Timely Reminder

Tara Madgwick - Friday January 2

The Magic Millions 2YO Classic is often an open affair bringing together an elite group of precocious and speedy juveniles to do battle, but in 2024 it was a one horse race.

Undefeated US Triple Crown winner Justify (USA) shuttled to Coolmore Australia for the first time in 2019 and his first crop of Australian foals produced the brilliant filly Learning to Fly and his second delivered Storm Boy.

A powerhouse bay with an exceptional sprinters physique, Storm Boy was purchased from the Coolmore Magic Millions draft for $460,000 and proved an immediate hit in the stable of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.

He came to the Magic Millions 2YO Classic seeking a third successive win and duly romped home to win as he pleased and followed with a close third in the Golden Slipper.

The tremendous regard in which Storm Boy was held has been reflected in the breeding barn with the explosive son of Justify covering no fewer than 224 mares in his first season in 2025 at Coolmore Australia.

Justify shuttled to Australia for three seasons (SH foal crops 93 (5 SWs), 81 (5 SW’s) and 57 (1 SW, 3YOs that include spring Group horses Arcora and Just a Journey) and was absent in 2022, so has no juveniles running for him this season.

He made a glorious return in 2023 off the back of his burgeoning global success and his biggest and best crop of SH bred yearlings are at the sales this year starting at Magic Millions with 29 on offer.

One of the very best nicks for Justify has been with our champion Australian sire Fastnet Rock with the two stallions combining to produce 23 winners from 28 starters (82% winner to runner) including six SW’s at 21% SW to runner with both Storm Boy and Learning to Fly bred this way.

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There are three yearlings listed below for the Gold Coast that are bred on the magic cross.

Lot 86 Colt Justify (USA) x Ballynora – Mill Park Stud

First foal of metro winner from the family of Group I winners Champagne and St Reims.

Lot 590 Filly Justify (USA) x Movie Role - Coolmore

Sister-in-blood to G1 placed US stakes-winner Just Steel and is fourth foal of stakes-placed Movie role, a full sister to Group I MRC Thousand Guineas winner Irish Lights.

Lot 740 Filly Justify (USA) x Rocket Science (IRE) – Newgate Farm

Third foal of a winning half-sister to G2 winner Devil’s Point.

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