Market vs Reality

We’ve seen five months of the Australian racing season unfold so far and from the two year-old perspective it’s a very small percentage of what we will ultimately see, however with the Magic Millions Yearling Sale to be held in the second week of January the performance of first season sires is important to vendors, so we’re taking a look to see how race track reality has related to sale ring popularity in 2023.

Leading First Season Sires Magic Millions Book 1 and 2 Combined 2023

All first season sires that have had winners in Australia this season up to 12th December. 

Darley shuttler Blue Point (IRE) was a heavy hitter in the sale ring at the Gold Coast with buyers clamouring to secure his stock. The powerhouse sprinter by Shamardal averaged over $100,000 more than his nearest rival and he was so much in demand that he was seventh on the overall sire averages for Book 1.

Fast forward 12 months and Blue Point has smashed it out of the park in Europe where he has sired 51 first crop winners highlighted by five stakes-winners, two of them Group I winners Big Evs and Rosallion, but in Australia his anticipated fast start has not eventuated.

Two highly rated colts off the trials in Scampi and Blue Stratum have failed to deliver on race day and he has now had seven runners and is still looking for his first winner.

In contrast, Newgate Farm’s Tassort had the second lowest combined average of all first season sires at Magic Millions and has hit the ground running with three winners from eight starters including Group III ATC Gimcrack Stakes winner Manaal.

Somewhere in the middle of the pack at Magic Millions, Yulong based Alabama Express is another sire to make an immediate impact with three winners from six starters including Group III VRC Ottawa Stakes winner Karavas and $1million Golden Gift winner Shangri La Express.

Too Darn Hot (GB) has been a bit of a surprise in producing two pre-Christmas winners from three runners including Magic Millions Ballarat 2YO winner Arabian Summer. The general perception of the Too Darn Hot stock seemed to be that they might need a little time and would be more autumn juveniles and classic three year-olds, so to be on the board now is a bonus and might bode very well for the future.

Too Darn Hot has also done well with his first European crop producing 28 winners this year including four stakes-winners headed by Group I winner Fallen Angel.

Blue Point has had his European fee for 2024 raised to €60,000 and Too Darn Hot to £65,000 which tells you all you need to know about the high regard in which these sires are held.