The Magic Millions Yearling Sale wrapped up in spectacular fashion, delivering another unforgettable week for Victorian breeders and vendors. From record-breaking sales to standout performances by Victorian stallions, it was one to remember and hopefully sets the scene for a great sales season.
Victorian vendors made their mark with exceptional clearance rates and standout sales. Aristia Park and Musk Creek Farm achieved 100% clearance rates with other notable highlights including:
Yulong’s champion stallion Written Tycoon stole the spotlight with two Victorian-bred yearlings fetching a remarkable $1.8 million each, two out of the five highest-priced lots throughout the sale.
Lot 185, a Written Tycoon filly out of Champion 2YO filly Away Game, was sold for $1.8 million to American businessman John Stewart. When asked about the result, Vin Cox, General Manager of Yulong, commented “We are absolutely stoked. It’s the best result we’ve had at Yulong ever. It’s a great result for Mr Zhang and his family to realise a price in that order, it’s just wonderful.”
“They’re vested in what we’re doing. The culture at Yulong is very strong. We’ve had a lot of success over the last 12 months, even longer, but they enjoy it as much as the owners do.” Vin also praised the amazing work done by the team at Yulong.
Two days after, Coolmore snapped up another son of Written Tycoon offered by Yulong for $1.8 million. Lot 505, whose full brother was also purchased by Coolmore at the same sale last year, is the third foal out of dual Group 1 winner In Her Time.
“Obviously we got the brother last year for the syndicate as well, again we’re very lucky to have the people we have in this syndicate and everybody was very keen on the horse.” Tom Magnier from Coolmore said.
“I think Chris has an opinion of the brother, which probably gave us the confidence to come back this year.”
As the fourth-leading sire by average, Written Tycoon ranked above prominent names such as Extreme Choice, Wootton Bassett, and Zoustar.
Longwood Thoroughbreds sold Lot 424, a Zoustar x Fuddle Dee Duddle colt, for $675,000. Zoustar needs no introduction while his dam, Fuddle Dee Duddle (Red Ransom), was a Group 3 winner and the dam of G3 Maribyrnong Plate winner Brereton. Purchased by Henry Field of Newgate on behalf of partners, “We thought he was a really sharp Zoustar colt; light, athletic, very good-moving horse, we liked him a lot and hopefully he can be a very good racehorse.” Field also highlighted the appeal of purchasing from Fuddle Dee Duddle, “It’s actually the first one we’ve bid on out of the mare over the years but she’s been a great producer. She’s produced Brereton and the horse of Mick Price’s (Space Rider) that looks a very good horse.”
Michael Christian of Longwood Thoroughbreds also sold Lot 353 I Am Invincible x Eloping, a full sister to Champion 3YO Filly & Female Sprinter In Secret, for $2.3 million in conjunction with Kevin Maloney under Segenhoe’s draft.
Rosemont Stud continued their stellar reputation with two standout sales - Lot 421, an I Am Invincible x From Within filly, sold for $900,000. By Champion Sire I Am Invincible, the filly’s dam, From Within (Not a Single Doubt), is a stakes-winning sprinter and a sister to California Zimbol (I Am Invincible), a Group 3 winner. Buyer Michael Freedman shared, “Beautiful filly by a great stallion who has done a great job with his fillies, and it is a family I know a lot about. I bred the mother and all the ones initially.” On acquiring the filly, Freedman added, “I saw that and saw her as a physical and thought she was a filly I really wanted to get involved in.” Addressing the final stages of bidding, he remarked, “There was a little bit of hesitation. My clients were bullish to keep going, but that was about where we thought she’d land. Those really good quality fillies that are as good a type as she is, you have to pay that kind of money.”
Lot 397, a Pinatubo x Fiesta colt, fetched $700,000. By first-season sire and unbeaten 2YO Champion Pinatubo, this colt’s dam, Fiesta (I Am Invincible), was a Group 2 winner and multiple Group 1 placegetter, with over $1.5 million in earnings. Buyer Ben Hayes of Lindsay Park Racing commented, “We loved him from the first time we saw him. His mum was very fast and he paraded so well through the day. Hopefully, he can get some nice results.” Hayes further praised the colt, describing him as “a lengthy, athletic type” and added, “Rosemont are good supporters of ours.”
Lot 397: Pinatubo x Fiesta
Blue Gum Farm sold Lot 304, a Blue Point x Dancing Brave Bear colt, for $400,000. By Darley Victoria’s Blue Point, the colt’s dam, Dancing Brave Bear (Street Cry), was Group 3-placed in the UK and hails from the family of U.S. champions such as the G1 Preakness Stakes winner Shackleford and G1 Alabama Stakes winner Lady Joanne.
Lot 304: Blue Point x Dancing Brave
Three Bridges Thoroughbreds achieved an impressive result with Lot 464, a colt by Champion Sire, I Am Invincible x Haut Brion Her, selling for $600,000. The colt’s dam, Haut Brion Her (Zoustar), was a multiple Group 2 winner and a standout on the track with career earnings of over $1.4 million. Haut Brion Her is also a half-sister to Group winners Karacatis (Hussonet) and Shamillion (Sharmadal), adding further depth to the pedigree.
Lot 464: I Am Invincible x Haut Brion Her
Victorian-bred and sired yearlings demonstrated a consistent ability to attract top-tier buyers, reaffirming the state’s place amongst the best in the nation. We look forward to further sales at Karaka in New Zealand before Inglis Classic and then our very own sale at Inglis Premier in March.
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