Cover image courtesy of Michael McInally
Race-Day Recap
Skirt The Law (Better Than Ready) preserved her unbeaten record with an electric performance to land the $2 million feature in facile fashion.
Recent G3 Vo Rogue Plate winner Fashion Legend (Deep Field) was an impressive winner of the R. Listed Magic Millions 3YO Guineas.
Alpine Edge (Better Than Ready), who finished second in the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic on this raceday in 2021, snaps a long-losing run as he posted an impressive victory in the $1 million Magic Millions QTIS Open.
Last year's Magic Millions 3YO Guineas winner King Of Sparta (I Am Invincible) showed his affinity with the Magic Millions Raceday when he took out the Magic Millions Snippets.
Brookspire (Hinchinbrook) was the first leg of a lucrative double for jockey James McDonald when she won the $1 million Magic Millions Fillies And Mares.
The Paul Perry-trained Sky Lab (Real Impact {Jpn}) relished the conditions on the Gold Coast and stayed on impressively to hand his connections a $1 million payday in the Magic Millions Subzero.
The inaugural running of $1 million The Syndicate went the way of the Chris Munce-trained Centrefire (Shooting To Win).
All-female affair as Skirt The Law bags the Magic Millions Classic
It was an all-Queensland affair in the rescheduled R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic as the Tony Gollan-trained Skirt The Law (Better Than Ready) preserved her unbeaten record when she showed an electric turn of foot to land the $2 million feature in facile fashion.
In winning the race, the 2-year-old filly handed her all-female ownership group a massive payout as they secured the coveted Racing Women’s Bonus.
Skirt The Law being led in by some of her ownership group | Image courtesy of Michael McInally
Ridden by Queensland-based jockey Ryan Maloney, the daughter of Better Than Ready had not been seen since her victory at Doomben 47 days ago.
However, the long break certainly had no ill effects on the filly as she emerged from the pack halfway down the back straight to eventually post a 1.5l win over the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Platinum Jubilee (Zoustar), while the runner-up stablemate, Summer Loving (Exceed And Excel), was another 1l away in third.
It was a race for the fillies as Infatuation (I Am Invincible) and Fire Lane (Hellbent) finished fourth and fifth respectively, while the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Empire Of Japan (Snitzel), who was sent off the $5 favourite, was the first colt past the post when he finished sixth.
It was the first victory in the $2 million contest for Lyndhurst Farm-based Better Than Ready, who came close to winning the race in 2021 when Alpine Edge ran second behind Shaquero (Shalaa {Ire}), while this is the first victory in the race for Gollan, who expressed his delight after the race.
“She is bloody good, isn’t she?” Gollan said. “We haven’t raced for nearly seven weeks now. We are lucky we came down here for this trial.
“She (Skirt The Law) is bloody good, isn’t she? We haven’t raced for nearly seven weeks now. We are lucky we came down here for this trial.” - Tony Gollan
“I didn’t show it, but I was a little bit edgy waiting a few more days (after the rain washed out Saturday). You’ve got to have faith in your horse, we had plenty of faith in her today. She did everything right and was super.
“Probably up there with the biggest thrill I’ve had in racing today (Thursday).”
Skirt The Law herself was bred by Lyndhurst Stud and is out of Listed-placed mare Outlaw Kate (Exceed And Excel), who was acquired by the Queensland operation for $30,000 at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in 2019.
Following the purchase, the page continued to be updated, most notably when her dam’s half-brother, Masked Crusader (Toronado {Ire}), snared the most high-profile victory to date in the 2021 G1 William Reid S., which proved to be a timely update ahead of Skirt The Law’s sale on the Gold Coast.
The filly eventually made $170,000 at the Magic Millions sale in January, catching the eye of her subsequent trainer, John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) and Black Soil Bloodstock.
Skirt The Law winning the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic | Image courtesy of Michael McInally
The victory caps off a brilliant last week on the Gold Coast for Better Than Ready who had eight yearlings sell for an average of $197,500 during Book 1. The octet of youngsters included a colt who was purchased by China Horse Club, Newgate, Go Bloodstock and Trilogy for $530,000, which is a new record for a yearling by the stallion.
Meanwhile, it was a terrific day on the Gold Coast card for the stallion who’s son Alpine Edge landed the $1 million Magic Millions QTIS Open earlier in the afternoon.
The filly provided trainer Tony Gollan the first leg of an impressive double at the Gold Coast on Thursday, which was completed when Vinco (I Am Invincible) prevailed in the last race on the card, the R. Listed Magic Millions Cup later on in the afternoon.
Magic performance from Legend on the Coast
Richard and Will Freedman were celebrating a $2 million triumph as Fashion Legend (Deep Field) surged to victory in the R. Listed Magic Millions 3YO Guineas at the Gold Coast on Thursday.
Emma and Will Freedman celebrating after Fashion Legend wins the R. Listed Magic Millions 3YO Guineas at the Gold Coast | Image courtesy of Michael McInally
Fresh from scoring his first stakes win of his career in the G3 Vo Rogue Plate at Doomben on New Year’s Eve, Fashion Legend never looked in any doubt as he was able to reel in the long-time leader Spiritualised (Spirit Of Boom) inside the final 200 metres, to come away with a 0.3l triumph over Yellow Brick (The Mission).
“It’s pretty indescribable,” Freedman said. “I thought he had pretty good form, he was one of the only ones that had won Group races.
“I think people thought he might have been lucky in the Vo Rogue, but he did it pretty tough Vo Rogue and he toughed it out again today (Thursday). It’s definitely the biggest win of my short career to date and I can’t believe it.”
The son of Deep Field was purchased by his owner Bon Ho from the Rosemont Stud draft for $260,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2021 and he is out of three-time winner Sarong (NZ) (Exceed And Excel), who is herself a daughter of G1 William Reid S. winner Wrap Around (Bletchingly).
Further back, this is the same family as dual Group 1 winner Fashions Afield (Redoute’s Choice) and G3 Proud Miss S. winner Runaway Star (Northern Meteor).
Fashion Legend after winning the R. Listed Magic Millions 3YO Guineas at the Gold Coast | Image courtesy of Michael McInally
The gelding is by the Newgate Farm-based sire Deep Field, who had 41 yearlings sell for an aggregate of $9,360,000 at an average of $228,293 and they were headed by a Segenhoe Stud-consigned filly who was purchased by Bruce Mackenzie for $650,000.
Alpine Edge too strong in Magic Million Open
The Toby and Trent Edmonds-trained Alpine Edge cracked a long losing streak that stretched back to July 2021 when he proved far too strong for his rivals in the $1 million Magic Millions QTIS Open on the Gold Coast on Thursday.
The 4-year-old gelding locked horns with Dr Why Not (Love Conquers All) up the straight, but after eventually shaking him off came away with a comfortable 2l victory over Ef Troop (Spirit Of Boom), who stormed home up the outside but did not have enough in the tank to worry the winner.
Connections of Alpine Edge after his win in the $1 million Magic Millions QTIS Open | Image courtesy of Michael McInally
The son of Lyndhurst Farm-based Better Than Ready was purchased by Edmonds Racing, Kestrel Thoroughbreds and Lucky Clover for $160,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2020.
Lucky Clover was active once again at the Gold Coast sale last week, including paying $220,000 for a filly by Yulong’s first-season sire Alabama Express during Book 2 of the auction and like Alpine Edge, she will also head into training with Team Edmonds.
Sparta rules the Gold Coast
On this card 12 months ago the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained King Of Sparta (I Am Invincible) was an impressive winner of the R. Listed Magic Millions 3YO Guineas and on Thursday he proved his affinity with the Magic Millions Raceday when he took out the Magic Millions Snippets.
Having the first start since August, the son of I Am Invincible scooted clear in the final stages to beat Shooting For Gold (Shooting To Win) by 1.5l, while Vowmaster (Written Tycoon) was another 0.5l away in third.
King Of Sparta winning the Magic Millions Snippets | Image courtesy of Michael McInally
King Of Sparta was purchased by China Horse Club, Newgate Bloodstock and Starlight Racing for $700,000 at the 2020 edition of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and he is out of the G3 WW Cockram S. winner Octavia (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}).
I Am Invincible was crowned leading sire by both average and aggregate during last week’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, having 44 sell for a gross of $32,390,000 and an extraordinary average of $736,136.
Brookspire rules the roost in Fillies and Mares
King Of Sparta was one of two winners on the day for James McDonald, who brought up his first winner of the afternoon on board the Chris Waller-trained Brookspire (Hinchinbrook) in the $1 million Magic Millions Fillies And Mares.
The daughter of Hinchinbrook was purchased by Brae Sokolski for $300,000 at the 2019 edition of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and she is out of Be Inspired (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) making her a half-sister to Group 1 winner Inspirational Girl (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}).
No weight worries for Sky Lab
Shouldering top-weight, the Paul Perry-trained Sky Lab (Real Impact {Jpn}) relished the conditions on the Gold Coast and stayed on impressively to hand his connections a $1 million payday in the Magic Millions Subzero on Thursday.
Paul Perry and Jason Collett after Sky Lab wins the Magic Millions Subzero | Image courtesy of Michael McInally
The son of former Arrowfield Stud shuttler Real Impact (Jpn) has carved out a reputation as a high-class stayer and he lived up to that billing when he defeated Street Dancer (Pride Of Dubai) by 0.3l.
The 5-year-old gelding was bought by his trainer for $48,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2019 and he is out of an unraced Flying Spur mare, making him a brother to fellow winner Starliner.
Centrefire lands inaugural The Syndicate
The Chris Munce-trained Centrefire (Shooting To Win) became the first-ever winner of $1 million The Syndicate when she produced an eye-catching display to take out the 1200-metre contest at the Gold Coast on Thursday.
The daughter of Shooting To Win stayed on stoutly to beat Eleven Eleven (Fastnet Rock), who finished like a train up the inside of the track, but missed out on victory by 0.3l.
Centrefire is raced by a syndicate that includes Munce’s wife and she was purchased by the trainer for $100,000 at the 2018 edition of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the Yarraman Park draft.
