Te Akau Adds Trio of Mares to Magic Millions Sale

Three elite racemares from the powerhouse Te Akau Racing operation are set to be among the headline offerings at next month's Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale on the Gold Coast, with a high-quality draft to be presented through Newgate Farm. Group 1 winners Captured by Love and Quintessa will be joined by stakes winner My Lips Are Sealed, offering buyers a trio of proven performers with strong commercial appeal as broodmare prospects. Te Akau principal David Ellis said the draft reflected the stable's long-standing approach of developing fillies and mares with both racetrack performance and residual breeding value. "They are mares with proven performance, quality pedigrees, and the physical attributes we believe are so important when selecting broodmares," Ellis said. Ellis also pointed to the operation's strong history at the Magic Millions National Sale, both as a buyer and vendor, citing past success stories that have underpinned confidence in the marketplace. "Barry Bowditch and his team run one of the very best sales operations you will find anywhere in the world, and it is a sale where we have had tremendous success over many years—both buying and selling," Ellis said. "It's a sale we have had great success at, over many years. We've been fortunate to source and sell high-quality horses here, and it's a platform we believe in." Quintessa heads the offering as a dual group 1 winner with form on both sides of the Tasman. The daughter of Shamus Award (AUS) captured the 2024 Levin Classic (G1) at 3 before adding further elite success in the 2025 Proisir Plate (G1) this season, while also proving highly competitive in Australia, including a stakes victory during a Melbourne campaign. "Quintessa is a mare with a tremendous turn of foot and a real will to win," Ellis said. "She consistently performed at the top level and showed her quality in elite company." Captured by Love brings a similarly strong profile, having been one of the standout fillies of her generation. The daughter of Written Tycoon recorded seven wins, including the 2024 New Zealand One Thousand Guineas (G1), and was a stakes performer from 2-4. She also demonstrated durability and consistency, competing against the best of her age group throughout her career and continuing to perform at a stakes level in her 4-year-old season. "Captured by Love is a standout physically and has all the attributes you want in a broodmare prospect," Ellis said. "She showed great toughness and was competitive at the highest level throughout her career." Completing the trio is My Lips Are Sealed, a daughter of Ace High, who adds further depth to the draft through both performance and pedigree. A winner at the group 3 level, she added a listed success earlier this year and hails from a family that has produced multiple stakes performers. "My Lips Are Sealed is a mare with great strength and presence," Ellis said. "She has a very good attitude and all the makings of a quality broodmare." Newgate Farm's managing director, Henry Field, said the consignment would be among the highlights of this year's sale. "We are honored to offer these mares on behalf of Te Akau," Field said. "There will be very few better groups of racemares offered anywhere in the Southern Hemisphere." The Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale continues to attract strong international interest, with buyers drawn to proven racemares capable of making an immediate impact in the breeding barn. Entries for the sale are set to close this week, with demand expected to be high for quality, race-proven mares such as those offered by Te Akau.