Godolphin Strike With First Runner in MM 2yo Classic

Mark Smith - Saturday January 12

The $2million Magic Millions 2yo Classic proved a triumph for Godolphin who made it's first foray to the Magic Millions in 2018 and came away with the winner Exhilarates.

Given a cold ride by Kerrin McEvoy, the James Cummings-trained filly came from the back of the field to overpower the Not A Single Doubt colt Dubious by three-quarters of a length with a half neck back to the Written Tycoon gelding Hightail in third. (photos Steve Hart ). 


The royally-bred daughter of Snitzel and the top-class Samaready clocked in as the sixth most expensive lot by her sire at last years Magic Millions but she has earned her $600,000 purchase price back with interest with two wins and two seconds from five starts netting $1,313,750.

It has been a meteoric rise for the filly who failed to beat a runner home at her first start at Rosehill back on November 10.

"This has been a tremendous effort by the whole team," Cummings told AAP.


"You are seeing a far different horse from the filly who was beaten at Rosehill at her first start.

"But that is the case with many of our young horses as we don't rush them early in the season and around Christmas, they start coming into their own."

"She got up here early and then had to win last week to get into the field.

"It was important because she got a look at the track and it helped her fitness.

"I obviously learned a lot from Bart who was a very good two-year-old trainer as well as everything else.

"But I have also learned from watching my father Anthony, Gai Waterhouse and Peter Snowden.

"We indicated we would be joining the market and we have signalled our arrival."

Bred by Vinery Stud, Exhilarates is the first named foal of Samaready whose six wins from 13 starts included the Group 1 MRC Blue Diamond Stakes in 2012 and Group 1 MVRC AJ Moir Stakes the following year.


The daughter of More Than Ready (USA) has a yearling colt by All Too Hard. After slipping in 2017, Samaready was one of 206 mares to visit Yarraman Park Stud's I Am Invincible last spring.

Exhilarates broke new ground for Snitzel (photo Mark Smith) in the Magic Millions 2yo Classic.

He tasted success for the first time in the valuable race while Samaready's sire More Than Ready (USA) won the race in 2008 with Augusta Proud and with Phelan Ready the following year.

With Snitzel's son Bondi nosed out in the $2million Magic Millions Guineas, Exhilarates may have delivered the hammer blow to I Am Invincible in the race for Champion Sire.

I Am Invincible tasted success on the day with his daughter Invincibella going back to back in the $1 million MM Fillies & Mares but the gap is widening and Snitzel continues to power on with doubles at Randwick and Flemington adding up to a massive payday.


 

Advertisment
More Reading...
Storm Boy Headed to Ireland
Coolmore have today announced via Twitter that top class Justify (USA) colt Storm Boy will be continuing his racing career in Ireland in 2025 under the care of Aidan O’Brien.
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.
$2.2 Million Daughter of Snitzel Sets a New Mark for a Filly
Snitzel hit another home run when Arrowfield Stud’s filly from the Group 1 Willian Reid Stakes winner Silent Sedition set a new benchmark for a filly when knocked down to Hawkes Racing for $2,200,000.
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.
Magic Nick Strikes Again – Fastnet Rock x Galileo
The Fastnet Rock x Galileo nick has been on fire in Melbourne this spring producing Cox Plate winner Via Sistina (IRE) and leading Melbourne Cup contender Buckaroo (GB) and it struck again overnight in the UK with a brand new stakes-winner in Military Academy, who captured the Listed Floodlit Stakes (1m4f) at Kempton.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
Cometh the Hour, Cometh the Man – Shinzo Rises to Golden Slipper Triumph
Widely regarded as the most open Golden Slipper for years, the $5million high octane dash at Rosehill on Saturday delivered drama and delight as champion trainer Chris Waller collected his first Golden Slipper trophy with a homebred colt for Coolmore trained to the minute.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
Snitzel's Away Game Sizzles to Massive Payday in MM Classic
Luke Currie won a second The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) in three years when emerging filly Away Game stunned her rivals in Saturday’s $2 million contest at the Gold Coast.
Melbourne Cup Pedigree Analysis - Do It Yourself
Breednet has produced a great page with click through to five generation pedigrees for all the Melbourne Cup runners, so for amateur pedigree buffs looking to have a Cup flutter based pedigree here’s your chance  to DIY it!