| Tony Gollan put an exclamation mark on what may well go down as the most memorable day of his decorated training career when Vinco won the $1 million Whispering Angel Magic Millions Cup. |
| The six-year-old son of I Am Invincible registered the most lucrative win of his career when he denied favourite Oscar Zulu in the 1425-metre event that rounded out the Magic Millions Raceday. It was the second win of the day for Queensland’s leading trainer, who three hours earlier saw his Better Than Ready filly Skirt The Law maintain her unbeaten record in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic. “It’s been amazing day,” Gollan said. “The filly was unbelievable early and to have that sort of thrill early in the day makes it hard to keep things rolling. “It’s a great finish to a brilliant day.” Vinco brought up his 10th win at start No 43 when he scooted home along the inside under the urgings of Ben Thompson to score. The $21 chance scored by three-quarters-of-a-length from $3.60 favourite Oscar Zulu with Holyfield ($7) just a long-head away third. A $400,000 purchase out of the Yarraman Park draft at the 2018 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Vinco had his first 12 starts for the McEvoy stable before joining Gollan in early 2020. His biggest win before Thursday’s success was last year’s Listed Spear Chief (1500m) at Eagle Farm. “He was our roughest runner of the whole day, Vinco, and I was concerned when the track was earlier in the week,” Gollan said. “In the run we were never going to be confident on him because he’s a really hard horse to ride and Ben knows him well. “He keeps at him and at him and he dared to go on the inside where no one dared to go.” It was an emotional victory for Thompson, who was narrowly beaten aboard Yellow Brick in the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas earlier in the day. “He went so good, Yellow Brick but unfortunately he found one better today,” Thompson said. “It’s obviously bittersweet because I’d ridden Fashion Legend at his last two starts and I was only wrong but a neck, but that’s all it took. “But, to ride a winner is hard enough and I’m fortunate to get a winner today (because) they’re not easy to come by. “A huge thank you to Tony Gollan. He’s a great supporter of mine and just to get a winner on these big days when the best riders in the land are in town is great.” |
