Owners pull off plunge with debutant Amosu in Magic Millions The Debut at Gold Coast

Amosu pocketed $305,000 for her owners after winning The Debut with some of them adding to the big payday after snapping up the $18 opening price.

Amosu arrives just in time to edge out Darn Hot Lady to win The Debut at the Gold Coast on Saturday. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography

Connections of a rookie Queensland two-year-old pulled off a betting plunge when Amosu grabbed a last-gasp win in the $500,000 The Debut on Magic Millions day.

The Liam Birchley-trained filly was $18 when markets opened earlier in the week but started $4.80.

Toby Edmonds and Stephen McLean-trained filly Darn Hot Lady ($5) looked to have pinched a winning break in the rich 1000m scamper but Nikita Beriman drove Amosu home in a tight finish.

First prizemoney was $305,000 but there were some connections who had an extra big payday, thanks to the long-priced betting go.

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Amosu, a $60,000 purchase, had the benefit of three trials and had won two of them coming into her race debut.

“This filly has got a magic temperament, barrier one and Nikita knows her well so it all came together,” Birchley said.

“Some of the owners got a nice (betting) price for her.

“But I think the bookies put her up at the wrong price, to be honest, then it looks like a betting plunge when it comes into the right price.

“The filly had plenty of (trial) experience and that’s what you need.”

Amosu takes out the Magic Millions 2YO Debut Plate by the barest of margins 🤏@mmsnippetspic.twitter.com/I0tfL7rWcr

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) January 11, 2025

The first race on the rich day, the $250,000 Magic Millions Maiden Plate (1100m), was won by another Queenslander as local Gold Coast trainer Marcus Wilson and his talented three-year-old gelding Heavenly Impact ($9) got the chocolates.

Heavenly Impact broke his duck at his fifth start, having finished second in The Debut at the Magic Millions meeting a year earlier and starting in several Stakes races during the 2024 Queensland winter carnival.

Gary Portelli’s galloper King Of Dragons ($10) led for home and gave an almighty kick, only to get nabbed on the line by Heavenly Impact.

Heavenly Impact takes out the Magic Millions Maiden Plate in a photo finish! 📸@mmsnippetspic.twitter.com/6Qn1rcB4r0

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) January 11, 2025

“I’ve been pulling my hair out with this horse,” Wilson admitted.

“He’s been a very quirky horse to get into the barriers and he is one horse that makes me nervous on race day.

“It’s good to see him get the job done.

“It’s our grand final, being a local, and we’ve only got a small team so it’s great to win here.

“We don’t have the big cheque books like some of the big blokes, we just chip away and he only cost $30,000 a couple of years ago.”

Originally published as Owners pull off plunge with debutant Amosu in Magic Millions The Debut at Gold Coast