Managing Director Vin Cox was on hand to receive the award on behalf of the company and he was quick to thank his large and hard working team around the country for playing their part in being selected to join an outstanding honour roll.
Previous winners of the award include CS Hayes, David Coles, Blevic, Without Fear, Swettenham Stud and the Toole and Jolly families.
“It is wonderful recognition of Magic Millions’ dedication to the South Australian industry since our first sale at Morphettville in 2000,” Cox said.
“Over that time Magic Millions has been able to work closely with the local industry in highlighting its excellence around the world.”
Cox was joined on stage by previous Matrice Award winner and the company’s Adelaide based consultant Adrian Hancock along with SA secretary Wendy Cubitt and Victorian based bloodstock consultant Tim Brown and media manager Greg Irvine.
The Matrice Award was one of the highlights of the annual SA Thoroughbred Breeders dinner held at The Intercontinental with over 220 guests and hosted by Sam Hayes and Greg Sanders.
In the weekend’s racing action Amicus gave her Coolmore Classic bid a massive boost when scored an impressive win in Saturday’s Group Two Thoroughbred NSW Breeders Classic (1200m) at Randwick yesterday.
A member of the all conquering Chris Waller stable, Amicus produced a strong burst over the concluding stages to reel in her rivals headed by leader Press Statement to win stylishly.
A Group One winner at three, the daughter of Fastnet Rock and close relation to top international sire Starspangledbanner, Amicus was purchased by Waller for $500,000 at the 2013 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. With her latest success her earnings have soared to over $780,000.
“She is a good horse,” winning rider Hugh Bowman told reporters. “At the 100 I was pretty confidence she would get there, she is a winner!”
There was also stakes success for Magic Millions in New Zealand on Saturday when Kaharau won the listed Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m).
A gelded son of Ad Valorem, Kaharau was purchased for $14,000 at the 2012 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale from the draft of Royston Stud.
In Saturday’s feature Kaharau cruised home under Terry Moseley to win by two and a quarter lengths for the training partnership of Kenny and Lisa Rae.
Kaharau, who hails from the family of Dancing Dissident and Absentia, boasts the impressive record of six wins and six placings from 19 starts.
Meanwhile, Jerilderie Letter continued his march through the classic grades in his home state when he withstood an interstate invasion to win the listed Tasmanian Derby in Hobart on Friday evening.
The Adam Trinder prepared Bushranger gelding was the leading local in the Derby and he lived up to that expectation when he outstayed his rivals in a great performance under Anthony Darmanin.
Trinder purchased the Karl Rhodes bred Jerilderie Letter for $11,000 at the 2014 Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale from the draft of Brooklyn Park.
“This is probably my greatest achievement as a trainer because I purchased this horse as a yearling and he’s always been in my training system and spells at my farm,” Trinder told The Mercury.
Jerilderie Letter is one of two impressive winners from two named foals produced by the Portland Pirate mare Pirate’s Serene – a two time winner herself.
Her latest yearling, a colt by California Dane and brother to Magic Millions Tasmanian 3YO Classic winner California Wish, is Lot 29 at the upcoming Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale at Launceston.
