TAB have released a market for the $2million Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast on Saturday January 14 with Breeders Plate winner Empire of Japan the early favourite and Golden Gift runner-up Infatuation the next horse in the market, so let’s find out a bit more about the top contenders.
Several of these horses trialled in Sydney last week and you can read more about them in this Juvenile Trial Watch story.
Empire of Japan (Snitzel) was a $680,000 MM purchase from the Corumbene Stud draft for China Horse Club/Newgate Bloodstock/Starlight.
Corumbene Stud will offer 13 at the Gold Coast on January and they include Lot 955 the half-brother by Exceed and Excel to Empire of Japan.
Infatuation (I Am Invincible) was a $400,000 Magic Millions purchase for MyRacehorse/Bjorn Baker Racing/Clarke Bloodstock from the Yarraman Park draft.
Yarraman Park will offer 27 yearlings at the Gold Coast and 14 of them are by their champion sire I Am Invincible
Mach Ten (Exceed and Excel) was a $1.2million Magic Millions purchase from the draft of Fernrigg Farm for James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership and was second on debut in the Group III ATC Breeders Plate behind Empire of Japan.
Fernrigg Farm have 20 entries for the Gold Coast.
Platinum Jubilee (Zoustar) was a $600,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Newgate Farm draft for Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott/Kestrel Thoroughbreds and won the Group III ATC Gimcrack Stakes.
Newgate Farm have 63 entries for the Gold Coast and they include one filly by Zoustar to be offered as Lot 600 and she comes with a big pedigree and is bred on the same cross as Platinum Jubilee, who is also from a daughter of Fastnet Rock. This filly is the second foal of stake-placed Fastnet rock mare Alter Call, a half-sister to Golden Slipper winner Estijaab and daughter of dual Group I winner Response.
Empress of Wonder (Choisir) was a $100,000 MM Adelaide purchase from the draft of Ducatoon Park and was second on debut in Group III VRC Ottawa Stakes.
She comes from the last crop of foals by Choisir, so sadly 2023 will be the first time in a long time that there will be no yearlings by the original Royal Ascot trailblazer.
Miss Coota (Spirit of Boom) was a $140,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Raheen Stud draft for Gerald O'Toole/Arthur Hoyeau and has had two starts for two wide margin wins at Eagle Farm and Doomben on heavy and good tracks.
Raheen Stud will offer 20 yearlings at the Gold Coast and they include Lot 302, the half-brother by Nicconi to Miss Coota from well bred Fastnet Rock mare Rock Garden.
Skirt the Law (Better Than Ready) was a $170,000 Magic Millions purchase for Gollan Racing/John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA)/Black Soil Bloodstock from the Lyndhurst Stud Farm draft and has had two starts for two wide margin wins at Doomben on soft and good tracks.
Lyndhurst will offer 12 youngsters at the Gold Coast and they include four by their top sire Better Than Ready, who has already posted four juvenile winners this season which puts him on to of the Australian 2YO Sires list by winners.
Summer Loving (Exceed and Excel) was a $425,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Edinburgh Park draft for Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott/Kestrel Thoroughbreds and was third on debut in the $1.5million ATC Golden Gift.
Edinburgh Park will offer 17 at the Gold Coast and they include the half-sister by Written Tycoon to Summer Loving from Serena Bay that will be offered as Lot 354.
Sunsource (Zoustar) was a $370,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Widden Stud draft and won the $150,000 Ballarat MM 2YO Classic on debut.
Widden Stud will offer 49 yearlings at the Gold Coast and they include eight by their champion sire Zoustar and a further 11 by his first crop son Zousain.