, a ¾ sister

by Zoustar to Gr1 winner Mizzy and an I Am Invincible filly who is the first foal of multiple Group winning $1.4 million earner Madam Rouge.

With such a large draft there will be something to suit all buyers who can purchase these yearlings with full confidence knowing they have been raised on a great farm, prepared by expert people who have a proud track record of selling premium yearlings for up to $3million. Each and every one of these yearlings have been raised with the same care and attention to detail that has become synomymous with Widden’s JT over lazy 2 brand.

Invincible, Farnan, Deep Field, Ole Kirk and Wootton Bassett just to name a few.”

What makes the Magic Millions sales and races special?

“The Gold Coast is such a great place to sell horses, owners and buyers can combine a holiday along with the hard work that goes into the whole sales process. And the race series offers such tremendous prizemoney.”

Which app on your phone do you use the most?

“Thoroughworks, which makes my life so much easier at the sales, it gives me instant control of all the information I need to communicate with clients.”

Which past champion do you wish you could have seen at the races?

“Definitely Vain, he’s buried at Widden and is such a legend around the place. Stories still circulate about his record breaking feats on the track and what a wonderful temperament he had when retired to our NSW farm. A lot of respected judges still rate him as the benchmark sprinter of modern times and his bloodlines still feature in champions such as Black Caviar, Written Tycoon and Ole Kirk. “

Matt Comerford spoke to Bluebloods about the 2024 Magic Millions.

How would you sum up your 2024 draft?

“It’s full of quality and diversity by our own commercial sires and those from other farms. There are 43 quality youngsters by the Widden sires Zoustar, Trapeze Artist, Zousain, Anders, Doubtland and Russian Camelot as well as yearlings by Snitzel, I Am

www.widden.com info@widden.com 02 6549 9999 Widden Valley, NSW Antony Thompson: 0427 470 507 Derek Field: 0408 492 495 Matt Comerford: 0424 742 672

Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

18 51 83 128 180 188 199 204 205 210 249 258 289 335 396 411 415 540 544 549 573 586 608 609 631 647 651 653 667 688 689 691 722 723 763 790 832 848 876 883 900 934 943 947 957 963 967 1007 1048 1054 1083 1107 1128 1131 1133 1140 1142 1147 1154 1158 1164 1186 1187 1192 1198 1204 1225 1229 1231 1301 1309 1310 1325 1385 1396 1422 1440

Ch/C Ch/F B/F B/C B/C B/F B/F B/C B/F B or Br/C B/C Br or Blk/C B or Br/C B/F Ch/F B/F Ch/F B or Br/F Ch/C B or Br/F Ch/C B/F B/C B/C Ch/C B/F B/C B/C B/C Br or Gr/C B/C B/C B/C B/C B/F B/C B or Br/C B or Br/C Ch/C B/F B/F B or Br/C Ch/C B/F B/F Ch/C Ch/F Ch/C B/C B or Br/F Ch/F B/C Ch/F B/C B/C B/F B/F Br/F Ch/F B or Br/C B/F B/F Ch/C Ch/F B or Br/C B or Br/F B/F B/F B/F B/F B/F Ch/F B or Br/C B or Br/F B or Br/C B/C Br or Blk/C

Ole Kirk Oxford Angel Zoustar Positive Problems Zoustar Ready to Prophet Bivouac Sanako (JPN) Zoustar She’s So High I Am Invincible Showcase I Am Invincible Sisstar North Pacific Smart Amelia Snitzel Smart Coupe Zoustar So Far Sokool (NZ) Written By Storm Siren Wootton Bassett (GB) Sun Valley Zoustar The Actuary I Am Invincible Vezalay Trapeze Artist Absolute Heaven Deep Field Alcatraz Deep Field Alliterate Zoustar Combat Queen Farnan Comprende Written By Counterplay Zoustar Delectation Girl (GB) Russian Camelot (IRE) Dinkum Diamond King’s Legacy Duhallow Zousain Dulverton Anders En Aval Pierro Exoplanet Zousain Fairy Wand Zousain Fancy Liquor Wootton Bassett (GB) Fife Zoustar Fratianne I Am Invincible Freehearted Trapeze Artist Friday Hussy Zoustar Good Vibes (GB) Deep Field Gossip Queen Trapeze Artist Hummalong Farnan Insta Erma (USA) Doubtland La Chica Bella Zoustar Lake Como (NZ) Zoustar Lone Anders Love Lucille I Am Invincible Madam Rouge North Pacific Miatoko Trapeze Artist Miss Adequate Snitzel Miss Charming (USA) All Too Hard Miss Rose de Lago Capitalist Miss Wonderland Doubtland Missy Longstocking Farnan Nieta Zousain Avocado Trapeze Artist Bella Rossie Earthlight (IRE) Celandine Farnan Consommateur (NZ) Trapeze Artist Drappier (NZ) Trapeze Artist Duenna Trapeze Artist Earth Sky (NZ) Shalaa (IRE) Entsar (IRE) Hellbent Etoile Fille (NZ) Trapeze Artist Fabulous Fran Written By Five Card Charlie Written By Formalise (NZ) Zousain Furiosa Hellbent Hiccups Trapeze Artist Hidden Jewel Trapeze Artist I Got Chills Zousain Intuit Trapeze Artist It’s Easy Zousain Lady Herbert Castelvecchio Lanu Moana (NZ) Written By Leap Lively Zousain Osaycan Maurice (JPN) Pay the Way Written By Peltier Zousain Pretty Fancy Spirit of Boom Shorthand Capitalist Snitty Kitty Peltzer Talisa North Pacific Tolerate

MMGC

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Alpine Edge Gr3 winner of over $1.8million has been a wonderful galloping advertisement for his sire Better Than Ready.

His full brother, Lot 690 in Yarramalong’s draft, is sure to be a sale highlight.

YARRAMALONG Y

226

Park

arramalong Park’s investment into Better Than Ready has paid dividends with Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale graduates Gr3 winner Alpine Edge, Gr2 winner Chrysaor and Listed winner The Vowels who won five races in succession from January to April 2023. Established

by Richard and Joanie Foster on an old dairy farm, Yarramalong Park was initially a private breeding farm for the Foster’s racing team, and was selected for its high quality volcanic soils, undulating land, and secure water supply. With only a few yearling sales drafts under their belt, already many good horses have come from Yarramalong Park’s pastures.

Tiger Legend, and of course 2023 Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Skirt The Law.

How would you sum up your 2024 draft?

“Without doubt, this is the best draft of yearlings we have ever presented. Our continual mare upgrades are coming through in this draft,” said Richard Foster.

A full brother to stakes placed two year-old winner Ana Jaahza, Lot 930, is the third foal of winning American mare Merirosvo who is out of a daughter of dual Gr1 winner Smuggler.

In 2024, Yarramalong Park will present a draft of 23 yearlings, all bar one by their syndicated sire Better Than Ready who stands at Lyndhurst Stud. A tough racehorse who won eight races at two, three, and four, with several of those at black type level, Better Than Ready’s ten stakes winners include Gr1 winner Apache Chase, group winners Alpine Edge, Chrysaor,

A three-quarter brother to Gr1 placed winner More Secrets (More Than Ready) and a half-brother to Gr3 winner Amangiri, Lot 152, is out of winning mare Secret Indulgence, who is a half-sister to Gr1 winner Amalfi.

The second foal of American Listed winner Dreamarcher, who ran fourth in the Gr1 American Oaks, is Lot 608.

\ YARRAMALONG PARK \ RENÉE GEELEN

A baker’s dozen of Better Than Ready colts include a full brother to Gr3 winner Alpine Edge, who also ran second in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (to Shaquero), is Lot 690, out of stakes placed winner Freezethemillions, from the family of Zeditave. A full brother Lot 14 to currently racing stakes placed winner Steady Ready is from the family of Better Than Ready’s sire More Than Ready, giving him some interesting linebreeding.

His dam, Our First Lady, was a two year-old winner out of an imported American half-sister to More Than Ready.

With only a few yearling sales drafts under their belt, already many good horses have come from Yarramalong Park’s pastures.

Yarramalong Park “Breeding to Win” www.yarramalongpark.com Richard Foster 0417 192 515 richard@fosterracing.com.au

▼ What makes the Magic Millions sales and races special?

“The timing suits the trainer’s early race preparation programs, and the exciting concept encourages the market to get involved in that process.”

What has been your most satisfying result at the Magic Millions?

“Selling a record priced Better Than Ready Colt at the 2023 sales for $530,000.”

How would you sum up the internet?

“It allows super-fast access to the data that drives our industry.”

▼

Nine fillies by Better Than Ready are headlined by, Lot 1005, a full sister to recent Gr2 winner Chrysaor, out of two year-old winning mare New Wings, who is a half-sister to stakes winner of 13 races, Religify. Commanding Epic has been doing a great job as a broodmare with five winners from as many to race, and her filly, Lot 1104, is a full sister to all of them, who have collectively won 20 races including just turned three year-old Epic Proportions who was a city winner last season at two.

“Classy filles from Yukon Dance, Lot 376 and Istiraaha, Lot 799 have dual purpose pedigrees and are a must to inspect.”

Lot 1153 is the third foal of winning mare Finishing Touch from the family of Gr1 winner Fantastic Light and Your Song; while Lot 1262 is the third foal of Snitzel mare Miller Avenue, a half-sister to Listed winner Dublin Lass, dam of this season’s Gr3 Maribyrnong Plate winner Dublin Down.

“Of note is Lot 1446 who is a full sister to Umabett, who was a rapidly closing sixth place on debut in the recent Gr3 Gimcrack Stakes at Randwick. More will be heard of Umabett in coming months.”

Chrysaor (centre) Skirt The Law

2024 draft Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

14 152 376 527 603 690 799 930 1005 1015 1027 1104 1153 1166 1173 1175 1196 1262 1298 1340 1375 1414 1446

B/C B or Br/C Br/F Br/C Br/C B/C Br/F Br/C B or Br/F B/F B/F Br/F Br/F B/C B or Br/C B/C B/C B/F B/C Br/C B/F B or Br/C B/F

Better Than Ready Better Than Ready Better Than Ready Better Than Ready Better Than Ready Better Than Ready Better Than Ready Better Than Ready Better Than Ready Better Than Ready Prague Better Than Ready Better Than Ready Better Than Ready Better Than Ready Better Than Ready Better Than Ready Better Than Ready Better Than Ready Better Than Ready Better Than Ready Better Than Ready Better Than Ready

Our First Lady Secret Indulgence (NZ) Yukon Dance Chiswick Dreamarcher (USA) Freezethemillions Istiraaha Merirosvo (USA) New Wings Not a Single Woman Zunaida Commanding Epic Finishing Touch (GB) Garter (IRE) Golden Edict (USA) Goldie River Intensity Miller Avenue One Fire Beach Regime (USA) Seagull Summer Glen Umawinner

MMGC

\ 227

YARRAMAN Park T

hey say good things come in threes. This certainly applies to the Mitchell brothers’ Yarraman Park heading into the 2024 Magic Millions.

Not only is the super sire I Am Invincible heading inexorably to his third successive Australian General Sire title, but the recent Victorian Spring carnival produced a trio of results for the farm’s three stallions that are the stuff of dreams.

Vinnie’s daughter Imperatriz scorched through three consecutive Gr1 sprints, establishing herself as our new sprint queen, Hellbent’s talented daughter Magic Time won the Gr1 Sir Rupert Clarke S notching a timely Gr1 for his sire, son of the aforementioned Vinnie, and new boy Brave Smash saw his daughter, Kimochi, run a gallant 2nd in the timehonoured Gr1 1000 Guineas for 3yo fillies.

Could things be going any better for Yarraman?

Bluebloods asked Harry Mitchell.

“It’s a great feeling to finally have the leading sire. With our small operation, only ever standing two or three horses at any one time, we were wondering if it would ever happen. In recent years we always had a decent stallion such as Hinchinbrook or Magic Albert, but to get Vinnie has been amazing, and we have been very fortunate to have had great clients who have supported us over many years.

We’re also very happy with the performance of Vinnie’s Hellbent and we will be offering yearlings out of some of the best mares he’s covered. Like father, like son, now a Gr1 sire.

Brave Smash looks a very exciting prospect for us going forward too.”

How would you sum up your 2024 draft?

“We have a very even draft, with a nice spread of yearlings by quality proven sires and some young up and comers. We have 12 by Vinnie, five by his son Hellbent and a very attractive one by our new boy Brave Smash. Plus a Frankel filly who is very nice.

I Am Invincible’s champion sprinter Imperatriz has kept the spotlight shining brightly on her sire.

228

\ YARRAMAN PARK \ ANDREW REICHARD

Magic Time (Hellbent) wins the MRC Sir Rupert Clarke S 1400m at Caulfield, focusing attention on her sire and Yarraman Park’s draft for Magic Millions 2024.

It’s hard to pick a highlight but I might just mention a few for you.

Which past champion do you wish you could have seen at the races?

The I Am Invincible – Palace Talk colt is one of the best we’ve sent to a sale, he’s a cracker with a great pedigree being a full brother to Gr2 winner Shuffle Dancer. The Vinnie - Jalan Jalan colt is a beauty too.

“I was lucky enough to see the great Kingston Town, so he’ll do me. He was so versatile, winning from 1200m to 3200m in top company, often with a stunning burst of acceleration.

And he did it all overcoming near crippling soundness issues.”

Among our fillies the first foal of multiple stakes winner of over $1.5 million Outback Barbie by Vinnie is a stunner, and her first four dams are all stakes winners. The Vinnie filly out of Gr3 winner Flippant from the family of Gr1 winning fillies I Am Excited, Atlantic Jewel and Commanding Jewel is a great type and a real dual purpose filly for serious breeders.

Our Frankel filly and the Hellbent colt out of Private Dancer are also going to turn heads.

And we have a very special colt who is by our young gun Hellbent, he is a full brother to Kristilli, Gr2 winner of over $700K. Lovely colt.”

What makes the Magic Millions sales and races special?

“Magic Millions offers such great prizemoney and incentives, their race day is actually richer than Victoria Derby day. The sale graduates race for huge prizemoney and they can keep coming back, it gets better every year. The sale also caters for mid range buyers as it offers a great range of yearlings. The middle market is very important for most vendors, not every horse can be a sale topper. Then there’s the excitement of being the first sale each year in such a fantastic location, how can you beat it.”

More recently, the Mitchell brothers have had the satisfaction of watching a true modern day legend by their own champion I Am Invincible. During the recent Victorian Spring carnival his daughter Imperatriz embellished her already stellar record by tearing up the best sprinters three times in consecutive Gr1 races in Melbourne, the Manikato, the Moir and finaly the Champions Sprint over the famous Flemington straight six. No track record is safe while she’s around. Imperatriz has now won 17 of her 23 starts, including eight Gr1 races for earnings of over $5.3 million. She’s definitely a modern day champion and should ensure that the massive appetite commercial buyers have for Vinnie’s stock will be further in evidence at MM 2024.

Arthur and Harry will be on duty as usual between their barns ensuring that prospective buyers get their personal attention.

p: 02 6545 1961 e: studoffice@yarramanpark.com.au Matt Scown 0481 989 661 matt@yarramanpark.com.au

2024 draft Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

13 16 19 60 67 115 156 214 216 255 270 276 288 292 352 361 441 510 513 562 582 594 616 678 684 725 759 804 818 840 843 899 918 927 964

B or Br/C B/F B/C B/C B/F Ch/F Br/C B/C B/C Br/C B/F B/F B or Br/F B/F B/F B/C Br/C B/F B/F B/C B or Br/F Ch/C B/C B or Br/F Br/F B/C B or Br/F B or Br/C B/F B or Br/C Ch/C Ch/F B/F B/C B or Br/C

Brave Smash (JPN) Our Design I Am Invincible Outback Barbie I Am Invincible Palace Talk (NZ) Hellbent Private Dancer Bivouac Pursuits Capitalist Royal Missile Brazen Beau See Me Exceed Bivouac Socialising Hellbent Sognani Hellbent Sugar Hill Blue Point (IRE) Take Pride I Am Invincible Taste of Heaven Deep Field Tetsuko Wootton Bassett (GB) The Natural Exceed and Excel Wayborn (NZ) Blue Point (IRE) Why Choose Her I Am Invincible Aquamosa (NZ) I Am Invincible Catwalk Frankel (GB) Cercle d’Or (IRE) I Am Invincible Danish Spy Hellbent Diamond Pedrille Anders Dorotea I Am Invincible Elate (NZ) I Am Invincible Flippant Hellbent Forest Circle (USA) I Am Invincible Gotta Kiss Bivouac Hoss Amor I Am Invincible Jalan Jalan I Am Invincible Just Fabulous (NZ) Pierro Lady Grazier Deep Field Lady Macan Capitalist Luskintyre Lass I Am Invincible Mark Two (NZ) Maurice (JPN) Melisende Capitalist Missile Mantra

MMGC

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Yulong’s Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Tagaloa from a brilliant sireline is certain to attract buyers looking for a fast early two year-old.

YULONG Stud

Yulong Stud quickly showed their intent and ability as breeders with Gr1 winner Hungry Heart coming from their debut Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft, while last year’s offering has already produced the early two year-old Golden Gift winner Shangri La Express (Alabama Express). The 2024 draft for Yulong Stud features 43 yearlings by a range of proven sires including Alabama Express, Capitalist, Extreme Choice, Frankel, Grunt, Lope de Vega, Pierata, Pierro, Snitzel, Written Tycoon, and Zoustar, alongside the first-crop yearlings by their own Gr1-winning stallions Tagaloa and Lucky Vega.

By Champion Japanese sire Lord Kanaloa, Gr1 Blue Diamond victor Tagaloa has nine yearlings in Yulong’s draft, including Lot 700, a colt out of Gr3 winner Gamble Me and a half-brother to two stakes-placed winners and the dam of this season’s $1million Golden Gift winner Shangri La Express Lot 719 (Gold and Diamonds) is a half-brother to stakes-placed winner Authentic Jewel from the Eight Carat family, while Gr3 winner and Gr1-placed Gregers is the dam of Lot 731, who is

230

from the family of Gr1 winners Ofcourseican and Gimmethegreenlight. Lot 1328 is the second foal of four-time city winner Pure, who is a half-sister to Gr1 winner and sire Flying Artie from the family of Cox Plate and Japan Cup winner Better Loosen Up Of the Tagaloa fillies, Lot 34 is a half-sister to stakes winner Red Card, out of the young winning Street Cry mare Penalty.

The Australian market is already familiar with Lucky Vega’s sire Lope de Vega, having produced Gr1 winners Gytrash, Santa Ana Lane, Vega Magic and Vega One in a brief shuttling stint, but his female line should also catch the imagination of many buyers with multiple Gr1 winner Militarize out of a sister to Lucky Vega’s own dam. Lucky Vega himself won the Gr1 Phoenix Stakes at two, going on to place in both the Gr1 2000 Guineas and G1 St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot at three. His first crop is represented in Yulong’s draft with six yearlings, evenly split between colts and fillies. A half-brother to stakes-placed winner Peninsula Links is Lot 1078, out of city winner Cardannic, a half-sister to dual

\ YULONG STUD \ RENÉE GEELEN

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2024 draft

Group 1-winning juvenile Lucky Vega will have his first yearlings at Magic Millions 2024.

Gr3 winner Cahuita. A colt, Lot 224, is the second foal of winning mare Soul Purpose, a half-sister to Listed winner Causeway Queen and Gr3 winner Solar Charged, dam of Magic Millions-winning Champion 3YO Filly and triple Gr1 winner Sunlight and her Gr3 winning sister Sisstar.

to Gr2 winner and Gr1-placed Glenfiddich, and Lot 235 being out of stakes-placed winner (of five races as a two year-old) Spot the Diff.

C F Orr Stakes winner Alabama Express has begun his stud career with a boom, with Yulong graduates Karavas winning the Gr3 Ottawa Stakes on Oaks Day, and Shangri La Express winning the Golden Gift. Yulong will showcase three of his yearling colts in this draft, including Lot 507, who is the second foal of Castle Queen, a winning half-sister to Mabeel from the family of Gr1 winner Invader.

How would you sum up your 2024 draft?

Yulong will also present twelve yearlings by their Champion Sire Written Tycoon who is emerging as a sire of sires. Exciting colt, Lot 785, is the second foal of dual Gr1 winner In Her Time from the family of Yes Yes Yes; while Written Tycoon filly, Lot 645, is the second foal of Evening Slippers, a two yearold winning full-sister to Gr1 winner Sweet Idea and Gr2 winner Showtime, whose first foal by Grunt sold at this sale last year for $340,000. Lot 743, a filly, is out of Listed Cinderella Stakes winner Haybah who is a half-sister to Listed winner Taraayef, and from the family of Gr1 winner Rebel Raider.

Additionally, Yulong will present two colts who have highly commercial pedigrees, a Frankel colt, Lot 627, who is the first foal of winning mare Elvic, a half-sister to Listed winner Tall Ship, and to the dam of Gr1 winner Channel, while this colt’s second dam is Gr1 two year-old winner Magical Romance. Snitzel colt, Lot 89, is the first foal of Gr2 winner Reelem in Ruby from the family of USA Champion turf filly and sixtime Gr1 winner Possibly Perfect.

A pair of nicely bred Zoustar fillies round out the draft with Lot 1017 being a half-sister

Bluebloods spoke to Yulong’s COO Sam Fairgray ahead of the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale.

“Yulong’s 2024 Magic Millions draft is a mix of both proven stallions, local and international, as well as the first yearlings in the sales ring by the Blue Diamond winner Tagaloa and Gr1-winning two yearold Lucky Vega. Our 2023 draft produced arguably this season’s most exciting two year-old colt in Shangri La Express (by young Yulong sire Alabama Express), and with Tagaloa and Lucky Vega both receiving high-quality books from Mr Zhang much like their predecessor, we hope buyers will uncover another gem from this year’s outstanding selection.”

Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

9 34 89 126 184 206 209 224 233 235 343 418 434 479 507 530 535 579 593 610 620 627 645 652 697 700 708 719 731 743 785 913 953 1017 1025 1074 1078 1112 1165 1308 1311 1328 1438

Ch/F B/F Br or Blk/C Ch/C Br/C B/F Ch/F B/C B/F Br/F B/C B/F B/C Br or Blk/C B/C Br or Blk/F B/F B/C Ch/C B/F Br/C B/C Ch/F Br or Blk/C Br/F Ch/C Ch/C B/C Br or Blk/C Br or Blk/F B/C B or Br/F B/C Ch/F Br/F B/C B/C Br/C B/F B/F B or Br/C Br/C Ch/F

Written Tycoon Tagaloa Snitzel Written Tycoon Tagaloa Tagaloa Written Tycoon Lucky Vega (IRE) Extreme Choice Zoustar Pierata Lope de Vega (IRE) Capitalist Written Tycoon Alabama Express Grunt (NZ) Written Tycoon Alabama Express Written Tycoon Tagaloa Written Tycoon Frankel (GB) Written Tycoon Written Tycoon Lucky Vega (IRE) Tagaloa Capitalist Tagaloa Tagaloa Written Tycoon Written Tycoon Lucky Vega (IRE) Written Tycoon Zoustar Too Darn Hot (GB) Alabama Express Lucky Vega (IRE) Pierro Tagaloa Lucky Vega (IRE) Lucky Vega (IRE) Tagaloa Hanseatic

Oribella Penalty Reelem in Ruby Saluting to Win Shines Her Light (IRE) Smiles for Naara (NZ) So Far Away Soul Purpose Spirituality Spot the Diff Vivid Fortress Altea (FR) Anitra Bidding War Castle Queen (NZ) Cinematic Close to Me Devine Lass Dongxing Princess Dundeel Star Elegant Grace Elvic (GB) Evening Slippers Fallacy Future Force Gamble Me Gibraltar Girl Gold and Diamonds (NZ) Gregers Haybah In Her Time Maozi Miss Iano Nothin But a Dream (USA) Zerenda (FR) Camila Lucinda Cardannic Cover Look (USA) Galivant (IRE) Pattle Reef (IRE) Peninsula Miss Pure Tiz My View

What makes the Magic Millions sales and races special?

“Magic Millions put together quality catalogues year on year and they create an atmosphere that no one wants to miss.

International visitors love coming to the Gold Coast in January as outside of the sale there is so much to do and fun to be had.”

Who have been the most influential people for you in racing?

“The most influential people in my career would be Peter Keating, John Messara, Henry Field and the late Dr Percy Sykes.”

How would you sum up the internet?

“A place that has brought the world closer together.”

At the 2024 Magic Millions, Yulong will present a quality lineup that should bring buyers, owners and trainers together in the winner’s circle.

wwwyulonginvestcomau 115 Grenada Rd, Mangalore VIC 3663 (03) 5796 2741 Sam Fairgray: 0418 427 568 samfairgray@yulonginvestcomau Claudia McDougall: 0457 746 666 claudia@yulonginvestcomau Harry King 0457 496 666 harry@yulonginvestcomau

MMGC

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