| King of Sparta confirmed his status as the king of the Gold Coast with a third consecutive win on Magic Millions Raceday, this time taking the $1 million It’s Live in Queensland! Magic Millions Snippets (1200m) in devastating style on Saturday. |
| After wins in the 2022 Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m) and the 2023 Magic Millions Snippets, the son of I Am Invincible returned to the Gold Coast as one the shortest-priced favourites to ever run on the raceday. And while he settled midfield and conceded his rivals several lengths at the 600m, the gelding never looked in danger of defeat as jockey James McDonald allowed him to build through his gears and build momentum. King of Sparta thundered to the lead at the 200m and raced away from his rivals, including minor placegetters Petronius and Rose Quartz. Trainer Paul Snowden said King of Sparta continues to improve each season and he doesn’t see why the galloper cannot return for another tilt at the Magic Millions raceday in 2025. “It’s always a great day to be involved in,” Snowden said. “We were always going to be back today and I said to JMac that the more relaxed he is, the better his turn of foot is and to trust the horse’s ability to sprint better than what the others can. “He’s probably not finished yet because I’ve got to say that in the last 12 months, he’s the best that he’s ever been. “He’s raced at a really high level and he continues to do so. “He’s getting on in years but he’s still got a lot of really good racing ahead of him.” China Horse Club, Newgate Bloodstock and Starlight Racing secured King of Sparta for $700,000 out of the Yarraman Park Stud draft at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Saturday’s win was the seventh of his career and took his career earnings beyond $3.2 million. It was a 14th Magic Millions feature win for McDonald, who hailed the performance as the best of King of Sparta’s career. “Eliza from Silverdale Farm said that we might have to buy him some white shoes and some tattoos because he loves the Gold Coast that much,” McDonald said. “He’s done a marvellous job, he’s such a good horse and he’s getting better. “I think that performance was his best one.” Six yearlings by I Am Invincible have sold for $1 million or more at this year’s Gold Coast Yearling Sale, including Lot 900, a colt out of Group 2 winner Madam Rouge that was purchased for $1.7 million. China Horse Club and Newgate Bloodstock have combined for 11 purchases so far this week, including colts by I Am Invincible, Snitzel, Extreme Choice and Wootton Bassett. |
