Navy Cross became the most expensive horse to ever win a race on Magic Millions Raceday when he made all to land the prize in Saturday’s $1 million Audi Centre Gold Coast Magic Millions Subzero (2400m) at the Gold Coast.
A $700,000 purchase by Gai Waterhouse, Adrian Bott and Blue Sky Bloodstock at the 2018 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, the son of I Am Invincible ensured his prizemoney eclipsed that mark with his sixth – and by far his most significant – career win.
The victory came courtesy of a decisive front-running ride by jockey Tim Clark, who sent the five-year-old to the lead immediately after jumping from barrier 12.
Having set a strong gallop in the early and middle stages of the race, Clark was able to quicken inside the final 600m and get several of his rivals outside of their comfort zone well before the field turned for home.
Outlandos and Rebel Rama loomed as challengers inside the final 200m but Navy Cross maintained a comfortable one-length margin to the winning post.
Bott said it was a case of Navy Cross encountering the perfect race shape and track conditions.
“That’s Tim (Clark) at his best and we were fortunately able to see the horse under the right conditions,” Bott said.
“He takes a few runs to get to where he needs to be in his condition and a few times that we’ve seen him under those conditions we’ve had heavy tracks.
“There’s only a small window where you can get it right with him and fortunately all the conditions fell out way today.
“He can be a free going horse but he looked relaxed there and he was able to get it his own way, he wasn’t challenged throughout.
“Tim was able to put the pressure on and quicken when he needed to and that was probably the key to him.”
The win was a record 15th success on Magic Millions Raceday for legendary trainer Gai Waterhouse, who won the 2YO Classic in 2012 with Driefontein, 2004 with Dance Hero, 2001 with Excellerator and 2000 with Assertive Lad.
Navy Cross was purchased out of the Aquis Farm draft at the 2018 Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Out of the Danehill mare Watchful, the gelding is a half-brother to Group 1 star-turned stallion Sepoy, as well as Group 2 winner Mulaazem.
Waterhouse and Bott were involved in more than 30 purchases across the first four days of the 2022 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, including Lot 523, a son of I Am Invincible from Yarraman Park Stud’s draft that was bought for $1 million.
