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Daandine’s Better Than Ready filly headlines ‘selective’ first day at Magic Millions March Sale
By Tayla Dyke
ANZ News
Elite thoroughbred nursery Daandine Stud headlined a ‘selective’ day of trade at the Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale when a filly by reigning Queensland Champion Sire Better Than Ready (More Than Ready) offered by the operation was purchased by champion trainer Tony Gollan for $130,000.
At the close of trade on day 1, Magic Millions reported that 139 yearlings had changed hands at a clearance of 63 per cent. Despite the clearance sitting below the 67 per cent recorded last year, turnover for the larger offering of horses improved by 43 per cent to sit at $5,460,000. The average rose to $39,281, six per cent, while the median increased 15 per cent to $30,000.
Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch said: “It was no doubt a selective market. I think good trade horses or those good types that vetted out well, there was a solid appetite for, albeit selective. I think if you're anywhere off the pace or you've vetted a little bit bad, there are cracks to be found.
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“There's huge opportunity out there for the market, whether you're a trainer or an owner that wants to race, especially here in Queensland with big prize-money to get involved in this catalogue, because I think we've got a very motivated lot of vendors out there that are looking to meet the market, wherever they possibly can.”
Bowditch noted that while the clearance rate was not where they would like it to be, several key metrics had strengthened year-on-year.
“Obviously, the clearance rate of 63 per cent is not where we want to end up. And we'll be obviously working very hard between now and till the end of the sale tomorrow to get that up to an acceptable level. But fundamentally, we've sold almost 40 more horses than what we did at the same stage last year.
“We've got an increased average. We've got a gross that is $1.8 up on last year. So, there are plenty of numbers that are pleasing. If we can move our clearance rate in the right direction, and the buyers find an appetite to really get involved, I think there's a great opportunity to improve our numbers and end up with a satisfying result come the end of tomorrow.”
He added that the sale’s position late in the Australasian yearling sales season may have contributed to buyers, particularly interstate and international, taking a more cautious approach.
Sale statistics - Day 1
2026 |
2025 |
|
|---|---|---|
Catalogued |
257 |
190 |
Offered |
222 |
156 |
Sold |
139 (63%) |
104 (67%) |
Aggregate |
$5,475,000 (+43%) |
$3,817,500 |
Average |
$39,107 (+6%) |
$37,014 |
Median |
$30,000 (+15%) |
$26,000 |
Top Lot |
$130,000 |
$150,000 |
“I think they've played a part, but they're being selective,” Bowditch said. “I think as the year goes on they are more selective. They're getting to the point where we're a long way through the year when it comes to lots being sold. They've got other sales they want to go to, whether it be next week or in weeks and months to go on, it's been a busy time over the last six weeks.
“We'd like to think we'd have a few more buyers than what we had here, but in saying that there's plenty of participation both online and on the phone. So they are playing a part from wherever they are and all in all, I think, when they find the right horse, they're locking in and having a dip.
The top-selling Better Than Ready filly is the second foal from six-time winner and multiple stakes placegetter Gem Of Scotland (Rothesay), and vendors Jan Clark and John Robbins were pleased, though not surprised, to see her attract strong interest in the ring.
“We're very pleased. We try to get them into the best stables to give them every chance,” Clark told ANZ News. “She is a lovely walking filly. She's been really good and has handled this preparation and down here very well. Quite a few people looked at her. She had a lot of vet inspections.”
Punching well above their weight in terms of graduate success, Daandine is the nursery that famously produced Written Tycoon (Iglesia), Capitalist (Written Tycoon), Southport Tycoon (Written Tycoon) as well as Isotope (Deep Field), who are just the headline acts among a host of other stakes-winning graduates.
“People are starting to know that Daandine produces winners,” Robbins added. “We've got a good name throughout, probably Australia, and our name is getting stronger every year. We get repeat buyers, particularly in January. We’re very happy with where the horses that we've sold today have gone.”
Gollan, who also secured Lot 10 from the Daandine draft, another Better Than Ready filly for $85,000 in partnership with Dream Thoroughbreds, has enjoyed significant success with the sire in the past. His 2023 Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) winner Skirt The Law was also by the Lyndhurst Farm-based sire.
“Maybe another Skirt The Law, who knows? We have bought a few Better Than Readys since we've been here,” Gollan said.
“This filly [Lot 170] was probably the pick of them so far. She’s a nice, sharp, filly. I remember her mother racing and she was quite a good mare. So, out of a good mare, by a good stallion, what you come here to buy are QTIS horses, which is a sharp, early running daughter of Better Than Ready.
“I think we've got about six into the stable so far, so we've got a good sale so far. It's good buying here today and long may it continue.
“I think it’s been good, we’re here mainly to try and buy these QTIS horses. I think there’s a good mix of nice, QTIS running horses here today, and I think if you really open your sights here, there's certainly enough horses to come home with.”
The in-form stable of Tony and Maddy Sears was also active on day one, securing three lots for a combined $300,000 to finish the day as leading buyer.
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Their most expensive purchase was a colt by Newgate Farm’s first-season sire Wild Ruler (Snitzel), who they purchased from the Figtree Thoroughbreds draft for $120,000.
The youngster is out of Desert Rose (Iffraaj), a placed three-quarter sister to Karaka Million (RL, 1200m) winner Xiong Feng (Iffraaj), from the family of $1.5 million earner and Group 3 winner Zarastro (I Am Invincible).
“I really liked him from when I saw him on Tuesday and he just caught our attention straight away,” Maddy Sears, who landed the winning bid from the pre-parade ring, told ANZ News.
“Initially I thought he would be a good breeze-up style of horse at a lower price, and then when he crept up there, I had dad on the phone and he was like ‘yes, no, yes, no’.
“He's so athletic and he looks like you put a saddle on him now, and he would just go. Really, really like him. He's just a really nice colt.”
Sears said Wild Ruler’s strong start with his first runners, a cohort led by Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m) contender Stretan Ruler, meant they stretched to secure the colt.
“Every time we got him out, he'd just done everything right and just had a good brain and was really looking forward to training him.
“Wild Ruler has got one of the favourites for the Slipper, and it helps that he's QTIS, and BOBS as well. So there's plenty of upside to him racing with us and I can't wait to train him with dad.”
The Sears team later returned to secure another by the young sire, paying $90,000 for Lot 143, a filly out of juvenile winner Emtevee Queen (Testa Rossa) from the Kenmore Lodge draft.
Sears said the sale offered strong value and a wide range of options for buyers.
“We are looking for a lot of value, and we've ended up with about 17 on our final list, so that was quite good,” she said. “Lots of very different horses, but mainly targeting fillies. We've got some big clients looking for fillies, and trade colts. It's a different sort of sale this year, I hope it's worked well for everyone.”
Newgate Farm’s first-season sire Artorius (Flying Artie) continued to generate interest when a colt from the Newhaven Park draft was purchased by trainer Adam Campton and Washpool Lodge for $100,000.
Catalogued as Lot 85, the colt is the first foal from winning Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice) mare Burnt Orange, herself a daughter of Group 2 winner Catch A Fire (Sebring) and therefore a three-quarter sister to Group 2 winner Zloties (Snitzel).
Campton was delighted to secure another son of the promising freshman.
“I got a lovely [Artorius] in New Zealand and I've been trying to get a couple more,” he said. “I just liked the way this horse went about his business, he is from a good farm, Newhaven do a super job. He is well balanced and still has plenty of maturing to do, but just loved the way he walked. He was a really good mover.”
Campton added he had long been an admirer of the Blue Diamond (Gr 1, 1200m)-winning stallion.
“I was a big fan of Artorius as a racehorse, he went on and obviously continued to race and had a really good turn of foot, and it looks like his progeny are going to be the same.”
He also highlighted the value available for Queensland buyers targeting QTIS incentives.
“It's our home sale. We're always trying to purchase QTIS horses, but there's a lot of good horses at these sales, and you can get them for good value. We have got a lot of clients that want to go in cheaper horses. A lot of other sales are very expensive… so it's good to buy from this March sale.
“I have had a lot of luck. I've had a few horses head to Hong Kong and do really well and I've had a couple stay here and go on to win a number of races. So, it's a good sale to buy from, and it's always good value.”
The second and final day of the Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale will begin at 10am AEST on Tuesday.
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