Rockhampton couples share in Hidden Wealth’s win in Magic Millions race

Hidden Wealth notches up ninth career win after storming home in the Racing Queensland Magic Millions QTIS Open. Part-owner Vince Aspinall shares his excitement about the victory.

Hidden Wealth, pictured with jockey Kyle Wilson-Taylor aboard in a previous win at Doomben, won the Racing Queensland Magic Millions QTIS Open (1300m) on Friday. Picture: Grant Peters, Trackside Photography.

A trio of Rockhampton couples has shared in the $13 million lucrative prize on offer at last Friday night’s Magic Millions races on the Gold Coast courtesy of aptly named Hidden Wealth.

Friends Vince and Judy Aspinall, Justin and Tracey Houlihan and John and Debbie Jenkins are among a syndicate of 17 who race Hidden Wealth.

Only the Jenkinses were on-course at Gold Coast’s Aquis Park racecourse as part of a 10,000-plus crowd to bask in the glory of Hidden Wealth’s win in the $1.5 million Racing Queensland Magic Millions QTIS Open (1300m).

The race was meant to be run the previous Saturday afternoon as part of the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) card which was subsequently washed out and transferred to Friday night.

Debbie and John Jenkins were trackside to see Hidden Wealth's amazing win.

Therein lies a tale as explained by Vince Aspinall.

“The six of us had accommodation and we had all been down at the Gold Coast for his (Hidden Wealth) race last Saturday week but when it was transferred to the following Friday, most of us had to come back home to Rocky as we could not stay,” he said.

“Anyhow, Judy and I and the Houlihans cheered him home from up here.”

Sydney jockey Tommy Berry gave Hidden Wealth a cushy run as a stalking second throughout before dashing clear in the straight to stave off late finisher Cifardo.

The syndicate paid $110,000 for Hidden Wealth (b g 5 Better Than Ready-Miss Stash) at the 2021 Magic Millions March Yearling Sales.

Six times a city winner before Friday’s bonanza which reaped $854,400, Hidden Wealth has now won nine of his 17 starts returning $1.46 million in prize money.

Hidden Wealth part-owners Vince and Judy Aspinall.

Not only was the $1.5 million race noteworthy for obvious reasons, but it meant far more to the owners as Vince said Hidden Wealth has had to overcome “his share of problems throughout his career”.

“He has had quite a few things go wrong, such as simple as rolling in his box (stable) and getting injured as horses can do. “That’s why he has only had 17 race starts which isn’t a lot for a five-year-old.”

Hidden Wealth’s career log documents a complete layoff from racing from January 2023 until February 2024, thereby adding further significance to Vince’s account.

The local owners, as well as many of the syndicate who are Bundaberg-based, are now hoping that winning trainer Tony Gollan may set his sights on a feature race virtually in their own backyard.

John and Debbie Jenkins and Justin and Tracey Houlihan celebrating Hidden Wealth’ s win back in June 2024.

That of course is Rockhampton racings jewel of the crown, the $1 million The Archer (1300m) to be run at Callaghan Park on Sunday, May 4.

“I rang Tony Gollan on Friday night from home after Hidden Wealth’s win. He said to me I might have to bring him up to Rocky for The Archer so you can see him race,’’ Vince said.

Over the decades, Vince and Judy Aspinall, under their business name Diceridge, have raced a myriad horses.

These included Another Warrior, winner of the $232K GR 2 Moonee Valley Cup in October 2004, before 10 days later finishing down the track in the Melbourne Cup won by Makybe Diva.

The Houlihans and Jenkinses shared in the ownership of Vandalised, which won them their hometown (Rockhampton) Cup in 2014.

Without doubt, all of those wins would be downplayed by the euphoria that may await the patriotic local owners should Hidden Wealth win The Archer on the first Sunday in May at Callaghan Park.

HOOF NOTE: Hidden Wealth was one of seven winners trained by Brisbane’s Tony Gollan in less than 24 hours from Friday night at the Gold Coast (two) and Saturday afternoon at Eagle Farm, Brisbane (five).

Originally published as Rockhampton couples share in Hidden Wealth’s win in Magic Millions race