Tuesday was the opening session of the 2024 Magic Million Sales

The Magic Million Sales are well underway, and the bidding has been strong with some excellent breeding on show.

This is always one of the best weeks of the year as the yearlings at the Magic Millions Sales go through the ring. The money has been flying early, and those who like to play the long game against the horse racing bookmakers will be taking notes for when these horses appear on the track.

Ten of the first 350 lots through the ring made $1,000,000 or more as business was brisk over the opening couple of days of the Magic Millions Sale. Bidding has been fierce, with all the sports' big players adding quality yearlings to their portfolios. They will all have the meeting at Gold Coast, which is on at present as, their target for next year. 

Snitzel

At the time of writing, three of the top six lots sold at the 2024 Magic Millions are all Snitzel yearlings. That should be no surprise, given that he costs a quarter of a million for a cover, but all the same, he continues to churn out some smart horses.

The most expensive is a Warranty colt, sold to Tom Magnier for $1,750,000. David Ellis of Te Akau Racing went to 1.3 million to take home the second-highest-making Snitzel out of Vaujany, while the third is a filly out of Serena Bay, who went for 1.25 million.

I Am Invincible

Ellis teamed up with Magnier to take home the top-priced I Am Invincible colt out of Palace Talk for 1.3 million. He is a half-brother to three who have impacted group races in Shuffle Dancer, Never Talk and Forbidden City. They are the only three the mare has produced, so there are high hopes that this yearling will also make the group level.

Three other I Am Invincible offspring topped seven figures over the first two days of the Magic Millions out of the mares Outback Barbie, Vezalay and Arcadia Queen. 

James Harron adding

Twice the winning slot holder of the Everest, Harron has been busy with sales this week, adding to an already impressive team of equine stars. The most expensive was an Extreme Choice colt out of the mare Wanted Lady. Harron had to reach 1.6 million to secure the chestnut, which has a dam line full of Group race winners.

Harron would also go to seven figures to pick up a Zoustar colt out of Villami. His dam was a Listed winner, while his grand dam was a Group 1 winner, so there is plenty in the pedigree to think he has the breeding to be above average.  

Others making good money

Four of the top eight lots have been knocked down to Ellis, who also picked up a Zoustar colt out of Ready To Score for 1.1 million. One more filly topped seven figures, an Ole Kirk out of Supara. 

The priciest buy so far at the Magic Millions is a Too Darn Hot colt out of A Time For Julia heading to Ciaron Maher. His dam was a smart performer at group level, while the sire has made an excellent start to his stud career in Europe, and we will see plenty more in Australia this year and beyond.

The success of the Magic Millions down the years always helps to drive sales in future years, with some of the best yearlings on offer anywhere in the southern hemisphere in the ring. The top lots in the catalogue are all worth keeping in mind for this time next year when they will potentially be back in action at Gold Coast.