Progressive mare Rapt earns another trip to Queensland for Magic Millions The Wave with brilliant Randwick win

Classy mare Rapt has booked herself a return to Queensland next month for the $500,000 Magic Millions The Wave with an impressive win at Randwick.

Rapt charges home for a stylish win at Randwick. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Rapt earned a crack at next month’s $500,000 Magic Millions The Wave with a dominant victory at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

The daughter of More Than Ready raced up to her favourite tag when racing away to score comfortably in the Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1600m).

It was all trainer Jason Deamer needed to see to plot a course towards the Gold Coast.

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“She has won here today and she had to do that so she is a Magic Millions horse and may have a crack at The Wave,” Deamer said.

“It’s on the fourth (of January).”

Deamer has already taken Rapt to Queensland once this preparation where the mare finished a respectable fourth in the Listed Just Now Quality at Eagle Farm.

She was dropping back in grade on the weekend and proved a cut above her rivals over the famous Randwick mile.

Rapt ($3.60 favourite) surged clear late to score by a length-and-a-quarter from John Steinmetz’s Dr Evil ($9.50) while the Anthony Mountney-trained Jacob’s Time ($11) was third.

“She is not overly big but she is all heart and has a good little motor in there,” Deamer said.

Connections will be rapt with that! An easy win to Rapt at Randwick! 💪@clarkyhk | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/XXARlsuV7r

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 21, 2024

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“Tim (Clark) gave her a lovely run throughout the race and then just started to sneak into it at the right time.

“He got out three deep and kept improving, keeping her on the bridle at the same time.

“By the time it was to put the foot down, he wasn’t too far off them.”

Clark only had three runners behind him nearing the 600m but made the pivotal move as the field rounded the home bend.

“It worked out well,” Clark said.

“They went along a bit early, she was able to track up through the middle stages and was strong on the bridle.

“She crept into it around the bend and got through a good part of the field that weren’t taking me anyway.

“When she balanced up and flattened out, she really hit the line well.”

UNBEATEN ARRIVING HOME ON MAGIC MILLIONS GUINEAS PATH

Arriving Home raced into $3 million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas contention and continued Bjorn Baker’s red hot run when the exciting filly led home a stable quinella at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

The daughter of I Am Invincible outpointed stablemate Midnight Dynamite and the luckless Getafix to salute in the Petaluma Benchmark 72 Handicap (1300m).

She is the latest in a long line of recent winners for the Baker yard, which is the most in-form stable in the country, striking with a success rate of 40 per cent with 20 winners from his past 50 starters.

Robusto headlined a Sydney Saturday treble last weekend when he claimed the Group 2 The Ingham while Baker also had a double at Canterbury on Friday night.

😮 A cracking finish at Randwick with Arriving Home arriving at just the right moment to grab the win from stablemate Midnight Dynamite! @BBakerRacing | @KPMcEvoy | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/t4LT8OFNBe

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 21, 2024

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Arriving Home, racing in the Ridgmont silks shared by Group 1 winning stablemate Stefi

Magnetica, is now two from two to start her highly-promising racing career.

“She has done a great job,” Baker said.

“I thought she was over the odds first-up and she got a lovely run here today.

“It was a great ride by Kerrin McEvoy.

“There is a little bit of mixed emotions because Midnight Dynamite is a really good horse too.

“He had to do a lot more work and is very game. He just keeps improving but it’s a great result.”

Arriving Home, a $550,0000 purchase at last year’s Magic Millions Yearling Sale, didn’t race throughout her two-year-old season but has been quick to make an impression at three.

She was a winner on debut over 1100m at Warwick Farm on December 4 and backed it up with another strong display in Sydney.

Star jockey Kerrin McEvoy had her perfectly poised to strike one of the fence, in behind the leaders, before helping Arriving Home go through her gears from the top of the straight.

Arriving Home ($11) overpowered Midnight Dynamite ($5.50) late to score by head with the John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained Getafix ($6) a half neck away in third.

“There was a lot of merit to that,” McEvoy said.

“She won in a bunch finish at Warwick Farm but I liked the way she knuckled down, finished and the feel she gave me.

“She has proven us right there today. She has gone to Saturday grade and still did a bit wrong but she was able to get the job done.”

Arriving Home won a thriller at Randwick, here's what @BBakerRacing and @KPMcEvoy thought of the win!@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/yfZFbZLUz7

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 21, 2024

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Baker is desperate to see Arriving Home gain a start in the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas on January 11 on the Gold Coast however it will depend on if the filly has enough prizemoney to get in the race.

Her latest win took her earnings to $130,500 ($164,250 including bonuses)

“She is a Magic Millions filly – we are not sure if she will make the three-year-old race but I would love to get in,” Baker said.

“We will see what happens and go from there but that was fantastic today.”

Arriving Home was slashed $51 into $26 for the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas next month.

Meanwhile, John O’Shea believes placegetter Getafix is on track for a crack at the Guineas.

The son of Calyx didn’t have the clearest run in the straight but was hitting the line well in his first run back from a freshen up.

“He is heading the right way,” O’Shea said.

“He has got to draw well at the Coast because the draw is very important there.”

Getafix shortened from $15 into $11 for the Guineas while Dawn Service was a notable drifter from $11 out to $34.

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Dawn Service led the field up on Saturday but ran out of gas and finished two-and-a-half lengths off the winner.

Diddle Dumpling was a well backed $4.60 favourite but was slowly away and never looked like a winning chance, only beating one runner home.