Juvenile summary: Quietly Arrogant and La Bella Boom lead Magic Millions charge, Dirty Work celebrates first winner

Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions

Snowden's quiet confidence ahead of Magic Millions 2YO Classic

Triumphant trainer Peter Snowden said “why not have a crack” at the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic next Saturday, after Quietly Arrogant’s (Capitalist) dominant 1.19l victory in the Gold Nugget 2YO Colts and Geldings sprint over 1100 metres at the Sunshine Coast. In second was the Matthew Dunn-trained Torque To Be Sure (Shamus Award) with the Jack Bruce-trained Earn To Burn (Better Than Ready) in third.

In his second start, the 2-year-old colt took the lead at the 200-metre mark and wasn’t headed from there, under the urgings of Blake Shinn. The colt’s debut start saw him finish fourth at Randwick on December 21.

“He’s still learning, but this was a big step forward,” Snowden said.

“Blake rode him perfectly, letting him find his rhythm before producing him at the right time. He’s got talent, and this sets him up nicely for the Magic Millions. He’s an honest horse. In top company he might be midfield, but why not have a crack?”

The 2-year-old colt was a $400,000 purchase by China Horse Club, Newgate, Go Bloodstock, and Trilogy from the draft of Newgate Farm at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Quietly Arrogant’s dam Single Sapphire (Not A Single Doubt) was a dual winner over 1100 metres and has produced three winners from three starters including Quietly Arrogant's 3-year-old full brother Customized, who placed in the G3 BJ McLachlan S. Single Sapphire has a yearling colt by Home Affairs who will be offered by Newgate Farm as Lot 944 at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

This is a strong juvenile family with Single Sapphire's dam, Royal Sapphire (O'Reilly {NZ}) being a half-sister to Twilight Royale (Testa Rossa) who won three stakes races at two led by the G2 VRC Sires' Produce S. and Twilight Royale is the dam of G2 Sandown Guineas winner Serasana (Snitzel).

Capitalist has produced 21 stakes winners, surpassing Champion Sire Snitzel in stakes winners and 2-year-old stakes victors at the same point in their careers. The Newgate sire, who won the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic in 2016, will have 38 yearlings on offer at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale next week.

Gollan says La Bella Boom is 'up there' with Skirt The Law

La Bella Boom (Spirit Of Boom) punched her ticket into next Saturday’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic with a comfortable 2.45l win in the Gold Pearl 2YO Fillies sprint over 1100 metres at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday. The 2-year-old filly showed excellent composure before hitting the front at the 100-metre mark for Tony Gollan and wasn't headed from there, with Craig Williams aboard. In second was the Scott Morrisey-trained Forgotten Spirit (Spirit Of Boom) with Clinton Taylor-trained Don'tdoubthelady (Dubious) in third.

“She (La Bella Boom) is a real 2-year-old. She has been from day one. She does what she has to do. She doesn’t do any extra, but she’s the shape of a 2-year-old. She looks like a 2-year-old. She eats like one… She’s a really happy horse. Off today’s run she’s up there (with Skirt The Law),” said Gollan who won the 2023 R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic with Skirt The Law (Better Than Ready).

La Bella Boom was a $300,000 purchase for Gollan Racing, John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) and Black Soil Bloodstock from the draft of Sledmere Stud at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Her Group 1-winning sire Spirit Of Boom has produced 27 stakes winners and has 42 yearlings for sale at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

La Bella Boom is the first runner for her dam La Girl (Not A Single Doubt), and she will have a colt up for grabs at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, by St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) as Lot 576. La Girl was a winner at two and ran fourth in the G3 Ottawa S. and is a half-sister to Listed Recognition S. winner Oughton (More Than Ready {USA}) who races in Hong Kong as A Pal, and to Modolva (Snitzel), the winning dam of this season's G1 NZ 1000 Guineas winner Captured By Love (Written Tycoon).

Gallery: Images courtesy of Magic Millions

Rivellino's hot form on debut

Rivellino (Too Darn Hot {GB}) could be headed for the $2 million Inglis Milennium after his impressive debut where the 2-year-old colt saluted by 1.9l in the juvenile Maiden Plate over 1000 metres at Randwick. Starting from barrier two, Rivellino got to the outside and his turn of foot was too strong for the runner-up Paul Perry-trained The Magic Man (Showtime) on the straight. In third was Robert and Luke Price-trained Commanding Belle (Farnan).

Lees’ stable representative Cameron Swan said his colt could now be aimed at the $2 million Inglis Milennium at Randwick on February 8. “He’s a horse who keeps getting better, and he was very professional today. It was an easy win,” Swan said.

“He travelled really nice in the race and let down really well. Kris might be looking at an Inglis in about five weeks. Going off that run, he’d be a chance.”

Rivellino was purchased for $180,000 by Lees Racing and Bahen Bloodstock from Lime Country Thoroughbreds at the 2024 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.

Rivellino’s sire Too Darn Hot (GB) is a sensation with 19 stakes winners from his first two crops and he will have 24 yearlings for sale at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Rivellino is the second foal of So You Think (NZ) mare Intrinsic whose first foal is unraced 3-year-old filly Vucciria (Pride Of Dubai), and she has a yearling colt by Written By. Intrinsic was a good race mare winning twice in the city, and three in total, as well as picking up a couple of Listed fourth placings. She is a daughter of the Group 3-placed winner Vecchia Roma (Testa Rossa).

Cherish Me a Blue Diamond hope

Cherish Me (Brazen Beau) can be competitive in the G1 Blue Diamond S. after showing great composure to get back before finishing strongly and saluting by 2l for Ciaron Maher in the Geelong Diamond over 1100 metres.

Astute Bloodstock (FBAA) saw plenty of potential in the 2-year-old filly, buying her for $280,000 at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Segenhoe Stud, and she lived up to her expectations in an impressive debut with Thomas Stockdale aboard. Tom Dabernig's Calvary Girl (Bivouac) was second and the Julius Sandhu-trained Lofty Thoughts (Snitzel) was third.

“She trialled similar to how she raced then – she sat off them. She’s got a really smooth, long action and can build and go through her gears,” Maher’s assistant Jack Turnbull told racing.com.

“Well found by Louis Le Metayer at Astute Bloodstock… It looks like we’ve got another smart filly. She’s got plenty of substance, stands over a lot of ground and she’s a really good mover. She has an action which is important, and a brain to follow. She was ready (on Saturday), and hopefully we can map a little plan into those better stakes races.”

Cherish Me’s sire, Brazen Beau, has produced 27 stakes winners led by three Group 1 winners. Cherish Me is a half-sister to G3 Caulfield Classic winner Thought Of That (So You Think {NZ}) and G2 Bill Stutt S.-placed Daily Bugle (Press Statement), and they are among five winners for the city-winning mare Hold Me Closer (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). She has a yearling full brother to Thought Of That. Hold Me Closer is a half-sister to Listed winner and G1 Golden Slipper-placed How Funny (Rory's Jester), dam of Listed winner Jester's Girl (Commands), dam of Listed winner Assimilate (Sebring).

Dirty Work gelding shows a clean pair of heels in Magic Millions Plate

Do I Feel Lucky (Dirty Work) displayed an excellent finishing ability to separate from the pack and score very well by 2.04l for Sean and Jake Casey in the $80,000 Magic Millions Plate over 1100 metres at Ascot. Daniel Morton-trained Golden Opera (A Lot {USA}) was second and the Luke Fernie-trained Just Too Fly (Justify {USA}) was third.

He became the first winner for Dirty Work, the G2 Schillaci S. victor, who covered 100 mares during his fourth season at Widden Victoria in 2024.

It was a convincing maiden victory to remember for 2-year-old gelding Do I Feel Lucky after finishing runner-up on debut, also in a Magic Millions Plate at Ascot, over 1000 metres on December 7.

Do I Feel Lucky was a $100,000 purchase by Maureen Daly from Mogumber Park at the 2024 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale. He is the first foal of juvenile winner Mindarie (Safeguard) who has a yearling filly by Rommel. Mindarie is a full sister to G3 WA Sires' Produce S.-placed Specialism and Listed-placed juvenile winner More Special, as well as a half-sister to G3 La Trice Classic-placed Royal Strata (Stratum).

Tale Of The Gypsy shines on debut

Tale Of The Gypsy (NZ) (Written By) showed she could have a bright future, with the filly winning by a comfortable 1.5l over 1000 metres for Stephen Marsh at Te Aroha. The heavily backed $2.90 favourite showed great composure to find her stride inside the final furlong under jockey George Rooke, despite sitting three wide the whole way. In second was Miss Moet All (Russian Revolution) with Justice For All (NZ) (Turn Me Loose {NZ}) in third.

Tale Of The Gypsy’s sire Written By won the G1 Blue Diamond S. in 2018 and has sired four stakes winners led by G2 Silver Slipper winner Straight Charge. Tale Of The Gypsy was a NZ$180,000 purchase by Stephen Marsh Racing and Dylan Johnson Bloodstock from Wentwood Grange at the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.

Tale Of The Gypsy is the seccond foal for Gypsy Snitz (Snitzel) whose first foal is the winning 4-year-old mare Irish Gypsy (Astern). She has a yearling filly by Circus Maximus (Ire). Gypsy Snitz is a half-sister to G2 Moonee Valley Fillies Classic winner Gypsy Diamond (Not A Single Doubt) and this week's Listed winner Miraval Rose (Grunt {NZ}). She traces back to blue hen mare Fanfreluche (Can).