'One of the Strongest Days in MM History'

Media Release - Thursday January 9

A colt by former champion Japanese sire Deep Impact swept to the head of the top sellers list at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale when he sold for $1.9 million today.

Advertisement
 
Four yearlings sold for seven figures on Day Two including a $1.5 million filly, but in the end it was the Deep Field colt who took the honours.

$1.9 million Deep Impact colt sold by Arrowfield StudOffered by Arrowfield Stud the colt is the first foal of former Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase, group winning juvenile Honesty Prevails.

The colt will join the stables of Group One winning Sydney horseman Richard Litt with the trainer outlaying $1.9 million on behalf of major owner Ottavio Galletta.

"Obviously his pedigree (appealed)," Litt said. "They don't make the Deep Impacts any more."

"He's out of a really good mare and he's a lovely individual as well."

"It's amazing to be able to work with the Gallettas. They've given me massive opportunities and now it's my job to deliver."

Arrowfield Stud's John Messara said the colt "ticked all the boxes."

Melbourne based bloodstock agent Sheamus Mills fought hard to purchase his prized filly of the sale, the Written Tycoon-Karuta Queen youngster for $1.5 million.

$1.5 million Written Tycoon filly sold by Strawberry Hill studA flashy filly, just like her Magic Millions 2YO Classic winning mother, the youngster was offered by John Singleton's Strawberry Hill Stud.

She's a half sister to the stakes winner Eawase.

"I'm sweating like you wouldn't believe," Mills said moments after the hammer fell. 

"A mill and a half on a filly that in my opinion is as good a yearling not only at this sale - but as good a yearling as I've seen."

James Bester and Tom Magnier teamed up to snare Lot 364 - the Hinchinbrook-Harlem Heat colt from Yarraman Park Stud earlier in the afternoon for $1.15 million.

The colt is a three quarter brother to the stakes winner Harlem River and is closely related to The Everest winner, the Gold Coast Yearling Sale graduate, Yes Yes Yes.

$1.15 million Hinchinbrook colt sold by Yarraman Park"From the day I first saw him at Yarraman Park about six weeks ago I thought he was the one," Bester said.

"I couldn't wait for the guys from Ireland to get here and they liked him. He vetted out perfectly and we were determined to get him." 

"He's a really wonderful mover," Bester added. "A real big over step with lovely extension and reach in front. It's seldom you see an animal with that quality that still has the speed look about them."

The Redoute's Choice-Gresset colt offered by Bhima Thoroughbreds today as Lot 354 will head to Rosehill trainer Gerald Ryan after being purchased for $1.1 million.

Chinese based owner An Zhiqiang, who will be represented by Wisdom of Water in Saturday's $2 million The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic, held the bid when the gavel dropped.

"He's a great athlete and moves so well," Ryan said. "He's as good a Redoute's Choice colt as I've seen for quite a few years."

"When I first saw him I fell in love with him."

$1.1 million Redoute's Choice colt sold by Bhima Thoroughbreds"I didn't think we would have to go as high to get him but thankfully Mr An got him and I'm looking forward to training him," Ryan added.

A three quarter brother to South African Group Two winner Honorine, the colt is the second foal of the Hussonet mare Gresset.

After two days of selling, the Gold Coast Yearling Sale gross grew to over $104 million with an average price of $249,032 for 419 lots sold. The clearance rate has now grown to over 86 per cent.

"I think today was one of the strongest selling days we have had here at Magic Millions in the history of the sale," Managing Director Barry Bowditch said.

"There's great depth to the market and there's plenty of phenomenal results out there."

"I think the results as they stand now set us up for a great last two days of Book One," Bowditch added.

Meanwhile, those attending tomorrow's sale will be able to bid for seven amazing items in a silent auction as part of the Magic Millions Bushfire Appeal.

The silent auction, with items collectively valued at over $65,000, is located at the back of the auditorium and bidding will end at the close of tomorrow's auction.

To view the sale results so far or to make an offer on a passed in lot click here.

SALE STATISTICS
(2019 Day 1-2 in brackets)

Lots Catalogued: 524 (530)
Lots Sold: 419 (412)
Lots Passed In: 66 (72)
Lots Withdrawn: 38 (46)
Sale Gross: $104,344,500 ($103,650,000)
Top Price: $1,900,000 ($1,600,000)
Average Price: $249,032 ($251,578)
Median Price: $180,000 ($180,000)
Sold %: 86 (85)

DAY TWO TOP SELLERS
  $1,900,000 - Deep Impact-Honesty Prevails colt (Lot 385)

Vendor: Arrowfield Stud (As Agent) / Buyer: Galletta Construction Co Pty Ltd (NSW)

$1,500,000 - Written Tycoon-Karuta Queen filly (Lot 434)
Strawberry Hill Stud / Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (Vic)

$1,150,000 - Hinchinbrook-Harlem Heat colt (Lot 364)
Yarraman Park Stud (As Agent) / James Bester/Tom Magnier (NSW)

$1,100,000 - Redoute's Choice-Gresset colt (Lot 354)
Bhima Thoroughbreds / An Zhiqiang (China)

$975,000 - I Am Invincible-Heavenly Sound colt (Lot 371)
Rosemont Stud (As Agent) / Aquis Farm (Qld)

MM Release

Advertisment
More Reading...
2025 Cox Plate Result - Fastnet Rock and Waller Quinella
A genuine champion sire should be able to produce the horses that win the very best races in the country in which they stand and the late great Fastnet Rock have us a demonstration of that when his high class Northern Hemisphere bred offspring Via Sistina (IRE) and Buckaroo (GB) fought out an epic finish to the $6million Group I MVRC WS Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Good News Week for Geisel Park
Geisel Park’s black-type mare Laced Up Heels is in foal off a maiden cover to Champion Australian Sire Zoustar and an orphan foal has found a new mum.
Sires With Winners - Friday October 24
Here is the full list of 60 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Te Akau Win G3 War Decree Stakes with Snitzel Filly
Te Akau Racing made a blistering start to the afternoon across both New Zealand meetings on Saturday, racking up six wins in a three-hour period including with a pair of potential candidates for next month’s Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m).
Invincible Colt Wins $1million G2 Callander Presnell for Godolphin
Progressive I Am Invincible colt Ohope won the $1million ATC Tapp Craig (1400m) at his previous start, however was not rewarded officially with Black Type for that result, but he did achieve stakes-winner status at Randwick on Saturday when scoring a determined win over quality colt Rivellino in the $1million ATC Callander Presnell (1600m).
A Century of NZB National Yearling Sales Success: Cox Plate
Moonee Valley’s A$6m Group One WS Cox Plate (2040m) is known as the weight-for-age championship of Australasia and has been won by many of Australia and New Zealand’s greatest thoroughbreds.
Second Wootton Bassett Son Added to Coolmore Stallion Roster for 2026
Set to join Camille Pissarro as the second G1 winning son of Wootton Bassett on the stallion roster for Ireland in 2026 is Henri Matisse, who this time last year was about to claim his first G1 victory at the Breeders Cup meeting at Del Mar.
Stefi Magnetica Smashes Through $7m Mark
Already a dual Group1 winner, Bjorn Baker’s 5yo All Too Hard mare Stefi Magnetica added the $2m Group 2 ATC The Invitational (1400m) to her impressive record, with her earnings smashing through the $7m mark for her ownership group headed by the Cunningham family.
Blueblood Lonhro Colt Wins G1 Spring Champion
At the start of August we ran a story about the 3YO’s that were entered for this year Cox Plate and aside from the usual suspects there were some ‘Cox Plate dreamers’ and one of them was unraced Lonhro colt Attica, who capped his meteoric rise to fame with a thrilling victory in the $2million Group I ATC Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday.
First Winner for Home Affairs
Exciting young sire Home Affairs opened his account with his first winner in New Zealand on Saturday with a dominant debut victory for race favourite Harvey Wallbanger at Ellerslie.