Te Akau Magic From Day 1 - Lot 1
13 January, 2026
Magic Millions time is upon us, and we are delighted to invite you to be part of Te Akau Racing’s 2026 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale team.
Day one of the Magic Millions set the tone early for Te Akau Racing taking no time with the acquisition of Lot 1 - a bay filly by Snitzel out of Yesterjoy - purchased for AUD$500,000 from the Baramul Stud draft. With 50% snapped up within seconds, she immediately made a statement: a filly of quality, presence, and pedigree to open proceedings and signal intent.
From there, the momentum did not slow. Te Akau continued to strike with confidence and clarity, adding a further five lots to the tangerine team as day one unfolded. True to philosophy, the focus was on proven, elite bloodlines, with Te Akau snapping up Snitzel yearlings - securing three by the sire we absolutely love.
Complementing the Snitzel acquisitions was a standout piece of value buying with the purchase of a Pinatubo colt for just AUD$120,000 - a sharp, athletic type offering significant upside and exceptional value at the price point ending our day with six purchases.
But looking back at the start of the day we want to introduce you to our first purchase, Lot 1 bay filly Snitzel – Yesterjoy (More Than Ready) AUD$500,000 (draft: Baramul Stud)
Day one of the Magic Millions set the tone early for Te Akau Racing, with the acquisition of Lot 1, a bay filly by Snitzel out of Yesterjoy, purchased for AUD$500,000 from the Baramul Stud draft. Offered right at the very top of the sale, she immediately made a statement - a filly of quality, presence and pedigree to open proceedings.
The filly is by four-time Champion Sire in Australia, and four-time Champion Two-Year-Old Sire Snitzel, regarded as a breed shaping stallion, like his sire Redoute’s Choice and grandsire Danehill.
Snitzel stood at Arrowfield Stud for $247,500 + GST before passing in 2025, thus making his progeny rare commodities.
Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM has proven to be a great judge of yearlings by Snitzel, when buying Group One winning Champion Two-Year-Old Sword Of State, now an exciting young sire at Cambridge Stud, unbeaten Group One winning two-year-old Return To Conquer, along with recent dual winner King’s English.
Snitzel progeny have recorded over 300 stakes wins, including 33 Group One wins, and his two-year-old fillies have won the Golden Slipper (Gr. 1, 1200m) three times.
The dam side of the pedigree, often referred to as the Joie Denise family, is full of Group One winners and Award-winning racehorses.
The filly is a direct descendant of third dam Joie Denise (Danehill), who won the Queensland Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m) and left four-time Group One winner and granddam Tuesday Joy (Carnegie), as well as Sunday Joy.
Sunday Joy (Sunday Silence) won the Australian Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m), and left eight-time Group One winner and Champion Middle Distance Horse in Australia More Joyous (More Than Ready).
Incredibly, world renowned damsire More Than Ready (Southern Halo) has produced over 3500 winners, while as a broodmare sire he has produced around 1500 winners, including approximately 100 stakes winners.
More Than Ready has been a Champion Sire in both hemispheres, proved to an outstanding sire of sires, and going from strength-to-strength as a broodmare sire.
The dam, Yesterjoy, was a winner over 2000 metres and produced three winners, including dual Group Three winner The Elanora (Redoute’s Choice).
The filly has a beautifully balanced cross of Danehill in her pedigree, on the sire line of Snitzel and dam line of Yesterjoy.
“You don’t get many opportunities to buy into this incredibly well-bred family, established by breeder and owner John Singleton,” Ellis said. “And Snitzel fillies are becoming very scarce.
“She’ll race from our stable in Melbourne, where we’ll initially target two-year-old stakes races, but while the family has a terrific record as two-year-olds, they train on at three, four, five, and six, too.
“She’s a filly that really fills the eye with power and strength, and it’s just a gem of a pedigree.