Champion local trainer Tony Gollan made his presence felt on Day One of the 2026 Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale securing a number of classy youngsters including the top seller of the day.
Gollan went to $130,000 to secure the top seller this afternoon, Lot 170, the Better Than Ready filly from former quality Rothesay racemare Gem of Scotland.
Offered by leading Queensland based thoroughbred nursery Daandine Stud, the filly is the second foal of the six time winner and Bill Carter Stakes and Silk Stocking placegetter.
"We've bought a few Better Than Readys since we've been here and she was probably the pick of them so far," Gollan said of the Gem of Scotland filly.
"She's a nice sharp filly. I remember the mother racing and she was quite a good mare. A good stallion and out of a good mare - you come here to buy nice QTIS horses that are sharp and early running."
"There's a nice mix of horses here today and if you really open your sights there's certainly enough horses to come home with."
"We've had a good sale so far," Gollan added. "It's been good buying here today and long may it continue."
The second top seller of the day and the highest priced colt of the day was the Wild Ruler-Desert Rose colt offered by Figtree Thoroughbreds. He was purchased by Sears Racing for $120,000.
The colt is the first foal of his dam, an Iffraaj mare who is a three quarter sister to a Karaka Million winner. It's the family of leading Brisbane sprinter Zarastro.
"I really liked him from the time I saw him," a delighted co-trainer Maddysen Sears said. "He really caught our attention."
"We initially thought he would be a good breeze-up style horse at a lower price. He's so athletic - you could put a saddle on him now."
"We are really looking forward to having the Wild Ruler colt in our stable. He's got one of the favourites for the Slipper and it helps that he's QTIS and BOBS (eligible)."
"There's plenty of upside for him racing with us and I can't wait to train him with Dad," Sears added.
Four other lots on the day sold for $100,000 - an Artorius colt (from Newhaven Park to Adam Campton and Washpool Lodge), a Dundeel colt (from Kenmore Lodge to Riversley Park), a Spirit of Boom filly (from Raheen Stud to Desleigh Forster) and a Better Than Ready filly (from Telemon Stud to Gollan Racing).
Across the day over $5.4 million was traded on 140 lots sold at an average price of over $39,000. The clearance rate is 63 per cent.
"It was a very selective market today," Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said. "For quality horses there was still a great appetite."
"I'm obviously disappointed that the clearance rate is below expectations and below where we want it to be."
"Whether you are a Queenslander or an interstater here as a buyer, there's great opportunities. The vendors are very willing to meet the market and there's plenty of value to be found - in the middle to lower end of this particular market."
"To have sold 38 more horses to this point this year and have an increased average and increased gross are all numbers that are pleasing. But fundamentally over the next 24 hours until the end of the sale and beyond we want to improve the clearance rate."
"There's been a great cross section of buyers that were participating from Queensland, interstate, New Zealand, Hong Kong - everyone played their part."
"I think there's a great opportunity out there given the prizemoney, particularly through the QTIS system, when you take into account what you can race for whether in the country, provincial or on a Saturday. There's huge opportunity to buy horses at value that can serve you very well at the racetrack and put big amounts of prizemoney into your bank account."
"Anyone out there that is looking to play - whether it's passed in lots from today or the opportunities that are there tomorrow - we encourage you to get involved or reach out to a member of the team," Bowditch added.
To view the results of the sale or to make an offer on a passed in lot click here.
Day Two of the Gold Coast March Yearling Sale will commence at 10am (Qld time) on Friday.
SALE STATISTICS
(2025 Day One in Brackets)
Lots Catalogued: 257 (190)
Lots Sold: 140 (104)
Lots Passed In: 82 (52)
Lots Withdrawn: 35 (34)
Average Price: $39,107 ($37,014)
Sale Gross: $5,475,000 ($3,817,500)
Top Price: $130,000 ($150,000)
Median Price: $30,000 ($26,000)
Sold %: 63 (67)
DAY ONE TOP SELLERS
$130,000 - Better Than Ready-Gem of Scotland filly (Lot 170)
Vendor: Daandine Stud / Buyer: Gollan Racing Pty Lrd (Qld)
$120,000 - Wild Ruler-Desert Rose colt (Lot 119)
Figtree T'breds (As Agent) / Sears Racing (Qld)
$100,000 - Artorius-Burnt Orange colt (Lot 85)
Newhaven Park (As Agent) / Campton Racing/Washpool Lodge (Qld)
$100,000 - Dundeel-Dream Tiara colt (Lot 135)
Kenmore Lodge (As Agent for Arrowfield Stud) / Riversley Park (NZ)
$100,000 - Spirit of Boom-Georgie's Pride filly (Lot 172)
Raheen Stud (As Agent) / Desleigh Forster (Qld)
$100,000 - Better Than Ready-Flying filly (Lot 496)
Telemon Stud (As Agent) / Gollan Racing Pty Ltd (Qld)
