Gai Waterhouse | Gai Waterhouse News 53727 Magic Millions 2023 Review Stable Spotlight

Magic Millions 2023 Review

Wed, Jan 18, 2023

Magic Millions 2023 Review

The 2023 Magic Millions January Sale was a roaring success for our team, and we still have the lion's share of the associated race day to look forward to on Thursday, an eight race card where every race is worth over $1,000,000 and is restricted to graduates of the sale.


This sale has been fantastic to Tulloch Lodge. Six of our seven Golden Slipper winners were secured at the Magic Millions, and the Gold Coast yearling sale has produced nine Group 1 winners for us in the last 10 racing seasons.


Our 2YOs are absolutely flying this season and we again targeted mature, young athletes who had the necessary physical and genetic profile to establish themselves early for their owners, before graduating through their Stakes grades. 

2023 In Comparison:
The success of our 2YOs this season ties in with our increased spend on likely types at the Magic Millions in recent years. Going out and buying yearlings that we want to train is akin to writing our own history. Here is a comparison of our Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling spend in recent years (where Gai & Adrian are listed as buyers or co-buyers):


2020: $8.3m spend on 30 yearlings (Average = $271,000)
2021: $9.7m spend on 32 yearlings (Average = $302,813)
2022: $14.3m spend on 37 yearlings (Average = $386,622)
2023: $14.4m spend on 38 yearlings (Average = $378,242)


Sire Attraction:
All in all, we purchased 38 yearlings by 24 different stallions. Those sires most represented on our buyers sheet included:


3 - Capitalist & Written Tycoon
2 - I Am Invincible, Snitzel, Zoustar, Too Darn Hot, Justify, & The Autumn Sun


A number of first crop sires impressed us and we walked away with yearlings by Alabama Express, Castelvecchio, Cosmic Force, Dubious, Pierata, Too Darn Hot & Zousain.

Precocity and Speed:
The majority of what we secured was selected for precocity and speed, and here are some 2YO types who have proven to be very popular so act quickly as there are only a few shares remaining:


Lot 190 - Exceed & Excel x Nothin But A Dream (First Defence) Colt

Purchase Price: $800,000
Vendor: Edinburgh Park
In a Nutshell: Golden Slipper quality stallion prospect

 

  • By a Champion 2YO sire who has fathered two of the best credentialed young stallion prospects to go to stud in Australia over the past few years in Bivouac and Microphone
  • This colt is the fifth live foal of a mare that has already produced a stallion; Aquis's Group 2 winning 3YO and Group 1 placed 2YO Glenfiddich
  • Physically he is everything you hope a stallion prospect would look like - deep bay in colour, white fetlock socks just like Danehill, a cracking head, and a super athletic frame
  • A colt you can aim for the stars with



Lot 202 - Castelvecchio x Opportunity (Redoute's Choice) Colt
Purchase Price: $325,000
Vendor: Arrowfield Stud
In a Nutshell: Bred to be early, looks early, born early

  • By a nicely credentialled first crop sire who had the speed and precocity to win the Inglis Millennium and Group 1 Champagne as a 2YO, before training on to be a WFA star 3YO winning the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas before just going down in Cox Plate
  • This colt's mother, Opportunity, was very precocious and, in a rare feat,  contested the Group 1 Blue Diamond (4th) and Group 1 Golden Slipper (7th) in her 2YO year.
  • Opportunity has done a fantastic job at stud with six foals to race, all winners with an average of over four wins apiece. This includes three Stakes horses among her six runners to date
  • Physically he is big and strong with a powerful action, and a bombproof temperament
  • He will be putting smiles on his owners' faces nice and early



Lot 256 - Zoustar x Pretty In Pink (Sebring) Filly
Purchase Price: $520,000
Vendor: Segenhoe Stud
In a Nutshell: Fast 2YO

  • This filly is a daughter of Zoustar who is headed to Champion sire honours. He is currently the sire of leading fillies in both generations through 3YO Zougotcha and our very own 2YO Platinum Jubilee
  • This filly is the first foal of two time winning and Stakes winning 2YO PRETTY IN PINK. She is by our own Golden Slipper winner Sebring, from a Stakes performed mare by Blue Diamond winner Nadeem. There is 2YO speed and precocity littered through her pedigree
  • Physically this filly is like a bay version of Platinum Jubilee - neat, square and gifted with a huge action
  • A filly with good residual value that we can add to further on the racetrack



Lot 732 - Russian Revolution x Clear Ripples (Fastnet Rock) Colt
Purchase Price: $240,000
Vendor: The Chase
In a Nutshell: Very typical of his sire who we LOVE

  • This colt is by second season sire Russian Revolution who we have a great affinity with. RISE OF THE MASSES started our association with a win in a key Slipper lead up, and PERFECT PROPOSAL looks capable of doing the same, or better, after her excellent second placing in the Gimcrack on debut
  • In the last 10 days we have had four winners by Russian Revolution - RUSSIAN RONI won the Listed Tasmanian Guineas, THE INSTRUCTOR & RED RESISTANCE both won on debut and will now take aim at the highest 2YO honours, and GOLD REVOLVER broke her maiden just yesterday
  • This colt is from a mare by Champion Sire Fastnet Rock whose three foals to race are all winners. This family is constantly adding new Group winners in Australia, and hopefully this guy is the next
  • Physically he is well-grown with a lovely head and eye, a massive, deep girth, and a great hip
  • He looks like being our next Russian Revolution success story. They just run!



For more information on our recent Magic Millions purchases please contact our Sales team:


Let's keep winning!
Gai and Adrian