Frankel colt tops day 1 of Magic Millions
A Frankel yearling colt consigned by Segenhoe Stud sold for A$2 million on Day 1 of Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, becoming the most expensive Frankel yearling purchased in Australia.
Taken from The Thoroughbred Report, 13th January 2026:
The colt, presented by Segenhoe Stud on behalf of Camilleri’s Fairway Thoroughbreds, is out of the unraced Lonhro mare Antibes, who has made a promising start to her breeding career. She is the dam of the Mark Walker-trained Chateau Eze (Frankel), a winner over 1212 metres at Benalla, who has also placed in the Listed Jim Moloney Stakes. Antibes is a half-sister to the Listed winner As Time Goes By and is out of the dual Group 3 winner A Time For Julia.
When explaining his successful approach of utilising the world’s best international stallions with his quality broodmare band, the colt's breeder John Camilleri explained the long-term thought process.
“It’s a big commitment, to go all the way to the Northern Hemisphere. It’s an expensive exercise, it’s risky. I’ve sent a lot of mares over, but you normally only get one or two shots at the world’s best stallion, and I thought I’d roll the dice. It’s paid off here."
“I’m only interested in having a small broodmare band and breeding elite horses. I don’t want hundreds and thousands of animals. So, if I think there’s something available, like a Deep Impact or a Frankel, and I’ve got the right mare for them, I simply don’t hesitate. Cost becomes secondary, then.”
Talking about Antibes, an unraced daughter of Lonhro, and why she was the right mare to take the punt with, Camilleri was clear in his assessment.
“She had a great pedigree. She was a beautiful type. She had a lot of ability. She had an injury, so we didn’t race her, but Anthony Freedman rated her and said she could run.
“Her first foal has run second in the Moloney at Flemington. So I think the mare’s going to do it. She’s by Lonhro, she ticks a lot of boxes, so I thought she deserved a trip on a plane to Frankel.”
Segenhoe Stud’s Peter O’Brien also reinforced the bravery and conviction behind Camilleri’s use of elite international bloodlines.
“John Camilleri sends those mares over there. It’s a big risk to send them up there, travel them, bring them back, foal them, etc, so he deserves all the credit. The main thing for us is he’s gone to Chris Waller and Coolmore. They’ve been great supporters of ours."