YELLOW BRICK TAKES THE LION'S SHARE OF THE MAGIC MILLIONS 3YO GUINEAS WOMAN'S RACING BONUS

By Graham Potter | Friday, January 20, 2023

Yellow Brick might have been an unlucky loser in many people’s eyes following the running of the $2 million Magic Millions Guineas at the Gold Coast on January 19.

Some would say, ‘a tragedy beaten.’ Others would counter with a simple, ‘that’s racing’ ... and that would normally be that.

But, even though Yellow Brick finished second, the connections of the well performed son of The Mission still had one task to complete before they could move on, namely they had to attend a post-race presentation to receive the lion’s share of the Woman’s Racing Bonus, a ten-year-old Magic Millions initiative which pays out bonus prize-money to the connections of the first four eligible ... that is all female owned (or leased) horses ... in finishing order for both the $2 million Magic Millions Two-Year-Old Classic and the $2m Magic Millions three-year-old Guineas.

That’s right ... wherever they finish. For example, the 2022 Woman’s Racing Bonus winner for the Guineas, Glorious Ruby, finished as far back as eighth ... but that’s another story.

The bonus for the Three-Year-Old Guineas is half the amount on offer for the Two-Year-Old Classic ... but that still is a whopping $250 000 in total with the breakdown being (as set out by Magic Millions):

1st – $162,500 plus trophy of $1,500, 2nd – $50,000, 3rd -$25,000, 4th -$12,500; subject to Trainer and Jockey deductions. If less than four (4) eligible horses compete in the MM 3YO Guineas, any unused Bonus prizemoney will be distributed evenly between the Bonus eligible horses that finish the race.

Yellow Brick’s storming second place thus not only earned his connections the $360 000 from the race prize-money distribution, but the added bonus of $162 500 took his Guineas run earnings to $522 500.

Whichever way you look at it, that is a fantastic return.
For all of that though, it remained only natural that, in the immediate aftermath of the race, Yellow Brick’s runner-up finish was tingled with a tangible disappointment ... on two fronts.

Just winning the race would have been something very special for Yellow Brick’s connections. That looked a distinct possibility when Yellow Brick attacked the line late, and the near miss momentarily left co-trainer Maddysen Sears somewhat shell-shocked as the runners returned to scale.

It was almost as if she didn’t know whether to laugh or to cry. The extreme mix of emotions ... which clearly also included absolute pride in Yellow Brick’s performance ... was clearly difficult to beat.

Racing will do that to you.

An added bit of pain came in the fact that the difference in prize-money between first and second was $1 170 000 to that $360 000 ... a no small matter of $810 000 ... but its never been all about the money ... as the Sears camp’s rejection of big money offers to purchase Yellow Brick in the build-up to the Guineas ... and before that.

In years to come though, the photographs displayed here (on the right of this page) will provide a reminder of what was won ... more than what was lost .. on what will forever remain an extraordinary day at the races for all of those involved with Yellow Brick.

Trainers Tony, Maddysen and Leigh Sears are proud of Yellow Brick, but they should also be proud of themselves for the manner in which they turned their three-year-old star out for the Magic Millions Guineas, in particular, and for the astute way they have guided his career in general.

While nothing is guaranteed in racing, the scary possibility exists that, as a three-year-old with only seven starts under his belt (for five wins and two second placings), Yellow Brick might only just be warming up.

Whatever happens form-wise, the sure bet is that, in the immediate future at least, those offers to purchase Yellow Brick are sure to keep coming in because the bottom line is that his superb effort in the Guineas would only have enhanced his value.

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