With the $500,000 Inglis Nursery taking centre stage at Randwick on Saturday, Magic Millions contenders had to look further afield with impressive debut winners at Kembla and Morphettville no doubt harbouring dreams of a trip to the Gold Coast next month.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained colt Bartley was backed as though unbeatable in the 1000 metre juvenile at Kembla and the son of Written Tycoon delivered the goods in impressive fashion.
He powered clear to win by more than three lengths in a brisk 57.27 seconds.
A $660,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Arrowfield draft for China Horse Club/Newgate Bloodstock, Bartley runs in the China Horse Club colours for a big syndicate of bloodstock investors.
Bred by Arrowfield in partnership, he is the first foal of metro winning Flying Spur mare Rationality, a full sister to triple Group I winner Mentality.
Arrowfield will offer the current yearling from Rationality, a colt by Shalaa (IRE), as Lot 671 at the Magic Millions 2020.
The Tony and Calvin McEvoy stable also unleashed a Magic Millions contender at Morphettville where Spirit of Boom filly Bribery scored by half a length on debut over 1050m.
A $110,000 JHB Syndications purchase from the Magic Millions draft of Eureka Stud, Bribery runs for an all ladies syndicate put together by James Harron Bloodstock.
Bribery is the third winner from three to race from Hold for Ransom, a half-sister by Oratorio (IRE) to Group III winner Benny’s Buttons and Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Real Surreal.
She becomes the fourth two year-old winner this season for Spirit of Boom.