Despite the overcast weather conditions, the Ballarat Cup Day racemeeting on Sunday had a distinct Gold Coast flavour.
The $200,000 Magic Millions Ballarat 2YO Clockwise Classic (1000m) and the inaugural running of the $100,000 Magic Millions Ballarat 3YO Classic (1100m) were both won by high class filly graduates of the Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
The meeting, which kicked off the $5.85 million Magic Millions Race Series for the 2013-2014 racing season highlighted the ongoing dominance of Magic Millions graduates nationwide and cemented the successful partnership between Magic Millions and the Ballarat Turf Club in supporting the Victorian racing industry.
“The Ballarat Turf Club is so grateful for the massive boost to the Ballarat Cup race card from Magic Millions. Ballarat Cup Day rounds out the Spring Racing Carnival each year, and the two Magic Millions races provided excellent racing for fantastic prizemoney,” Lachlan McKenzie, Chief Executive of the Ballarat Turf Club commented.
In the first of the Magic Millions features on the program, the Robert Smerdon trained Anatina capped off a successful spring campaign with a comprehensive, almost two length win, in the Magic Millions Ballarat 3YO Classic. Smerdon targeted the race as a “good option at the end of her preparation” for the daughter of Fastnet Rock, who is an extremely valuable filly after adding black type with victory in the Listed Cap D’Antibes Stakes at Flemington in October.
Magic Millions Managing Director Vin Cox, paid tribute to the investment of Anatina’s owners Phil Sly and Peter Carrick. “When you put that sort of money in, you deserve plenty back,” Cox said in congratulating the winning connections.
Bred by Rosari Farm at Warwick, Queensland, Anatina was purchased for $460,000 at the 2012 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, and is from the prolific producer Quack.
Sire of Anatina, Coolmore Stud’s stallion sensation Fastnet Rock, has 37 lots catalogued for the 2014 Gold Coast Yearling Sale (Books 1 & 2).
Later in the day, Sheer Style rocketed to the top of the order of entry for the $2 million Jeep Magic Millions 2YO Classic with her triumph in the second edition of the Magic Millions Ballarat 2YO Clockwise Classic.
The innovative race, the only run in Victoria in the clockwise direction produced much interest, with the public and industry participants clambering for a vantage point to view the unique race. In its infancy, the Clockwise Classic is already proving itself as a legitimate lead up to the $2 million Jeep Magic Millions 2YO Classic. Notably, the first four placegetters in the inaugural Clockwise race in 2012 made it into the final field for the rich Gold Coast 2YO Classic.
Travelling to Ballarat for the first time, Hawkesbury-based trainer Garry Frazer was elated with the win of Sheer Style.
Whilst the Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic in December is still under consideration for the exciting Snitzel filly, “the plan is to go to the Gold Coast,” Frazer said as he pondered the victory.
Despite not handling the wet track conditions and shying at the traditional course winning post, Sheer Style was too classy for her rivals, defeating Geromayo (Mick Price) by one length, with I Am The General (Shane Nichols) producing an eye catching first start third.
The precocious filly has captured the heart of her trainer and connections. “She does things they don’t normally do. She’s the sweetest mover, you don’t know what leg she is on,” Frazer told. It was this lightness on her feet which led to her naming of Sheer Style.
Frazer was joined in the oncourse celebrations by owner Bill Hilton, son Jordan Frazer, friends Ross Gerard, Charlie Avramovic and his new apprentice Claire Nutman.
Ecstatic owner Bill Hilton had tears of joy as he led the filly back to scale. Hilton heaped praise on his trainer and friend of 30 years, saying the win belonged to him for selecting her at the sale and producing her in outstanding order on raceday.
“You don’t know how good racing is until you experience something like this,” Hilton enthused at the post-race presentation.
Strong at the finish of yesterday’s race, there appears to be much scope for the daughter of Snitzel. Whilst she has raced on speed at her three career starts, Frazer is excited by her potential to settle back further in her races as her career progresses.
“I’m dying to ride her off the speed. That’s when you’ll see the best of her, she can really let down,” the trainer added.
From the dual Sydney winning juvenile Jolie, Sheer Style was bred by Corumbene Stud and purchased by Garry Frazer for $255,000 at this year’s Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Amongst their boutique draft of 13 yearlings catalogued for the 2014 Gold Coast Yearling Sale (Books 1 & 2), Corumbene Stud will offer a three-quarter sister to Sheer Style by Not a Single Doubt as lot 485.
Winners:
Anatina
Breeding: Fastnet Rock-Quack (by Magic Ring (IRE))
Race: Magic Millions Ballarat 3YO Classic (1100m)
Sold for: $460,000
Sale: 2012 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Vendor: Rosari Farm
Buyer: Bahen Bloodstock & Malua Racing
Earnings: $184,750
Owner(s): Lakeview Resources Pty Ltd & PS Sly
Trainer: Robert Smerdon (Caulfield)
Sheer Style
Breeding: Snitzel-Jolie (by Armidale)
Race: Magic Millions Ballarat 2YO Clockwise Classic (1000m)
Sold for: $255,000
Sale: 2013 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Vendor: Corumbene Stud
Buyer: Garry Frazer
Earnings: $153,500
Owner(s): WH Hilton
Trainer: Garry Frazer (Hawkesbury)
