GOLD COAST REVIEW 2 (SAT, JAN 10)

This is the second part of a two-part review of the Magic Millions Raceday held at the Gold Coast on Saturday, January 10.

A Queensland victory in the $2 million Magic Millions 2yo Classic was the highlight of the day’s racing. Phelan Ready’s performance was truly outstanding, as was the way in which he was primed to perfection by co-trainers Bruce and Jason McLachlan.

Two moves won and lost the race.

When Jockey Jason Holder guided Phelan Ready into the clear on the outside shortly after entering the straight, it created a winning opportunity. Phelan Ready was still that far back most counted him out of contention, but now he had the chance to stretch out in uninterrupted fashion – and boy did he stretch out!

As Phelan Ready charged home, the favourite Paprika led into the final 100m, but her tough run was starting to take its toll and she began shift off a straight line, running away from the whip. The move was only marginal at first, but then became more pronounced. The previously unbeaten filly tried ever so gamely to grab the victory that was beckoning her, but her outward movement meant that it took just that little bit longer to get to the line than she would have done if keeping a straight course. That would prove to be a costly factor in the outcome, as Phelan Ready arrived just in time to trump her effort and claim victory.

So it was that one move into the clear and another move off a straight line dictated the final result.

In the $1 million Magic Millions 3yo Trophy, jockey Darren Gauci called on all of his experience to get a mentally out of sorts Tempest Tost home for trainer Gary White. The filly gave Gauci plenty of headaches from the barriers to the post, but her ability and Gauci’s calm influence was enough to earn the filly the big prize.

In the third major feature race, trainer Bryan Guy was very emotional when Masai Pride (Paul Hammersley) prevailed in a pressurised finish to take out the Magic Millions Cup. The grey was just setting the record straight after being narrowly beaten in the same race in 2007.


Race 6:

$1 Million Magic Millions 3YO Trophy - 1400m.
1st - Tempest Tost; 2nd - Rock Kingdom; 3rd - Jazz Heart

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Gary White: “This is just an amazing dream. I’m just so proud and so pleased for Geoff Harper and the family at Seahorse Management (the owners of Tempest Tost). You know, for them to stick by me and give me the opportunity to train a great filly like this ... you know, having the confidence in me to let me take the horse all around Australia. In discussing things, we decided to go this way (to the Gold Coast), and I jokingly said that I could tan up as much as anybody else ... so to be here is just amazing. I also need to thank Kelly Doughty and Gary Doughty for the great hospitality they gave us. I’m just overwhelmed. I’m so stoked.”

Jockey Darren Gauci: “I was more concerned about my horse than anything that was happening around me, because she was in a funny mood. She played up behind the barriers. She is never generally like that and she did get herself all wound up in a bad sweat. I thought she probably doesn’t want to do it today. The first thing you think is that something’s up.
“She didn’t begin as well as she normally does because she’d been playing up in the barriers. When I didn’t see anything go forward early, I thought I’d ride her up into a forward position and sort it out from there and, hopefully, a couple would go around me. Nothing went around us and we actually cantered. I didn’t want to be a leader. We got soft sectionals and I was surprised how slow we were going. She still didn’t really settle. She was a bit wayward. Every now and then she wanted to get on her other leg and run off the track a bit.
“When the leader kicked on the turn they put a good length on me, but I knew she’d keep coming. I wasn’t worried about the leader. I was just worried about my horses focus. Once she got her act together and got on the right leg she knuckled down and won well. I’ve ridden her four times for three wins. She is just so honest and tough. The harder you ride her the faster she tries to go. She’s just got better and better every race. I think she could go on to be a nice Group filly. It was a very good effort.”

Jockey Damien Oliver (rider of the runner-up, Rock Kingdom): “It was an excellent run. I would have liked a bit more room in the straight. I just got squeezed when I was going for my run, but he finished full of running. He’s an exciting horse.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Express Air (J. Holder) jumped away awkwardly. Chilled (B. Pengelly) jumped away awkwardly, shifted in and made contact with Silvern (B. Rawiller). Shortly after the start Jazz Heart (S. Scriven) and Rock Kingdom (D. Oliver) were tightened for room between Complete Control (D. Yendall) and Bhutane Dane (M. Rodd) which after blundering shifted out. Near the 1100m Adnocon (K. Pope) had to be steadied to avoid the heels of Rock Kingdom which shifted in. D. Oliver the rider of Rock Kingdom was reprimanded in this incident. Near the 1000m Chilled which was racing ungenerously got its head in the air and shifted out hampering Express Air. Near the 900m Feisty Manner (J. Bowditch) had to be steadied to avoid the heels of Tempest Tost (D. Gauci) which shifted in slightly. When the pace steadied approaching the 700m Bhutane Dane improved quickly to the inside of Feisty Manner (J. Bowditch) which when being steadied shifted out slightly. Passing the 700m Feisty Manner which was taken in slightly by Black Minx (S. Seamer) shifted back in placing Bhutane Dane and Belle Soleil (G. Schofield) in restricted room for some distance. Both S. Seamer and J. Bowditch were both reprimanded. Black Minx, Cat D’ Antibes (L. Cassidy), Jazz Heart and Complete Control (D. Yendall) all raced wide for the majority of the event. Near the 500m Feisty Manner which was racing ungenerously shifted in slightly taking Bhutane Dane in onto Belle Soleil which had to be steadied. Bhutane Dane had difficulty obtaining clear running rounding the home turn and in the early stages of the straight. Rock Kingdom had difficulty obtaining clear running rounding the home turn and in the straight until passing the 100m. Passing the 100m Black Minx had to be steadied when tightened for room between Complete Control and Rock Kingdom which shifted out to obtain clear running. Jazz Heart lost an off hind plate in running.


Race 7:

$2 Million Magic Millions 2YO Classic - 1200m.
1st - Phelan Ready; 2nd - Paprika; 3rd - Motown Lady

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Co-trainer Bruce McLachlan: “It’s great to win this race. This is the third time I’ve won it and it’s the best of the lot of them. I have great luck with the Magic Millions. It’s my sale. It’s been fantastic for me.
“He was a Maiden going into the race, but his two runs prior to this weren’t in Maidens. They were in good open races. He’s run in good company. He just got a nice, troublesome run. It was very hard to see him try to pick them up, but we decided not to chase him and ride him quiet – and it worked out alright. I actually thought it might be a bit short for him ... yet, here he is today, winning the Magic Millions.
“I’d like to thank Jason, my son and training partner. We work together. We haven’t had many fights so far, but then he’s only been in for three months. It is also my wife’s sixtieth birthday today. We’re very happy about that. She’ll be delighted.”

Co-trainer Jason McLachlan: “Mate, this is the first season of my dad and I in partnership and to win this is just unbelievable. I got to thank dad. We work together. We bounce off each other. I’ve got a few new ideas and he’s just steady as a rock. He’s been through it all before. This horse has promised so much. He can reel off sensational sectionals on the track. After Doomben the other day (when Paprika beat Phelan Ready by 6.60 lengths) I walked away disappointed wondering where do we go from here, but dad said we would press on to the race and if he qualifies, we run.
“We told Jason (Holder) to ride him quiet and to use his own discretion. He really found the line. It’s great. A lot of work has gone into this and full credit to the old man. He never stopped believing in this horse. It was actually good that nobody talked about the horse much during the week. I couldn’t believe it. I said to the staff we’d be going into this race as underdogs. We’ve got no pressure on us. He definitely did his best work when he got into open space. I don’t think he likes being cluttered up and when he got to the outside, he was really able to produce his best. It’s just so good to be here.”

Jockey Jason Holder: “He travelled really well for me. Obviously entering the straight I was well back. At that stage I thought the favourite ... I thought I couldn’t beat her. My horse was under a bit of pressure and I just had to keep encouraging him to attack the line. It wasn’t until I was able to give him a bit of room, then he stretched out nicely. I was going well then and the horse underneath me felt like he had more to give. At one stage I thought I’d run a nice third you know, but then they just kept coming back to me ... they just kept coming back to me and I thought, ‘geez, I’m a chance ... I’m a chance.’ My horse was running nice and true and Paprika just started to roll off a bit in the closing stages. Then suddenly we were at the line and I’d won.
“I’d just like to publically thank Bruce and Jason for giving me their support. This horse has been a bit dodgy the last couple of starts ... not dodgy. She’s been a bit green and I appreciate the fact that the owners and the trainers have stuck by me.”

Holder was fined $500,00 for giving a celebratory gesture prior to the winning post. The gesture had nothing on Holder’s victory scream (as he crossed the line) which must have woken up anybody dozing in the neighbouring suburbs.

Jockey Shane Scriven (rider of runner-up Paprika): “Yeah, her run was full of merit. We thought we had a good draw, but we ended up being stuck three deep. I wanted to ride her like a good thing but I didn’t want to lead to the turn. I travelled good. She zipped to the front. Battled it out. One got home over the top of her. It’s unfortunate you know. She tried her heart out and I don’t think she’ll lose any admirers.”

Congratulations too to trainer Bruce Hill who gave them all a fright with Motown Girl who came home with a flourish under an aggressive ride from Paul Hammersley. During the last fortnight, while everybody was trying to qualify their horses for the big race, the Hill stable flew pretty much under the radar, yet the quiet achiever ended up with two runners in the race. It was a big effort getting there and an even bolder one in the race itself.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Trainer B. Baldwin reported to stewards that Racing Pegasus had a pulse in its foot overnight and had been examined by his veterinary and passed fit to start. Racing Pegasus was further examined by the Club's veterinary surgeon who passed the filly fit to start. Powerful Light which was fractious in the tie up stall prior to the race was examined by the Club's veterinary surgeon who reported the filly had sustained abrasions to the off hind and near hind pasterns. Powerful Light was then passed fit to start.
Shadow Assassin (D. Oliver) was tightened for room on jumping away between Paprika (S. Scriven) which shifted out and Horizons (C. Williams) which shifted in. Paprika, Carlton Forward (L. Nolen), Powerful Light (App M. Palmer) and Our Dreaming (J. Cassidy) were all wide for the majority of the event. Near the 700m Horizons improved up onto the heels of Motown Lady (P. Hammersley) and had to be steadied. Near the 300m Big Tony (D. Nikolic) shifted out and bumped the hind quarters of Double Heart (J. Taylor). Near the 300m Shadow Assassin had to be steadied to avoid the heels of Fairchild (B. Pengelly) which shifted out to improve. Shadow Assassin then had difficulty obtaining clear running for a short distance. B. Pengelly the rider of Fairchild was reprimanded and reminded of his obligations. Passing the 300m Fairchild shifted out and bumped Horizons. Passing the 250m Big Tony and Double Heart were obliged to race in restricted room to the inside of Motown Lady. Over the concluding stages Paprika shifted out under pressure taking Phelan Ready (J. Holder) wider on the track. J. Holder the rider of Phelan Ready was fined the sum of $300.00 under the provisions of AR137(c) for making a celebratory gesture prior to the winning post. Moonlight Hussey lost a near-fore plate in running. A post race veterinary examination of Moonlight Hussey revealed the filly to be shin sore in the near fore leg. A post race veterinary examination of Koblenz revealed the filly to be lame in the near front leg. Trainer G. Portelli will be advised that Koblenz will require a veterinary clearance before again racing.


Race 8:

Magic Millions Cup Quality Handicap - 1400m.
1st - Masai Pride; 2nd - Black Piranha; 3rd - Voice Commander

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Bryan Guy: “I can’t talk now mate, I’ve run out of breath. Mate this is sensational. You know for the Forsyth family ... Jimmy and his wife Betty. They’ve been in this place for forty years and to win this race for them is something unbelievable. My wife is sitting at home. She owns a third of it so I’ll be sweet at home. We bred him as well mate. We bred him. For us to win a race like this on out home track ... and for (jockey) Paul Hammersley. He was in a beautiful spot. Paul rode him absolutely fantastic. He’s a bit of an old bugger to ride, but Paul did a great job. Pauls’ ... my foreman Scott is Paul’s father so it is a real, in-house, family affair.
“Potentially the horse could have been anything but we couldn’t get the bugger to jump. All he did was stand in the barriers and miss the kick five, ten lengths and then run seconds and thirds. We tried everything with him and nothing seemed to work. Today, he just put his mind on the job. He jumped, lobbed himself up there. I tell you it was an unbelievable win.
“As I’ve said before and I’ll say it again ... to win this for Jimmy and Betty Forsyth is just so good. They’ve been in the game for forty years and have always been with one stable. You don’t get that these days.”

Owner Jimmy Forsyth: “I can tell you that on this day two years ago, this horse was the most unlucky horse in Queensland when he should have won this race. He got narrowly beaten (by Warrior Trader) but he has made up for that error today.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Jockey D. McLellan the rider of Walking Or Dancing was found guilty of a charge of careless riding under AR137(a) in that near the 900m he allowed his mount to shift in taking Encroacher (D. Yendall) in onto Gatakers Bay (T. Treichel) which when tightened had to be checked. D. McLellan's licence to ride in races was suspended for a period of 7 meetings to commence immediately and expire midnight 23 January 2009. In addition stewards imposed a monetary fine of $500.00.
Encroacher was hampered on jumping away between Albert The Fat (D. Nikolic) and Voice Commander (D. Oliver) both of which shifted ground. Regal Castanea (S. Galloway) over-raced in the early stages. Rounding the first turn Light Red (G. Schofield) hung out taking Black Piranha (C. Williams) wider on the track. The Big Easy (J. Taylor) and Light Red raced wide for the majority of the event. Rounding the home turn Black Piranha shifted out around the heels of Regal Castanea to improve and in doing so forced Light Red wider on the track. Near the 450m Vocalic (S. Seamer) had to be checked when tightened for room between Mr Slick (C. Brown) which shifted out to improve and Albert The Fat (D. Nikolic) which shifted in. Both C. Brown and D. Nikolic were reprimanded. Shortly after straightening Regal Castanea improved up onto the heels of The Big Easy and had to be checked. Over the concluding stages Mitanni (J. Holder) was placed in restricted room between Walking Or Dancing and Black Piranha which shifted in. C. Williams the rider of Black Piranha was advised to exercise more care.


Race 9

Magic Millions Class 6 Plate - 1200m.
1st - Zero Rock; 2nd - Morning Colours; 3rd - Manila Calling

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Jockey Brad Pengelly did it tough in the week leading up to the Magic Millions meeting in order to ride the Kelso Wood trained Zero Rock at 52.5kg, but the effort proved to be worthwhile and Pengelly’s faith in the filly proved to be spot on as Zero Rock simply toyed with her opposition to claim her fifth win from only six starts in untroubled fashion. After her previous success at Eagle Farm, Pengelly was frustrated by the fact that the filly didn’t stay the 1400m trip of the $1 million Magic Millions 3yo Trophy as he thought that she otherwise had all the attributes to tackle a race of that nature. That might have been too hard. This was too easy. The money was as good as in the bank long before the filly crossed the line.

Zero Rock was the third winner on the day to set a New Race Record. The filly recorded a time of 1-08.99 to lower the time set by The Big Easy by 0,57 seconds.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Unintentional (R. McMahon) and Prince Vilhelm (J. Cassidy) which were both fractious in the barriers were examined by the Club's veterinary surgeon and passed fit to start. When being fractious Prince Vilhelm pulled the off front plate and given the time restraints the farrier removed the other front plate.
Love Hit Me (R. Mason) was slow to begin. Near the 700m Mr Unforgettable (D. Nikolic) laid out onto the heels of Periander (J. Taylor) which had to be steadied. Near the 600m Mr Unforgettable improved up onto the heels of Kirra Lyn (App M. Palmer) and had to be steadied. Release Me (G. Schofield), Stella Command (C. Williams) and Utterly Fantastic (D. Yendall) all raced wide throughout.
P. Hammersley the rider of Morning Colours pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding under AR137(a) in that near the 300m he permitted his mount to shift out when insufficiently clear of Mr Unforgettable, which resulted in that horse being checked. P. Hammersley's licence to ride in races was suspended for a period of 7 meetings to commence immediately and expire midnight 23 January 2009. In addition stewards imposed a monetary fine of $500.00.
A post race veterinary examination of Unintentional revealed the horse to have abrasions on the forehead. A post race veterinary examination of Prince Vilhelm failed to reveal any abnormality.


Race 10:

Magic Millions Country Cup - 1400m.
1st - Centover; D/Heat 2nd - Havayarn and Beautiful Timing

WINNER FEEDBACK:
The Toby Edmonds trained gelding sat well off the pace all the way to the turn. On straightening, jockey Scott Galloway switched Centover widest of all the runners, allowing him an uninterrupted run to the line. The five-year-old responded well to make up ground rapidly on the leaders. He charged into contention inside the final 200m and had to keep finding as he was forced to slug it out in a pressurised final chase to the line. The result sparked a lively celebration by owners in the grandstand whose expressions, as they descended the stairs to meet their winner, alternated between outright joy and pure disbelief, summing up the magic of horse ownership. You can’t buy that feeling.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Blow The Bugle (S. Scriven) jumped away awkwardly. Kalinga Steel (App M. Palmer) was slow to begin. Near the 1100m Manston (D. Nikolic) which was over-racing shifted in and bumped Dardan (T. Treichel). A short distance later Manston had to be steadied to avoid the heels of Havayarn which shifted in. Beautiful Timing (G. Schofield) which was following improved up onto the heels of Manston and shifted in abruptly and hampered Dance At Midnight (R. Thompson). Approaching the 1000m Prince Cashe (S. Thurlow) which was over-racing had to be steadied when momentarily tightened for room by Blow The Bugle (S. Scriven) which shifted in. Near the 300m Dance At Midnight which had been disappointed for a run between Sir Teles (R. Wiggins) and Dardan had to be checked when further tightened for room by Dardan, which was taken out by Havayarn (G. Colless) which shifted out abruptly off the heels of Educated (L. Cassidy). G. Colless was severely reprimanded. Passing the 300m Blow The Bugle and Beautiful Timing came together.

STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY EXTRACT:
Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses:
Pre-Race Horses swabbed.
All runners pre-race tested.

Post- Race Horses swabbed
All winners plus Soulima, Ashraf, Swift Sands, Mfuwe, Insistence, Jazz Heart, Rock Kingdom, Paprika, Motown Lady, Black Piranha, Voice Commander, Morning Colours, Beautiful Timing, and Havayarn.