YELLOW BRICK - TOO BIG, TOO STRONG, TOO GOOD!

By Graham Potter | Saturday, January 10, 2026

It was the day that had been coming for a very long time … the day when the Tony and Maddysen Sears trained Yellow Brick landed a huge win with a performance that superbly showcased that fine, much desired mix of the gelding’s physical power and his mental toughness which has been so well managed by the Sears team over several seasons.

That win came in the $1.5 million Magic Millions QTIS Open, contested over 1300m at the Gold Coast … a win which more than justified the unwavering belief that Tony and Maddysen Sears have had in the ability of the son of The Mission, right from the day he entered their stable to start his racing career, and the dedicated perseverance they have shown in helping Yellow Brick reach his true potential.

Yellow Brick entered this $1,5 million assignment as the best horse in the race, but there are no gimmes in racing and the fact that he was assigned to carry 61kg … a full 7kg to 9kg more than all of his eleven rivals told the real story, namely that he had to beat the handicapper to win the race.

(See race preview here - YELLOW BRICK WILL NEED TO FLEX HIS MUSCLES).

That slight question mark meant that Yellow Brick started at generous odds of $3.20 … and those who took what was offer never had n anxious moment in the run.

James McDonald, who was crowned the Longines World’s Best Jockey for 2025, was handed the reins on Yellow Brick for the second time here (He had won the Spear Chief Handicap on Yellow Brick back in June 2024).

One race before Yellow Brick stepped into action, McDonald had won the #3 million Magic Millions Sunlight aboard Grafterburners, and the race-to-race double was always on the cards once McDonald got Yellow Brick away in lively fashion at the break allowing him to slip into a handy third place, just two lengths back, in the early part.

With McDonald biding his time and conserving energy on Yellow Brick, the Sears trained runner went back to fourth place in the sweep to the home turn and held that position until the field turned into the home straight.

Switching out across heels at the top of the straight, McDonald asked Yellow Brick to start letting down coming through the 300m mark, and the six-year-old was happy to join the party … but that was still done in measured fashion and he gradually reeled in the leaders, building momentum all of the time, hitting the front with 120m left to run and going away from the opposition as if he was the one carrying the lighter weight.

A clearcut, compelling, highly deserved victory was in the bank, taking Yellow Brick’s race record to nine wins and nine minor placings from twenty-seven starts with $3 490 500 banked in prize-money. Not bad for a $20 000 purchase.

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