Let’s Go Barbie: 2025 Magic Millions 2YO Classic win for Hi Barbie would complete fairytale for owner Jennifer Acton and trainer Tony Gollan

Another extraordinary moment in Gold Coast Magic Millions history could be brewing with the emotional tale of Tony Gollan-trained two-year-old filly Hi Barbie.

Come on, Barbie, let’s go party.

They are the lyrics of a funky dance-pop song which once topped the charts worldwide.

But they could also be the catch cry of Gold Coast Magic Millions week for champion trainer and birthday boy Tony Gollan and his Jennifer Acton-owned filly Hi Barbie.

Acton is the widow of former central Queensland cattle baron and prominent racehorse breeder and owner Alan Acton who tragically died in a helicopter mustering crash on his property in 2023.

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Magic Millions week was always going to an emotional one for Jennifer Acton and her family, including daughter Jessica and grandson Tommy who named the filly after watching a Barbie movie.

Hi Barbie was bred by Alan Acton and purchased back for $1.2m as a yearling by his widow, who was determined to honour her late husband and build on his legacy in racing.

There has been emotion, but there’s also been more than a splash of high drama in the lead-up.

Hi Barbie would have probably started as favourite in Saturday’s $3m Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic if things had gone to plan.

After winning on debut, she started a well-backed favourite in last month’s Group 3 Bruce McLachlan Stakes at Eagle Farm and it looked to be going smoothly when she raced outside the leader.

But then she started going backwards and was beaten out of sight, her chances of lining up in the Magic Millions looking to be shot.

What dreams are made of 👏

Icarian Dream races away with the G3 BJ McLachlan Stakes and it's an Eagle Farm double to Jason Collett! @cmaherracing | @BrisRacingClub | @mmsnippetspic.twitter.com/nNubKJfWzR

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 21, 2024

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Post-race vet tests revealed the reason for the flop – cardiac arrhythmia, which is a condition where there is a change in the rhythm of the heart.

Thankfully, electrocardiogram (ECG) and a barrage of other tests revealed the filly’s heart rhythm had very quickly returned to normal.

Gollan, who won the Magic Millions two years ago with Skirt The Law, waited until the last minute to confirm the filly would take her place on Saturday as he wanted to be extra sure everything was fine.

With further medical tests showing no issues, Gollan said it was what the late Acton would have wanted for his filly to be given her chance to shine.

But if Hi Barbie surges to an incredible Magic Millions win, Gollan is taking no extra credit.

👋 Hi Barbie wins the Listed Phelan Ready Plate at her first start!@tonygollan | @BrisRacingClubpic.twitter.com/eKM7oPv7O4

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 30, 2024

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“Watching her last race, she cruised up outside the horse in the lead like she was going to win and all of a sudden she stopped,” Gollan, who celebrated his birthday on Friday, said.

“I’ve just had to do a lot of tests to make sure her health was fine and all the boxes were ticked.

“If those boxes weren’t ticked, she wouldn’t be running.

“I was second guessing myself a bit, but at the end of the day it was all about how she was.

“If she had her head down and wasn’t eating and she was down in the in the dumps and stressed and not a happy horse, she wouldn’t be running.

“But she is exceptionally well and exceptionally fresh and bright.

“Looking at her now, you would never know she even had it (cardiac arrhythmia).

“To be honest, in terms of training her, I’ve done pretty much exactly what I was going to do regardless of whether that setback happened.”

"Probably as nervous as I've been coming to the races for a first starter."

Hi Barbie was too good for them in the Phelan Ready Plate, hear from @tonygollan and Angela Jones... the best is yet to come!@BrisRacingClubpic.twitter.com/2M0MUvL02M

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 30, 2024

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Gollan has won seven Group 1s, including one with Antino in the Melbourne spring carnival last year, but given the story attached to Hi Barbie it would have an extra special and emotional edge if she could score the rich race.

In a race in which Gollan has three runners, including the more fancied La Bella Boom ($6.50), Hi Barbie is a $19 chance.

He has a word of advice for punters trying to work out whether to back Hi Barbie given the less than ideal lead-up.

“If you liked her prior to the heart arrhythmia, you’ve got to like her again now,” Gollan said.

“What happened just seems to be just an anomaly and she is very much up and about.

“Everything tells me that physically she is going to keep on getting better.

“I’m sure she is a real star of the future for the stable, I’m just hopeful about her on Saturday.”

Jennifer Acton draws barrier 14 for Hi Barbie in Saturday’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic. Picture: Magic Millions

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La Bella Boom – part owned by Gollan’s great mate and Victorian champion trainer Ciaron Maher – has won two on the trot, has a lovely sense of timing and gets the services of Melbourne Cup and The Everest winning jockey Craig Williams.

Gollan says the filly doesn’t shoot the lights out on the training track but is a “real racehorse.”

“Everything about her preparation has gone exactly how I wanted it,” Gollan said.

“My confidence levels are pretty high with both of these fillies and I would be shocked if both of them aren’t right in the finish of the race.

“This race day is so special for Queensland, the eyes of Australia are on the Gold Coast and this is the day you want to be training winners.

“If I was to win the two-year-old race, it would have just as much relevance as the first one that I won.”

Originally published as Let’s Go Barbie: 2025 Magic Millions 2YO Classic win for Hi Barbie would complete fairytale for owner Jennifer Acton and trainer Tony Gollan