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Wyong Magic Millions Perfect Step To The Gold Coast

3 minute read

Interstate stables are planning to target the Wyong Magic Millions meeting on December 22 in a bid to qualify their two-year-olds for the $2 million Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast next month.

Unencumbered wins the 2013 Wyong Magic Millions
Unencumbered wins the 2013 Wyong Magic Millions Picture: Steve Hart

The $200,000 Wyong MM Classic (1000m) is a proven path to the Gold Coast feature on January 14.

Last year’s Wyong winner Capitalist went on to win the Gold Coast Classic and the Golden Slipper while Unencumbered made it a Wyong-Gold Coast double in 2013/14 and Karuta Queen won both races in 2010/11..

Earlier Wyong Magic Millions winners include top class colts Not A Single Doubt and Snitzel.

This year Wyong Classic meeting also features the $100,000 Magic Millions Stakes (1200m) for three and four year olds and has been pushed back a week to provide an ideal three weeks lead in to the Gold Coast carnival.

Victoria’s Lindsay Park stable under David Hayes, Tom Dabernig and Ben Hayes has penciled in Wyong as the final stepping stone for the brilliant youngster Madeenaty while Gold Coast trainer Liam Birchley is planning to send Sista Act to Wyong in a bid to accumulate enough prize money.

Madeenaty won the Listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes at Flemington in October and then ran third behind Invincible Star in the G3 Ottawa Stakes also at Flemington before being given a freshen up.

“Wyong will be her next start then she will go to the Gold Coast,” Tom Dabernig said.

“She got caught on the wrong side of the track at her last start and the horse that ran fourth came and out at its next start and won the Merson Cooper.”

Sista Act won a Sunshine Coast maiden last Friday and is one of several horses Birchley is trying to qualify for the Gold Coast.

“She does not have enough prize money and I don’t even think winning a Saturday race in Brisbane will be enough,” Birchley said.

“There are some stakes races in Brisbane but I might slip her down to Wyong.

“She has her share of pace and should be suited by the track.”

Birchley has never won the Gold Coast Classic but he has a fair idea of what it takes with several minor placings including Paprika which ran a close second in 2009 to Phelan Ready.

South Australia’s Tony McEvoy is also considering the Wyong Classic for the unraced A Thousand Degrees. The youngster will trial at Rosehill on Tuesday.

“It is a possibility he will go to Wyong but I will make a decision after he trials,” McEvoy said.

There are 268 first acceptors for the Magic Millions Classic with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott leading the way with 27 of their youngsters still eligible.

Former champion jockey Chris Munce has 20 first acceptors followed by Lindsay Park with 14, Robert Smerdon (12), Tony Gollan (11) and Chris Waller (8).

Waterhouse has used the Wyong Magic Millions as a stepping stone to the Gold Coast almost every year since its first running in 2003 and has won the race three times with Pulsator, She’s Meaner and Bright Expectations.
Racing and Sports

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