Flashback: How Molokai Prince controversially won the 1988 Gold Coast Magic Millions
THE Magic Millions has offered up plenty of memorable moments in its 31 years but none were as controversial as this moment, when a horse which didn’t cross the finishing line first was declared the winner.
History
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THE Gold Coast Magic Millions is the race that stops the Gold Coast and has produced champions for more than 30 years.
The famed yearling race will be run this afternoon at the Gold Coast Turf Club where the finest horses from last year’s sales battle it out for a $2 million purse.
It comes 31 years after the inaugural race in January 1987 when the golden slipper got taken out by homegrown talent Snippets, a horse trained by local Sally Rogers (now Keay).
This famous ride has become legendary in Gold Coast horseracing circles and was the last time a locally trained horse took out the top prize until Military Rose, trained by local Gillian Heinrich, won the 1200m 2010 event and its $2 million prizemoney.
But the second annual Magic Millions generated plenty of excitement 30 years ago this week as the concept entered its second year.
A year after Snippets’ win, the second Magic Millions was surrounded by controversy over who won the race.
Prince Regent cross the lined first on 20-1 odds, just beating Molokai Prince (10-1 odds) after a bumping battle across the final 150m of the race.
It was an astonishing finish as Molokai Prince started from the outside alley after rumours of a shin injury in the days before the race.
From the 16-strong field, Good Time Dancer came third while favourite Wolseley Road failed to shine.
But the real fireworks came at the end of the race as a protest was lodged against the outcome, citing interference between Prince Regent jockey John Marshall and Molokai Prince’s Ron Quinton.
Quinton lodged a protest with the stewards.
“When I accelerated clear in the straight the only horse to come after me was the eventual winner,’’ he told them
“When Prince Regent came from behind we bumped a couple of times and we brushed when level.
“Molokai Prince is a big horse and it cost me momentum. He was off balance and it took him a few strides to recover.’’
The race’s result proceeded to the stewards’ room where the multiple replays of the event, including several head-on videos.
Marshall argued that he had not been at fault and that any interference was minor.
“We brushed but straight away I pulled him off and put the whip away. It was only a slight brush,’’ he said.
After an exhausting discussion, the stewards came out to make their announcement that the protest had been upheld and that Molokai Price and Ron Quinton were the winners.
Following the announcement, Molokai Prince’s trainer Neville Begge spoke to Prince Regent’s trainer Kelso Wood.
He said the
“I hate protests at any time, but I have a responsibility to the owners in such a major race as this,’’ he said.
After the race, the people most pleased by the results were the bookmakers, because neither Molokai Prince, nor Prince Regent had been punter favourites or had drawn major bets.
Molokai Prince went on to live a long life and died in July 1997.
In that lifetime she produced 249 foals and 109 winners during eight seasons at stud.
The 31st Magic Millions will be run this weekend.
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