English insurance tycoon Phil Cunningham splurges $2.8m on Snitzel colt at 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling sale

English millionaire Phil Cunningham only showed up at the Gold Coast on Thursday morning but instantly made his presence felt when he teamed up with Ciaron Maher to blow rival bidders out of the water on a Snitzel colt.

An English insurance tycoon has splashed $2.8m in one of his first forays into Australian racing at the Magic Millions on Thursday after combining with Ciaron Maher to out-muscle some of Australia’s biggest buyers.

Phil Cunningham said he wanted to make a splash in Australian racing with his Rebel Racing brand and has found an ally in Maher, who today purchased the Snitzel colt out of gun mare Humma Humma.

The Englishman made the trip out to Australia hoping to watch another horse he purchased with Maher last year but instead ended up buying the colt at the Magic Millions after wrapping up a tour of the country.

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“This is my first time to Australia — I only turned up 10 minutes ago so it was good to get involved,” Cunningham said.

“I got introduced to Ciaron last year … I got involved with a filly we bought here.

“First trip over here and I was hoping she was going to run on Saturday hence the timing.

“I asked Ciaron what he liked at the sale so I’m delighted to get involved.

“It was Ciaron’s pick of the sale.”

ALL TIME RECORD!
$2.8 million for the Snitzel colt from Humma Humma. Offered by @widdenstud he goes to the bid of @cmaherracing. Beats the previous sale record of $2.7 million. #MMGC2025#MoreMagicpic.twitter.com/ZxivuRmWv0

— Magic Millions (@mmsnippets) January 9, 2025

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Cunningham’s Rebel Racing has been a major player in English racing since winning the English and Irish 2000 Guineas double in 2007 and operates his own training centre at Newmarket.

He said his significant investment on Thursday would keep him coming back to Australia.

“It gives me an excuse to come back,” he said.

“Absolutely loving the place. I went to Sydney, Hamilton Island and now here. We finish up in Melbourne after here. Hopefully we’ll be back here next year.”

"He's a stand out for us."

Hear from @cmaherracing after he was the successful bidder on the new sales topper, a colt by Snitzel out of Humma Humma, with a price tag of $2.8 Million!@mmsnippets | @widdenstud | @tabcomau | @BN1cksonpic.twitter.com/JLsXm8pzHy

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 9, 2025

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Maher said the colt ended up costing more than he anticipated, however was happy to go the extra distance to secure him.

“The quality, you’ve always got to pay for,” Maher said.

“The top ones always get stronger. We thought he was one of the colts of the sale.

“It was probably a bit more than expected but the competition is alway strong on those big ones.

“He looks really early and sharp. A great pedigree from a quality family with a sharp pedigree.”

Originally published as English insurance tycoon Phil Cunningham splurges $2.8m on Snitzel colt at 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling sale