A spectacular day of Magic Millions showjumping and polo at Surfer’s Paradise on Sunday featured the Off the Track Cup for retired racehorses that qualified for the final through various events in Queensland, Melbourne and Sydney, which proved the best guide with first and second both coming out of the Summer Classic at Horsley Park in December.
Central coast rider Makaylah Fenwick jumped a brilliant double clear on her eight year-old Animal Kingdom (USA) gelding Rainbow Man to finish just ahead of Sydney jockey Louise Day and her eight year-old Verrazzano (USA) gelding Amoretti, who she rode to win a Class 1 race at Wyong back in December 2020.
Makaylah is a very successful competitor on the thoroughbred jumping circuit and has produced a team of young jumpers largely sourced from the Newcastle stables of Paul Perry.
Rainbow Man is another success story for the partnership as he was purchased by Perry back in 2018 at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale for $80,000 from the Arrowfield Stud draft.
By Kentucky Derby and Dubai World Cup winner Animal Kingdom, Rainbow Man is from staying bred Kiwi mare Rainbow Bridge, a full sister to four time Group I winning Champion New Zealand Stayer Shez Sinsational.
Rainbow Man was tough and sound as a racehorse, but unfortunately slow, so was retired after 17 winless starts that yielded just three placings and is proving a lot more adept in the showjump arena. He had major a big win last year taking out the 90cm overall class at Equimillion.
Runner-up Amoretti was a lot more successful as a racehorse winning four races from 20 starts and over $125,000 for his Darby Racing owners when prepared by Gary Portelli.
Amoretti was originally a $90,000 Inglis Classic purchase for Darby Racing De Burgh Equine from the Lucas Bloodstock draft and is a half-brother to Tycoonist from stakes-winner Doubtfilly.