Magic Millions graduates have enjoyed two weekends of great success as they prepare for Australia’s first ever $10 million raceday.
Over the last 10 days graduates have won eight stakes races across Australasia – from New Zealand to Sydney to Perth and at home in Queensland. Exciting Queensland juveniles Sundance and Zelady’s Night Out led the way as they both streaked home in their respective juvenile stakes races on their road to the Magic Millions raceday.
Sundance, a $140,000 Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase from Newhaven Park, booked his place in the field for the $2 million Jeep Magic Millions 2YO Classic when he romped to victory in the listed Phelan Ready Stakes (1000m) at Doomben last Saturday week. The I Am Invincible youngster showed good speed and cleared away in the straight to beat Par Oneri by five and three quarter lengths, while Sidereus Attacks was another three parts of a length back in third place. The Toby Edmonds prepared youngster was sent out the favourite on the strength of his eye catching debut when a close second to fellow Magic Millions graduate Emtevee Queen. Last on that same day it was the time for Zelady’s Night Out to strut her stuff in the Calaway Gal Stakes and she couldn’t have been more impressive, lapping up the slow track conditions to win by two and a quarter lengths.
A $65,000 Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase from Yarraman Park Stud, Zelady’s Night Out is now unbeaten in two starts for Tony Gollan and she looks another leading local hope for Queensland’s richest race. Zelady’s Night Out is eligible for the $500,000 Magic Millions Racing Women Bonus. The first 100% female raced runner will score an extra $325,000 to any usual earnings from the race. The second to fourth runners over the line will share the other $175,000. It was a feature juvenile race double for Blue Sky Bloodstock who in partnership purchased both Sundance and Zelady’s Night Out as yearlings.
Also at Doomben last Saturday week Gold Coast graduates Sold for Song and Fontelina were winners of black type races. The well named Sold for Song, a $2,500 Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase for connections, provided his apprentice rider James Orman with his first stakes victory when they combined to win the Gold Edition Plate. The Collate filly, a Burwood Stud graduate, beat La Dolce Vita by a length and a quarter to make it two wins from three starts for trainer Kevin Kemp. Fontelina, a graduate of both the Gold Coast Yearling Sale (for Baramul Stud) and Gold Coast 2YOs in Training Sale (for Washpool Lodge), added another stakes win to his impressive record when he proved too good in the listed Lough Neagh Stakes. Prepared by Tony Gollan, Fontelina beat home fellow Magic Millions graduates Saluter and Weinholt in the 1350 metre feature event. The winning margin was a length and three quarters.
Rounding out the big day was the impressive win of Cradle Me in the listed Razor Sharp Handicap (1200m) at Randwick. The David Pfieffer prepared daughter of Easy Rocking was sold at both the Gold Coast Yearling Sale (for $3,000) and Gold Coast 2YOs in Training Sale (for $28,000). Cradle Me got well back before coming with a stunning burst late under Jason Collett to beat MM Raceday bound Aussies Love Sport by a long neck. Her earnings have shot past $440,000 with her latest success.
The stakes winning form continued over the most recent weekend with Weregonnagetcha winning the Group Three Manawatu Cup in New Zealand. The son of Testa Rossa was a $67,500 purchase from the draft of Patinack Farm at the 2011 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale.
Back in Australia Centre Pivot booked his place in the field for the $1 million Magic Millions Trophy (1800m) with a brilliant win in the listed Bernborough Handicap (1600m) at Doomben. Prepared by John Sargent and bound for the new stable of former jockey Peter Robl, Centre Pivot hit the line powerfully under Blake Shinn to win well. The 150th individual stakes winner for champion international sire More Than Ready, Centre Pivot was purchased for $360,000 by the team from Segenhoe at the 2012 Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Meanwhile, bargain filly Tarquinn Shadow scored a valuable breakthrough win in the listed Starstruck Classic at Ascot in Perth on Saturday. The daughter of Trade Fair, who cost $1,800 at the 2012 Magic Millions Perth Winter Thoroughbred Sale, proved too good as graduates of the Belmont sales rings ran 1-2 in the feature for fillies and mares.
The feature of the Ascot card on Saturday was the Group Two Cox Stakes and the hot favourite Delicacy added another feature to her outstanding record. The Al Maher mare provided another boost to her full brother (ex Simply Wicked) who is headed to February’s 2016 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale as Lot 140 for Scenic Lodge.