3 minute read
I Am Invincible colt striving to break seven-figure Millions hoodoo.
Godfather will be presented with the chance to create a slice of Magic Millions history in Saturday's $2.5 million 2YO Classic on the Gold Coast.
The son of I Am Invincible will become the first 'million-dollar yearling' to win the organisation's signature event if he takes out the 1200-metre Restricted Listed event.
The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained colt cost $1.1 million at last year's January sale on the Gold Coast Yearling and is the lone seven-figure yearling in this year's field.
He wears the colours of James Harron, who bought him out of the Yarraman Park draft to race with his colts syndicate, and the renowned agent – who tasted Magic Millions success with Capitalist in 2016 – said victory would mean more than just covering Godfather's purchase price.
"It's developed into a very important race and it's one you want to be part of," Harron said.
"We've seen some really good stallions come out of the race in recent years, so it's very well respected from within the industry as a race you want to try and win.
"He's got a tricky barrier (15) to contend with, but he's really well and it's an open race."
Snippets, General Nediym and Testa Rossa were some of the 20th century Magic Millions winners who went onto decorated careers at stud, while Newgate Farm-based Capitalist and the late Unencumbered are recent winners who found their way onto a stallion roster.
While Magic Millions is a sale renowned for producing high-priced youngsters, the 2YO Classic has been the domain of juveniles who were not considered expensive in their sale year.
It took until Assertive Lad ($110,000 yearling) in 2000 for the race that was first run in 1987 to be won by a six-figure yearling, while $225,000 buy Bradbury's Luck was the next and remained the most expensive winner until Sunlight ($300,000) won in 2018.
Exhilarates, who cost twice as much as Sunlight, won the following year and remains the most expensive Millions winner.
Snitzel colt Empire Of Japan, a $680,000 Gold Coast buy, is the only runner in this year's race who cost more than Exhilarates, while Platinum Jubilee (Zoustar) cost $600,000 at the same sale.
Sovereign Fund (Capitalist, $550,000) and $425,000 yearlings Royal Entrance (Snitzel) and Summer Loving (Exceed And Excel) are the others in this year's race who cost more than $400,000, but there is one runner in particular who is a chance to provide a fairytale result.
Four acceptors cost less than $100,000; three emergencies – Risky Investment, Quasimoto and Oovii– with Mishani Renegade the cheapest horse in the race.
It's easy to say the Top Echelon gelding, who cost $12,000 at the National Yearling Sale in June, already has been, having banked $242,000 for Les Ross and connections after winning three of his four starts and finishing runner-up at the other.
Mishani Renegade is one of only two runners in this year's race not bought out of the January sale on the Gold Coast, the other being Empress Of Wonder (Choisir), who cost $100,000 at last year's Adelaide sale.
This year's 2YO Classic field and their purchase price
$1,100,000 – Godfather (bought at Gold Coast)
$680,000 – Empire Of Japan (Gold Coast)
$600,000 – Platinum Jubilee (Gold Coast)
$550,000 – Sovereign Fund (Gold Coast)
$425,000 – Royal Entrance (Gold Coast)
Summer Loving (Gold Coast)
$400,000 – Infatuation (Gold Coast)
$370,000 – Sunsource (Gold Coast)
$330,000 – Fire Lane (Gold Coast)
$320,000 – Trifling (Gold Coast)
$240,000 – Excel D'or (Gold Coast)
$170,000 – Skirt The Law (Gold Coast)
$140,000 – Miss Coota (Gold Coast)
$130,000 – Croation Belle (Gold Coast)
$115,000 – Chrysaor (Gold Coast)
$100,000 – Empress Of Wonder (Adelaide)
She's A Rogue (Gold Coast)
$72,500 – Oovii (Gold Coast)
$46,000 – Quasimoto (Gold Coast)
$40,000 – Risky Investment (Gold Coast)
$12,000 – Mishani Renegade (National)
