The first foal of former Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Away Game was the top seller during a spirited Day One of the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale today.
The Written Tycoon filly, who was offered by her breeder Yulong, attracted intense interest in the sale ring and was eventually sold to the online bid of American based buyer John Stewart of Resolute Bloodstock for $1.8 million.
The Away Game filly was one of nine yearlings the emerging global player signed for on Day One. She was the second seven figure youngster he secured in a matter of just minutes.
Just three lots earlier Stewart went to $1.6 million to secure Coolmore Stud's I Am Invincible filly from former superstar New Zealand based mare Avantage.
The purchases are the first at a Gold Coast Yearling Sale for Stewart who has been one of the most active buyers of bloodstock on the global scene over the past year. His Resolute Racing colours are becoming more familiar in feature races around the world and his footprint in Australia is expanding.
"It's certainly been an interesting and exciting day," Stewart said. "I'm in Geneva in Switzerland and have been up since 2.30am on the phone to Chelsey and making sure we've been able to compete on the horses we like.
"It's awesome. The quality of horses in the sale is just amazing.
"The diversity of bloodstock in Australia is really great and it's testament to the breeders in Australia to build on great families.
"The sale has a really large and deep catalogue. There's some great opportunities and today we've been able to secure what we felt were the two best fillies among others."
He said the Away Game filly would be trained by Ciaron Maher, while his other seven figure buy, the Avantage filly, would be placed soon.
"Ciaron was very keen to train the Away Game filly and he's bought into her with me. Obviously Away Game was a brilliant filly, multiple Graded race winner and I had Ciaron on the phone during the bidding."
"When you look at (Lots) 182 and 185 - I had to put them on my list and I didn't want to be beaten. I'm delighted to buy both of them."
Resolute has six two-year-olds in training at present with three trainers and Stewart said there was a chance another trainer or two could join the team.
Stewart said there were still other yearlings in the sale that had taken the eye of his team.
"It's a big sale with a lot of lovely yearlings with such great pedigrees. We are keen to secure more lots over the coming days," Stewart added.
Leading New Zealand based bloodstock agent Dean Hawthorne secured the day's top selling colt, a son of Wootton Bassett from the draft of Milburn Creek for $1.7 million.
The colt is the second foal of the stakes performed Declaration of War mare Battleofwinterfell.
“We went a little bit over than what we thought but a group of us thought he was the best colt in the sale and Wootton Bassett colts are flying," Hawthorne said.
"We just thought we’d get in and get one. He's an athletic, lovely moving colt. Anthony Freedman will train him."
"He loved him. He was my top colt so we aligned. He’ll race in the red and white colours of Jonathon Munz and partners."
The other seven figure seller of the day was the Stay Inside colt from Bleu Zebra. That youngster was offered as part of the Eureka Stud draft and purchased by the James Harron Colts Partnership and Tony Fung Colts.
"Gorgeous horse," Harron said. "All the team loved him. He comes from a great farm. Very exciting first-season sire."
"He was one of our top picks of the sale. We had to push hard and that is the sort of marketplace we’re in. The good ones are well-found.
"He didn’t put a foot wrong all week," Harron added.
Across the day over $45 million was traded on 162 lots sold at an average price of $278,549 and clearance rate of 75 per cent.
“We’re satisfied with the first day," Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said. "Good healthy, genuine trade and four million dollar lots was what we had last year."
"It set a good theme for the day and I think there's a good middle to top end to come."
"With Stay Inside, he has been made into an outstanding first-season sire and that (his $1 million Bleu Zebra colt) is a great result."
"I’m really pleased with the average. We are just satisfied with the clearance rate. We'd be hoping to get as many horses sold as possible.”
"We are in great shape that we can get to a similar number as last year."
"Obviously, we sold a few more horses today, but I think it puts us in great shape to end up at a number that’s going to be not far from last year’s sale given the fact we’ve got a lot of key horses to come."
"It’s fantastic to see John and Chelsey and Resolute Bloodstock supporting Magic Millions."
"Obviously we're really disappointed they can't be here, we would have loved to have enjoyed the week with them and shown them the Magic Millions experience, which I think they both would have enjoyed thoroughly."
"It's great that they're participating and when they're participating it means they're likely to be back here for the race next year, so we'll have them here next year and that is exciting for us."
"We thank them for their support thus far and we look forward to seeing how the sale progresses for them from here," Bowditch added.
To view the results of the sale so far or to make an offer on a passed in lot click here.
Day Two of the 2025 Gold Coast Yearling Sale will commence at 10am (QLD time) tomorrow.
SALE STATISTICS
(2024 Day One in Brackets)
Lots Catalogued: 240 (210)
Lots Sold: 162 (163)
Lots Passed In: 55 (29)
Lots Withdrawn: 22 (16)
Sale Gross: $45,125,000 ($45,928,000)
Top Price: $1,800,000 ($1,300,000)
Average Price: $278,549 ($281,767)
Median Price: $200,000 ($210,000)
Sold %: 75 (85)
TOP SELLERS
$1,800,000 - Written Tycoon-Away Game filly (Lot 185)
Vendor: Yulong (As Agent) / Buyer: Resolute B'stock/Ciaron Maher B'stock(USA)
$1,700,000 - Wootton Bassett-Battleofwinterfell colt (Lot 196)
Milburn Creek / Dean Hawthorne B'stock (NZ)
$1,600,000 - I Am Invincible-Avantage filly (Lot 182)
Coolmore Stud (As Agent) / Resolute B'stock (USA)
$1,000,000 - Stay Inside-Bleu Zebra colt (Lot 216)
Eureka Stud (As Agent) / James Harron B'stock Colt Partnership/Tony Fung Colts
$950,000 - Snitzel-Baaqyah filly (Lot 187)
Newgate Farm (As Agent) / Sheamus Mills B'stock (Vic)
