First starter Earn To Burn to chase big money in $250,000 Magic Millions The Debut 2YO Plate

Trainer Jack Bruce is chasing a start in the $3m Magic Millions 2YO Classic when his $7000 colt makes his debut at the Gold Coast on Friday night.

Racing trainer, Jack Bruce. Picture: Patrick Woods

The steady progression of unraced colt Earn To Burn has trainer Jack Bruce eager to capitalise on Queensland’s summer riches in Friday’s $250,000 Magic Millions The Debut 2YO Plate (1000m) under lights at the Gold Coast.

Earn To Burn went under the hammer for $7000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Yearling Sale earlier this year and has shown Bruce plenty of promise early with a pair of trials wins in the lead up to his debut.

It’s an important race for more than just the $152,500 winner’s cheque.

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A debut victory would thrust Earn To Burn into calculations for next month’s coveted $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic at the same venue.

Bruce believes his “fast learner” will be up for the challenge.

“At the start he was a little bit colty but the more he has done, the more he has settled into things,” he said.

“He is just a relaxed horse that has a high cruising speed and seems to do it quite effortlessly which is what you need for a two-year-old.

“He has been a fast learner and has got to where he has got to quite quickly and every time I have stepped up the intensity, he has handled it that and asked for a bit more.

“He has do it quite nicely.”

EARN TO BURN (2 c Better Than Ready - Malionga) secures back-to-back trial victories with an impressive win in an 850m 2YO heat at @SCTurfClub this morning for @JackBruceRacing 🥇

The colt by @LyndhurstJeff BETTER THAN READY was a $7k buy for his trainer from the @fraser_alexia… pic.twitter.com/3jxEKudgw7

— ANZ Bloodstock (@anz_news) December 10, 2024

Bruce nominated Earn To Burn for Sydney’s 2YO event at Royal Randwick on Saturday as well as the Group 3 BJ McLachlan Stakes (1200m).

But the chance to race for big money in a race full of debutants was always top priority for Bruce.

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“The plan is to go to the Debut in an attempt to win enough money to go to the Magic Millions,” he said.

“He is guaranteed a start of some description in that race. He might draw the car park but he will go there and I won’t go to Sydney or Saturday.”

Only 10 horses will get the chance to run in the Debut 2YO Plate with double that number nominating for the feature event.

Bruce has enlisted the services of Damien Thornton for the big occasion.

“Damien rode him in his first trial and came in to ride him Monday morning,”

“He has made the necessary improvement that was probably required after his qualifying (trial) win.

“He has made the right progress so we just have to pray for a barrier on Wednesday morning now.”

Originally published as First starter Earn To Burn to chase big money in $250,000 Magic Millions The Debut 2YO Plate