The first day of Magic Millions racing at the Gold Coast on Saturday started with the $250,000 Magic Millions Maiden (1200m) and it provided a lucrative first win for Russian Revolution gelding Silentsar.
Trained by Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou, Silentsar was placed twice in Sydney metro maidens last year and was tuned up for this assignment with a first up run for fifth at Warwick Farm last month.
Well ridden by Brenton Avdulla, Silentsar dashed clear down the running and had just enough left on the line to win by a long head.
“He does a few things wrong, but he’s coming right and has good ability,” said Sterling Alexiou.
“We ran him at Warwick Farm and thought if he didn’t win there we’d come here and adding blinkers has done the trick.”
A $300,000 Magic Millions purchase for his trainers from the Sledmere Stud draft, he was a successful pinhook having made $200,000 when offered by Newgate as a weanling the year before.
Bred by Henry Field and partners, Silentsar is a half-brother to Group III winner Get the Nod and is the fourth winner from Silent Cash, who had a filly last year by North Pacific and is now in foal to another of the young Newgate sires Wild Ruler.