UNIT FIVE UPSTAGES THEM ALL IN THE $3 MILLION TWO-YEAR-OLD CLASSIC. MAHER SADDLES THE QUINELLA
By Graham Potter | Saturday, January 17, 2026
Trainer Ciaron Maher made merry at the rich Magic Millions meeting at the Gold Coast. On Saturday.
The gun trainer saddled the quinella in the $3 million Magic Millions Two-Year-Old Classic with Unit Five and Tornado Valley … he won the $1 million Magic Millions Subzero with Snitzanova … and his runners finished first (Axius) and third (Scampi) in the $1 million Magic Millions Snippets.
In the big one, the Two-Year-Old Classic, Unit Five, who had won the Magic Millions Victoria 2YO Classic at Caulfield by a dominant 2.50 length margin on debut, stepped up again, again striking in commanding fashion to remain undefeated with two wins from two starts.
The son of Stupido, an $80 000 purchase, who had won a trial when shown the Gold Coast track on January 5, started on the fourth line of betting at $8 behind the favourite Zip Lock ($3.30), the second favourite and Unit Five’s stable companion Tornado Valley ($4.40) and Shiki ($6.50).
As in Unit Five’s debut run, Thomas Stockdale was in the saddle and, while the horse was a star, Stockdale’s ride after Unit Five has made an ordinary start, was exceptional and was one of the prime factors in Until Five landing the result.
Stockdale brought Unit Five across to find the rail in the early part, but he was racing a full eight lengths back then as Itchintogo ($12) set a lively target up front, racing two lengths ahead of Togroni ($31) with the pack a further two lengths behind that.
The field closed up quickly in the sweep to the home turn and Itchintogo had horses coming at him from all sides on straightening and the early leader was a spent force soon after that.
Damian Lane had cut the corner on Double Cool and the $61 bolter, who had only qualified for the race a week earlier, surged into the lead coming through the 300m mark, but there were still challenges aplenty as Tornado Valley and By Choice ($11) loomed as dangers to the outside of the new leader.
Little did these runners know than that they would all soon only be chasing for the minor placings because Stockdale had now got to work on Unit Five.
Full article
|