Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
Raceday recap:
The stars aligned for O' Ole (Ole Kirk) in the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic as Tommy Berry guided her to victory for Bjorn Baker, eleven years after his late brother Nathan scored in the same race with Baker's Unencumbered.
"Beautifully bred" Bosustow (Blue Point {Ire}) clinched a stellar victory in the R. Listed Magic Millions 3YO Guineas, promising the best is yet to come.
Delivering a double for the Neasham and Archibald stable, West Of Africa (Not A Single Doubt) scored his first piece of blacktype when taking out the R. Listed Magic Millions Cup.
Lightly raced Miss Roumbini (Zoustar) made it five wins from nine starts with a smart win in the $1 million Magic Millions Fillies & Mares.
Evergreen galloper Zarastro (I Am Invincible) scorched home in the $1 million Magic Millions Snippets to claim his ninth career victory.
Hidden Wealth (Better Than Ready) brought home a Magic double for Tony Gollan with ninth career victory in the $1.5 million Magic Millions QTIS Open.
Stars align as O’ Ole delivers emotional victory in 2YO Classic
Eleven years after his late brother Nathan guided Unencumbered to victory in the same race for the same trainer, it was Tommy Berry in the irons for Bjorn Baker on gun 2-year-old O’ Ole (Ole Kirk) as the filly burst out of the pack within the last furlong of the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic and flew home to defeat perennial bridesmaid Memo (Capitalist) by 1.5l.
Second on debut in the G3 Gimcrack S. to Bel Merci (Extreme Choice), O’ Ole went one better in the R. Listed Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic - relegating Memo to second place - before repeating the performance in the Gold Coast feature.
“All the stars aligned today,” Berry was emotional post-race. “She’s a beautiful filly, and is by Ole Kirk, who I had a lot to do with.”
For Baker's bloodstock agent Jim Clarke, the stars certainly did align, “she (O’ Ole) drew the exact same gate as Unencumbered, and got back in the exact same way. It was all over at the 200(-metre mark), and it was an amazing result.
“All the stars aligned today, She’s (O' Ole) a beautiful filly, and is by Ole Kirk, who I had a lot to do with.” - Tommy Berry
“Bjorn has always had an opinion of her and this was always the long term plan. To get her here and to deliver is an amazing result.
“She was probably the filly at the sales last year that the whole team zeroed in on. I didn’t expect to get there and fall in love with an Ole Kirk out of a Sepoy mare and pay that sort of money, but she had a phenomenal physique and every time we saw her parade perfectly. Fortunately she has done the same in her racing career so far.”
A delayed flight meant that Baker only arrived trackside in time to join his team in celebrations.
“From day dot, she was a superstar, and he (Unencumbered) was very much like her, strong and fast from the start,” he said. “I got very emotional, I was in a taxi thinking of Nathan (Berry), we miss him a lot.” Amongst the filly’s owners are Baker’s stable vet, Dr Alan Frogley, and his breaker, Lewis Page.
“From day dot, she (O' Ole) was a superstar, and he (Unencumbered) was very much like her, strong and fast from the start.” - Bjorn Baker
“We’re thrilled, just shows you that (the team) is doing a great job. We found a lovely filly by a first season sire, and it’s so important to get back here for Magic Millions year on year.”
The fourth foal of provincial winner Vellor (Sepoy), O’ Ole was a $325,000 purchase for Bjorn Baker Racing and Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) from the draft of breeders Gilgai Farm at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in January. Vellor is a daughter of triple Group 2-winning Hosannah (Octagonal {NZ}), making her a half-sister to G2 Magic Night S. winner Altar (Commands). She has a yearling full sister to O’ Ole still to appear in a sales catalogue, and revisited Vinery Stud's popular Ole Kirk again in September.
Gallery: Images courtesy of Magic Millions
"Beautifully bred" Bosustow sheds bridesmaid status with spectacular Guineas win
Delivering a Gold Coast race-to-race double for the Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald team, Bosustow (Blue Point {Ire}) also delivered on the promise of his pedigree with a 0.2l victory over Give Me Space (Cosmic Force) in the R. Listed Magic Millions 3YO Guineas on Friday night. A maiden winner in June and placed in the G1 JJ Atkins S. at his next start, the well-related colt was always destined to improve with age.
“He’s been a little bit of a bridesmaid, this horse,” Neasham said. “He’s obviously Group 1-placed up here behind Broadsiding and he was a bit unlucky not to win at Flemington during Cup week. He’s always been there abouts and we knew he had a big one in him.”
“He’s a beautifully bred colt,” Archibald told TTR AusNZ. “He was relatively precocious and he really started to hit his straps at the end of his 2-year-old season.
“A couple of things didn’t go his way (in the spring), so we backed off him, gave him a couple more runs and worked backwards from this race, so it’s very pleasing to get the result for (owners) Rosemont.
“A couple of things didn’t go his (Bosustow) way (in the spring), so we backed off him, gave him a couple more runs and worked backwards from this race, so it’s very pleasing to get the result for (owners) Rosemont.” - Rob Archibald
“It’s a beautiful family. The dam certainly looks like she has a lot of upside to come. We are very privileged to have this horse and hopefully there’s a lot more in store for him.”
Bloodstock agent Suman Hedge, who was involved in Bosustow’s purchase, was rapt with the win. Hedge experienced, in his words, “the biggest disappointment” of his career when Sydney Bowler (Deep Field) was scratched and injured in the barriers before the same race last year.
“To get a result like this is a massive tonic, and certainly helps erase any bad memories from the past,” Hedge said on social media. He also praised Neasham and Archibald, stating that “the sky is the limit” for the duo.
Gallery: Images courtesy of Magic Millions
Bred by Amelia Park, Bosustow is a half-brother to G1 Northerly S. winner Amelia’s Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}) and was a $900,000 purchase for Rosemont Alliance and Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) from Segenhoe Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He is out of dual Listed-placed Bumbasina (Ire) (Canford Cliffs {Ire}), who is a half-sister to G2 Lanwades Stud S. winner Epona Plays (Ire) (Australia {Ire}) and G3 Athasi S.-winning Dolce Strega (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}).
A full sibling to Amelia’s Jewel was purchased by Luke Fernie for $625,000 from Segenhoe Stud’s Gold Coast draft earlier this month, and Bumbasina delivered a full sister in the spring. She was served by Zoustar in October.
"Huge run" from West Of Africa clinches Cup victory
After winning the opening race, Tyler Schiller picked up his second win of Friday evening when he guided West Of Africa (Not A Single Doubt) to a 0.8l victory over Charm Stone (I Am Invincible) in the R. Listed Magic Millions Cup. The 5-year-old gelding was making his first jump up into blacktype company for Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald since his purchase by the stable in August last year.
“Huge run today,” co-trainer Archibald told TTR AusNZ after the race. “Tyler (Schiller) is starting to build a good association with him and gave him the perfect ride on the biggest stage he’s been on.
“He’s a super horse that has been going really well. We’ve been very happy with the preparation and the writing was on the wall with that last start (third at Randwick), but to do it on a night like this is just amazing.
“He’s (West Of Africa) a super horse that has been going really well. We’ve been very happy with the preparation and the writing was on the wall with that last start (third at Randwick), but to do it on a night like this is just amazing.” - Rob Archibald
“We’re excited for the connections, they have been huge supporters of Annabel from the start. I think he's a very talented horse, and I think we've worked out how to ride him and train him and get him right. He's really starting to make his mark in open company, so very excited for everyone involved.”
He added, “huge thanks to Magic Millions for navigating their way out of tricky conditions and putting on tonight. We’re very privileged to be part of it.”
Bred by Ian Smith, West Of Africa was first offered at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale by Smith’s Edinburgh Park, where he was purchased for $340,000 by Tony Fung Investments and Phoenix Thoroughbreds. In August of 2023, he was offered by TFI in an Inglis Digital online auction, where Annabel Neasham Racing purchased the gelding for $145,000.
Gallery: Images courtesy of Magic Millions
West Of Africa is the first foal from G2 Percy Sykes S. placegetter Serena Bay (Sebring), a daughter of Listed Natasha S. winner Caiguna (Dubai Destination {USA}). His half-sister Summer Loving (Exceed and Excel) was placed in both the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic, R. Listed Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic, and the $1 million Golden Gift. She was sold to Matt Scown Bloodstock for $340,000 as a broodmare prospect in an Inglis Digital auction in July last year and was subsequently served by I Am Invincible.
At the Gold Coast last January, Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) paid $1.25 million for West Of Africa’s three-quarter-sister Boa Vista (Snitzel). Serena Bay delivered a full sister to Summer Loving in the spring, and was served by Snitzel in November.
Miss Roumbini continues ascension in Fillies & Mares contest
Lightly raced Miss Roumbini (Zoustar) continued her upwards trajectory on Friday night where she justified her short starting price with a 0.8l victory in the $1 million Fillies & Mares over 11-time winner Bubba’s Bay (Cable Bay {Ire}). Trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, the 4-year-old mare was having just her ninth lifetime start, and made it five wins from that small number, including a last start victory in the $175,000 VOBIS Gold Eureka Stockade.
“He (jockey Ethan Brown) was very confident, my boy, and how he rode her was how he told me he would ride her,” Price said.
“She’s gutsy, isn’t she? We’ve had her since she was a yearling, bred by Yulong, and she’s taken a bit of time, but she’ll be a beautiful mare in time.”
Bred by Yulong Investments, who remain in the ownership, Miss Roumbini was a $550,000 purchase for Mick Price Racing & Breeding and Arjb Racing from Yulong’s Gold Coast draft in 2022. She is the first foal from G3 Red Roses S. winner Bleu Roche (Fastnet Rock), a daughter of Listed Northern Lights Debutante S. victress Esprit De Bleu (USA) (Littleexpectations {USA}).
Gallery: Images courtesy of Magic Milions
Bleu Roche delivered a filly by Alabama Express last spring, and was served by Tagaloa in November.
Zarastro chalks up ninth career victory in Magic Millions Snippets
The evergreen Zarastro (I Am Invincible) brought his total wins to nine on Friday night with a resounding victory in the $1 million Magic Millions Snippets. Trained by Tony Gollan, the 6-year-old gelding zipped ahead of The Novelist (Written By) by 2.3l, with the tough race favourite Semana (Winning Rupert) coming home in third.
“We’ve had a good bit of luck in the race,” Gollan said. “The first few years, it wasn’t worth as much money, but it’s worth a lovely amount now.
“He (Zarastro) has been a fantastic horse since he joined the stable and I had a real sense that he was starting to peak in his preparation. Today he was bang-on and he got a track that was favourable.
“I was never worried they were going to run him down.”
Bred by Fairway Thoroughbreds, Zarastro was initially a $1 million yearling purchase for Chris Waller and Mulcaster Bloodstock when offered by Segenhoe Stud at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. In October of 2022, Tony Gollan purchased the gelding for $32,500 when he was offered in an Inglis Digital auction by Chris Waller, and he has since won up to Group 3 level, taking out the G3 WJ Healy S. last June. Kia Ora Stud, TFI, Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, and Kestrel Thoroughbreds paid $1.15 million for his full brother at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale last year.
Gallery: Images courtesy of Magic Millions
Zarastro is the first living foal from G2 Light Fingers S. winner Adrift (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), half-sister to R. Listed Karaka Million winner Imperial Win (NZ) (Ifraaj {GB}) and the dam of G1 Railway S. Entriviere (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}). Adrift has no yearling this year, but delivered a filly by Wootton Bassett (GB) in the spring, and visited Tassort in October.
Hidden Wealth still reeling in the riches with big QTIS Open finish
Tony Gollan made it a Friday night double at the Gold Coast with the last race of the evening, when his robust galloper Hidden Wealth (Better Than Ready) pipped dual Group 2-winning Cifrado (Encryption) by 0.5l in the $1.5 million Magic Millions QTIS Open. The 5-year-old gelding was bringing up his ninth career win, having also beat Cifrado in the G3 George Moore S. in November.
“I’ve got a lot of faith in this horse,” Gollan said. “I felt he’d done really well during the week and I came here with a lot of confidence tonight.
“We were happy to be up on the speed and Tommy (Berry) is a great rider, I think he’s only ridden the horse three times for three wins so he’s got as much faith in the horse as I do.
“He’s a horse that will win a good race.”
Bred by Ms JB Fraser and Don Loomis, Hidden Wealth was offered at the Gold Coast March Yearling Sale by Kynoch Thoroughbreds, where Gollan Racing and John Foote Bloodstock paid $110,000 for the colt. He is the third foal, and third winner, from Bradbury’s Luck mare Miss Stash, herself a five-time winner and a close relation to Listed Illawarra 2YO Classic-placed Aqua Blessing (Secret Savings {USA}).
Gallery: Images courtesy of Magic Millions
Miss Stash delivered a full sibling to Hidden Wealth last year, and returned to Lyndhurst Stud’s resident Better Than Ready in November.
