WINNO'S WINNERS - GOLD COAST - MAGIC MILLIONS

By Darren Winningham | Thursday, January 16, 2025

The 2025 MAGIC MILLIONS Raceday – with seven races rescheduled for a night of entertainment and amazing racing under the lights after rain wrecked the original race schedule last Saturday. The track is rated ‘Soft’. The rail is in the true position for the entire circuit.

NB: As these selections were made prior to race-day, please check for any changes to track conditions and for any scratchings on the day.

Race 1 QUEENSLAND MAGIC MILLIONS SUBZERO

A race over 2200 metres. Open field – grab a dart and then throw it at the form guide.

Selections:

5 – Belvedere Boys
3 – Gold Bullion
6 – Tannhauser
4 – Miss Joelene
Rough chance – (11) Encoder

Race 2 THE STAR GOLD COAST MAGIC MILLIONS TWO-YEAR-OLD CLASSIC

First leg of the Quaddie. The feature race on the program for the two-year-old runners. First prize is $1.739 million.

I like the team Hawke's trained Gallo Nero (2) to win the race. He resumed with a solid win over 1100 metres and has been freshened since - he looks the ideal runner for this type of race and at $7.00 is a good each way bet. Tyler Schiller will ride.

Icarian Dream is trained by Ciaron Maher. Was an impressive winner at Eagle Farm over 1200 metres last start with Jason Collett in the saddle. The time was slow in the race however he looked like he had plenty up his sleeve. Unfortunately, faces a stiff task from the outside barrier.

Invincible Woman (10) is an Interstate visitor who has had only one start for an impressive win at Caulfield over 1100 metres. She was impressive in a recent barrier trial on this track. That would indicate she has travelled up well and has gone on since her debut win. Damian Lane will ride.

Queensland is well represented by the Tony Golan runner La Bella Boom. She won last time at the Sunshine Coast with Craig Williams aboard. If she can repeat that effort, she will be super competitive here.

Selections:

2 – Gallo Nero
6 – Icarian Dream
10 – Invincible Woman
9 – La Bella Boom
Rough chance – (12) The Playwright

Race 3 MAGIC MILLIONS SNIPPETS

An Open class race over 1200 metres.

This is another tough race on the program. I have found one at $41 each way – Lavish Empire (11). Trained by Peter Snowden and Tyler Schiller will ride. He has a solid first up record and has performed well in two recent trials.

Semana (5) is trained by Ciaron Maher and Damian Lane will ride. She won on this day and track last year – can history repeat itself?

Hard To Say (6) is trained by Jason Deamer with Blake Shinn in the saddle. Last time out raced over 1000 metres at Eagle Farm. They were too slick for him on that occasion. Up to 1200 metres look for a bold effort.

Selections:

11 – Lavish Empire
5 – Semana
6 – Hard To Say
10 – The Novelist
Rough chance – (3) Ready Steady

Race 4 MAGIC MILLIONS CUP

An Open class race over 1400 metres. This race is very tough. I've gone wide and I'm looking for some value.

I think I have found that with Flying Trapeze (8) trained by Gary Portelli. He is second up over a distance that he loves and he is drawn the rails in barrier one with Cecay Graham to ride - $26 each way all day for mine. The other factor that sticks in my mind is he always comes to Queensland and performs exceptionally well.

Charm Stone (6) is trained by Victorians Price & Kent. She has been sent for a spell since racing in the Victorian Carnival in Group races. She does struggle to win on occasions - her last victory was 69 weeks ago, but in saying that she has been trialling well and may just sprint well fresh here. Damian Lane has the ride.

Abounding (2) is trained by Robert Heathcote. This mare won the 2024 Magic Millions Guineas. She has been racing very well and, all things being equal, would be very hard to beat in this race, however, I feel barrier 16 is going to be a difficult assignment to overcome. Martin Harley will ride again.

Perfect Thought (15), trained by John Sergeant, won last start in the restricted grade at Randwick over 1400 metres. He carried 61.5 kilograms on that occasion and drops to 53 kilograms here with Craig Williams in the saddle and is drawn nicely in barrier 7.

Selections:

8 – Flying Trapeze
6 – Charm Stone
16 – Perfect Thought
2 – Abounding
Rough chance – (15) Bel Air & (5) Moravia

Race 5 GOLD COAST MAGIC MILLIONS THREE-YEAR-OLD GUINEAS

First leg of the Treble – An Open class for three-year-olds race over 1400 metres – the second main feature race on this spectacular program. I reckon the NSW trained horses have the race in their keeping here.

I like the Lee & Cherie Curtis trained Bauhinia (14) to be ridden by Tommy Berry. Was the last out winner at Wyong over 1200 metres in sensational time. She does have to step up to 1400 metres for the first time, however the way she races off the speed and finishes off her races very strongly would suggest that she'll have no trouble running this distance right out. There is one prohibitive factor and that is the wide barrier - drawn barrier 20 … so, she will need some luck in the running.

Bosustow (7) Is trained by Neasham Racing with Joshua Parr to ride. He resumed a few weeks ago at Eagle Farm over 1300 metres and got too far back in the running, however finished off the race nicely. On that effort you would suggest that he will strip fitter for the run. If he performs up to his Victorian carnival racing efforts, he should be very hard to hold out here from a nice barrier.

Zoubaby (15) is trained by Freedman Racing. She was second up at Eagle Farm last time out over 1300 metres - she did seem to get a little way back however worked home nicely late in the race. I would not be surprised if, at $61, she could upset this field or at least run a place. Andrew Adkins is a great rider with limited chances – look for him to be throwing everything at her late to get her home.

Selections:

14 – Bauhinia
7– Bosustow
15 – Zoubaby
6 – Snitzanova
Rough chance – (2) Give Me Space

Race 6 TAB MAGIC MILLIONS FILLIES & MARES

A race over 1300 metres – for the fillies and mares.

Revolutionary Miss (1) is by far the best runner in the race with winning stakes money of $1.8 million in the bank. She is trained by Ciaron Maher and Mark Zahra will ride. She has drawn well in barrier 3.

Another Victorian trained runner is Miss Roumbini (6) is trained by Price & Kent with Ethan Brown riding. She has won over 1400 metres and is a last start winner at Ballarat last time out over 1200 metres.

Anahita (8) is a Chris Waller trained mare who is second up. Strong second up form with Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle. She has a terrible barrier – barrier 17 will need some luck.

Selections:

1 – Revolutionary Miss
8 – Anahita
6 – Miss Roumbini
5 – Bubba’s Bay
Rough chance – (13) Left Field

Race 7 RACING QLD MAGIC MILLIONS OPEN

An Open class race over 1300 metres. Hopefully we are all cashed up come this race.

I like the Matthew Dunn trained Boom Torque (6) with Blake Shinn to ride. He resumed in a Listed race over 1200 metres at Eagle Farm last time out and got too far back in the running. He worked home nicely. He has an exceptional second up record and with that in mind and his good form on this track he does appeal.

Gollan Racing is well represented with two genuine chances in the race. Skirt The Law (12) and Hidden Wealth (3).

Find Your Own (7) is trained on the track by Scott Morrissey. He has been winning over shorter distances, however he has some ability and the trainer has a high opinion of this runner. He will probably ping the gates and race to a forward position. There is no better frontrunning rider in Australia than Tim Clark who was being booked to ride him.

Cifrado (2) trained by Rex Lipp is not without an each-way chance.

Selections:

6 – Boom Torque
7 – Find Your Own
12 – Skirt The Law
3 – Hidden Wealth
Rough chance – (2) Cifrado
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Jockeys Challenge

Looks like an open battle with all the interstate jockeys in town – Tommy Berry, Craig Williams, Damian Lane, Jason Collett, Tim Clark and Blake Shinn. Looks like a narrow win to Blake Shinn.

Early Quaddie (races 1 to 4)

3,5,6 / 2,6,9,10 / 5,6,10,11 / 6,8,16 - cost is $144 to $1.

Value Early Quaddie (races 1 to 4)

5 / 2,6 / 5,6,11 / 6,8 - cost is $12 to $1

Quaddie (races 4 to 7)

6,8,16 / 6,7,14,15/ 1,6,8 / 3,6,7 - cost is $108 to $1

Value Quaddie (races 4 to 7)

6,8 / 7,14,15 / 1,8 / 6,7 - cost is $24 to $1

Treble (races 5 to 7)

6,7,14,15 / 1,6,8 / 3,6,7 - cost is $36 to $1.

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