| A Man to Match stormed home to win today’s inaugural The Wave (1800m) at the Gold Coast sweeping a big bonus and booking a place in the field for a million dollar feature for next week’s The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Raceday. |
Owners Graham and Linda Huddy of Peachester Lodge were overjoyed when their talented four-year-old scooped the first placed cheque of $145,000 and also a $200,000 bonus from Magic Millions for being an eligible MM Race Series nominated runner. The son of High Chaparral also scored a ballot free exemption for the $1 million Ferrari Magic Millions Trophy (2400m) next Saturday with the thrilling victory. With star Queensland apprentice Baylee Nothdurft in the saddle, A Man to Match produced a powerful finish to reel in the stablemates Bobby Dee and Fun Fact in the final few strides. Peachester Lodge purchased A Man to Match for $300,000 at the 2017 Gold Coast Yearling Sale from Baramul Stud. He’s now earned over $560,000 and the good maturer looks to have a bright future ahead. A Man to Match was one of many stars on the Aquis Raceday with Wisdom of Water, Clockwise, Phobetor and Yamazaki also delighting their connections with feature successes. Wisdom of Water will be out to emulate his former stablemate Houtzen when he backs up in next week’s $2 million The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) after an impressive win in today’s $125,000 Aquis Gold Nugget (1100m). A $70,000 buy for connections by Blandford Bloodstock from the Eureka Stud draft last year, Wisdom of Water appreciated taking a sit in today’s juvenile race. He finished strongly under Robbie Fradd for a quality win. Houtzen won the 2YO Classic a week after booking her place in the field with a win at the same course in her final lead up run. It’s a double that’s been completed in four of the last five years – Le Chef, Sunlight and Exhilarates are the others. A son of Headwater, Wisdom of Water is prepared by the powerful father-son training partnership of Toby and Trent Edmonds. Quality Toowoomba mare Clockwise provided her connections with a massive thrill when she won today’s $250,000 Magic Millions Country Cup (1200m). The Tony Webb prepared four-year-old broke through after a string of excellent runs and gave popular rider Nathan Evans a major race win. A daughter of Smart Missile, Clockwise was a $75,000 Gold Coast Yearling Sale buy in 2017 for part owner Allan Newcombe from the Arrowfield Stud draft. She’s now earned over $286,000. Later in the afternoon the local speedster Phobetor scored a dashing win in the $250,000 Magic Millions Rising Stars Plate for the males. A four-year-old gelded son of Dream Ahead, Phobetor dashed clear in the straight and held out his rivals for a strong win. Local trainer Michael Costa, who outlaid $55,000 for the quality performer at the 2017 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale, celebrated with owners and family following the big race win. Phobetor, who was ridden to victory by Brad Stewart, has now won four of his seven lifetime starts and his earnings have shot to over $200,000. Warwick Farm trainer David Pfieffer added another Magic Millions feature to his resume when new stable addition Yamazaki flew home to win the Magic Millions Rising Stars Plate for fillies and mares. At just her second start for the stable Yamazaki turned in a career best performance leading her owners into rapturous celebrations in the mounting yard. A four-year-old daughter of Real Saga, Yamazaki was a $40,000 Gold Coast March Yearling Sale buy from Glenlogan Park and her earnings now sit at over $276,000. Today’s Gold Coast features are part of the national $12.69 million Magic Millions Race Series with races conducted across six states of Australia each year. |
