Officials ‘99 per cent’ confident Magic Millions to stay on Gold Coast

One of Australia’s top trainers Chris Waller has given a glowing endorsement of the Magic Millions track after urgent repair works to the poisoned surface were undertaken.

Repairs to the Gold Coast turf club track have been completed ahead of the Magic Millions carnival race day on Saturday Picture GCTC

Officials say they’re “99 per cent” confident Magic Millions will go ahead on the Gold Coast on Saturday after Australia’s top trainer Chris Waller gave his ringing endorsement to urgent repairs to the poisoned-damaged track.

Queensland’s richest and most prestigious racing carnival had been thrown into turmoil after a crucial stretch of the Gold Coast Turf Club track was mysteriously poisoned last week in a suspected sabotage being investigated by police.

Turf experts who saved the 2022 Melbourne Cup after Flemington course was vandalised hours before the big race has carried out repairs on the Gold Coast track.

Work is underway to remove the poisoned section of track at the Gold Coast Turf club and replace it with new turf ahead of this weekends Magic Millions race day. Picture: Supplied

Racing Queensland boss Jason Scott said he was 99 per cent confident the main $14.5m Magic Millions race day would stay on the Glitter Strip rather than having to move to Eagle Farm which is the contingency plan.

He said Waller had inspected the track on Wednesday morning and approved the repairs.

“I had a good look at the track this morning and I was very impressed,” Waller said in a statement read to journalists by Scott.

“The 500m mark (where the poisoning occurred) is the critical part of the track and it’s an area that tends to wear down badly at the end of most carnivals.

“However, heading into this meeting, we’re working with essentially fresh ground at this section which means horses will have very good traction and the surface is very safe.

Leading trainer Chris Waller. Picture: Getty

“There is no movement at all and I was particularly impressed with how well it has come together.”

Waller said the repaired track would give horses and jockeys “full confidence”.

“I’m looking forward to seeing some excellent racing on Saturday.”

Mr Scott said six horses ridden by leading jockeys would test the repaired surface on Thursday morning with a decision to be made soon after.

He said if the meeting did have to be moved to Eagle Farm, all hospitality and entertainment would stay on the Gold Coast as happened with last weekend’s first Magic Millions twilight meeting which was relocated to Caloundra after the track poisoning.

“We do have a contingency if worst comes to worst, which again I can’t see that happening,” Mr Scott said.

“We will race at Eagle Farm (but) the hospitality, the party, the amazing event that Katie (Magic Millions co-owner Katie Page-Harvey) puts on will be held here on the Gold Coast.”

Ms Page-Harvey said about 25,000 race fans were expected at the Gold Coast on Saturday, “regardless of outcome”.

“It will be amazing, the entertainment will be amazing, even if we’re racing at Eagle Farm,” she said.

“There is not one person that will cancel their ticket, I promise.”

Ms Page-Harvey said the 11th hour salvage of the Magic Millions twilight carnival showed “we can do anything, actually.”

“(Husband) Gerry (Harvey) and I love these challenges,” she said.

“You can see that we just get on with it and produce a great product and it’s really important that we do this for the industry.”