An AU$400,000 (approx. US$279,277; AU$1=US$.70) Showtime colt headed a selective but solid edition of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Horses in Training Sale Oct. 12, where international buyers played a prominent role and key market indicators improved despite a decline in overall turnover due to a smaller catalog.
The Nolen Racing-prepared colt, who had set the benchmark at the breeze-ups when clocking 10 seconds flat, was knocked down to Hong Kong's Apollo Ng through Bridle Bloodstock to headline a session in which five youngsters realized AU$250,000 or more.
A total of 83 horses changed hands for AU$6,149,500 (US$4,278,453), down from AU$6,895,000 last year, although the average edged up 1% to AU$74,090 (US$51,547) and the median rose 28% to AU$50,000 (US$34,787).
Importantly, the clearance rate also improved from 68% to 72% and should continue to pick up in the coming days as pass-in lots are reconsidered. With the catalog reduced to 161 lots from 187 in 2025, the number sold fell from 94 to 83.
Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch acknowledged the selective nature of the market but was encouraged by the strong competition for the better-quality offerings, particularly from a diverse international buying bench.
"I think today, as with most horses and training sales or 2-year-old sales, was a bit of a selective market. I thought all in all, the quality horses, as they always do, sold very well." Bowditch told ANZ Bloodstock News, "It was pleasing to see a great cross-section of buyers. Obviously from China, the domestics, Hong Kong, Philippines, Malaysia, and Mongolia, Japan—they all played a significant part in the sale.
"Having a clear trade of just over 72% is acceptable, but that's something we'll look to increase over the next 24 hours and hopefully head closer to 80%.
"We'll walk away from this sale thinking it's been reasonable on the whole."
The auction marked the beginning of an unusually concentrated week for the Australian breeze-up market, with Inglis set to stage its Ready2Race Sale at Riverside Stables Oct. 15.
Bowditch said Magic Millions remained committed to the revised scheduling, which has brought the two major Australian horses-in-training auctions into the same week this year.
"We are committed to this date and format into the future," he said.
The Showtime sale-topper, cataloged as Lot 127, is out of winning producer Mileyva, a sister to multiple stakes winner Alberton Park and a half sister to both group winner Lady Alberton and Western Star—the dam of New Zealand group 1 winner Wyndspelle and the group 3-placed Selica.
He had been an AU$80,000 purchase for Moorillah Pastoral out of Goodwood Farm at the Adelaide Yearling Sale.
"That was a good result," Tal Nolen told ANZ Bloodstock News. "I knew quickly after buying him that he was a good horse in the making.
"I had a AU$350,000 reserve on him—that's what I thought of him. He was probably as nice a breeze-up horse as I've ever put through."
Ng was impressed by the youngster's action and drew comparisons with a promising Hong Kong sprinter.
"I like the way that he strides along," Ng said. "He reminds me of a very good horse trained by Mark Newnham, Crimson Flash.
"Crimson Flash is a very good sprinter and I reckon he's going to perform at group level."
Ng said the colt would undergo further education before beginning his racing career.
"We're going to poke along with him—we will send to Muskoka Farm and have him educated a little bit more, teach him barrier manners, jump outs and barrier trials."
Nolen Racing finished as leading vendor by average (AU$173,333) with a 100% clearance rate, selling all six of its offered lots for a combined AU$1.04 million.
Consistently successful at the Gold Coast HIT Sale, Kenmore Lodge finished top vendor by aggregate, with 10 of its 13 lots selling for a total AU$1,237,500.
Reflecting on the day's trade, Bowditch said the quality of the horses offered had been rewarded by buyers, with strong competition for those who met the market's expectations.
"Good horses come from the 2-year-old sale and that'll continue to happen," Bowditch told ANZ.
"I think this year we had a better lot than we've had in recent years—we had a lot of nice horses that were very well received, and I think the results state that.
"When you've got the likes of Ciaron Maher coming and supporting us like he did, with Will, and just a good cross-section, whether it be Hong Kong, China, and everywhere in between.
"I was just pleased that there were plenty of people bidding on the good horses that vetted out well."
With 33 lots passed in on the day, Magic Millions will continue working to secure post-sale transactions, with Bowditch hopeful of improving the initial clearance rate.
