Capricornia Yearling Sale 2026 Review

Locally bred colt smashes records to top the Capricornia Yearling Sale

The Capricornia Yearling Sales at the Rockhampton Showgrounds broke all records when a Dracarys colt was auctioned for $105,000.

Trainer Liam Birchley who has won the past two Capricornia Yearling Sales Classics, including Sunday’s edition with Swift Dragon, was the $100,000 underbidder on the striking colt offered by Telemon Stud on the account of the breeder Liam Goody, who bought him back.

“The colt was for sale at the right price, and if Liam (Birchley) had offered $20,000 more, he probably would have got him,” Rockhampton local businessman and racing enthusiast, Goody said.

“There was a lot of interest in the colt at the sale, Liam Birchley obviously like him a lot, as did many others, which is a great compliment, but at the end of the day, I wanted to keep him more.”

From the Lonhro mare Grey Mink, the colt is a full brother to another Goody owned and bred galloper Lonhy’s Fabre, a winner already with untapped ability. He is also from the same family as the Chad Ormsby New Zealand trained 2YO State of Valour who is already Group 1 placed.

Ironically, Goody has spent many hours at the Rockhampton Showgrounds this week. A major sponsor of the RJC, Goody’s business Rocky Mini Loads supplied the sawdust for all the yearling boxes at the Sale.

Fred Noffke, who is the owner of the moment in Australian racing, and enjoying a fantastic run including a Group 1 double with $4million Doncaster Mile winner, Sheza Alibi, paid $70,000 for the second highest lot at the sale.

By Zousain from Fleur de Lis, the filly was offered by KBL Thoroughbred, Beaudesert. The chestnut has Group 1 winners in her maternal pedigree including Caulfield Guineas winner Shooting to Win and Manawatu (NZ) Sires Produce winner La Luna Rossa. She is also from the same family as Group 2 winner and very successful stallion Deep Field.

The third highest price paid was a colt offered by Waylon J Stud bought by BI Bloodstock for $57,500. The half-brother to Townsville placed Mighty Conqueror is by Better Than ready from Royal Applause. The colt is from the same family as 12-time South Australian winner Willybeafactor.

The only other yearling to achieve $50,000 was offered by Bahrinna at Beaudesert. The Kobayashi chestnut colt was bought by trainer Jamie McConachy on behalf of Kel Sparrow. From Oh Be Patient, the colt is from the family of Group 1 winning sprinter Red Express who produced the Cox Plate winner Dane Ripper.

After withdrawals, 77 yearlings went through the Sales Ring with Magic Millions auctioneers selling 64, an 83.12% clearance rate. The average price paid was $17,805, the median price was $12,000 and the Sale grossed $1,139,500.

RJC chairman Rob Carr said Magic Millions’ David Chester was very impressed with the clearance and the selling price of the yearlings. “David Chester, and I think everyone, was happy with the sale, it was very successful, considering the changes made to delay the selling to accommodate the rescheduled Capricornia Classic race day at Callaghan Park,” Carr said.

“We had rapid racing from 10 am to 2pm at Callaghan Park, and that was successful for us, then half an hour after the races we were all at a different venue, the Showgrounds for the Yearling Sales, that’s a huge effort by everyone.

“My compliments to all involved including the racing participant’s the vendors, buyers and the staff.”

All yearlings sold on Sunday afternoon will be exclusively eligible for the 2027 edition of the RJC’s Capricornia 2YO Classic to be raced at Callaghan Park next April.

• David Aldred CEO