Saturday summary: Torque denies Ninja in Guineas protest

Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography

Torque To Be Sure denies Ninja in Guineas protest battle

High drama consumed the stewards’ room at the Gold Coast on Saturday after the running of the R. Listed Magic Millions 3YO Guineas, with the connections of red hot favourite Ninja (Farnan) protesting interference from eventual race winner Torque To Be Sure (Shamus Award). The alleged interference happened at the top of the final furlong, where the latter shifted out and bumped into Ninja, diffusing the gelding as he made to quicken to the pack’s outside.

The official margin was three quarters of a length between Torque To Be Sure and Ninja, and the latter’s jockey Tommy Berry was quick to the stewards to lodge a protest. Almost half an hour after the race’s conclusion, the stewards ascertained that the margin was too wide and they were not convinced that Ninja could have caught the son of Shamus Award without the interference happening.

Torque To Be Sure’s trainer Matthew Dunn held onto the hope that the margin would sustain his charge’s victory in the moments after the race, saying, “I think the margin (will get the win), we had a fair margin.”

He was vindicated for his belief, and could breathe out as the stewards found in favour of him and his jockey Ben Melham.

“When he races up to his pedigree and settles, he’ll race better,” Dunn added. “A patient bunch of owners, patient trainers tops it off.”

“He’s not an easy horse to ride,” said Melham. “He went off the track a little, but he was pretty good today. I ended up in a sweet spot and on the back-up really helped me over 1400 metres. He was pretty dominant. Not a bad effort for a maidener.”

Torque To Be Sure’s efforts ahead of Saturday were enough to believe he had the ability to pull off the Guineas; stakes-placed as a juvenile, he had amassed five second placings in just 10 starts, and had been beaten a long neck into second in the $250,000 Sunlight Consolation 3YO Plate last start by Miss Freelove (Tassort). The Guineas winnings - $1.7 million to the victor - takes his lifetime earnings to over $1.9 million.

“The ability was never the issue, but it is good to see him break through in this race today,” Melham said.

Sales: Matthew Dunn and Neil Jenkinson (FBAA) secured Torque To Be Sure for $260,000 from Attunga Stud’s draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2024.

Pedigree: Torque To Be Sure is one of seven winners out of Elimbari (Fastnet Rock), a G3 Kindergarten Stakes-placed half-sister to Amelia’s Dream (Redoute’s Choice). Her full sister Romantic Time has produced G2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes winner About Time (NZ) (American Pharoah {USA}) and Group 1 performer Young Werther (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}).

Elimbari has also produced the juvenile stakes performers Vincere Volare (I Am Invincible) and Conscious (So You Think {NZ}). Torque To Be Sure is her last foal.

Multi-millionaire King Of Roseau conquers Cup

The people of Queensland had been behind Yellow Brick (The Mission) to pull off a multi-million dollar double in the R. Listed Magic Millions Cup on Saturday, but it was 4-year-old King Of Roseau (Capitalist) who prevailed in the $2 million contest instead.

The winner of the G3 Aurie’s Star Stakes in his last preparation, the gelding has been patiently guided back to the Gold Coast by Peter Snowden, where he chalked up a fifth career victory - by a head over Boomtown Boss (Spirit Of Boom) - to take his earnings to over $2 million.

“You never get tired of this,” said Snowden. “It was a good story, this one. They were trying to get this yearling at the sale but they were standing at the back. When I went back into the yard, I said to them ‘I hope he stays sound’ and now he’s won $2 million. There’s a spread of good people. It is a great result for a lot of people.”

Getting the best out of King Of Roseau has been a game of patience for connections, who saw his true talent start to shine once he was gelded.

Snowden also had a good word for jockey Tom Sherry, who has been aboard the gelding for his past three starts, including when he ran second in the $150,000 Magic Millions Wyong 3YO & 4YO Stakes.

“We gave him his first Group 1 winner and he’s been picking up rides for the good stables,” Snowden said. “You’ve got to give them a chance. I was keen to have him on today and he executed perfectly.”

Sales: King Of Roseau was offered by Ashleigh Thoroughbreds at the Gold Coast in 2023, where Pulse Racing Thoroughbreds and Pinhook Bloodstock International (FBAA) purchased him for $95,000. A 2.5% share was offered in the gelding on Inglis Digital last August, which was purchased by Scott Fitzpatrick for $18,000.

Pedigree: A son of Newgate Farm’s Capitalist, King Of Roseau is one of only two foals out of winning Choisir mare Dominica, who died in 2022. She was a daughter of G1 Coolmore Classic victress Danni Martine (Danzero). Her first and only other foal, Antilles (Written By), was a winner last season and visited Tassort in the spring at her first season at stud.

Snitzanova back to her best in Subzero

A G2 Sandown Guineas winner as a 3-year-old, it was clear this summer that Snitzanova (Snitzel) was crying out for more ground, and the step up to the 2200 metres of the $1 million Magic Millions Subzero was just what the 4-year-old mare was asking for.

Ciaron Maher had been slowly stretching the mare out over four starts since the end of November, and she hit her stride on the Gold Coast to beat out G1 Queensland Oaks victress You Wahng (So You Think {NZ}) by a length and a third, with $500,000 The Wave winner Miss Joelene (Russian Revolution) a length further away in third.

Private Legacy (The Autumn Sun) and Jason Collett came down at the 350-metre mark after copping a bump, but both walked off the track. After reviewing the race footage, it was deemed not necessary to send Collett to hospital and he was stood down for the rest of the card.

Maher made use of the services of in-form Zac Lloyd, who had already taken out the $500,000 Magic Millions Country Cup on Sir Carter (Zoustar) earlier in the card.

“I was a little worried how it was going to unfold,” Maher said. “She pulled last week over 1800 metres (in the Wave). The way she went through the line, she was a bit unlucky. That gave us the confidence to roll the dice (going) up in trip. With the really strong tempo, Zac, who is riding beautifully - he rode a winner for me last night - banged one in again.

“Well done to my brother (Declan). He has been looking after the horses while they're up here. He is doing a super job and this mare has been up here for quite a while.”

It was a fourth career victory for the mare carrying the colours of Bennett Racing, with the win shooting her over the $1 million mark in earnings.

“Ciaron said to me that, no matter where we were, just to keep her happy,” Lloyd said. “Fantastic training by Ciaron. For her to step up to 2200 metres and be strong late, it is a pleasure to ride for these trainers.”

Sales: Bennett Racing paid $200,000 to secure the daughter of Snitzel from Arrowfield Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft in 2023. Several shares have been offered on Inglis Digital in the mare, with T Murphy paying $25,000 for a 2.5% share in March of 2025, valuing her at $1 million.

Pedigree: Snitzanova is the penultimate foal of Galileo (Ire) mare Albanilla (GB), out of a half-sister to blue hen Albanova (GB) (Alzao {USA}). Amongst her close relations through that mare are European Champion Older Female Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and G1 Zabeel Classic Kingswood (GB) (Roaring Lion {USA}).

The dam of four winners from five to the track, Albanilla’s last foal is 3-year-old Hiatus (Snitzel), a three-time winner for Tony and Calvin McEvoy.

Poster Girl provides pin-up moment for connections on Gold Coast

Chris and Corey Munce kicked off their Gold Coast raceday with a bang in the fifth on the card, sending out Poster Girl (Alabama Express) to claim the $1 million Magic Millions Fillies & Mares. The 4-year-old had already scored in the first leg of the Magic Millions racing carnival the week before, snaring the $250,000 Magic Millions Rising Stars (fillies), and she returned to the scene of her victory for another thriller.

This time, she had to fend off Victorian raider Jenni The Fox (Too Darn Hot {GB}), who jumped as the favourite after winning the Listed Geelong Black Pearl last start, and it came down to the wire. Poster Girl was able to prevail by a nose over her fellow 4-year-old for the Munces, taking her prize money to a hefty $1.34 million with her sixth career victory.

“The way the race was going to work out, we probably needed to be closer today from the draw,” co-trainer Corey Munce said. Poster Girl had drawn barrier 12 in a field of 18, and had to bounce out quickly to secure her spot. “I didn’t expect her to be outside the lead, but she had a pretty nice time there.

“Gee she was tough. She fought back and she was a sitting duck there for a while, but she’s done nothing but improve this preparation. She is best kept fresh over the shorter trips.”

“Gerry and Debbie (O’Toole), the owners of this mare, are great friends and to have a mare like this, she’s a beauty,” said Chris Munce. “The thing about this mare is that we tried to train her as a stayer last time and I think she runs a strong mile, but I think she got hampered by wet tracks which she hates. A firm track like today suits her.”

Poster Girl had been tried out in the Queensland Derby as a 3-year-old but had faded to 14th in the running. Returning to the sprints as a 4-year-old, the mare has chalked up four wins in her last five starts.

Sales: Yulong offered Poster Girl at the Gold Coast in January of 2023, and Gerard O'Toole and Arthur Hoyeau combined to pay $160,000 for the daughter of Alabama Express.

Pedigree: Poster Girl is one of three winners for Caricature (USA) (Dubawi {Ire}), a half-sister to G3 Strensall Stakes winner City Style (USA) (City Zip {USA}). Caricature’s other winners are Listed-placed, five-time winner Pacific Master (Snitzel) and seven-time winner Doña Leoncia (Russian Revolution).

Yulong will offer a Grunt (NZ) colt out of Caricature at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale later this year as Lot 544, and the mare delivered a full sister to Poster Girl in the spring before visiting Growing Empire.

Axius puts on Dynamic performance in Magic Millions Snippets

Four-year-old Axius (Justify {USA}) provided Ciaron Maher with the middle leg of a Magic treble - completed by Unit Five (Supido) in the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic - at the Gold Coast on Saturday when powering home to victory in the $1 million Magic Millions Snippets.

The gelding was backing up from a third placing in last week’s $250,000 Magic Millions Rising Stars (colts & geldings), where he was beaten three quarters of a length by Now Is The Hour (I Am Invincible), and found the drop back in distance by 100 metres no impediment to success. Despite Payline (Shooting To Win) looking like he would seize victory in the home straight, Axius clawed back ground past him to secure victory by just over a half-length. Stablemate Scampi (Blue Point {Ire}) snared third.

“I was hoping he got into the (Magic Millions) Cup to run him over further, but that’s how it works out sometimes,” mused Maher after the run. “He came up from Sydney in super order. He ran really well and he was a horse that was really hot and bothered before the races last week, but having another run, he was able to do it better today. He just had another week to chill out.

“When you peak horses, the back-up usually works provided you have the right grounding to do that. When there’s this sort of cash on offer, you want them to peak.”

The gelding takes his prize money to a tick over $835,000 in nine starts, five of which he has won.

“Fantastic for Dynamic Syndications,” Maher added. “They do a great job. They were active at the sale and I’m sure they’ve got a few to sell.”

“He really toughed it out to the line,” said winning hoop Tim Clark. “It was a good win. He probably didn’t get as warm the other day, but he tracked through well and is only lightly raced with plenty more in store.”

Sales: Dynamic Syndications, Dean Watt Bloodstock, and Ciaron Maher Racing paid $200,000 for Axius when offered by Coolmore Stud at Magic Millions three years ago this month.

Pedigree: Axius is the only runner and winner for Orontes (Redoute’s Choice), an unraced three-quarter-sister G1 Winterbottom Stakes winner Takedown (Stratum), whose seven wins include six at Group level. Orontes is a granddaughter of Listed-winning, Group-performed black-type producer Angelina Ballerina (USA) (Nureyev {USA}).

Dynamic Syndications also paid $90,000 for Axius’ half-sister Arantu (Pierro) the following year at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale; she is yet to race. Orontes has a yearling colt by Profiteer yet to appear in a sales catalogue, and she visited Storm Boy in 2025.