‘This is obviously a smart horse’ – Ottobre goes to $270,000 for Book 2 topper as curtain comes down on Magic Millions
Tony Ottobre was delighted to have acquired his latest “Jenni” horse after buying Magic Millions Gold Coast’s Book 2 topper for “a lot more than I expected” on a robust closing day of trading on Sunday.
Ottobre’s Cape Schanck Stud had to go to $270,000 to acquire Lot 1113, a filly by vendor Yulong’s young stallion Tagaloa (Lord Kanaloa) out of a full-sister to dual Group 1 winner and siring sensation Extreme Choice (Not A Single Doubt).
The well-proportioned filly had obviously caught the eye of several other keen shoppers – taking their lead from a reasonably strong Book 1 sale – on a day in which a more streamlined Book 2 performed well, especially in comparison to 2025’s flat results.
A reduction from 380 catalogued lots last year to 241 this time, with the sale halved from two days to one, helped Book 2 return results that had Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch beaming over a “solid” outcome.
With attendances and interest perhaps also aided by the absence of race meetings in Queensland on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, Book 2 boasted an average of $51,466 late on Sunday night, up from 2025’s figure of $44,419.
The clearance rate of 84.04 per cent was substantially up from the 70 per cent at the same stage after last year’s sale, the median had leapt from $36,000 to $42,500, and the gross – with 56 fewer lots sold, was $9,212,500, compared with $10,673,000.
Ottobre, who targeted Book 2 exclusively and became its biggest buyer, was thrilled to emerge from a spirited bidding duel with a filly who’ll continue to carry the torch for his fleet of horses named after his late daughter Jenni.
“I loved its swagger, the way it walked, the way it paraded, and it was extremely smart; you could tell that from the back parade ring,” Ottobre told ANZ News.
“While all the other horses were jumping around and carrying on, this filly was just looking at them and going about its business.
“Demeanour is the number one important thing in a racehorse. This is obviously a smart horse, and she’s very well put together.”
The filly’s pedigree also made a compelling argument. While dam Mightily (Not A Single Doubt) won only once – at humble Balranald – in six starts, she hails from one of the hottest families in Australia, in that her full brother is Newgate Farm’s sub-fertile star Extreme Choice. The 12-year-old’s stakes winners to runners ratio of 11.6 per cent has helped make him the most expensive sire in the country, at $330,000 (inc GST).
Mightily’s only two runners are country winners, with one placed in Adelaide city class.
And third dam Going To Extremes (Nasty And Bold) was a stakes winner in Canada.
“The pedigree was very attractive. The mother’s a full-sister to Extreme Choice. That put her pretty high on my list,” said Ottobre, adding he wasn’t sure which of his regular trainers would be handed the filly.
“To be honest, she cost a bit more than I thought. I came here for Book 2 hoping it wouldn’t cost me those sorts of figures.
“I thought she was a really nice type, and that maybe $180,000 or $200,000 was going to pull her up, but it sounds like quite a few other buyers were on her, more than likely a few buyers from book one. But I wanted her, so I went that bit extra.”
Not that it’s tricky for him, Ottobre already has a name picked out.
“I’ll call her Jenni Extreme,” he said.
When it was suggested “Extreme Jenni” might flow better, Ottobre explained: “I like to put the ‘Jenni’ first. When people search for my horses, that makes it easier.”
Ottobre also paid $85,000 for Murulla Stud’s Lot 1148, a filly by Tassort (Brazen Beau) from a half-sister to dual Hong Kong Champion Sprinter Beat The Clock (Hinchinbrook). He also secured Lot 1199 – Figtree Thoroughbreds’ filly by Victor Ludorum (Shamardal) – for $60,000.
That gave Ottobre a total Book 2 spend of $415,000, well clear of second-highest Jun Almeda, with $271,000.
The seasoned buyer said the stronger year-on-year results for Book 2 were in step with the outcomes of Book 1, where the average of $270,468 and clearance rate of 87.35 per cent compared favourably to 2025’s figures of $269,000 and 83.05 per cent.
“If you’re big in Book 1, Book 2 is going to be big too,” Ottobre said.
“Everyone saw what they were paying in Book 1, and realised they’d have to pay a bit more than normal. And there’s some fantastic looking horses here too.
“I think Magic Millions has definitely got the best horses in the country up for sale. We’re in January, and they’re very well developed, so they’re ready to go earlier, so I think it’s the best sale to get a good horse.
“The winning ratios and the black type that comes from Magic Millions shows they are quite good.”
Ottobre didn’t mind another bit of news on Sunday – the retirement of Via Sistina (Fastnet Rock) – as his star performer Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) gears up for her autumn campaign.
“We’re looking at the All-Star Mile mainly, but maybe now Via Sistina’s retired, we might have another go at the Queen Elizabeth Stakes too,” he said, referring to the race Pride Of Jenni won in such memorable tearaway style in 2024.
Sunday’s second-top price went to Lot 1077, a filly by Better Than Ready (More Than Ready) sold from the Sunshine State’s Yarramalong Park’s draft to Queensland buyer Jay Bellamy for $200,000.
The filly is the fourth living foal from the unraced Istiraaha (Redoute’s Choice), a half-sister to Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) winner Rewaaya (Singspiel).
Scone–based trainer Brett Cavanough paid $180,000 for the third top yearling, Lot 1154, Eureka Stud’s colt by Bivouac (Exceed And Excel) out of the two-time winning sprinter Rebel Cry (Street Cry).
Yulong was comfortably the leading Book 2 vendor by average ($102,188) – ahead of Noble Bend Farm’s $88,000 – and by aggregate ($817,500) ahead of Bowness Stud ($693,000) and Queensland’s Eureka Stud ($617,500).
Ottobre’s Tagaloa filly helped make that sire Book 2’s leading stallion by averages – for three or more lots sold – at $140,000, ahead of Vinery’s Ole Kirk (Written Tycoon) at $98,333.
Leading sire by aggregate was Lyndhurst Stud’s Better Than Ready, with 15 lots grossing $873,000, from Queensland rival Spirit Of Boom (Sequalo), whose 11 sold yearlings netted $580,000.
“I thought today for Book Two was a really solid day,” Bowditch said. “I think it [the one day format] worked very well.
“The vendors received it well. They all had their horses in to parade on Friday and Saturday and also this morning.
“The vibe and the new faces on the results sheet across the day was great – a new influx of buyers and they really supported the sale.
“The numbers today were great. We’ve got a gross over $9.2 million and a clearance over 84 per cent.
“All in all, to have 140 less horses [catalogued] and have a really healthy and solid day, it’s turned out a good format – it was really solid and ends the sale well.”
Sale statistics – Book 2
2026 2025
Catalogued 241 380
Offered 231 337
Sold 179 (84%) 235 (70%)
Aggregate $9,212,500 (-13%) $10,673,500
Average $51,466 (+13%) $45,419
Median $42,500 (+18%) $36,000
Top Lot $270,000 $185,000