THE 2024 yearling sales season opened with a bang at the Magic Millions Gold Coast as four yearlings sold for A$1 million or greater on the opening day, that number growing to 13 at the conclusion of the third session.

The early ‘clubhouse leader’ was the $2.1 million paid by Te Akau’s David Ellis for the Wootton Bassett filly, the first foal out of the Fastnet Rock mare Avantage, a nine-time Group 1 winner for Te Akau. Avantage having created further history on retiring, selling for a world record NZ$4.1 million to Tom Magnier online via Gavelhouse in September 2021.