Barry Bowditch

Racing Australia has confirmed the formation of a Black Type Advisory Group (BTAG) in a statement published on Wednesday. The seven-member panel comprises Barry Bowditch, Sebastian Hutch, Antony Thompson, Andy Makiv, Adrian Hancock, Jon Freyer, and Duncan Grimley. Racing Australia said the group was selected to represent a broad cross-section of the industry and that none of the members serve on the board of Racing Australia, a principal racing authority or a race club. The BTAG will provide independent advice on the programming of black-type races and recommendations on potential...

The four-time Group 1 winner Legarto (Proisir) will be offered as part of the Attunga Stud draft at May's Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. Trained in New Zealand by Ken and Bev Kelso, Legarto registered her latest top-level success in the Herbie Dyke Stakes at Te Rapa on Saturday, regaining the title she'd previously won in 2024. An 11-time winner from 23 career starts, the now-six-year-old also ran out a determined winner of the Australian Guineas at Flemington back in 2023. Legarto is set to make at least one more...

Yuesheng Zhang arrived on the Gold Coast on Sunday to inspect horses ahead of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. In late December, it was announced that Gewan, one of the leading contenders for the G1 2,000 Guineas, will race under new ownership from 2026 as part of a group of horses transferred from Yulong Investments to the newly established Forz Europe, the racing arm of Harris Li's Ace Stud. Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch welcomed Zhang's return, noting his strong connection to the sale. "It's great to...

By Kit Gow/TTRAusNZ The catalogue for the 2026 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale has been released, with 1221 lots entered across Book 1 and Book 2, to be offered over five days of selling in January next year. Commencing on Tuesday, January 13, on the same day as the Magic Millions Barrier Draw, Book 1 will run until the Friday's super session, with Book 2 taking place on Sunday, January 18. "We are incredibly proud to present the catalogue for the 2026 Gold Coast Yearling Sale," said Magic Millions...

Bryce Bevan has been appointed as head of digital at Magic Millions. A graduate of the Godolphin Flying Start programme, Bevan will front the new Magic Millions Digital platform which will be launched soon. "I am very excited to join Magic Millions many years after they gave me my start in the Thoroughbred industry," said Bevan, who began bidspotting for Magic Millions in 2011. "I look forward to working closely with the leadership team and its many clients to establish a digital platform designed to enhance the online sales space...

Barry Bowditch, managing director at Magic Millions, has urged international buyers to take a peek at the riches on offer at the upcoming Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale and capitalise on what he says is outstanding value on offer.  Not only is Bowditch referring to the favourable exchange rate to anyone rocking up to Magic Millions with US dollars, euros or pounds, but he also acknowledged that for whatever reason, broodmares Down Under fail to fetch a premium compared to other jurisdictions. Therein lies the value for international players.  The...

The three-time Group 1 winner Zougotcha (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}) is set to go under the hammer at next month's Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, which will also feature an International Section for the first time this year. Trained by Chris Waller, the five-year-old Zougotcha will be offered as the winner of eight of her 18 starts, with the first of her three Group 1 victories coming at Randwick in October 2022 when she won the Flight Stakes. Altogether seven of her eight wins were achieved at Group level, with three...

A total of 1,401 lots have been catalogued for the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, which takes place from January 7-13. The full catalogue is available to view here. Previous graduates of the Gold Coast Yearling Sale include multiple Group 1 winners such as Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}), Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro), Imperatriz (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) and Alligator Blood (Aus) (All Too Hard {Aus}), in addition to the recent G1 Melbourne Cup hero Knight's Choice (Aus) (Extreme Choice {Aus}). The yearlings catalogued across the six...

Zhijun Zhao secured Group 1-winning sprinter Espiona (Aus) (Extreme Choice {Aus}) for A$4.15 million (€2,490,512) at a standalone virtual sale held by Magic Millions on Wednesday. Arrowfield Stud was the underbidder. Trained by Chris Waller for Denise Martin's Star Thoroughbreds, Espiona won seven of her 24 starts and earned over A$3.3 million in prize-money during her illustrious career, with her biggest success coming in 2023 when she defeated the multiple Group 1 heroine Pride Of Jenni (Aus) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}) by a nose to win the G1 Coolmore Classic...

by Kristen Manning/TTR AusNZ One of Australia's finest equine properties, Strawberry Hill Stud, is set to continue its role as an industry leader with the famed thoroughbred nursery purchased by Coolmore Australia for an undisclosed amount. And they are very pleased to have done so with Tom Magnier telling The Thoroughbred Report, "You just don't see places like that anywhere in the world go on the market." "The facilities are top class, everything has been done to the highest of standards," he said, adding that not much needs to be...

Group 2 winner Kiku (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}) brought A$1.46 million from Katsumi Yoshida in a special standalone auction hosted by Magic Millions on Thursday. Consigned by Brett Howard's Glenesk Thoroughbreds as agent for Star Thoroughbreds, the 6-year-old was offered unreserved as a broodmare prospect. "Magic Millions handled an unusually difficult situation very professionally and it worked out extremely well," Star Thoroughbreds' Denise Martin told The Thoroughbred Report of the technical difficulties that cropped up in the last few minutes of the proceedings. "We're elated the mare has been bought by...

Offered by Newgate Consignment, Forbidden Love (Aus) (All Too Hard {Aus}) (lot 568) topped Day 1 of the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, selling to Yulong Stud for $4.1 million on a strong day of trade. The three-time Group 1 winner was one of 35 mares snapped up by the racing and breeding entity, whose total spend was A$19,031,000 on Tuesday. Three other millionaires--there were nine during the first session overall--also made their way into the Yulong fold. Dual top-level winner Snapdancer (Aus) (Choisir {Aus}) (lot 645), from the Sullivan...