Cover image courtesy of Racing Photos
Unit Five shows his class
After impressing on debut when winning the $250,000 Magic Millions Victoria 2YO Classic on the Caulfield Heath, Unit Five (Supido) showed he has come through that run well, adjusting to right-handed racing with a stylish trial win at the Gold Coast in the Magic Millions 2-year-old heat over 1000 metres.
The Ciaron Maher-trained runner was ridden by Thomas Stockdale and finished strongly from back in the field to score by just over a length. The pace was set by Written Aclaim (Aclaim {Ire}), with Geryon (Better Than Ready {USA}) working outside the leader.
Baciami (Castelvecchio) enjoyed the trail, while the well-performed duo of Unit Five and Mystical (Exceed And Excel) settled towards the rear of the field.
Video: Watch Unit Five in Heat 2 at Aquis Park Gold Coast Trials, video courtesy of Racing Queensland
Unit Five was able to sneak through runs as Mystical, in the hands of Tommy Berry, launched down the outside. However, it was Unit Five who proved too strong, defeating the gallant Baciami, with Mystical stretching out nicely into third.
The $3 million R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic is shaping as a strong contest, with Warwoven (Sword Of State) and Tornado Valley (Too Darn Hot {GB}) appearing among the hardest to beat. Unit Five, however, looks a very genuine chance, particularly given he has improved from his impressive debut win and now has valuable experience on the Gold Coast track.
Unit Five was purchased for $80,000 at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where Ciaron Maher Bloodstock secured him from Widden Stud’s draft.
His dual-winning dam En Aval (Toorak Toff) is well related, being a half-sister to the dam of last season’s Listed Lonhro Plate winner Bellazaine (Zousain), and out of a half-sister to Villa Verde (Not A Single Doubt), whose talented daughter My Gladiola (I Am Invincible) was second in the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes in the spring behind Tentyris (Street Boss {USA}).
Unit Five is En Aval’s first runner and first winner. She has an Anders colt heading to Inglis Premier in Widden Victoria’s draft as Lot 34, and delivered an Exceedance filly this spring before visiting Schwarz.
Recuperato on track for the Guineas
The talented Farnan filly Recuperato showed she is in fine form ahead of a tilt at the $3 million R. Listed Gold Coast Magic Millions 3YO Guineas on Saturday week, with a soft win in the 3-year-old heat over 1000 metres.
Trained by Peter Gelagotis, Recuperato was ridden quietly by Ben Thompson and settled in the trail as Icarian Dream (Blue Point {Ire}) set the pace. Due North (North Pacific) raced keenly outside the leader, ensuring a genuine tempo.
Recuperato, the winner of the G3 Thoroughbred Breeders’ as a 2-year-old, came between runners and, under a soft ride, drew clear to score by just under a length. Due North battled on well for second, while Icarian Dream and Alabama Charm (Alabama Express) finished close-up behind the runner-up in third and fourth respectively.
Video: Watch Recuperato in Heat 3 at Aquis Park Gold Coast Trials, video courtesy of Racing Queensland
Bred to be smart, Recuperato was a $210,000 purchase by Toking, Stephen Gray Racing and Wattle Bloodstock (FBAA) from the draft of Kenmore Lodge at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
She is the fourth foal from Afiado (Encosta De Lago), who was placed as a 3-year-old. Afiado is out of the Group 2-winning mare Sharp (Danzero) and is a half-sister to stakes-performed In The Vanguard (Encosta De Lago), the dam of Group 1-winning juvenile and in-form Cambridge Stud-based first-season sire Sword Of State.
Since producing Recuperato, Afiado has foaled a Farnan yearling filly, while her Tassort filly was unfortunately born deceased last spring.
Steady Ready shows he is ready
The Tony and Maddysen Sears-trained Steady Ready (Better Than Ready) showed plenty of dash in the Magic Millions Open Trial over 1000 metres, leading all the way to defeat Gin A Tonic (Better Than Ready) and Zarastro (I Am Invincible) in the quickest time of the three heats.
Jockey Chelsea Baker gave the seven-time winner and $1.1 million earner a solid hit-out, and he dominated the trial, scoring by just over five and a half lengths. Gin A Tonic and Zarastro were both given quiet runs, allowing them to stretch out nicely on the Gold Coast circuit.
Video: Watch Steady Ready in Heat 1 at Aquis Park Gold Coast Trials, video courtesy of Racing Queensland
It was an ideal lead-up ahead of the Listed winner’s tilt at the $1 million Magic Millions Snippets over 1200 metres on Saturday week.
Steady Ready is out of the juvenile winner Our First Lady (Denman), who has produced three winners, and he hails from the extended family of outstanding international shuttling sire More Than Ready (USA).
He was purchased by Paul Moroney Bloodstock and Haoh & Co for $70,000 from the Yarramalong Park draft at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale Book 2.
