GAI’S MAGIC WITH MILLIONS GRADUATES
Racing’s first lady Gai Waterhouse looks forward to January each year when she heads north with her team to the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
There’s little wonder why when you crunch the figures and see the long list of stars the record breaking horsewoman has plucked from the sale.
On Saturday at Caulfield when More Joyous downed a quality field in the Toorak Handicap, Waterhouse notched career Group One win 101.
A week earlier she became the quickest trainer in Australian thoroughbred history to reach triple figures for victories at racing’s elite level.
What is interesting is that 67% of Waterhouse’s Group One winners purchased at a yearling sale were purchased from the Magic Millions Yearling Sale.
Of her remaining 33% of G1 stars – 23% were sourced at sales in Australia away from the Gold Coast and 10% were snapped up from New Zealand.
Waterhouse wasn’t surprised when she learned of these figures when told in recent days – saying she’s had incredible luck buying from the famous Magic Millions sale ring at the Gold Coast.
“The Magic Millions Yearling Sale is a great sale,” Waterhouse said.
“It produces an early horse – it’s foaled early, it’s on the ground with its mother and it’s stronger and bigger.”
“If you’re looking to win the two-year-old and the three-year-old races you’ve got an advantage.”
“It’s the most terrific sale,” she said. “It’s the most underated sale in Australia.”
And while she said the sale was renowned for presenting precocious, ready made running styles suited to two and three-year-olds race – she said the sale also offered plenty of classic style youngsters.
“You can go there and buy yourself a Golden Slipper winner as Denise (Martin) did .
“You can go and buy yourself an Oaks winner as I did with Once Were Wild.”
“And you can go there and buy yourself an open handicapper like I did with the champion Theseo.”
“It’s the most versatile sale, I love it.”
Waterhouse said the sale is exceptional value when compared to others in Australasia and this is backed up when you look over her 101 Group One win haul.
The average price of her Magic Millions Yearling Group One winners is $193,750 – $80,000 less than her other Australian purchases – and a massive $343,000 than her New Zealand purchased stars.
Over the years the horses purchased from Magic Millions to win the stable Group Ones have swept away with races like the Golden Slipper, Doncaster Handicap, Mackinnon Stakes, Victoria Derby, AJC Oaks, Canterbury Guineas, All Aged Stakes, Flight Stakes, AJC Sires’ Produce Stakes, Epsom Handicap and the Galaxy.
GAI’S MAGIC HONOUR ROLL
Group 1 winners purchased from MM Yearling Sales
| Arlington Road | $300,000 |
| Assertive Lad | $110,000 |
| Carnegie Express | $45,000 |
| Cheeky Choice | $200,000 |
| Dance Hero | $90,000 |
| Danglissa | $45,000 |
| Excellerator | $50,000 |
| Fashions Afield | $230,000 |
| Ha Ha | $300,000 |
| Hasna | $160,000 |
| Lotteria | $260,000 |
| Magic of Sydney | $260,000 |
| Nothin’ Leica Dane | $165,000 |
| Once Were Wild | $50,000 |
| Rock Kingdom | $200,000 |
| Sebring | $130,000 |
| Shamekha | $70,000 |
| Snowland | $90,000 |
| Sunday Joy | $1,000,000 |
| Theseo | $120,000 |
