Magic Millions 2017 Yearling Sales Leaders and Race Day Choice to be Made!

Written on the 6 January 2017

Almost upon us, the long awaited Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sales begin next week with the big race day on Saturday week. Team Thoroughbreds will be there and we hope to see many of you on Friday, January 13th. 

Some of the big stars in recent racing history such as It's A Dundeel, Fiorente, Zoustar, Sizzling and Spirit Of Boom will have their first yearling progeny up for sale on the Gold Coast. Now's the time to see what kind of horses these Group 1 winners have thrown.

Dual Group 1 winner Spirit Of Boom, who was born and bred in Queensland, and retired to Eureka Stud has 15 yearlings catalogued.

Scott McAlpine from Eureka Stud admitted that it is always a nervous time when the first progeny of a stallion go to a yearling sale.

"I've been doing this for a long time and you should get used to it, but it's always the same," McAlpine said.

"You come here not really knowing what the buyers will think of the product you have. We believe our product is a good one."

"They look like athletic, early running, tough horses, but you are at the mercy of the buyers. Already we feel he (Spirit Of Boom) has been successful. To get 15 horses into this sale is a great achievement, but now it's crunch time."

"You put three years into these horses and there's a lot of money that hinges on how successful this stallion is going to be."

The most represented of all the winning gallopers at this sale is Zoustar who was sold in a stud deal that valued him in the vicinity of $20 million. This sire's first crop has an astounding 42 yearlings catalogued. Only established sires All Too Hard (58), Snitzel (52) and I Am Invincible (47) have more progeny at this sale.

Some of the other first crop sires include Doomben 10,000 winner Epaulette with 26 yearlings, Sizzling with 23 and ATC Derby and Queen Elizabeth winner It's a Dundeel, reverting to his original name of Dundeel in the breeding barn with 12.

Gai Waterhouse's Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente has 3 yearlings heading to the Gold Coast and Snitzel's Cox Plate and Australian Guineas winner Shamus Award has 16 catalogued.

Other first-crop sires include Eurozone with 13 catalogued, Fighting Sun with 5, Shamexpress with 4 and Magic Millions winner Unencumbered with 8.

The most represented among the imported first-crop sires are Declaration Of War with 15 and The Factor with 15.

The catalogue also includes the first foals from recent Queensland Group 1 winning mares Streama and Quintessential.

While buyers are getting ready to view the talent, the rest of us are keen to see the line-up for the Magic MIllions Race Day... and the choices are still to be made!

This week attention was centred around Single Bullet, however, Team Hawkes could throw an unexpected spanner in the Magic Millions order of entry with Warwick Farm runner Radiant Choice.

Single Bullet is the odds-on favourite, but it's believed if he is to be beaten, it will be by Radiant Choice.

Gary Portelli will also make a call on Single Bullet's Magic Millions contention after he runs on Saturday.

Hugh Bowman will be the new rider for boom filly From Within if she progresses to next week's Magic Millions 2YO Classic, replacing Glyn Schofield.

Trainer, Chris Waller continues to be pleased by The Not A Single Doubt filly. He said on Thursday she was yet to give him a reason not to start in the $2 million race.

If you'd still like to join us on Friday, January 13th, to learn the ins and outs in choosing a racehorse winner, please contact us by emailing Terry at terry@teamthoroughbreds.com.au or call Terry on 0439 824 440.

(Photo Credit: Mark Evans, News Corp Australia)

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