Magic Millions history: Gold Coast horse race’s most famous moments

THE Gold Coast Magic Millions is the race that stops the Gold Coast and has produced champions for more than 30 years. These are some of its biggest events.

THE Gold Coast Magic Millions is the race day that stops the Gold Coast and has produced champions for more than 30 years.

Racing takes place today at the Gold Coast Turf Club with horses sold at last year’s yearling sales battling it out for a $2 million purse.

It comes 34 years after the inaugural race in January 1987 when the event, then known as the Magic Million, was won by Snippets, who was trained by local Sally Rogers (now Keay).

Gold Coast trainer Gillian Heinrich with her horse Military Rose

It took a further 23 years before another Gold Coast-trained horse won the race.

Military Rose, trained by local Gillian Heinrich, won the 2010 event and its $1.2 million first prizemoney.

Houtzen, trained by Toby Edmonds, became the third Coast-trained winner in 2017.

A year after Snippets’ win, the second Magic Millions was surrounded by controversy when the first horse past the post lost on protest.

Prince Regent (20-1) crossed the line first just in front of Molokai Prince (10-1) after a bumping battle in the final 150m of the race.

Molokai Prince ridden by jockey Ron Quinton is bumped by Prince Regent. Picture: Barry Pascoe

But the real fireworks came after the race when Molokai Prince’s jockey Ron Quinton lodged a protest over interference caused by Prince Regent, who was ridden by John Marshall.

“When I accelerated clear in the straight the only horse to come after me was the eventual winner,’’ Quinton told stewards.

“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.’’

Trainer Gillian Heinrich watches as winning horse Military Rose take out the Cup.

Stewards looked at multiple replays of the event, including several head-on videos. Marshall argued 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 exhaustive inquiry, the stewards upheld the protest and Molokai Price and Ron Quinton were declared the winners.

Houtzen, ridden by Jeff Lloyd and trained by Toby Edmonds, blitzes the field at the Gold Coast. Picture: Grant Peters, Trackside Photography

Following the announcement, Molokai Prince’s trainer Neville Begg spoke to Prince Regent’s trainer Kelso Wood.

“I hate protests at any time, but I have a responsibility to the owners in such a major race as this,’’ Begg said.

After the race, the people most pleased by the result were the bookmakers, because neither Molokai Prince, nor Prince Regent had been favoured by punters.

Molokai Prince, who later went to stud, lived a long life before his death in July 1997. He sired 249 foals and 109 winners during eight seasons at stud.