How to spot the next Winx or Karuta Queen at Magic Millions yearling sales

WHAT should you look for if you are rolling up to the Magic Millions hoping to snare yourself a bargain yearling which might go on and bag you some decent prizemoney?

Magic Millions bloodstock consultant James Dawson: “You can’t look inside a horse’s mind and see how much fight it is going to have under fatigue in the last 50m. If it wants to win, it’ll win.” Picture: Mike Batterham

EVERYONE has a theory on selecting potential racehorses — from the big-money veterans of the game to the first-time dreamers.

But what should you look for if you are rolling up to the Magic Millions sales yards hoping to snare yourself a bargain yearling which might go on and bag you some decent prizemoney?

It can be done — as Magic Millions owner Gerry Harvey says, we’re selling dreams, not just racehorses. Think Winx (bought for $230,000, amassed $15m in prizemoney) and Karuta Queen (jagged for $30,000 at the 2010 sale, amassed $1.9m in prizemoney for its retiree owners who bought it “as a fluke” without even an inspection).

We asked some of those in the game for their thoughts.

Let’s start with Karuta Queen’s self-confessed fluke artist Glenn Williams. He is all about the breeding.

Glen and Viva Williams purchased Karuta Queen at the Magic Millions sales complex back in 2010 for $30,000 and it went on to amass them $1.9m in prizemoney. Mr Williams says “go for pedigree” when selecting a yearling. Picture: Jerad Williams

“Go for pedigree,” Mr Williams said, advising to study the bloodlines extensively published in the Magic Millions sales guide, which lists every horse’s mother, father and beyond — and is as thick as a phone book.

“I also look at whether they have a strong hind quarter,” Mr Williams said.

“Having said that, I’m not an expert. I do prefer to get a professional trainer’s opinion too if I like a horse.”

But he believed there was no magic formula. “I have seen a lot of million dollar lots do nothing at the races and plenty of $20,000 and $30,000 ones come out and be champions.”

Magic Millions bloodstock consultant James Dawson, who helps compile the January yearling sales annual catalogue, said “there are no rules”.

Magic Millions bloodstock consultant James Dawson. Picture Mike Batterham

“I might not like the look of a certain horse but you can’t look inside a horse’s mind and see how much fight it is going to have under fatigue in the last 50 metres. If it wants to win, it’ll win.

“Attitude is a big thing but also obviously the engine, size of the heart and lung capacity, you can’t see inside the horse.

“But you can look at the size, and shape and movement — movement is a big thing at this sale.

“People love to see a big free stride and walk but a lot of these horses have never been broken in, never been at a gallop under a stopwatch.”

Magic Millions managing director Vin Cox said for him, the apparent athleticism and the way a horse moves were the “indicator that has the most success, but it doesn’t always work”.

Magic Millions managing director Vin Cox: “Athleticism and the way a horse moves is the indicator that has the most success ... but it doesn’t always work.” Picture: Jerad Williams

TOP TIPS

Glenn Williams (Karuta Queen buyer)

“Go for pedigree. I also look at whether they have a strong hind quarter.”

James Dawson (Magic Millions bloodstock consultant)

“Movement is a big thing at this sale. People love to see a big free stride and walk.”

Vin Cox (Magic Millions managing director)

“Athleticism and the way a horse moves is the indicator that has the most success ...”