Putting aside the season disrupted by Equine Influenza, the wait for Australia’s first live yearling sale of the year has never been longer, but Magic Millions is finally ready to begin on the Gold Coast.
The renowned Gold Coast Yearling Sale, which draws international buyers to Queensland, opens on Tuesday and runs through to Sunday.
The Bundall sales complex has been alive with activity since early last week, with inspections well underway and anticipation building among vendors and buyers.
“Inspections started here Tuesday and I think vendors and buyers were both eager to get here given the fact we’re that little bit further away from New Year than normal,” managing director Barry Bowditch said.
“Everyone’s got in and got a lot of inspections done, it’s been fairly solid on the complex, and there are a lot of nice horses.
“The inspectors, agents and buyers are predicting there’s great depth to the catalogue. There’s a fantastic middle (market), there are some very significant horses in the catalogue that are going to go very well and, all in all, from an inspections perspective Magic Millions is delighted.”
The 1221-lot sale will commence at 11am on Tuesday, following the barrier draws for the $3 million 2YO Classic and $3 million 3YO Guineas on Broadbeach.
Day 1 features 210 lots, including a colt by Written Tycoon out of Away Game and an I Am Invincible filly out of Avantage, before 240 lots are offered on both Wednesday and Thursday.
The ‘super session’ returns on Friday with 290 yearlings catalogued, followed by 241 Book 2 lots on Sunday.
“The Super Session is logical, it was well received last year, and it worked extremely well,” Bowditch said.
“Obviously, we had some massive fireworks late in the sale, and the sale topper came in the last hour of the sale.”
That top lot was the Home Affairs filly out of Sunlight, who sold for a record $3.2 million.
Book 1 last year generated just over $205 million in turnover, with an average of $272,507.
There are 31 yearlings out of Group 1 winners catalogued, including an eye-catching I Am Invincible filly out of Qafila.
Prepared by Coolmore Stud, that filly will be offered early in the Super Session, while Arrowfield’s Snitzel colt out of Iffranesia, a brother to Beadman, is another key attraction on Day 2.
Punters are already engaging with major online bookmakers as Magic Millions week gathers momentum.
The sale also marks the first chance to buy yearlings by leading first-season sires, with nine-time Group 1 winner Anamoe heading the list with 31 lots.
The post All set for Magic Millions 2026 sale on the Gold Coast first appeared on Just Horse Racing.
