Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
Despite being the third fancied of Waller’s three runners in the race, Shaquero was fittingly partnered by champion hoop Hugh Bowman, who gave the colt a near-perfect ride from the inside alley.
The son of Arrowfield’s first-season sire Shalaa (Ire) was the best out of the barriers but Bowman allowed rivals to cross in front and had the colt settled in behind, before peeling out around the bend and storming home down the centre of the track to win by an official margin of 1.25l.
Alpine Edge (Better Than Ready) was gallant in defeat finishing second, She’s All Class (I Am Invincible) flew home from back in the field and was another 1.25l away in third, and Queen Of Wizardry (Not A Single Doubt) scored fourth and landed the $500,000 Magic Millions Ladies Bonus.
"He benefited from that hot speed early and barrier one was certainly a key ingredient to our success today," Bowman said.
“I’ve won a couple of Magic Millions (2YO Classics) and they were both from low draws and it is a huge advantage to draw inside.”
“I’ve won a couple of Magic Millions (2YO Classics) and they were both from low draws and it is a huge advantage to draw inside.” - Hugh Bowman
After a disappointing seventh in the G3 BJ McLachlan S. first-up, Shaquero came into the race off a narrow second to Finance Tycoon (Written Tycoon) in the Aquis Gold Nugget just a week earlier.
"Full credit to Chris Waller, he's generally not a back-up sort of trainer but starting this horse last week might have been the key to helping him relax into the rhythm we saw today,” Bowman said.
"With that high pressure up front, I had the horse to capitalise on that because he did settle. I thought on the line he was stargazing a bit and when you watch the slow-mo (replay) you'll see him prick his ears. There's more to come from him.”
The colt becomes the second horse to win the G3 Breeders’ Plate and Magic Millions 2YO Classic, the first was star 2-year-old and Newgate first-season sire Capitalist.
Shaquero was purchased by Chris Waller Racing and Guy Mulcaster for $160,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Fernrigg Farm and is the first 2YO Classic winner for Queensland-based owners Neville Morgan and David Devine.
“Thirty years we’ve been trying to win this race and it’s a great thrill I must say,” Devine said. “It was fantastic when he hit the front, I thought ‘this is it’.
“Thirty years we’ve been trying to win this race and it’s a great thrill I must say.” - David Devine
“He’s probably at his peak fitness now, he needed those first two runs, especially last week, it’s fantastic.
“I just want to say thanks to Chris (Waller) and Guy Mulcaster for buying the horse, the Chris Waller team, Neville and the other owners, it’s unbelievable.”
Shaquero as a yearling
Shaquero is the fourth named foal out of dual-winning mare Fimatino (Not A Single Doubt), who is herself a half-sister to Listed winner Catacaos (Catbird) and the dam of G1 Cox Plate winner and now Rosemont Stud sire Shamus Award.
Fimatino has a yearling filly by Hellbent, who was purchased by The Racing League for $360,000 at the Gold Coast Sale during the week, and a foal colt by Rubick, while she was covered by Cosmic Force in September last year.
