Snitzel show continues at Magic Millions with $1.6 million session-topper
Snitzel show continues at Magic Millions with $1.6 million session-topper
By James Thomas
Four more seven-figure lots and another session of spirited bidding, particularly for the progeny of the late, great Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice), ensured a third buoyant day in succession at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Auctioneer Grant Burns introduced the daughter of Snitzel out of Madame Andree (War Emblem) by saying “One of the star fillies of 2026, in my humble opinion.”
Plainly plenty among the packed auditorium were in agreement, as the bidding reached a hefty $1,600,000 by the time the gavel came down. The Arrowfield-consigned youngster went the way of Eugene Chuang’s Hermitage Thoroughbreds.
The well-related filly is now a sibling to six winners and five black-type performers, with her three-year-old sister Caffe Florian shedding her maiden since the catalogue was released, and then going on to claim a Gosford Listed contest.
The filly is also a sister to the Group 3-placed Satin Love and is closely related to the Group 3 scorers Ostraka (Pariah) and Anders (Not A Single Doubt), who stands at Widden Stud.
The various names involved in this trade have combined to good effect before. The Hermitage Syndicate races another daughter of Snitzel in three-time Group 1 heroine Lady Shenandoah, while the outfit also campaigned The Autumn Sun (Redoute’s Choice), who is now making waves from the Arrowfield roster.
Moreover, Arrowfield and Hermitage jointly own The Autumn Sun’s highest earner, the unbeaten Epsom Handicap (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Autumn Glow.
“There was a lot of competition but she was our top pick for the sale,” said Hermitage manager Shannon Clarke. “We’ve had a lot of luck with a Snitzel filly recently and that’s probably guided us on this filly today. That was our limit, my heart was pounding hoping that we were going to secure her. We’ve had a lot of luck with Arrowfield. It’s a great partnership that we have and long may it continue.”
She added: “There’s over 100 on the [Hermitage] books at the moment, and 50 of those would be racehorses. We’re slowly building up. We’ve always had a small team but in the past few years we’ve really built the stable up.”
On Autumn Glow, who trialled at Randwick earlier in the day, Clarke said: “She’s an exceptional mare and we’re just happy to be along for the ride.”
By the close of trade, gross sales had reached $146,142,500, a marginal one per cent increase despite around 30 fewer lots having been offered than at the corresponding stage 12 months ago. The average price was $281,045 (up one per cent year-on-year) and the median remained the same at A$200,000. The clearance rate was a notably solid 85.39 per cent as 520 yearlings had found a new home.
“I thought it was consistently strong and genuine across the board,” said Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch. “I had a quick debrief with the auctioneers at the end of the day and they felt as if, even through that 80 [thousand] to 150 bracket, there were plenty of bids coming. It was a good market to be auctioneering in, which is fantastic.
“The average is holding and has been consistent over the week. The median just hasn’t moved at $200,000, and the clearance rate continues to thrive at above 85 per cent now. These are numbers that are very much in-line with our expectations.”
Bowditch also predicted a strong finale to Book 1, adding: “I think the Howden Super Session will be buzzy. There’ll be a lot of people in town for the races so there’s a lot to look forward to. All in all, I see [Friday] being very, very busy. It just continues to build on itself day by day.”
Sale statistics after three sessions
2026 2025
Catalogued 690 720
Offered 609 654
Sold 520 (85%) 521 (80%)
Aggregate $146,142,500 (+1%) $144,500,000
Average $281,043 (+1%) $277,351
Median $200,000 $200,000
Top Lot $2,000,000 $2,800,000