It is only the first day of the Magic Millions Sale, but owner-breeder John Camilleri has run the gamut of emotions in a couple of hours.
He watched as barrier 17 was put next to his Magic Millions Guineas favourite Ninja in the morning, after his wife Deb and daughters Julia and Alana’s ladies’ syndicate two-year-old Tigroni got gate seven in the two-year-old Classic.
“It was a good morning for them. It gives their filly a good chance in the race, and if it can win the ladies’ bonus it’s worth $300,000,” Camilleri said.
“I don’t know how Ninja will go out there.”
Camilleri is one of the leading breeders in the country, and stayed in Ninja, who has impressed on the track.
But breeding is about selling, and his biggest prize of the week was a Frankel colt from the same family as Ninja.
He walked into the ring at lunchtime, representing a couple of years of planning and hope.
And sent the Sales complex silent as bidding rocketed into the millions.
Segenhoe’s Peter O’Brien and Camilleri had earmarked Lonhro mare Antibes as the right match for Frankel a few years ago.
Camilleri kept the first product of the match, three-year-old filly Chateau Eze to race. She’s expected to shape as a Stakes horse in the autumn.
Keep the fillies and sell the colts has always been the right mantra, especially with an athlete like lot 59.
Camilleri nursed grandson Harry, who had been part of Tigroni’s barrier draw earlier in the day, as the bidding found a mark at $2 million with Coolmore taking home the colt.
It was a reward for the big risk of sending a mare to the other side of the world. It’s a risk not many understand and fewer take.
“It’s the result you need when you send mares over to Frankel,” Camilleri said. “There isn’t much change out of $350,000 to get the mare over there and back here.”
“You can get all different sorts of Frankels, I have learnt that the hard way, so you have to make the most when you get one like him.”
“I have told Coolmore I would like to stay in him if they have room, but that’s a decision for them and their syndicate.”
“It was a great result with a headline horse. I have a couple of others to sell, but nothing like him, and we have the races to look forward to on Saturday.”
LOT 59 – sold by @SegenhoeGroup on behalf of Fairway Thoroughbreds, this stunning colt by @JuddmonteFarms FRANKEL sells to @TomMagnier for $2,000,000 👏
He is from the elite family of A TIME FOR JULIA, PERSONAL, and rising star NINJA 🥷 pic.twitter.com/sR2z8DEz4O
— ANZ News (@anz_news) January 13, 2026
The colt will go to Chris Waller, who was keen on him from the first time he saw him.
“Chris really liked the horse all week. I suppose there’s a couple of horses that you don’t agree on, but when everybody agrees on a horse, it gives you the confidence to go a little bit further,” Coolmore’s Tom Magnier said.
“He’s a lovely, fluid action horse and he ticks all the boxes.”
“We’ve bought him in a syndicate with Chris (Waller) so he’ll go straight in with him.”
“Fair play to Peter O’Brien and John Camilleri. They breed good horses and we’re just delighted to be a part of it.”
Camilleri will be hoping for another boost to the family with Ninja in the Guineas on Saturday, but a lot more went into Tuesday afternoon than a racing preparation.
“Racing is fleeting. It is over in a minute, and there are other races. I want to win see Ninja win again, but you can’t compare the two,” Camilleri said.
“We started planning for this [day], two-and-a-half years ago, and you go through so much with him.”
“Hope that he comes out right and doesn’t have any accidents in the paddock.”
“Then you get here and hope people like him, they did.”
“The result is so satisfying because of all the time that went into this colt. It’s not always the case.”
