Gold Coast Magic Millions 2022 schedule
The Magic Millions is here for 2022 – here’s everything you need to know.
Gold Coast
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SCHEDULE
Beach horse races
6.30am, 7.30am and 8.40am
Skydivers
8.05am
Barrier Draw Two Year Old Race
9.05am
Three Year Old Race
9.40am
Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Tuesday to January 17, various times, at the Magic Millions Sales Complex, Bundall
TAB 2YO Calcutta Dinner
January 13, 6pm – 10pm
Gold Coast Event Centre, Gold Coast Turf Club, Bundall
The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions race day
January 15, 9am
Gold Coast Turf Club, Bundall
The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions race day After-Party
January 15, 4pm
Garden Kitchen and Bar, The Star Gold Coast, Broadbeach
Magic Millions Widden Stud Golf Day
January 18, 11:30am – 6pm
RACV Royal Pines, Benowa
Please visit magicmillions.com.au for further information and to book tickets.
Gold Coast Magic Millions 2022: Candice Dixon’s tips for event
TV personality Candice Dixon is ready for a week of glitz, glamour and longevity on the Gold Coast for the Magic Millions.
The Channel 7 presenter is this year’s ambassador for The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Carnival.
This is the fourth year The Star Gold Coast has hosted its off-track entertainment and Dixon moved into the casino’s hotel for the week of festivities.
Dixon said she’d been living it up since moving in and was excited for a big day on Saturday.
“I’ll be going to the track on Saturday and will be returning for the after-party Live on the Lawn at The Star,” she said.
“It’s one of my favourite days of the year and I make sure I get the most out of it. I can stretch it out to 15 hours sometimes.
“It’s all about longevity and being prepared by choosing appropriate clothing for the Gold Coast’s climate and comfortable shoes, along with lots of water and looking after yourself throughout the day.”
The proud Gold Coaster revealed her outfit for the races would be bright and colourful to match her vibrant home city.
Magic Millions 2022: A Ferrari, panamas and prime yearling
January 11, 2022
SLICK red Ferrari, the world’s top horse racing identities and a sea of Panama hats and polo shirts.
It was all happening Tuesday for the start of this year’s Magic Millions yearling sales on the Gold Coast.
An auctioneer sat at the ready to strike the gavel hot on the very first horse to take to the stage. And none could be more fitting than the product from world-renowned winning breeders Coolmore Australia, whose first Justify colt went under the hammer for a cool $450,000.
The winning bidder, Teo Ah Khing of China Horse Club, will go in the running to win a brand-new Ferrari 488. The luxury car will be awarded to the first Justify yearling buyer whose horse wins a qualifying race.
Coolmore Australia boss Tom Magnier said the Ferrari giveaway was a fitting way to celebrate the Magic Millions buzz on the Gold Coast.
“It’sa great way to kick off the event and there’s no better way to celebrate than by giving one lucky winner the keys to a beautiful Ferrari,” he said.
“We’re very excited about Justify and we’ve gone out and bought the best mares in the southern hemisphere.
“It’s been a huge investment but it meant that this year’s selection from Coolmore might just be the best we’ve ever sent up here.”
Mr Magnier said: “There’s nowhere in the world you have the buzz that you see at Magic Millions.”
“The prize money on offer is phenomenal and everyone is up here getting into the mood.
“It’s incredible to start my working day here on the coast by walking on the beach and seeing the white sand and the blue water. And added to that I’m going out and selling a Justify crop – I really have to pinch myself.”
Mr Ah King, who races horses in 11 countries, says this was his sixth year at Magic Millions.
“We’ve been following Justify and are thrilled to add a brilliant bay colt to our racing stock,” he said.
“Every year the event gets stronger and stronger. The quality this year is exceptional.”
Justify is a legendary American racehorse who in 2018 was the thirteenth winner of the American Triple Crown – the holy trinity of horse racing. When Justify’s racing career ended he was acquired by Coolmore Stud for close to $100 million. With 26 offspring foals at the Magic Millions, these are Justify’s first yearlings to be offered at public auction in Australia.
At deadline, gross sales had surpassed $30 million with the top price hitting $900,000, for three separate lots.
The average price on day one was $262,112 for a yearling. The clearance rate was 91.41 per cent, with 117 yearlings sold all up. It is expected bids will shoot through the million-dollar barrier on Wednesday.
‘Heartbreaking’: Jockey’s touching beach race tribute for Caserta
Jockeys had more on their mind than just the finish line at Tuesday’s Magic Millions beach races.
Madeleine Wishart rode in honour of her best mate Chris Caserta, a talented young jockey who drowned last month after being swept out to sea during a late-night swim.
Ms Wishart said she felt her friend was riding with her as the horses thundered along the sand of Surfers Paradise, just a short distance from the water where Mr Caserta spent his final moments.
The shock of losing a friend so suddenly had a big impact on her love for racing.
“I was nearly going to give it away because I was in Melbourne when I found out what happened,” Ms Wishart said.
“It’s just heartbreaking – you get shocked by something like that.”
It also changed her perspective on sport and life.
“I had a lot of big dreams and goals, but as long as I get to keep riding and do what I love, that’s all that matters,” the apprentice jockey said.
“Now I’ve just been training hard and I would love to go out there and ride some winners on behalf of Chris and have him riding with me.”
The buzz of the crowds and relaxed vibe of the beach races was a perfect way for Ms Wishart to get back in the saddle again.
“Today is a bit of fun. It’s one of our feature events for Queensland,” she said.
“Melbourne’s got the Melbourne Cup – we’ve got the Magic Millions.”
Event ambassador Billy Slater enjoyed the racing action from the sidelines this year after having a hit at the polo tournament on Sunday.
“I’m actually looking forward to going out to the sales, having a look at some yearlings and obviously Saturday is the $10 million race day which is huge,” he said.
MAGIC MILLIONS SCHEDULE
GOLD Coaster Emily Schulz says she is excited to celebrate one of the year’s biggest two-week ‘carnivals’ and enter the Magic Millions Women’s bonus.
Having worked in the thoroughbred and breeding industry for more than 10 years and as a current part owner of two race horses, Ms Schulz said she was keeping her options open going into the 2022 Magic Millions season.
SCHEDULE BELOW
She said she was looking forward to the 10th anniversary of the Women’s Bonus, a competition where $500,000 goes towards the first all female-owned horse who runs in the two-year-old classic race.
“If you are the first female-owned horse and it comes 10th, you can still win $375,000,” Ms Schulz said.
“I am looking forward to entering with a horse if there is one suitable that I like.
“It’s a great initiative and shows it’s not a sport of kings, women are very welcome.”
She said she liked to see the horses in the flesh before she thinks of buying into one.
“I will be talking to a few different stables and see what they have to offer,” Ms Schulz said.
She said she joined the horse industry in grade 10 when she started work experience with a racing family in the Mornington peninsular.
“I thought I love horses, I need to find something that will make me money,” Ms Schulz said.
“I did an equine degree, worked in various locations like racing stables, horse studs, clubs and made sure I was diverse in different environment.
“Now I have landed a job with Channel 7 as one of the producers of the horse racing team.”
She said she enjoyed educating the public about the reality behind horse racing.
“There is a lot of misconception about the racing industry,” Ms Schulz said.
“Once people learn more about it they fall in love.
“These animals are treated like royalty,” she said.
Ms Schulz said the thing she loved most about the Magic Millions yearling sales was it was open to the public.
“I brought my family into the racing industry by getting them to come to the sales,” she said.
“It’s the first sale of the season and everyone has come off their Christmas and New Years breaks.
“The breeding season has ended.
“It’s a two-week carnival,” Ms Schulz added.
From January 11 to 17 the Magic Millions Yearling sale will be held at 28 Ascot Court, Bundall.
Magic Millions Gold Coast line up
The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Barrier Draw
Tuesday, from 6am-10am
Surfers Paradise foreshore, Surfers Paradise (opposite Trickett St)
SCHEDULE
Beach horse races
6.30am, 7.30am and 8.40am
Skydivers
8.05am
Barrier Draw Two Year Old Race
9.05am
Three Year Old Race
9.40am
Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Tuesday to January 17, various times, at the Magic Millions Sales Complex, Bundall
TAB 2YO Calcutta Dinner
January 13, 6pm – 10pm
Gold Coast Event Centre, Gold Coast Turf Club, Bundall
The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions race day
January 15, 9am
Gold Coast Turf Club, Bundall
The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions race day After-Party
January 15, 4pm
Garden Kitchen and Bar, The Star Gold Coast, Broadbeach
Magic Millions Widden Stud Golf Day
January 18, 11:30am – 6pm
RACV Royal Pines, Benowa
Please visit magicmillions.com.au for further information and to book tickets.
Pacific Fair Polo Lounge perfect spot to soak up the magic
January 6, 2022
Australian actor and model Laura Dundovic says the Pacific Fair polo lounge is perfect for everyone to experience the fun and atmosphere of the big event.
The famous Pacific Fair Magic Millions Polo will be held at Doug Jennings Park
on Sunday.
A pop-up stall will be open in the shopping centre from Tuesday to Sunday for everyone to enjoy and will feature food from renowned Gold Coast restaurant Little Truffle.
“The polo lounge at Pacific Fair follows the same theme as at polo,” Ms Dundovic said.
“We have hanging florals, which you will see at the event.
“The pop-up also has a limited menu with European-inspired food and Champagne.”
Ms Dundovic said she was excited to see the new trends to feature at this year’s Pacific Fair Magic Millions Polo event.
“In terms of what we will see fashion wise and the trends coming through for
the polo from Pacific Fair, there will be a lot of colours,” she said.
“We are having a ’60s throwback and a bit of ’70s with really cool prints coming through.
“We are also seeing a bit
of metallic, whether that was in the head piece or in your outfit.”
Ms Dundovic said while the fashion was a major part of why she loved the event, she was excited to experience the unique atmosphere.
“I really enjoyed the whole event two years ago and it’s so good to be back,” Ms Dundovic said. “It’s the feeling of everyone being on holidays, so it’s a little bit more laid-back.”
The Pacific Fair Magic Millions Polo experience on Sunday at the event includes an all-day premium hospitality package.
More information at info@magicmillions.com.au
Barry back on track for huge return to Magic Millions
Magic Millions boss Barry Bowditch is looking cool, calm and collected as he gears up for a huge return to Australia’s biggest yearling sales and racing event of the year.
Although it’s only early days ahead of the auction kick-off on January 11, there’s already a sea of serious buyers inspecting the stock.
Champion trainers Gai Waterhouse and Chris Waller are already on the Coast.
The two possess the same razor sharp gut instincts they hope will bag another winner.
The are all business as they look for the next racing superstar.
Mr Bowditch said there would be 1230 lots catalogued for the 2022 sale, which would run over seven days.
“The quality of the sale is extremely strong this year, as it has been for several years previously,” he said.
“All the leading trainers, agents, syndicators and owners Australia-wide will be here. It’s the sale that cannot be missed and an economic barometer for the entire industry.
“It’s the highest producing sale of its kind in this part of the world and continues to produce results that aren’t comparable with any other sale.”
Mr Bowditch said he hoped to approach or even eclipse the record-breaking sales figures for 2021, which netted a $211 million sales gross.
While those figures were the highest grossing yearling sales ever in the Southern Hemisphere, he said: “It’s something you always aspire to achieve – but at this point, we are just going in to do our best for these vendors that have worked hard to get these yearlings here to sell.”
Mr Bowditch said the pandemic was “an ever-evolving landscape” but Magic Millions was “extremely good at running events in a Covid-centric climate”.
“Bio-security is second to none in the racing industry, so we are operating a Covid-safe event.
“We will ensure social distancing as much as possible and we are fortunate in that the venue is a big, open-air complex. “
He said the event would offer “something for everyone” and that even the most average punter could net a winning horse for as low as under $10,000.
“It’s what Magic Millions is all about. No matter what your budget is, you can come here and have a play.”
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