Mike Crooks looks to land Magic Millions bounty with former karaoke singer Les Ross

The ‘Mishani’ name is one of the most recognisable in Queensland racing and they have a three-pronged attack in the Magic Millions on Saturday.

Les Ross with big-time owner Mike Crooks after a winner at Doomben. Picture: Jono Searle.

Larrikin owner-breeder Mike Crooks plucked trainer Les Ross from his Beaudesert pub where he was karaoke singing for $300 a night, now the pair are looking to land their biggest prize in racing with a three-pronged attack in the Magic Millions on Saturday.

With his horses famous for their ‘Mishani’ moniker, Crooks is one of Queensland racing’s biggest supporters and will be represented by Mishani Spartan, Mishani Warfare and Mishani Persuasion in the $2m Magic Millions 2YO Classic.

It was Crooks who convinced Ross to come back to racing and the pair have since formed a close bond and have become well known for pulling off plunges throughout Queensland.

“He was singing karaoke at my hotel, the Veresdale Hotel, I said to him ‘mate you need to come back training’ and he didn’t want to do it,” Crooks said.

“He was riding work and doing horse transport but I eventually got him, he has become one of my best mates – a really lovely guy and we have become a good team.

“He was a terrible karaoke singer but he thinks he’s good, he’s lucky he’s a much better trainer than he was singer.”

The ‘Mishani’ brand came about with Crooks taking the ‘Mi’ from his name and joining it with his daughter Shani.

With a penchant for a drink and a bet, Crooks is larger than life and while he has three horses in the mix, there is one that will bring the loudest cheer of all from Team Mishani.

Big-time owner Mike Crooks at the Magic Millions barrier draw on the Gold Coast. Picture: Racing Queensland.

“It will be worth a bit to us if ‘Warfare’ wins,” Crooks said. “Aquis has a $1m bonus for horses (sired) by The Mission if they win the Magic Millions or a Group 1 race. We have three in the race but it is him that would be the best for sure.

“I support Queensland racing, it’s what I do, I bred 40 horses this year and I like to support Aquis too, they support me and I support them, it works really well.

“QTIS, two and three-year-old’s is what I do, I take my hat off to Racing Queensland for what they have set up. We fire plenty of bullets and we try and get a few to land, I have some at home and it is a good team.”

Three in the race is a record for Crooks who has previously only had one in the contest he targets most, but remarkably, he almost had four, with Spanish Angels currently the second emergency.

After winning the Gold Nugget on Saturday, Mishani Spartan represents their best hope, currently a $17 chance, but Crooks admits he is lucky to make it to the race, having only had his first start on New Year’s Eve.

“This horse, we didn’t even think we would get to the Millions, it only happened late,” Crooks said.

“We could have had four in it but we have three so we can’t complain, we are hoping that one of them might be able to sneak something.”

Jackson Morris will ride Mishani Spartan, James Orman will ride Mishani Warfare and Rachel King will ride Mishani Persuasion.

Originally published as Mike Crooks looks to land Magic Millions bounty with former karaoke singer Les Ross