Magic Millions auction: How to buy a racehorse

Everyone has a theory about what to look for in a yearling at the megabucks Magic Millions sale — ask 10 people and get 10 different answers. Here’s what some of the big players say.

EVERYONE has a theory about what to look for in a yearling at the megabucks Magic Millions sale — ask 10 people and get 10 different answers.

So we did.

Entertainment king and horse racing fan Billy Cross, who has a share with Mayor Tom Tate and others in Magic Millions auction buy GoGoldCoast, favours a “big butt”.

Visiting Ferrari CEO Herbert Appleroth reckons it is all about “appearance and looks. Bloodline is very important”.

Magic Millions in 2018 claimed the record for the biggest ever yearling sale in the southern hemisphere, with the week long auction grossing $160M as a mixture of overseas royalty, billionaires and a growing local syndication market flocked to the Gold Coast. (L-R) Charlie McAlpine, Scott McAlpine and Angus McAlpine from Eureka Stud with their horse Spirit of Boom. Photo: Dave Goudie

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And on it went. Ex-polo pro Rob Archibald (“a good walk, good strength, a bit of X factor about them when they walk”), Gold Coast 2K Thoroughbreds owner Sterling Cincotta (“the head and nostrils are important”), Rockhampton cattle farmer Alan Acton (“walk nicely, have a nice head, keen eye … really stand its ground”), Racing Minister Stirling Hinchcliffe (“it’s all about the bloodline”), Magic Millions co-owner Katie Page (“the kindness in the horse’s eyes”).

Katie Page at the Magic Millions Yearling Sales at the Gold Coast last year (AAP Image/Glenn Hunt)

For Mike Tindall, the husband of Royal Zara Tindall, who has six horses for sale this year at Magic Millions he agreed with Mr Cross that a good butt is key.

Mr Tindall knows a thing or two about what he is talking about, having turned a profit at the sales the past two years.

“It needs to have a strong rear end and big shoulders. It starts with looks then it goes into personality,” Mr Tindall said.

“It needs to be a relaxed looking horse. Then, it comes down to genetics, shape and balance.”

Mike Tindall and his wife Zara Phillips pose for a photograph beside Tindall who sold for $170000 at the Magic Millions Yearling Sales at the Gold Coast last year (AAP Image/Glenn Hunt)

From 10am today at the Magic Millions newly overhauled auction complex at Bundall the tire kickers on a small budget will line up alongside the deep-pocketed major players on the Australian and international thoroughbred racing scene.

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For new Magic Millions ambassador and NRL star Billy Slater, who has his owner Slater Thoroughbreds operation, that mix of all walks of life who take part is what it is all about.

“The beauty of buying horses at the sale is there are no rules,” he told the Bulletin.

“It’s over to your own opinion. There are million dollar horses that haven’t done any good and there are $10,000 and $20,000 ones that have been Group One winning horses.

“You mix with all sorts of people and everyone has a different approach. The sale caters for everyone,” he said.

Slater Thoroughbreds has its first yearling for sale at Magic Millions among the 1122 on the block. Slater’s bay colt is lot 685 sired by Group One-winning Wandjina.

“There are 1100 yearlings at this sale and everyone wants to buy the next Winx and hopefully mine will be one of them,” Slater said.

Let the sale begin.

Originally published as Magic Millions auction: How to buy a racehorse