Women out to upstage husbands with Highland Beat in Magic Millions 2YO Classic

TWO Gold Coast women hope to upstage their husbands by winning the race their partners couldn’t, the Magic Millions 2YO Classic, today.

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MEET the two Gold Coast women hoping to upstage their husbands by winning the race their partners couldn’t, the Magic Millions 2YO Classic.

Tanya and Kym Heritage are co-owners of the David Hayes and Tom Dabernig-trained Highland Beat that is a $26 chance in today’s race.

The horse’s presence in the iconic race comes three years after their respective husbands, brothers Wes and Ash, had Gracious Prospect run seventh in the Classic.

Gracious Prospect went on to finish seventh in the 3YO Guineas the next year and will run in the Magic Millions Cup today on the Gold Coast.

Wes and Ash have a history of owning race horses spanning 20 years but it is their wives who currently boast the best runner in the family after the Victorian-trained Highland Beat won at Moonee Valley last month.

And in the battle of the sexes a potential $1.2 million in prizemoney from winning today’s Classic would ensure the women remain on top.

“Tanya is very quick to tell me they own the best horse in the family,” Wes said.

“We are winning when it comes to the level of prizemoney won between the two horses but they will definitely have bragging rights if they win this.”

But Wes said the men are more than happy to go along for the ride.

“It’s pretty exciting times in our household and it’s easier for my brother and I to justify buying horses if the girls are in it as well,” Wes said.

“If the girls win and we don’t then they can pick up the dinner bill when we celebrate.”

After seeing their husbands’ success on the track, Tanya and Kym bought their first horse, Marocan Diva, three years ago inspired by the Magic Millions women’s initiative and returned to purchase Highland Beat soon after.

“The guys roped us in a bit with their interest and we just love going to the track with them,” Tanya said.

“They didn’t have to talk us into it too much because we knew if we didn’t get one then they will get an extra one.

“Having a horse in a race like this is what you dream but it is only our second horse so you wouldn’t have thought you would get such a good one considering how many years the boys have had horses and how long it took to get in a good race like this.”

Tanya and Kym could pocket a further $325,000 bonus for having the first all-female owned horse to cross the line in the Classic, taking the potential earnings to more than $1.5 million.