Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
Paradoxium too fast, too strong at Wyong
In a standout performance, Paradoxium (Extreme Choice) stamped himself as a major contender for the R. Listed Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic in mid-January with a brilliant display of speed to win the R. Listed Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic by just under three lengths for jockey Jason Collett and trainer Bjorn Baker.
Paradoxium began well before Seeiaye (Russian Revolution) sped across to sit outside him - or at least attempt to, with Collett determined to hold the rail. The pair set a strong tempo and both kicked hard on the turn, but it quickly became clear that Seeiaye was feeling the pinch. Paradoxium, if anything, was only getting stronger through the line in a very brave and classy performance.
The Michael Freedman-trained Mystical (Exceed And Excel) was excellent running into second after charging home from last, she is certainly one to follow. While the well-bred stablemate to the winner, Masvingo (Zoustar), finished third. She carries the same Ridgmont colours as Paradoxium and was purchased for $580,000 by the Ridgmont Fillies Partnership and Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) from the Silverdale Farm draft at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Bjorn Baker has twice before won this race with O’Ole (Ole Kirk) and Unencumbered - both of whom went on to win the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic at the Gold Coast. Paradoxium may now be poised to become the third.
Paradoxium after winning the R. Listed Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“Bringing them here, and this is what it's about. We're in the Magic Millions now!” an elated Baker said.
“I'm hoping, third time lucky. I've won this race twice before and they've gone on to win it. This colt is as good, if not better than both of them, so it’s very, very exciting.
“I thought Masvingo was good too. She’s picked up more money and hopefully can get up there too. I think I've got the best bunch of 2-year-olds I've ever had by quite a margin.
Bjorn Baker with Barry Bowditch after Paradoxium won the R. Listed Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“This colt has got a great attitude to back it up and that’s the good part about it. You don't quite know until you put pressure on these athletes what you've got.
“I think he might be pretty special.”
“This colt (Paradoxium) has got a great attitude to back it up and that’s the good part about it. I think he might be pretty special.” - Bjorn Baker
When asked how the promising colt - who ran fourth in the G3 Breeders’ Plate earlier in the spring, would progress to the Gold Coast feature, Baker responded:
“We'll just have a good think about it and see how he comes through this, first and foremost. I'd like to go through the Bruce McLachlan, more than likely.”
Jason Collett with Barry Bowditch after winning the R. Listed Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Jason Collett was equally impressed with the colt’s development from his first preparation.
“I liked the filly (Masvingo) better the first prep, but he has just come back and matured,” Collett said.
“He is starting to fill into his frame nicely. He is on an upward trajectory.
“He (Paradoxium) is starting to fill into his frame nicely. He is on an upward trajectory.” - Jason Collet
“His trials were great leading into this and to do that today - he copped some pressure early, soaked it up, and kept going - so it was good.”
Sales info: Bjorn Baker Racing, Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA), and Ridgmont secured Paradoxium for $400,000 from Silverdale Farm’s Magic Millions draft. Silverdale Farm had paid $475,000 for dam Paredo (Better Than Ready) with the colt in utero at the 2023 Inglis Chairman’s Sale.
Connections of Paradoxium after winning the R. Listed Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic | Image courtesy of Magic Millions | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Pedigree info: Paradoxium is the first foal from the Listed-placed Paredo (Better Than Ready), a half-sister to stakes performer Snipzu (Snippetson), dam of Don Corleone, and Happy Pilgrim (Congrats {USA}), dam of G1 Galaxy Handicap winner Private Harry (Harry Angel {Ire}). She has also left a Zoustar yearling filly, and she delivered a filly by I Am Invincible this spring.
Leading or sitting last - it doesn’t bother Lady Verity
It’s fair to say most wouldn’t have expected Lady Verity (I Am Invincible) to be back last on the rail approaching the home turn, especially after the promising filly led throughout to win her maiden at Geelong at her previous start.
But that’s exactly where jockey Jamie Mott found himself today at Sandown - and in the end it didn’t matter. The exciting Matt Laurie-trained runner stormed down the outside to score stylishly by 0.3l over Tan Tat Delight (Russian Revolution), who ran a very brave second, with Off Their Perch (Shamus Award) boxing on solidly into third, a length and a half from the runner-up.
“I could have went from the penthouse to the shithouse very quickly there,” winning jockey Jamie Mott said, noting the race certainly didn’t unfold as expected.
“I thought I would lead on her, and if anything wanted to go quick I would let them go, but she didn’t jump and muster that good. I thought Willo (Craig Williams) would take it up and then he handed up, then it got real messy and one took off and got going.
“With a small field I wasn’t too worried. I ended up straightening up with basically two lengths to make up, so I was confident she could do that. With these small fields, obviously they can get a bit messy.
“From one I thought it would pan out really simple for her, but it’s good to see how she can overcome a change-up in her pattern. She’s a nice filly and she is going places.”
Jamie Mott | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Sales info: Lady Verity was purchased for $450,000 by Matt Laurie and P Morgan from the draft of Longwood Thoroughbred Farm at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Pedigree info: Lady Verity, is by I Am Invincible and is the second foal out of the Foxwedge mare Volpe Veloce, who was an outstanding galloper in New Zealand winning twelve times from 1200 metres to 1600 metres. Her best wins were in the G1 Railway Handicap, G2 Eight Carat Classic, G2 Westbury Classic, G2 Japan-NZ International Trophy, G3 Eulogy Stakes, R. Listed Karaka 3YO Mile and the Listed Castletown Stakes.
Volpe Veloce is also well-related being a full sister to Raposa Rapida (Foxwedge) who was an eight-time winner including at Listed level and Volpe Veloce's grandam Bardego (Barathea {Ire}) was a very talented juvenile winning at Group 3 level and Listed level.
Lady Verity as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Volpe Veloce was sold this year at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale by Longwood Thoroughbred Farm in foal to I Am Invincible for $1 million to Trives Bloodstock.
She originally made $1.9million in 2021 as a broodmare prospect when selling at the Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale to Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA), Longwood Thoroughbred Farm and Peter Morgan.
Volpe Veloce has had I Am Invincible as a constant companion, since leaving Lady Verity, she has produced a yearling filly by I Am Invincible, and foaled a ‘Vinnie’ filly in October.
Michelangelo from last to first at Wyong
Something rarely seen at Wyong over 1350 metres unfolded on Wednesday when the Chris Waller-trained 3-year-old Michelangelo (Trapeze Artist) stormed from a clear last to snatch the Maiden Handicap in narrow but thrilling fashion, producing a powerful late burst down the outside.
The Michael Freedman-trained Daphnes (Street Boss {USA}) looked the winner everywhere but the finishing post, brave in her attempt to lead throughout, while Lapis Lazuli (Microphone) finished half a length away in third.
Michelangelo’s form didn’t read impressively at first glance - unplaced in his first five starts - but a deeper look showed he’d been competing in much stronger company, including three runs in stakes grade. His most recent outing as a 2-year-old was an eighth in the G1 Champagne Stakes. A good break and the decision to geld him have clearly helped, and he now appears ready to put it together.
When asked about the effort, winning jockey Tim Clark noted the colt’s raw ability but acknowledged he hasn’t been straightforward.
“He's (Michelangelo) not so straightforward, but he does have nice staying potential,” Clark said.
“He's not so straightforward, but he does have nice staying potential.” - Tim Clark
“I'm sure he will improve when Chris gets him to do things right, as he's still doing it a little bit wrong, but obviously he was good enough to get away with it today.
“A tight-turning track like this probably wasn't really suitable either, so there was good merit in the win. I'm sure now he's got the breakthrough and he can go on with it.”
Sales info: Michelangelo was bred by the Vieira Group, and was purchased from the Widden Stud draft at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale by Tim Roberts Bloodstock for $160,000.
Michelangelo as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Pedigree info: Michelangelo is the third foal out of Waltzing Wodka (Sebring), who was a two-time winner on the track. She has already left the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet winner Pinito (Trapeze Artist), who has also placed in the G1 Queensland Oaks, and the three-time winner Stupendous (Trapeze Artist).
Waltzing Wodka is very well-related being a full sister to the Group 2 winners Catch A Fire (Sebring) and Seaburge (Snitzel), and a half sister to the Group 2 Queen Of The South Stakes winner Zloties (Snitzel).
Waltzing Wodka has a yearling filly by Trapeze Artist that will be offered in the Widden draft at Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale as Lot 433, and another Traoeze Artist filly foal before she sadly died in October this year, not long after foaling.
The Three Hundred in a thriller
In a thrilling finish to the $150,000 Magic Millions Wyong 3YO & 4YO Stakes, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained The Three Hundred (I Am Invincible) prevailed impressively but narrowly in a photo finish over King Of Roseau (Capitalist) and Spywire (Trapeze Artist).
King Of Roseau was a touch unlucky, with jockey Tom Sherry forced to duck back to the inside, while Spywire finished well in third after having every chance under Adam Farragher. A protest lodged by both the runner-up and third-placed runner against the winner was dismissed.
The Three Hundred was resuming after a successful 3-year-old campaign that included a win in the G3 Winx Guineas at the Sunshine Coast. Following a break after a disappointing run in the Coffs Harbour Cup, the talented gelding trialled twice in preparation - and it showed, as he returned to the winners’ circle in style.
The Three Hundred winning the Magic Millions Wyong 3YO & 4YO Stakes | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Sales Info: The Three Hundred was purchased by Trilogy Racing and Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing for $400,000 from the Yarraman Park Stud draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Pedigree Info: A son of I Am Invincible, The Three Hundred is out of Sassy ‘N’ Smart (Smart Missile), a very talented juvenile in New Zealand who won twice, including the Listed Welcome Stakes, and placed in the G2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes.
Connections of The Three Hundred after winning the Magic Millions Wyong 3YO & 4YO Stakes | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Sassy ‘N’ Smart is a half-sister to Mallory (Not A Single Doubt), winner of the G3 Widden Stakes, and a multiple Group placegetter at two and three.
Since foaling The Three Hundred, Sassy ‘N’ Smart has produced a 3-year-old gelding named Wooden Eye (I Am Invincible), a 2-year-old filly by Extreme Choice, a yearling colt by Home Affairs who is Lot 769 in the 2026 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale from the Segenhoe Stud draft, and she missed to Maurice (Jpn) last spring.
