The famous US sports journo, Red Smith, once proclaimed that : “writing is easy … I just sit down at my typewriter and open a vein”.
To be honest, I don’t think there are many thoroughbred industry authors that have ‘blood’ oozing from their copy, although Andrew Rule (‘Winx’ et al) is an obvious exception to the … well, um, rule.
Jessica Owers is another and today she released ‘Magic Millions’ which is effectively a history of the famous Australian thoroughbred auction house.
Unlike Owers’ previous two tomes – ‘Peter Pan’ and ‘Shannon’ – I wasn’t around to watch either of them race, but Magic Millions, on the other hand, has been omnipresent for the majority of my professional life.
Inglis, the other half of the nation’s duopoly on selling thoroughbreds, was established long before Carbine was even a glint in Musket’s eye, whereas Magic Millions is a foal by comparison, first launched in 1980.
But what a tale it’s been. Since its creation by ‘middle aged bushie’, Carl Waugh, the company has experienced more than its share of highs and lows. Selling Winx as a yearling was clearly a highlight, while going into receivership in the 1990s was hardly a proud moment.
Yet, as Owers illustrates so vividly, there is just something special about the Magic Millions. While Inglis limits its ‘physical’ sales to NSW and Victoria, Magic Millions has its hoofprint in Perth, Adelaide, Tassie and, most tellingly, on Queensland’s Gold Coast.
And, let’s face it, the Gold Coast is where the Magic comes from. Not to belittle MM’s other venues but some of the other sales can struggle at times and the heat generated from certain complexes in the middle of summer often remind me of the fiery afterlife that will surely come my way for penning so many bad articles and tipping slow horses.
To be honest, the Gold Coast auditorium is no picnic either during a January scorcher, but the annual ‘event’ – the first yearling sale of the year – truly is something to behold.
It’s probably fair to say that Magic Millions in the 2020s has far exceeded the lofty ambition of Waugh from near 50 years ago, where the dream of a million dollar race associated with a horse sale first sprouted wings.
Now, the actual sale is almost the roller coaster after you’ve been on every other ride.
The barrier draw on the beach, the polo and showjumping, the soirees (and hangovers), the 6 x $1 million plus races on the Saturday (including the $3 million 2YO Classic and $3 million 3YO Guineas) … it’s a wonder they have time to fit in an actual sale.
What’s more – it’s conducted during first weeks of January (on THE Gold Coast), everyone who is anyone is there, the tremendous racing and, as the record shows, tomorrow’s champions are up for grabs.
I met Carl Waugh a couple of times and he seemed to be a grumpy, old bastard, but grudgingly have to admit, his vision was nothing short of genius.
Courtesy of Jessica Owers and her exhausting research, I could go on and on, but I won’t. That’s what the book is for. If you’ve got any interest in the background of a moving feast that has provided us with so many thrills and spills, then just buy it!
It will make a good Chrissie present and is out in plenty of time before you again set foot at Bundall or tune in for the ’26 chapter.
