Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale 2026
In the third week of February, after hours and hours of careful preparation, which spans 10-12 weeks over summer, the most sought after and well-bred young thoroughbreds in WA make their way to the Magic Millions sales complex, turning the venue into a hive of activity and excitement. This year’s sale was no exception. With just over 350 yearlings on offer, there was plenty of hype around progeny from boom sire, Playing God, and freshman sires such as Lightsaber, Aysar, and Marine One. These local horses were complemented by progeny from a range of high-quality eastern states stallions, most notably Zoustar, adding depth and international appeal to the draft.
Featured in the lineup were (at least half) relations to group winners, including Bustler, Music Magnate, Portland Sky, Western Empire, A Lot of Good Men, Awesome John, Buster Boom, Comrade Rosa, Ektifaa, Ima Single Man, Super Smink, Swift Witness, Chaillot, Live to Tell, Rocketing By and Siren Assault.
It was the Zoustar-Lubiton filly, offered by Ridgeport Thoroughbreds, that brought a near record price as the top lot of Day 1, selling for $525,000. By Australia’s reigning champion sire, Zoustar, and out of Group 3 winning Snitzel mare, Lubiton, the outstanding filly generated spirited bidding, with Sheamus Mills Bloodstock securing her. Annabel Archibald trains the filly’s half-sister, Chayan (I Am Invincible), who ran in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield recently.
This year’s auction posted healthy results, with a clearance rate in the 80% range, and 22 lots sold for over $200,000 on Day 1. The average sale price for Day 1 was up 20% on last year. Darling View sire, Playing God, continued to dominate the sale. His versatility, with progeny taking wins from 2 yr old to 1800m Group 1 races, make him a much sought after sire in the west. He scored 3 of the 5 top priced Day 1 lots, at $475,000, $360,000 and $340,000. He was the top selling sire across the two days of the sale, with his progeny grossing $5.8M. Playing God was followed by his two stablemates, Splintex and Lightsaber, both of Darling View Thoroughbreds, taking 2nd and 3rd spots in highest gross. Milne customers, Ridgeport Thoroughbreds, Darling View Thoroughbreds, Alwyn Park and Gold Front Thoroughbreds, were among the top 10 vendors over the 2 days of selling. These horses are bred, grown and prepared on Pegasus Studmaster.
Preparing these young horses for sale, and their future careers, begins with lots of planning, hard work and careful management. Nutrition starts right back during gestation, with a correctly balanced broodmare diet being pivotal to the development of the foetus. From there, lactating mares and their foals are managed to provide the right amount of protein, energy, and macro and micronutrients to support sound, steady growth and skeletal development. Optimal growth, supported by the balanced nutrition found in Pegasus Studmaster, during weanling to yearling age, is critical for strong, sound development to help young horses reach their maximum potential. The preparation for sale involves a well-matched exercise, handling and individualised feeding program that ensures gradual growth and muscle conditioning, whilst avoiding rapid spikes in growth or excessive weight gain.
It is always rewarding to see these young horses develop, from foals to yearlings, and through the sale as they move on to their new careers. We look forward to seeing what they can do on the racetrack. We congratulate all vendors for breeding and producing such high-quality horses that make the Perth sale the success it is.
For more information about feeding programs or nutrition advice for young growing horses, contact our Equine Nutrition advisor, Michelle Meylan.