Magic Millions Feature Stats

3 minute read

Magic Millions day has million dollar races everywhere but the two main races hold some important historical facts.

Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m SW)

• First Running: 1987 (won by Snippets).
• Notable Winners: Snippets (1987), St Jude (1990), Bold Promise (1991), Clan O'Sullivan (1992), Brave Warrior (1994), General Nediym (1997), Testa Rossa (1999), Assertive Lad (2000), Excellerator (2001), Lovely Jubly (2002), Regimental Gal (2003), Dance Hero (2004), Phelan Ready (2009), Driefontein (2012), Capitalist (2016), Sunlight (2018), Exhilarates (2019), Away Game (2020).
• Most wins Jockey (3) – Chris Munce.
• Most wins Trainer (4) – Gai Waterhouse.
• The race was originally a one off to coincide with the Magic Millions sales from the previous year.
• But after the growth of the meeting and sales, it has become for all MM sold horses with multiple million dollar races on the card.
• For the next few years the race was split with a fillies race and a colts/geldings race. In 1991 Bold Promise won the fillies edition and then a week later won the open race.
• The vast majority of winners have been last start winners (24 of last 28). There are 7 last start winners in the final field on Saturday.
• Just in recent years Le Chef, Houtzen, Sunlight & Exhilarates all won the lead up race at Gold Coast then backed up to win – Finance Tycoon and Swift Witness come via GC races here. (Real Surreal also won off a back-up).
• Three horses have done the Magic Millions/Golden Slipper – Dance Hero (2004), Phelan Ready (2009) and Capitalist (2016).
• Last 20 years – 13 F vs 7 C&G (incl last 4 filly winners).
• Last Decade only 2 double figure priced winners. But when it occurs they are big prices over the years. eg Away Game ($41), Phelan Ready ($51), Mirror Mirror ($21).
• It was always a race for low draws but in 3 of the last 4, the winner has drawn wide.
• From the 2020 race, the Sydney Triple Crown winners missed the placings up north: (10th Farnan – 1st Golden Slipper & 5th King's Legacy – 1st Sires/ 1st Champagne).

Magic Millions 3yo Guineas (1400m SW&P)

• First Running: 2001 (won by Paradiddle).
• Notable Winners: Ha Ha (2002), Gold Edition (2007), Sweet Idea (2014), Mahuta (2016), Pierata (2018).
• Most wins Jockey (2) – Corey Brown, Darren Beadman.
• Most wins Trainer (3) – Gai Waterhouse.
• Some winners have gone on to win G1s like Sweet Idea, Gold Edition and Pierata. However many placegetters have also succeeded later. Dash For Cash, Absolut Glam, Rock Kingdom, Driefontein and Single Gaze but a few.
• There was an unbelievable storyline prior to Alligator Blood's win in 2020. He was on his way to the track but his float was caught up in track delays following a tanker overturning on the way between Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Stewards' delayed the races by 40 minutes but he made it in time and was then far too good. However he lost the race after being subsequently disqualified by Queensland Authorities.
• Wide draws have been no hurdle at all. 12 of the last 20 drew double figures.
• Away Game chases the double after taking the 2yo win last year. She would be the first one to achieve that.