Live action and results from the 2020 Magic Millions race day at Gold Coast Turf Club
The Magic Millions race day is underway. Keep up to date with all the results and stories from the track here.
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UPDATE 6.09PM:
RACE 9 - $1 MILLION MAGIC MILLIONS QTIS OPEN (1300 METRES)
Tony Gollan has capped off the day by claiming the last two races.
The Brisbane trainer won the Magic Millions QTIS Open with Outback Barbie who edged out a host of rivals on the line including River Racer, Ef Troop, Chapter and Verse and In His Stride.
UPDATE 5.43PM:
RACE 8 - $1 MILLION MAGIC MILLIONS CUP (1400 METRES)
Brisbane trainer Tony Gollan has won the Magic Millions Cup with Vega One.
It was the fifth win of the four-year-old gelding’s career and lifted her total prizemoney to $953,000.
Jockey Michael Rodd steered Vega One to victory at Eagle Farm in December over the same distance and was faultless again on the Gold Coast.
UPDATE 5.26PM:
RACE 7 - $2 MILLION MAGIC MILLIONS 2YO CLASSIC (1200 METRES)
Trainer Ciaron Maher says his 2YO Classic win with Away Game is the most satisfying of his stunning career.
The man who has won multiple Group 1 races was left fighting back tears talking about his filly who stormed down the straight to win the biggest race of the carnival.
“It was a really good effort," Maher said
“She is already a stakes winner, she is a filly and has now won the Magic Millions.
“It was a great ride by Luke Currie and a fanastic job by Christine, our travelling foreman who basically slept with this horse.
“She has iced her and done every little one percent of it that you need to do. It’s very pleasing and satisfying for (Away Game) to get the job done.
“We have put a lot of time and effort into our two-year-old’s this year and they have been absolutely flying.”
UPDATE: 4.44PM
RACE 6 - $2 MILLION COAST MAGIC MILLIONS 3YO GUINEAS (1400 METRES)
ALLIGATOR Blood has overcome huge drama to win the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas in what trainer David Vandyke said was the biggest highlight of his career.
A crash on the M1 has Vandyke and connections at one point questioning if the clear favourite for the $2 million race would even make it as police escorted the gelding down the track.
The program was shifted back by one race to give the horse and others more time to arrive before further delays followed at the starting gate. Leviathan bolted without its jockey, getting an almighty cheer down the straight while Scout needed a shoe re-fitted.
But none of it mattered. Alligator Blood couldn’t be stopped.
“Considering everything that happened (in the lead up) it would have to be the highlight of my career,” Vandyke said.
“He was held up, I didn’t know if he would get here on time.
“And then the delays at the start, he was agitated, he was sweating, but the good horses do it and he was going to win when they straightened.
“It’s been a high pressure situation, he is a Queensland competitor and it was just wonderful to see him step up at this top level and win such a prestigious race.”
When asked how proud he was of the horse, Vandyke said:
“I don’t want to start crying. He has that x-factor and some,” Vandyke said.
“He loves what he does. He gets out there and tries hard. He is well named, he has that alligator blood.”
Vandyke spoke of his relief from the win after being less than happy with his condition on arrival.
“He was (always) going to run. He wanted to run,” Vandyke said.
“I wasn’t happy with him (when he arrived) but I wanted to give him the opportunity to do what he does best which is get out there and compete. He is a dead set competitor and done his state and owners proud.”
UPDATE 3.30PM:
RACE 5 - $1 MILLION MAGIC MILLIONS FILLIES & MARES (1300 METRES)
GROUP 1 winner Invincibella has won an incredible third straight Magic Millions Fillies & Mares race on the Gold Coast.
The Chris Waller-trained mare was steered home in the 1300m race by premier jockey Hugh Bowman to claim the triple in the $1 million race.
“After each year when you win…you like to go back and defend the crown,” Waller, who operates a Gold Coast stable, said.
“They have to be good enough to do it of course and it’s good to be involved with these types of horses.
“(The Group 1 win in the Tatts Tiara) cements her value (as a broodmare) and (shows) how good she actually is. She is performing at the highest level and doing it the right way.”
UPDATE 3.10pm:
The health ofMagic Millions runner Champagne Cuddles is under threat with the horse being taken from the track in an ambulance.
It’s understood the mare, trained by Bjorn Baker, was galloped on before turning on to the straight and suffered a leg injury.
2.45pm:
The Magic Millions meeting has been pushed back by one race by stewards in order to give 3YO Guineas favourite Alligator Blood the best chance of arriving at the track after being caught up in traffic following a crash on the M1.
Alligator Blood was heading south down the M1 from the stables of Brisbane trainer David Vandyke but found trouble after finding both directions of traffic in Gold Coast’s north closed after a track carrying fuel rolled over.
The horse is being escorted by police to the track.
The horse is one of multiple caught up in the traffic, including 2YO Classic runners Gotta Kiss, Dusty Tycoon, Kavak and Europhric Summer.
Stewards are confident the delay will enable all horses will make it to the track in time to race.
The updated schedule for the remaining races is:
Race 6, the 3YO Magic Millions Guineas: now 4pm
Race 7, the 2YO Magic Millions Classic: 4.45pm
Race 8, the Pacific Fair Magic Millions Cup: 5.20pm
Race 9, the racing Queensland Magic Millions Quality: 5.50pm
RACE 4 - $1 MILLION MAGIC MILLIONS SNIPPETS (1200 METRES)
TRAINER Chris Waller is predicting even bigger things to come for Magic Millions Snippets winner Madam Rouge.
The four-year-old mare battled with Godolphin’s Isaurian down the straight but got her rival on the line to win the $1 million race at the Gold Coast Turf Club.
It was also a big win for jockey James McDonald who missed out on celebrating a victory with Primitivo in the prior race after being overweight.
“The way she is winning races, I don’t think she is finished yet,” Waller said.
“It’s a big week and good to get a horse like her up here. She was well placed and it was a great ride from James.
“He didn’t take any risks, he just angled his way out and set sail for home. We needed all the straight but we got there.
“With her last start win and last preparation as well you can see she has the makings of a really good horse. I think she can win a good race.”
RACE 3 - $1 MILLION MAGIC MILLIONS TROPHY (2400 METRES)
Jockey Glen Boss has answered an SOS from Sydney trainer John Thompson by riding Primitivo to victory in the $1 million Magic Millions Trophy.
When it was confirmed hoop James McDonald was too heavy to ride the 54kg given to the horse, Boss stepped up and didn’t miss a beat.
“This horse goes well on the fresh side so that preparation probably suited this horse,” Thompson said.
“You have to give credit to (Boss). If you watch that replay it was an 11 out of 10 ride, he is a freak.
“He is a big race rider. It was a bit disappointing because we lost James this morning and he knew the horse very well but Bossy jumps on board and gives an absolute peach like that.
“There is no better staying rider anywhere than Bossy. He has the form on the board and very much appreciate that.”
RACE 2 - $250,000 MAGIC MILLIONS OPEN QUALITY HANDICAP (1800 METRES)
TRAINER Ciaron Maher says he is reluctant to take Etana home to Warwick Farm after adding to her love affair for Queensland by winning the $250,000 Magic Millions Open Quality Handicap.
Etana finished fifth in her first run in The Wave at the Gold Coast last week but bounced back to win on the biggest day of the Magic Millions carnival for Maher and his training partner David Eustace.
“I was hoping to win both actually but we will take this one,” Maher said post-race.
“It was a great ride by (jockey) Luke Currie. It was easy to watch. The horse thrived, the team up here …has done a sensational job.
“She is probably a valuable broodmare and this adds a bit more money to her purse. She seems to thrive when she gets up here to Queensland.
“I might be reluctant to take her home she likes it here that much.”
Maher won’t have to wait long to get Etana here again, with the trainer looking to bring her back for the Queensland winter carnival.
“She takes a while to hit form so we will see what else is around but she may have another run. We will probably target some better races in the winter carnival up here again.”
RACE 1 – $250,000 MAGIC MILLIONS MAIDEN PLATE (1200 METRES)
TRAINER Mick Price was in his budgie smugglers earlier in the week when he told those around him He’ll Haunt Us will win the Magic Millions Maiden Plate.
Price has celebrated the first win of the Magic Millions race day, pocketing $145,000 for the connections of the three-year-old gelding who has only previously recorded finishes of sixth and third.
Price thought he had He’ll Haunt Us primed for the 1200m sprint but the race plan went out the window early as the horse struggled to find speed.
“I was very surprised (by the struggle), he has had that much practice to get him ready for this race,” Price said.
“Doomben is very tight and (he was) on the inside rail (during a trial he won) and he handled that fantastic.
“So when he speared off the track, I don’t know if he had nothing to follow in, I thought gee this is a bad race to be getting it wrong.
“All kudos to (jockey) Damien Oliver. the horse was fit and got the money.”
‘This is what the game is about’: $7000 buy chasing Doncaster spot
Willaidow, an unwanted yearling who was sold for $7000 and races with three pins in his leg, could be set for the Doncaster Mile after a career-best win in the Group 3 Southern Cross Stakes.
Comeback galloper on rollercoaster ride to $1m race
Fukubana scored his first win since returning from a serious injury at Doomben and trainer Matt Dunn is now eyeing off a million-dollar race in Sydney.