QUEENSLAND RUNNERS FIND THE POT OF GOLD AT THE END OF THE MAGIC MILLIONS RAINBOW

By Graham Potter | Sunday, January 13, 2013

There might have been only a very small percentage of Queensland-bred horses listed in the 2013 Magic Millions sales catalogue, but out on the track on the Gold Coast’s biggest race-day of the year two Queensland trained horses, Real Surreal and Saluter took out the two million dollar plus feature races on the Magic Millions card.

It might be racing restricted to Magic Millions sales graduates but, for the winning connections in particular and for the racing industry in the state in general, it was still a huge win on a very large stage.

THE REAL SURREAL SAGA

For twenty-five years it was the result that got away but, at the Gold Coast on Saturday Kelso Wood eventually got his Magic Millions win courtesy of his new star turn, Real Surreal, who stormed home in convincing fashion to earn the richest stake payout in Queensland’s racing history when landing the Magic Millions Two-Year-Old classic.

For Wood, the hurt at Prince Regent’s removal from first place after protest back in 1988 has been palpable and has hardly lessened over the years.

Mention that decision and his response is entirely unambiguous. Suffice to say, he saw it as an injustice at the time and a costly one at that, given the healthy kick-along that the stable would have enjoyed from such a success at that time.

Wood went into the Magic Millions day having two real chances of claiming a Millions victory, but when Sizzling struck some trouble from a wide draw in the Three-Year-Old Guineas and failed to get up by less than a quarter-of-a-length, the stable’s 2013 hopes rested on the filly Real Surreal, who had only secured her place in the line-up with a victory at Eagle Farm a week earlier.

Wood expected the Real Saga filly to be coming down the outside as Sizzling had done, but Michael Cahill found himself positioned closer to the rail with horses spread out in front of him.

“I came out a little bit coming to the turn,” said Cahill. “I was able to improve into a better position. Then I saw a little bit of an opening. It was about half a run ahead of me, just as she was gathering steam and fortunately it opened fully just as I got to it. She burst through and I was very confident from there on in.”

By that stage the Gai Waterhouse trained Sweet Idea was the target to be shot down and Real Surreal took aim and blasted her away over the concluding stages to score a famous victory.

Not only had Wood re-captured an honour that was taken away from him all that time ago but the Racing Women Incentive’s additional bonus payout meant that the connections of Real Surreal walked away with biggest first place cheque paid out in Queensland.

Real Surreal's $1 140,000 first prize was boosted by a $350,000 cheque as part of the Magic Millions Racing Women incentive, meaning the race was worth 1 490,000 to the winner.

Real Surreal was bred by Beijing Olympic equestrian rider Peter McMahon and his wife Michelle Lang-McMahon. When the filly failed to meet the $75,000 reserve at last year's sale Michelle put together an all-female ownership team which saw her joined as co-owners by her mother Glenys Lang and Holly Williams – hence their eligibility for the bonus payout.

Wood simply glowed with pride at the achievement. Cahill stood tall in the saddle all the way back to the unsaddling enclosure.

Real Surreal, in spite it being only her fourth start, took it all in her stride like a seasoned professional … and, in her victory speech, co-owner Michelle Lang-McMahon humbly thanked the entire team for making it all happen.

For the winner's feedback report on Real Surreal go to Real Surreal 1

For reports on Saluter's win go to Saluter 1
and Saluter 2