Magic Millions' Tasmanian Yearling Sale bounced back in resounding fashion from its flat 2025 edition, with a deeper range of quality yearlings bringing a vastly improved average and gross—and a new all-time record price.
Armidale Stud's half sister (Lot 93) to Melbourne stakes-winning filly Yum (Ghaiyyath)—by another young Darley shuttle stallion in Pinatubo—sold to the Redgum Racing enterprise of Yum's trainer John McArdle for AU$170,000 (US$120,008, AU$1=US$0.71).
On a day when the top three lots—and five of the top six—were fillies, the price for the Pinatubo more than doubled last year's high and broke the sale's nine-year-old record of AU$160,000, for subsequent six-time winner and stakes-placed Queen La Diva.
Nine lots sold for more than last year's high mark of just AU$80,000, with five hitting six figures—all sold by renowned Tasmanian farm Armidale Stud.
On the evening of Feb. 23, the average sat at AU$36,090 (US$25,477)—up a huge 53.5% on last year's results. The gross stood at AU$2,815,000 (US$1,987,193)—a 44% increase from 12 months ago, despite five fewer lots being sold (78).
The clearance rate of 72% was down slightly from 74% in 2025, while the median was up 18% at AU$21,000 (US$14,825).
Overall, it was a sale that had Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch beaming, reasoning the Tasmanian ship had been righted through a drive to have fewer quality yearlings from the state sent to the mainland for sale, and a correlating push to attract more mainland buyers.
"It was a pleasing sale," Bowditch told ANZ News. "We were coming off a low benchmark with last year, but it was pleasing to be back in line with 2024, or slightly better."
The 2024 sale had an average of AU$29,984 and a median of AU$24,000, with only two six-figure lots topped by one of AU$145,000.
"In most cases, there was a good appetite for the quality horses in the catalog, which you see with five six-figure yearlings and a new record sale-topper," Bowditch said.
The sale appeared to have benefited from lessons learned from last year regarding the quality of horses kept in Tasmania for sale, and from strategies such as more engagement with the south of the state. At the head of that move was the decision to shift the Magic Millions 2YO Classic, run earlier this month, from Launceston to Hobart.
Increased bonuses and incentives through Tasbred had also had a positive impact, Bowditch said, but more opportunities remained to parlay this year's sale result into a still stronger edition in 2027.
Star of the show on Monday was Lot 93, the daughter of Pinatubo out of Dream Food, a two-time winner and sibling to two stakes victors, and the dam of four winners from four runners.
All four were bred by Melbourne octogenarian Ken Breese, who handed Yum to McArdle after she was passed in at the Tasmania Sale two years ago, and who'll be staying in on the Pinatubo filly.
"I'm very pleased to get her," McArdle told ANZ News after his lone purchase at the sale.
"Obviously, I train her half sister, Yum, so this filly was one that was always on the radar, and so to get down here and get her was a very good result.
"She's very similar to Yum but probably a little bit sharper. Being by Pinatubo, that's probably sharpened her up a little bit.
"She's strong like her sister, probably a bit more correct than Yum as a yearling, but she's very typical of the family, so once I saw her I was very keen to buy her."
McArdle has trained other relatives, including dual group winner I'll Have A Bit and the stakes-placed Eye Of The Eagle.
"Ken's a very good breeder, and we've had a lot of success together. I bought I'll Have A Bit off him, and he gave me Yum to train, so it's been a relationship that's been going a long time," said McArdle, impressed with the sale overall.
The sale was a runaway success for Armidale Stud, which sold not only the top five lots but eight of the top nine.
Second-up was Lot 50, a filly by Capitalist out of Tasmanian stakes-placed mare Speedonova, bought for AU$120,000 by My Racehorse, trainer Stuart Gandy, and Belmont Bloodstock.
The third-highest-priced yearling was Lot 62, a filly by Darley's first-season sire Paulele out of placed mare Ventura, a sister to group 1 winner and subsequent sire Denman. She was sold to Prime Thoroughbreds for AU$115,000.
Armidale was the leading vendor by average, with the operation having sold 21 yearlings at an average of AU$68,238, while they recorded a gross of AU$1,433,000. Motree Thoroughbreds was second by gross at AU$461,000, and Grenville Stud third with AU$364,000.
Armidale stallion Needs Further was the leading sire, with 11 lots yielding AU$503,000, ahead of Grenville's Stratosphere, who had 16 lots sold for AU$471,500.
Armidale sold its two three-quarter sisters to Tasmanian legend Mystic Journey. Lot 26, a filly by Needs Further out of Oh So Gold, was bought for AU$100,000 by Star Thoroughbreds and Randwick Bloodstock Agency, while Lot 112, a filly by Needs Further out of Gold Phoenix, went to Victoria's Ralph Zito for AU$65,000.
