Mill Park Stud in South Australia is a thoroughbred nursery that consistently delivers results at the highest level and if you are in the market for a Classic contender or a Slipper hopeful their Magic Millions draft for the Gold Coast offers the promise of more success to come.
Owned and run by the Watson family, Mill Park Stud is geographically blessed covering 10,000 acres of undulating limestone-based landscape. The vast paddocks and organic approach to the breeding and raising of young thoroughbreds is a tried and tested recipe for racetrack success.
The Mill Park raised/ or sold honour roll of success features a galaxy of Group I stars and million dollar earners such as speed queens Away Game, Instant Celebrity, Booker, Run Fox Run and Seradess as well as outstanding performers including Warning, Dalasan, Berkeley Square, Peltzer and Hong Kong based Senor Toba.
A $425,000 purchase for Kerri Radcliffe Bloodstock from the Mill Park Magic Millions draft in 2019, Snitzel filly Away Game was bred by Mill Park in partnership and has been one of the all-time great Magic Millions success stories.
Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace she won the 2020 Magic Millions 2YO Classic before training on to win many more Group races and earned $3.7million for her all women ownership group.
The Champion 2YO Filly of 2019/2020, Away Game put the icing on the cake for her lucky owners when selling at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale this year for $4million to Yulong and she is now moving on to the next phase of her stud career having been covered by Written Tycoon.
The Mill Park draft for Magic Millions features 12 youngsters that include a three-quarter brother-in-blood to Away Game with highlights below:
Lot 735 Colt Snitzel x Cocoa Doll, by More Than Ready (USA)
Three-quarter brother-in-blood to Champion 2YO Filly and $3.7million earner Away Game and stakes-winner Modern Wonder. Half-brother to Group III placed Written Swoosh (from just two starts) and is bred on highly successful Snitzel x More Than Ready cross that has produced 91% winners to runners with 31 winners from 34 starters including Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Exhilarates.
“Away Game and this colt are closely related and in many ways are quite similar,” said Chris Watson.
“Both are compact, very well-muscled types with huge hindquarters. Though the most telling aspect is for a sprinting compact type, they both have the most enormous athletic stride. A lovely walk on both of them.”
Mill Park sold a Trapeze Artist colt from Cocoa Doll in 2022 at the Gold Coast for $850,000 to Phillip Stokes Racing making him the most expensive yearling from the first crop of his sire. Named Trapeze Warrior, he has pleased his new owners and will be one to watch for the future.
“Lovely type of colt with a big action and already showing good early potential,” said Phillip Stokes.
“He will be a nice 3yo for the stable.”
Lot 19 Colt Blue Point (IRE) x Just Discreet, by Exceed and Excel
From the first crop of champion sprinter and Royal Ascot hero Blue Point from Group III winner Just Discreet, a half-sister to Group I Australasian Oaks winner Maybe Discreet, who is by Blue Point’s sire Shamardal. Dam has had four foals to race and all are winners with Border Control winning at Gosford after he catalogue went to print.
Lot 60 Colt Deep Field x Light The Waves, by Blackfriars
First foal of a metro winning half-sister to Group II ATC Villiers Stakes winner Dances on Waves and to the dam of four time Group I winner and $3.4million earner Preferment and Group III winner Rezoned. Grand-dam Ancient Lights is a full sister to Group I winning sprinter Ancient Song.
Lot 196 Filly Magna Grecia (IRE) x Obsidian Dragon, by Hidden Dragon
From the first crop of dual Group I winning Invincible Spirit son Magna Grecia, a half-brother to European Horse of the Year St Mark’s Basilica. Half-sister to brilliant multiple Group winning sprint filly Seradess and talented mare Rose Quartz, who is overdue for a stakes win after finishing second, third and fourth at her past three starts in Listed races.
Lot 519 Colt Deep Field x Victory Cry, by General Nediym
Half-brother to Group I Kenilworth Cape Flying Championship Stakes winner Run Fox Run, stakes-winner Guard of Honour, stakes-placed Battle Strike and to the dam of Group III placed Pimm’s Party. This has been a very successful family for Mill Park over many years producing Group I winner Serious Speed and Group II winner Majestic Music.
Lot 544 Colt Rubick x Whatalovelyday, by Domesday
Half-brother to Group II placed Whatafox and promising 3YO filly Benedetta (Hellbent), who bolted in at Cranbourne on Thursday at her second start to earn 'One to Watch' status, read about her here. From stakes-placed Whatalovelyday, who comes from the family of Group I winners Leica Guv, Light Fantastic and Pharoah.
Lot 601 Colt So You Think x Amalgamate, by Zenno Rob Roy (Jpn)
Half-brother to Group III winning multiple stakes-winner Ecumenical, who was also fourth in Group I MRC Thousand Guineas and has won over $460,000, and stakes-placed Residue. Magnificent colt unmistakably stamped by his ever popular sire So You Think.
See the draft at Stable QC 28-34 and QD 1-8.
