The rich 1200m event for eligible sale graduates has grown in stature since being first run in 1987 and is now considered the next most influential juvenile event behind the Golden Slipper.

Snippets won the inaugural running and the Lunchtime (GB) colt would go on and finish fifth in the Golden Slipper for trainer Sally Rodgers and rider Phillip Smith.

Snippets would end up a three time G1 winner and a success at stud.

No winner yet of the Magic Millions two-year-old has gone on to take out the Golden Slipper but there have been some close efforts.

St. Jude (1990) finished fourth in the Slipper, after winning the Magic Millions, Bold Promise (1991) finished fifth, Clan O’Sullivan (1992) finished second, General Nediym (1997) finished fourth, Assertive Lad (2000) finished third and Excellerator (2001) finished second.

Belle Du Jour finished runner-up in the 2000 Magic Millions to Assertive Lad and went on to win the Golden Slipper, after being last away and seemingly no chance.

St. Covet (1994) and How Funny (2003) finished second in the Magic Millions and filled the same place in the Golden Slipper.

1988, the second year of the race, saw two Magic Millions, with one for fillies and another for colts and geldings.

Sea Cabin won for trainer Des Burns and rider Ken Russell, who would win the following years fillies final on Malibu Magic for Bart Cummings.

Molokai Prince won the colts and geldings in 1988 for rider Ron Quinton and trainer Neville Begg.

One rider has won the Magic Millions two-year-old three times and that man is Mick “The Enforcer” Dittman, who won the fillies and colts and geldings in 1991 on Bold Promise, which started favourite each time.

Bold Promise was trained by Sterling Smith and the daughter of Luskin Star would win twice at G2 level as a three-year-old filly.

The legacy of Bold Promise is substantial as a broodmare, with her daughters Merlene and Miss Pennymoney both ending up dual G1 winners.

Merlene won the controversial 1996 Golden Slipper and the Sires’ Produce Stakes as a juvenile, while Miss Pennymoney won the Melbourne sprints in the Australia Stakes and Newmarket Handicap in 2000.

Dittman also won on General Nediym in 1997 for trainer Bill Mitchell, which started favourite and led from a wide draw.

General Nediym would end up a dual G1 winner of the VRC Lightning Stakes and Newmarket Handicap in 1988 plus would embark on a successful stud career.

His daughter Regimental Gal would lead throughout to win the Magic Millions two-year-old last year for boom apprentice Michael Rodd and trainer Shaun Dwyer.

Jim Cassidy has won the race twice, with Dancer’s Joy in the 1990 fillies only for trainer Geoff Murphy and Catnipped in 1998 for Peter Hayes.

Brian York won it on St. Jude (1990) and Our Fiction (1993), both for trainer Bruce McLachlan and each came from wide draws.

St. Jude would end up a three time G1 winner from 1400m to 2000m and at stud the Godswalk (USA) entire would leave the G1 juvenile winner Little Jamie.

Grant Cooksley won the Magic Millions double in 1992 on the brilliant Clan O’Sullivan, which started favourite in both the mixed (1200m) and Australasian Classic (1400m).

The gelding by Zoffany (USA) clocked 1:08.46 in the mixed from a wide draw, which is the fastest time ever and he is the only juvenile to break 1:09 since the inception of the race.

Frank Cleary trained the speedster that led throughout to win the Classic.

1991 was the only year that had three Magic Millions juvenile events, with apart from the fillies and a mixed event, there was the first Australasian Classic (1400m).

Kinjite won the inaugural running for trainer Noel Doyle and rider Alan Cowie and this son of Centaine would end up a three time G1 winner, including an Epsom Handicap (1600m.

The entire would go to stud and leave numerous G2 and G3 winners.

The only other 1400m Classic was the following year, won by Clan O’Sullivan and then the Magic Millions had a revamp.

1993 onwards saw just one mixed event held over 1200m at the Gold Coast and the move proved to be an astute one.

Brave Warrior won in 1994 for trainer Eric Kirwan, who had won the colts and geldings event in 1989 with Sunblazer.

Neil Williams rode Brave Warrior, which would end up a three time G2 winner before going to stud and leaving a host of black type performers, with the shining star being the four time G1 winner Show A Heart.

Another rider to win this race twice, apart from the three mentioned earlier was Wayne Harris, on Zephyrz and Winger Charger in 1995 and 1996 respectively.

Zephyrz was trained by Max Lees and Winger Charger was trained by Tony Vasil, with both racing handy or leading from midfield draws.

Testa Rossa would win the Magic Millions in 1999 as favourite for trainer Dean Lawson and rider Eddie Cassar and what a powerhouse sprinter-miler the son of Perugino (USA) would turn out to become.

He would end up a six time G1 winner and go to stud with many of his super wins still fresh in the minds of racegoers.

The fourth trainer to win the Magic Millions twice is Gai Waterhouse, who won with Assertive Lad (2000) and Excellerator (2001).

Assertive Lad led and won as favourite for rider Shane Dye and has since gone on to win at G1 level three times.

Excellerator raced handy and won as favourite for rider Chris Munce, who is the fifth dual winning rider of the race having been on board Sunblazer in 1989.

As a four-year-old, Excellerator would go on and win the G1 Epsom Handicap (1600m).

Lovely Jubly came from the midfield to score in 2002 for then trainer David Throsby and rider Scott Seamer, with the daughter of Lion Hunter a dual G1 winner at this point.

Last year saw Regimental Gal lead throughout, a filly that has since won at G2 level twice and looks destined for higher success.

The incredible recent run of future G1 winners to come out of the Gold Coast Magic Millions two-year-old is rightfully capturing plenty of attention.

A spate of breeding success stories has also helped spotlight the Gold Coast Magic Millions since the very first running.

Ten favourites have won out of the twenty three runnings, including a run of five in a row from 1997 to 2001 that either led or raced handy to the turn.

Most of the favourites to win led or raced close, while barrier draws have only been more important in recent years.

Nine winners have drawn double-digit barriers, while two winners have drawn the ace.

Last year saw a deadheat for second between How Funny and Danbird behind the flying filly Regimental Gal.

Who will join a select band of Magic Millions two and three-year-old winners this year?