Ciaron Maher Racing draft set to shine at Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale
A last-start million-dollar race winner is among the highlights of a quality draft from one of the country’s most power stables for the upcoming 2026 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale on the Gold Coast.
Ciaron Maher, last season’s champion Australian trainer by wins and prize-money, will present buyers with a wonderful opportunity with a draft of 17 lots nominated.
Among the headline acts is Snitzanova (Snitzel), a Group winner in Victoria and New South Wales, who was a last-start winner of the $1 million Magic Millions Queensland Subzero (2200m).
The daughter of Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice), a winner of over $1 million from just 11 runs, is one of a select group of fillies and mares entered by Bennett Racing.
The lightly raced four-year-old is a winner of the Sandown Guineas (Gr 2, 1600m) and Spring Stakes (Gr 3, 1600m) at Caulfield and Newcastle respectively.
The other Bennett Racing entries include Group 3-winning juvenile Military Tycoon (Written Tycoon) and stakes winner Zaszou (Zoustar).
Military Tycoon, at her second start, won the Ottawa Stakes (Gr 3, 1000m) at Flemington and subsequently contested the Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m). Such regard is she held in by connections that earlier this year she was pitted against the likes of Tentyris (Street Boss), Benedetta (Hellbent) and Giga Kick (Scissor Kick) in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (Gr 1, 1000m) where she ran seventh, beaten just over four lengths.
“We’re excited about the draft heading to the sale, which is largely made up of Magic Millions graduates — some ready for the breeding barn, and others just hitting their straps on the track,” Nathan Bennett said.
“We’re particularly excited by the likes of Group 2 winner Snitzanova, coming off a win in the Magic Millions Subzero earlier in the year and now being targeted toward the Group 2 The Q22 during the Brisbane Winter Carnival, with longer-term spring ambitions including the Group 1 Caulfield Cup. That looks well within reach given the depth and European influence in her pedigree, which suggests she’ll run a strong 2400 metres under those conditions.
“Listed winner Zaszou is on a Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara path, alongside Group 3 winner Military Tycoon, who also profiles as a genuine lightweight contender for the race this year, so we have genuine racing upside still to come through the carnival.
“Our buying results from January have us operating at close to 27 per cent stakes winners to runners, reflected in the performances of horses like Snitzanova, Military Tycoon and Zaszou. We’re also excited to offer some of the first pregnancies by our Group 1-winning graduate Southport Tycoon at the National Sale this year, including Melisende and Holyrood Girl, who will be presented through Riverstone’s draft.
“Magic Millions has been great supporters of our operation, and we’ve had a tremendous run with their graduates, so it’s only fitting to complete the circle and return to the Gold Coast to offer these mares under the Maher Racing / Bennett Racing banner at National.”
The Ciaron Maher Racing draft will also include the Group winning two-year-old Icarian Dream (Blue Point) as well as fellow Group performers Wiltshire Square (Wootton Bassett) and Extratwo (Toronado).
Sires represented in the draft include Written Tycoon (Iglesia), Zoustar (Northern Meteor), Snitzel, Pierro (Lonhro), Not a Single Doubt (Redoute’s Choice), Wootton Bassett (Iffraaj), Deep Field (Northern Meteor), Sebring (More Than Ready) and Toronado (High Chaparral).
“We’re really pleased with the draft we’re bringing to the National Sale this year, highlighted by the Bennett Racing fillies, along with a number of other black-type performers,” Ciaron Maher Racing’s head of bloodstock Will Bourne said.
“It’s a group that has performed at a high level on the track and, importantly, has the profiles and pedigrees to go on with it in the breeding barn. The depth right through the draft is strong, and we feel it gives buyers a genuine opportunity across a range of values.
“The National Sale continues to be the right platform to offer these mares off the track — we’ve had some outstanding results on the Gold Coast over the years. You’re getting the deepest buying bench and a very competitive environment at a time of year people genuinely enjoy being on the Coast, which gives you every confidence when presenting a draft of this quality to the market.”