Magic Millions looks to trade market to spark Adelaide sale

It’s not exactly prayers answered, but an influx of international and interstate buyers to Adelaide for its annual yearling sale has Magic Millions optimistic of a competitive middle market in the city of churches, when it kicks off on Thursday.

As Magic Millions readies for its second of back-to-back yearling sales – the recent March sale on the Gold Coast turned over $11 million – company managing director Barry Bowditch takes positives about what occurred last week.

Although the word “selective” was used multiple times to describe the buying bench there, and that is unlikely to change at the Magic Millions sales complex at Morphettville, Bowditch has placed onus on pinhookers to help drive demand in Adelaide,

That segment of buyers will be coupled with local and interstate trainers looking for affordable horses. 

“There’ll be a solid piece of trading going on here, whether it be to trial or take to New Zealand or store for Hong Kong or put through breeze ups, I can see a bit of everything happening,” Bowditch says of the varied buying bench attracted to the Adelaide sale. 

“There’s also plenty of trainers around from Western Australia off the back of a solid sale in the west and whether it be Tassie, Queensland, locally, NSW, Victoria, there’s a great cross section of people to buy horses. 

“It’s a sale where there’s always a lot of value to be found.”

Last year’s sale turned over more than $14 million but with 30 fewer horses catalogued, Bowditch is not predicting to reach the same aggregate in 2026.

“Given the quality of horse and the vibe out on the grounds, I’m pleased with how it’s looking going into it, albeit we’ve got a significantly smaller catalogue with probably a few more withdrawals than we’d like, so we’re not aspiring to have a gross of what we did last year,” he said. 

“But if we can meet our numbers from a clearance rate and average perspective that is similar or in line with last year, I think that’s what we’re sort of looking to do for the vendors here.”

A second tier sale when compared to Magic Millions’ January season opener on the Gold Coast or Inglis’ Easter flagship, Adelaide and other similar sales remain important drivers of the thoroughbred economy, Bowditch says.

“From a seller’s perspective, from a breeder’s perspective, these sales are vital, from a standing stallions perspective, these sales are fundamentally where it all begins,” he says.

“To have these sales and to get a good cross-section of buyers and to get these horses out there into good stables and give them the opportunity to sell to broad markets is so important and we love providing that here in Adelaide.” 

Selling on Thursday, the first of two days, starts at 10am local time.