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Fourth time proved a charm for talented Stratum mare Egyptian Symbol when she gave Sydney trainer Bjorn Baker the first leg of a Magic Millions double at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Egyptian Symbol (Stratum x Our Egyptian Raine by Desert Sun) produced a devastating turn of speed from last to win the $1 million Magic Millions Snippets (1200m) after three previous attempts to win a feature on Queensland’s biggest race day.
The six-year-old’s stunning win over Fiery Heights and Dothraki made up for her near misses when third in the Magic Millions Guineas in 2016, sixth in the Magic Millions Fillies and Mares in 2017 and third in last year’s Magic Millions Snippets.Baker secured Egyptian Symbol after she was passed in for $90,000 at the 2014 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale.
“She’s been a stalwart, this is the fourth year she’s been back,” Baker said.“There are a lot of ways to skin a cat but I think I finally got it right. You buy horses at this carnival so you can come back every year and you’re running for a million dollars.”
From last to first!
— January 12, 2019
Egyptian Symbol flies home in the fifth. pic.twitter.com/PWiPR0Thfl
Egyptian Symbol is the seventh foal from champion New Zealand sprinter Our Egyptian Raine, also the dam of Hong Kong G1 placed Strathmore (Fastnet Rock).
Our Egyptian Raine is a half-sister to multiple listed winner Egyptian Ra (Woodborough) and four other winners from six foals to race.She has an unraced 2YO filly by Smart Missile, a yearling by Hinchinbrook and foaled a colt by All Too Hard in 2018. She is now in foal to Headwater.
Baker, who won the 2014 Magic Millions 2YO Classic with Unencumbered, ended with two big wins on Saturday after the Redoute’s Choice five-year-old Redouble won the $1 million Magic Millions Cup.Purchased for $200,000 out of Torryburn Stud’s draft at the 2015 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Redouble (Redoute’s Choice x Special Mission by Towkay) has now won more than $950,000 in prizemoney for connections.
Redouble is one of five winners from the G1 winning mare Special Mission, a member of a prolific black type family.Special Mission has a 2YO Helmet filly and foaled a Palentino colt last year. She is in foal to Fighting Sun.
Baker was a busy buyer on the opening three days of the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale securing at least nine lots including a daughter of Snitzel out of 2013 Magic Millions Classic winner Real Surreal for $450,000.Redouble wins the last on Magic Millions day.
— January 12, 2019
Well timed ride from Craig Williams. pic.twitter.com/3sofjJPVFZ