Month: January 2021

A breakneck tempo and inside alley worked in favour of the Chris Waller-trained Shaquero who became the first colt in five years to salute in the Restricted Listed $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast. Shaquero handed trainer Chris Waller (pictured) his first win in the 2021 $2M Magic Millions 2YO Classic. Photo: Daniel Costello. The multi-million feature had been dominated the past four years by the fillies, but that changed this Queensland Summer Racing Carnival with last spring’s Group 3 Breeders Plate winning son of…

Co-trainer Gai Waterhouse chases her fifth victory in the $2 million The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast on Saturday saddling-up the well-backed favourite Swift Alliance. Trainer Gai Waterhouse chases a fifth Magic Millions 2YO Classic win this Saturday with race favourite Swift Witness. Photo: Daniel Costello. A capacity field of two-year-olds do battle in the lucrative Restricted Listed feature on Magic Millions Day this weekend including the Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained daughter of Star Witness. At a current quote of $4 in the…

Star Perth mare Fabergino again showed her predilection for the Flemington 1000 metres and booked herself a start in the Black Caviar Lightning next month. The big grey mare did exactly what she had done on her previous two wins over the 1000 metres down the Flemington straight which is take the lead from the outset, control the tempo and then fend off any challengers Her trainer Tiarrna Robertson indicated the Group One Black Caviar Lightning on February 13 would be Fabergino’s next start. “She loves the 1000 metres, she…

Aim stunned punters but not co-trainer Paul Snowden when he scored a boilover win in a dramatic Magic Millions Guineas (1400m) at the Gold Coast on Saturday. Overlooked by most punters, Aim ($31) powered clear to win the Guineas by 1-3/4 lengths from Amish Boy ($31) with Away Game ($4.60) 3/4 length away third. The heavily-backed $2.15 favourite Isotope stumbled and dislodged jockey Ryan Maloney early in the home straight before galloping on unharmed past the winning post. Maloney was lucky to escape serious injury but was stood down from…

Chris Waller broke new ground with his first win in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic. Champion trainer Chris Waller broke new ground in his magnificent career when he claimed his first Magic Millions 2YO Classic with Shaquero at the Gold Coast. Ridden by Hugh Bowman, Shaquero ($13) settled just off the speed before hitting the lead soon after straightening and holding a late challenge from Alpine Edge ($8.50) to win by 1-1/4 lengths. She’s All Class ($3.90), a stablemate of Shaquero, ran home strongly to finish third 1-1/4 lengths away.…

Liqueuro ridden by Jamie Kah wins at Flemington. Cindy Alderson’s decision to push Liqueuro out in distance to 2000 metres at his second start paid off with an impressive effort to win at Flemington and in doing so he kept his undefeated record intact. Alderson said Liqueuro always indicated he was going to be a stayer and she even toyed with kicking his career off over 2000 metres. Instead she took the son of Fiorente to Mornington where he won his debut over 1500 metres. “I thought he really did…

It took three years longer than expected but Jonker can finally claim the title of a Magic Millions winner. Ridden by Jim Byrne and starting a $4.80 favourite, Jonker led most of the way to win the Magic Millions Snippets (1200m) by a length from Exhilarates ($8) with Roheryn ($9) a half length away third. As a two-year-old Jonker was one of the leading contenders for the Magic Millions but was severely checked soon after the start and dropped out to finish last to Sunlight. A period in the wilderness…

Trainer Bjorn Baker wasn’t confident watching Harpo Marx. The Bjorn Baker-trained Harpo Marx continued his rich vein of form this preparation with a fast-finishing victory over 2000 metres at Rosehill. The Galileo five-year-old gelding has now had six starts this time in for three wins and two placings and the stable is planning for better races either in the Sydney autumn or in the spring. Harpo Marx ($3.70 fav) produced a withering burst late to run down tearaway leader Vadiyann ($6) by a 1/2 neck with First Courier ($17) a…

Impeccably bred two-year-colt Remarque stamped himself as a legitimate Golden Slipper contender with an arrogant display to win his debut. Remarque’s ability had been on display before his debut with two encouraging trial wins and on the back of that punters sent him out as a $1.40 favourite to win the 1100 metres event at Rosehill. Piloted by Tommy Berry, the Snitzel colt was very green in the straight but proved a class above his opposition and he defeated the Godolphin-trained Zethus ($11) by two lengths with Sing A Love…